Author: Ujjwal Rai. (@lostinthehimalaya) Ujjwal is a trekking guide in Nepal since 2009 and has been working as a guide in Antarctica since 2019. He has been to Everest Region since the beginning of his career. On this blog, he will be writing about the “8 places you shouldn’t miss in the Everest Region”
Everest Region, also known as the Land of Sherpa and Khumbu Region, has more than four peaks that are higher than 8,000 meters. This region is not only a place where you can climb and trek, but also where you can have life-changing experiences. Situated in the northeastern region of Nepal and connected with the Tibetan border, here you can visit Sherpa villages, very old monasteries, and many more places.
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Here are 8 of the important places you shouldn’t miss in the Everest Region:
1. Syangboche Airport
Syangboche Airport is located at 3,750 meters and is above the village of Namche Bazaar (3,400m). This airport is not licensed for commercialized operations, as it is a gravel airstrip and at too high of an altitude for safe landings. It is usually used for cargo and for tourists to go to the nearby Hotel Everest View.
2. Hotel Everest View
Hotel Everest Views lies at an elevation of 3,880m, which holds the Guinness World Record for being the highest hotel in the world! Opened in 1971, the hotel offers a 360-degree view of the awe-inspiring peaks surrounding it. You don’t have to stay there if you don’t want to but you can explore the hotel, have tea, coffee or lunch, and enjoy the view.
3. Khumjung Village
Khumjung Village is located right at the bottom of Khumbila Mountain (5,761 m), also known as the God of the Khumbu. It is one of the biggest Sherpa settlements in the whole region. Here you can find the Khumjung School, which was started by Sir Edmund Hillary. In this village, there is also a monastery called Khumjung Monastery where you can see the scalp of mighty Yeti.
4. Renjo La Pass
Renjo La Pass is a 5,360m pass in between the Gokyo Valley and the Lungden Valley. The view from the pass is absolutely stunning! The highlight is a view of the world’s highest mountain, Mt Everest, just above Gokyo Lake. This view is unbelievably beautiful. From Renjo La Pass, you can also see a lot of other snow capped mountains all around you.
5. Gokyo Lakes 4 & 5
Gokyo Lakes 4 and 5 are some of the most underrated lakes in the region located on the trail to Cho Oyu Base Camp. At these lakes, you can enjoy peace and quiet as they are not very often explored by tourists. From Lake 5, you can see the entirety of Mt Everest, which you usually don’t see easily from other viewpoints. The longest glacier of the Khumbu Region, Ngojumba, lies on the eastern side of the trail.
6. Gokyo Ri
Gokyo Ri is a 5,360m high peak surrounded by all the other huge mountains in the region, including Everest. After a tough climb to the top of the peak, you feel like you are flying over the Gokyo Valley. Gokyo Village and the turquoise Gokyo Lake are right below the peak. Sometimes the whole Gokyo Valley gets covered by a blanket of clouds which makes for a stunning scene.
7. Chukkung Valley
This valley is on the most eastern side of the Everest Region. Chukkung Village is the last settlement in the valley and it takes about 3 hours to get there from Dingboche Village. The majority of people who stay here are doing the Three Passes Trek. During the climbing season, the village is filled with climbers waiting to climb Island Peak (6,189m). Chukkung Village also connects Makalu Barun National Park and Everest National Park.
8. Kala Patthar
Kala Patthar stands at the height of 5,164m from where you can see the jaw-dropping closest view of Everest and the neighboring Himalayas. Apart from Everest seeing, sunrise and sunset from Kala Patthar is also amazing and beautiful.
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