Namche Bazaar at a glance
Namche Bazaar sits on a steep hillside in the Khumbu region at about 3,440 m (11,286 ft). The Nepal Tourism Board rounds the height to 3,500 m (11,483 ft). The town climbs the slope, so heights differ within it and no single figure fits every building.
On the standard plan you reach Namche on day 2, after about 6 hours of walking from Phakding. The next day is a rest day. You stay in the same bed and use the day for a walk, then continue to Tengboche on day 4, about 5 hours away. On the way back you walk from Pheriche to Namche on day 10 in 6 to 7 hours, then on to Lukla on day 11 in about 7 hours.
The acclimatisation day
Why Namche is where the schedule slows down.
At Namche the trek passes 3,000 m. From here on, sleeping height rises steadily, and the rest day gives your body time to catch up. The Tourism Board recommends staying several days in the area, or moving up and down in the surroundings, to adjust to the height. For most trekkers the usual form is one night extra with a day walk and a return to sleep in Namche.
Treat the rest day as part of the trek, not a gap in it. Walk slowly, drink water and eat, and keep the day easy. If you have a headache, nausea, dizziness or unusual tiredness, do not go higher and tell your guide. The full list of signs, and what to do if they get worse, is on the altitude page. The CDC notes that altitude illness can occur even on standard Base Camp plans, and fitness does not prevent it.
A simple way to run the day: take an easy walk in the morning to one of the nearby villages, come back down to Namche, eat and drink well, and rest in the afternoon. In the evening, ask yourself how you feel compared with the morning. If you are better or unchanged and have no symptoms, the plan can go on. If you have symptoms the next morning, take another night or turn back. The schedule on the page is a plan, and your health comes first. For the heights of the stops that follow, see the itinerary.
Our picks: treks to Base Camp
Multi-day packages with lodging; the standard route passes through Namche Bazaar.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
12-day Everest Base Camp trek with guesthouses
A private airport or hotel transfer, twin-room guesthouses, the return flight to Lukla and a licensed guide from Lukla and back. Meals, porters and insurance are extra.
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14-day Everest Base Camp trek with meals
Three meals a day on the trek, tea-house lodging, a licensed English-speaking guide, permits and the return flight to Lukla. International flights, insurance and drinks are not included.
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10-day Everest Base Camp trek from Lukla
A Sherpa guide, permits and ten nights in mountain guesthouses. Flights are included only in the Kathmandu option, and meals and porters cost extra.
Check availability →Treks that stop in Namche Bazaar
Guided Everest Base Camp treks with an acclimatisation day in Namche, with live prices and availability.
What to do around Namche
Options for the rest day, from the Nepal Tourism Board and trek operators.
Day hikes
The Tourism Board names Syangboche, Khumjung and Khunde as excursion targets for adjusting to the height. Pick one, go slowly, and be back to sleep in Namche.
The Saturday market
The weekly market takes place on Saturday morning. It is a weekly event, so check that it is on while you are there before you plan around it.
The visitor centre
A visitor centre at the park headquarters has information about Sherpa culture and expeditions. Ask locally for opening times before you walk up.
Everest View Hotel
One helicopter operator gives the hotel's height as 3,880 m (12,730 ft) and sells landings there. A listing is not the same as access to the helipad, and a fast flight from Kathmandu to that height is a rapid ascent. See the helicopter tour guide before you book anything of this kind.
Fees and rules on the way in
Namche lies inside Sagarmatha National Park. The park fee is NPR 3,000 for most foreign visitors, and the Khumbu local fee is also NPR 3,000 (2026 figures). The Nepal Tourism Board lists the Everest Base Camp trek under a guide and TIMS rule, but practice in Khumbu is not uniform. Details are on the permits page.
Namche is also a sensible place to take stock of the plan. If you are tired, unwell or behind schedule, a second night here costs less than a forced descent higher up. Flights back from Lukla are delayed by weather, so keep one or two spare days at the end. Read more about the Lukla airport.
Plan the rest of your trip
Where Namche fits on the route.
Namche Bazaar: frequently asked questions
How high is Namche Bazaar?
About 3,440 m (11,286 ft) by a common operator figure. The Nepal Tourism Board rounds to 3,500 m. The town is built on a slope, so the height depends on where you are standing.
Do I need a rest day in Namche?
The standard 12-day plan has one on day 3, and the Tourism Board recommends adjusting to the height here. If you feel unwell, a second night is a sensible choice. Do not go higher with symptoms.
When is the market in Namche?
On Saturday morning, according to the Tourism Board. The exact hours are not published, so ask locally.
What can I do on the rest day?
Take a slow walk to Syangboche, Khumjung or Khunde, visit the information centre at the park headquarters, or rest. Return to sleep in Namche.
Can I fly to the Everest View Hotel?
Helicopter operators advertise landings at the hotel, but this is a fast ascent to about 3,880 m, and the German Federal Foreign Office advises avoiding rapid motorised ascents above 3,500 m. Check the current rules and your own health first.