Phakding to Namche Bazaar
Trek Distance: 7.4km / 4.6 mi
Trek Duration: 4-5 hrs
Starting Elevation: 2,610m / 8,563 ft
Ending Elevation: 3,440m / 11,290 ft
Elevation Gain: 830m / 2,727 ft
Popular Everest Region Treks you might want to join: Everest Base Camp Trek, EBC with Helicopter Return, EBC– Cho La Pass – Gokyo Trek, Gokyo Lake Trekking, Everest base camp trek with Island peak
After resting well at Phakding, it’s time to hit the trail and bridge the gap between the two towns. We start the day early, even before the sun is up, and have breakfast before getting down the road.
The trek starts with 15 minutes of slow march and a walk on the suspension bridge, which is just one of many. We’ll continue walking the dusty trail alongside the Dudh Koshi River, which provides a great view. We’ll see a lot of rhododendron forests with pines and junipers on the course.
As we follow the trail, a pouring waterfall comes into our sight. Scanning the beautiful picture of the fall, we move forward and ascend the stone stairs. Once the step ends, the trail makes several ascents and descents to get to Jorsale.
We briefly stop at the village with many lodges and teahouses to have lunch. After stocking up on food, we’ll leave from there and start ascending the hill. Just past getting on the trail, we’ll arrive at the entrance to Sagarmatha National Park.
After receiving permits, we continue trekking for some time. Sooner than later, we’ll cross the suspension bridge and trek uphill into the forests. After trekking for an hour, we’ll reach the famous Tenzing Hillary suspension bridge.
It’s the highest and longest bridge in the region, decorated with colorful prayer flags. Crossing the bridge, we’ll start rugged hills for almost two and a half hours. As what was long overdue, you can now see the beautiful Namche from a distance, but there’s still a long journey.
We’ll verify our permits at the checkpoint before advancing to the sherpa town. The trek to Namche is quite strenuous with continuous steep ascents. The trail on this part is rough and dusty, taking several hours to finish the climb.
Chances of altitude sickness remain high during the trek as you can witness the decline in atmospheric pressure. You may feel a little woozy while ascending the trail as it gets steeper with the elevation gain.
After trekking a little farther, we can see the beautiful houses and markets in Namche. With the walk that can be counted in number, we’ll finally arrive at the village. The trek from Phakding to Namche was a foot race, but now that we’re here, you can finally enjoy the stunning scenery.
Capture the impressive view of lush green hills and towering mountains from the hilltop. Once take a look around, you’ll also see the dramatic landscapes and shimmering glaciers. After some time, we’ll head to our lodge and freshen up.
We’ll join you at the dinner table to have a meal, which is typically Nepalese dishes. There are also a few other options on the menu that you can choose from. We’ll spend the night at Lukla and stay one more day to acclimatize and go on a side trek.