Jiri
This is a starting point of Jiri to Everest Base Camp Trek. It is a beautiful village in lower part of Solukhumbu. There is a monastery on the end of village, a big Padmashamva’s statue is also located. It is a short walk of ten minutes to the statue, you can have excellent view of Jiri Bazar. This is a beautiful settlement with some technical schools and it is often known as Switzerland of Nepal.
Junbesi
After four days of walk from Jiri, passing through Lamjura Pass at 3500 m from sea level, Junbeshi is beyond your imagination. There are excellent teahouses, apple garden and big monastery. From the top the view of Gaurishankar Himalayan Range is unmatched. Further north of Junbeshi there is a Thupten Choli Gompa, a big Lama School. There are some reincarnated senior Lama in the monastery. Spend a day for rest here, it is worth.
Phakding
Phakding is the merging point of trail, Lukla to EBC and Jiri to EBC. All people they spend a night here on their way up. Approximate 90 % of the people they spend their first night in Phakding after three hours walk from Lukla. There is a Rimjung Monastery on the next side of the village. This is thirty minutes walk from Phakding. The view of Phakding from Rimjung Monastery is beautiful with some terraced rice field and beautiful hotels.
Monjo
This village is the border of Sagarmatha National Park. After five minutes of walk from the village you can enter inside National Park. There is a visitor center at entrance. This is worth for short ten to fifteen minutes break here. Aerial 3D sample of entire Khumbu Valley is perfectly demonstrated inside Visitor Center. Also there are few information about the region, in term of origination, culture and wildlife.
Namche
Welcome to the Namche, we’ve got fun ‘n’ games we got everything you want Honey, we know the names!
This is the highlight of entire Everest Trek, approximate ninety percent of people spend three nights in Namche, two on their way up and one on the way down. It is still not enough. This is the highest marketplace of Nepal at 3440 m from sea level. It is a second Thamel, there are bakery, departmental stores, cafe, pub, pharmacy, painting stores, deluxe resort and whatever you need!
Also you should explore Namche museum for excellent view of Everest, headquarter of national park and view of Kwangde Ri and lifestyle of Sherpa.
Khumjung & Khunde
Beyul, located on the lap of Mt. Khumbi Yula Khumjung and Khunde is the twin eco village. There is Sir Edmund Hillary School, Memorial Park in the village. All the house’s roofs are of green village and red one is for the monastery. There is Everest View Hotel near Khumjung, a five star hotel on highest elevation in the world. Also Syangbcohe Airstrip is tiny and highest airstrips in the world.
Tengboche
Biggest Monastery in Khumbu, Tengboche is the ideal place. There are five hotels and big monastery. This is very quite place. During peak season accommodation is a problem and many people hike fifteen minutes down to Deboche. View of Lhotse and Everest is unmatched from the Tengboche. Also Ama Dablam. Every morning there is a prayer time inside monastery. You can join, they won’t ask but make sure you donate a dollar or two. There also bake a bakery in Gomba Lodge.
Chukung
Gateway to Island Peak, Ama Lapcha Pass and Everest Three Pass Trek Chukung is the last village on the east of Khumbu. It is two hours walk from Dingboche. This is a hub for Island Peak Climbing. You can make a side trip to Island Peak Base Camp also. There are few hotels and many local teahouse, called Bhatti! Ama Dablam looks totally different from Chukung.
Lobuche
Lobuche is the starting point of rocky area in Everest. There is a Khumbu Glacier next to Lobuche. Most of the teahouses are very basic. View is amazing, as you can see top of Khongma La Pass on the east. Fusion wall of Lhotse and Nuptse looks brilliant from Lobuche. There is a possible short hike on the northwest of Lobuche. Base camp of Lobuche is very close from the hotel area, it is only thirty minutes walk.
Kalapatthar
Sunrise or Sunset? I (Pradeep, coauthor of this blog) recommend sunset view from Kalapatthar instead of sunrise. This is because Kalapatthar is on west of Everest! During sunrise Everest is just a solid dark rock, however right at the time of sunset it is simply dazzling golden. From here you can have amazing view of Ama Dablam, Giant Nuptse, and a part of Lhotse and many more.
Everest Base Camp
Do you know you can’t see Mount Everest from it’s base camp. Seriously, then what to do in basecamp?
View of Everest is blocked by Lhola Mountain. EBC is all out glacier walk, expedition tents, prayers flag and Khumbu Glacier. Also when you hike north, good view of Khumbu Icefall is a reward. You can collect a stone as a souvenir from EBC.
Chola Pass
Chola Pass is the shortest possible route connecting Everest and Gokyo. It rises up to 5364 meter with large boulders and glaciers. Way from EBC to Gokyo is comparatively easier than from Gokyo to EBC. Vibe of expeditions can be feel at the top of pass, there is a big icy ground and small glacial lake. Nearby summit ridge look dwarf! Makalu, 5th highest mountain is incredible from the top of Chola Pass. Trail down toward Gokyo is highly unstable with loose rocks, watch out your steps.
Dingboche
Majority of hikers spend a day for acclimatization in Dingboche. It is located in between Tengboche and Chukung. Famous hike from Dingboche is toward the Nagarjun Hill. This is a famous viewpoint of Ama Dablam. Also have a look down west, there will be clouds above Namche! A way to Chola Pass and Floating Island Peak.
Gokyo Lake
The valley of six different emerald green lakes is next to Khumbu Valley connected by Chola Pass. Hotels are right in front of the third lake. There are two lakes, i.e. Gokyo 1st and 2nd on the way down to Machhermo. Gokyo 4th Lake is forty minutes walk north of hotels area. Further ahead are the 5th and 6th lakes. 6th Lake is right in the lap of Choyou, 6th highest mountain. There are no settlements above Gokyo 3rd Lake. So as a day trip from Gokyo 3rd you could make up to 5th Lake.
Gokyo RI
5340 m elevation and it is the heaven! Look beneath there will be lakes of Gokyo, 3rd 2nd and 1st. Look east Everest, Lhotse and Makalu towers high. On the north is bordered by Choyou. There is a glacier of Nogzumba coming all the way down from the Choyou. Similar to Kalapatthar sunset from Gokyo is awesome.
Machhermo
It is a two days walk from Namche. This is a part of Gokyo Lake Trek. From there Gokyo 3rd is three hours walk. You will pass through 1st and 2nd Lake. There is a place for volunteer doctors in Machhermo, where they conduct safety talk about altitude sickness. From Dole it is just three hours walk. You can hike up to the northeast ridge. Toward Mt. Kyajo Ri. On clear weather you can see Mt. Everest and hundreds of small glacial lakes on Nogzumba Glacier.
Thame
This is a village of climbers! Many renowned mountaineers with multiple world records in Everest were born here. There is a monastery in Thame. Also pay a visit to home of Ama Chiri Sherpa, who had summited Everest 21 times. It is a old salt trading route with Tibet. From Thame a trail leads toward the restricted region of Nagpala connecting Tibet. In past Tibetan come to Namche for weekly market.