Namche Bazaar is the gateway to Everest Region. It is one of the very essential stops in the Everest Base Camp Trek and other various Everest Region Treks. Namche Bazaar is completely inaccessible to the roads which makes the journey to the place even more adventurous. The journey from Kathmandu to Namche Bazaar can be a great experience before the thrilling treks or tours in the Everest Region. 

Which is the best time to visit Namche Bazaar?

The best time to visit Namche Bazaar is during the Spring season. The Spring season in Nepal starts from March to May which can be the best time to visit the mountains and higher altitudes. Besides, the Spring season is just the season to welcome beauty to the Everest region. 

After Spring, the Autumn season from September to November is also best to explore the Namche bazaar. These seasons are neither too cold nor too hot which makes the trip to the place an exhilarating trip. You can also choose to visit the place during other seasons if you choose to go with some difficulties in the journey.  

Interesting things about Namche Bazaar

The beautiful Namche Bazaar is home to numerous hotels, shops, and restaurants that cater to the needs of tourists. You’ll also get a chance to enjoy your time in an Irish pub which is reputed to be the tallest and furthest Irish pub in the entire world. The place is also famous for conducting the weekly market, every Saturday morning in the center of the village. There might be a daily Tibet market where the main items for sale like garments and inexpensive Chinese consumer products. 
 

The meals in the mountains are very distinct from those in the other regions. It's challenging to import foods that are unavailable in Namche due to the difficulty of commuting. Hence, food in the higher areas might be more expensive than in metropolitan areas. You might also not be able to find what you want to eat. A delicious supper in the mountains is a blessing after a taxing hike. 

You’ll find Dal Bhat Tarkari and other Sherpa delicacies in Namche Bazaar. You might not have options for meals in locations other than Namche. Yak cheese and butter are quite well-known items in Namche Bazaar. Namche Bazaar has a very good electricity supply due to the nearest hydropower plant despite being in such a high-altitude place. 

Highlights of Namche Bazaar

Some of the major highlights of Namche Bazaar include:
 

1. You’ll get a great opportunity to travel to the most popular Sherpa region to experience their culture in Nepal
2. Get the mesmerizing magical view of Mount Everest, the tallest mountain in the world
3. Visit the beautiful Tengboche Monastery which is the biggest and most engaged monastery in the Khumbu region
4. You can also take a short visit to the Everest View Hotel, the highest hotel in the world, located in Sagarmatha National Park in Nepal. Sagarmatha National Park is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The hotel provides views of multiple breathtaking peaks in all directions
5. You can also make the ascent to Khunde View Point which gives you an amazing panoramic view of Khunde and Khumjung Village. You can also get views of Mt. Khumbila, Amadablam, Thamserku, Kangtega, Pachermo Peak, and Kongde Ri, among other mountains.

How to get from Kathmandu to Namche Bazaar?

Most travelers choose to take a flight from Kathmandu to Lukla. Then, they start their journey with the trek to Namche Bazaar from Lukla. However, sometimes the flight to Lukla might not be possible due to uncertain conditions or weather problems which may cause take a flight from the Ramechap airport to Lukla. Ramechhap is about a 4-5 hour drive from Kathmandu.  For time-crunched travelers, you can take a helicopter from Kathmandu to Lukla. The three major ways to get from Kathmandu to Namche Bazaar are

1. By Flight and on Foot
2. By Road and on Foot
3. By Helicopter

By Flight and on Foot:

Duration: 45 minutes and trek for two days

Most travelers take the flight to travel from Kathmandu to Lukla. The flight to Lukla takes nearly 45 minutes. The Tenzing-Hillary Airport, Lukla is one of the deadliest airports in the world due to its short, mountain-side runway. Most flights arrive and leave without incident, so there’s no real cause for the alarm to be afraid to take the flight. 

However, there might be delays due to weather conditions in Kathmandu, Lukla. It is important to build some buffer days in the trip to the Everest Region so that you don’t risk missing an important flight back internationally. Sometimes, Helicopters can be a handy backup option if you have booked previously. After arriving in Lukla, you’ll still need to go away for a few hours to reach Namche Bazaar. The walk to Namche Bazaar will take about a day but it can be completed within two days comfortably. 

Depending upon the time you’ll arrive in Lukla after your flight, you may not have more time to walk to Namche Bazaar. Even if you’re fit and raring to go, it's better to start another day and spread the walk for two days. The trail to Namche is steadily uphill. Following the Dudh Koshi, the trail is much uphill. Most of the climbers choose to stop at Phakding. On the second day, it's a few hour's walks from Phakding to Namche Bazaar. The walk from Phakding will take us through a steep trail, that can be quite a challenging day’s walk. The trails will simultaneously reward the beautiful view of mountains.  Most trekkers stay in Namche for at least one or two days to help with acclimatization during the trek. 

By Road and on Foot

Duration: 6-8 days

If you want to avoid the flight to Lukla and enjoy more time trekking more, you can take a Jeep to Jiri or Phaplu from Kathmandu. It will take only a single day to reach there. Then, the trek to Lukla can be started which can onwards move to Namche Bazaar. The trek from the very famous place, Jiri, is also known as the “ Pioneer’s Route” because it’s how most of the pioneering mountaineers used to reach the Khumbu region before the airport was built in Lukla. At present, the route has been an uncommon way of accessing the region, but the trails are uncrowded. The trails from Jiri offer its visitors the to explore interesting cultures and beautiful views. The trek from Phaplu to Lukla will take about three days and Jiri to Lukla will take about five days. Then, the trek from Lukla to Namche Bazaar will take about two days.  

By Helicopter

Duration: 1 hour

If you are not on a tight budgeting schedule, you can travel from Kathmandu to the Everest Region by helicopter. This can be an unforgettable experience. You’ll leave the domestic terminal of Tribhuwan Airport in Kathmandu. You’ll arrive in Lukla in about less than an hour. Most sightseeing day tours stop in Lukla before continuing on the trek to the Everest Base Camp or the Everest Region. We will have a breakfast stop somewhere on the way back.

Namche Bazaar or the landing field above the town might not be on every tour itinerary, but it could be on your special requests. You can choose from customizable luxury Helicopter riding tours that are designed to facilitate travel between Kathmandu and Namche Bazaar. The helicopter ride will potentially save you time and a lot of physical exertion, while still allowing you to explore some of the most beautiful mountain sceneries in Nepal.

Conclusion,

Namche Bazaar is the entryway to the high Himalayas, which is well-liked by most of the trekkers in the Khumbu region. Most people stop by the Namche Bazaar for acclimatization to the higher and increasing altitude. Namche Bazaar is the crucial rest point in the treks in the Everest Region.  The trip from Kathmandu to Namche Bazaar can be a true adventure for you as you’ll not get a vehicle accessible to Namche Bazaar.