The classic teahouse trek from Lukla through Sherpa villages to Everest Base Camp (5,364 m) and the Kala Patthar viewpoint, with acclimatisation days in Namche and Dingboche.
- Days
- 12 days
- Maximum altitude
- 5,644 m
- Difficulty
- Strenuous
Everest Region (Khumbu)लोबुचे
Lobuche
A cluster of high lodges beside the Khumbu Glacier moraine, the last stop before Gorak Shep and base camp.
This is the trekking settlement below the Khumbu Glacier, not the climbing peaks Lobuche East and Lobuche West above it.
- Altitude
- 4,940 m*
- Best months
- Mar-May, Oct-Nov
- Type
- Trek stop
- District
- Solukhumbu, Koshi
- Permit
- Permit required
Higher seasonal exposure: altitude (All year), snow (Dec-Mar), cold (Nov-Mar), seasonal closure (Jun-Sep).
Why go
Lobuche is a small settlement of lodges at about 4,940 m on the west side of the Khumbu Glacier. Within the Everest region it is the second-highest overnight on the Everest Base Camp trek, the stop before Gorak Shep, and on the Three High Passes route it is where trekkers arrive after crossing the Kongma La from Chhukung.
There is no farming village here, only lodges built for trekkers and climbers, with the peaks of Lobuche East and Nuptse close above. Nights are very cold, sleep is often poor and appetite drops. From Lobuche a rough path continues along the moraine to Gorak Shep in about 2-3 hours, and a branch to the west leads to Dzongla and the Cho La.
History and culture
Lobuche began as a seasonal yak-grazing site and grew into a lodge stop as trekking increased from the 1970s. On the climb up from Dughla to Lobuche, the Thukla pass holds stone memorials to climbers and Sherpas who died on Everest, a sobering stop for most trekkers. Climbers of Lobuche East, a popular trekking peak, often base themselves nearby.
Things to do in Lobuche
Walk the moraine ridge
A short walk up the moraine behind the lodges gives a view over the debris-covered Khumbu Glacier.
Stop at the Thukla memorials
The memorial cairns at the top of the climb from Dughla are on the trail just before Lobuche.
Weather and the best time to visit Lobuche
Weather in Lobuche
Forecast for 4,940 m. Conditions change fast in the mountains.
Weather data: MET Norway, licensed CC BY 4.0. A forecast, not a guarantee.
Best time to visit
Mar-May, Oct-Nov
- Jan
- Feb
- Good month: Mar
- Good month: Apr
- Good month: May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Good month: Oct
- Good month: Nov
- Dec
- Autumn (Sep-Nov)
- October and November usually bring the clearest skies and stable weather, with cold nights well below freezing.
- Winter (Dec-Feb)
- December to February is very cold, with snow possible on the trail; some lodges close and the high passes can be impassable.
- Spring (Mar-May)
- March to May is warmer and busy, with more afternoon cloud; late spring brings expedition traffic towards base camp.
- Monsoon (Jun-Aug)
- June to August brings cloud and rain, poor mountain views and frequent delays on the Lukla flights; few lodges stay fully open.
Where to stay
LodgesTeahouses
A limited number of lodges; in peak season book ahead or arrive early, as beds run short.
No partner stays are listed here yet. List a property.
Getting there
Lobuche is reached on foot from Dingboche in about 5-6 hours, about a week after flying into Lukla.
Nearest hub: Lukla (Tenzing-Hillary Airport)
- flightKathmandu or Ramechhap (Manthali) to Lukla, roughly 25-40 minutes, weather permitting; in busy seasons many flights leave from Ramechhap.
- trekDingboche to Lobuche via Dughla and the Thukla climb, about 7-8 km and 5-6 hours.
- trekChhukung to Lobuche over the Kongma La (about 5,535 m), a long 7-9 hour day for experienced trekkers.
Getting to Lobuche, by mode
Nearest hub: Lukla. Times are typical ranges, not schedules, and vary with roadworks, weather and the season.
By airfrom Kathmanduabout 0.4-0.7 hLukla (Tenzing-Hillary)often delayed or cancelled by weather
A 25-40 minute mountain flight to Lukla, weather permitting, then the walk in. In the busy seasons most flights leave from Ramechhap (Manthali) instead of Kathmandu, a 3-4 hour drive east, which means a night-time road transfer. Cancellations for wind and visibility are routine, so spare days belong in the plan.
When to set off: Lukla flights are scheduled at first light, before the south-west wind builds from mid to late morning; Ramechhap departures leave Kathmandu by road around 03:00-04:00
On footfrom Dingbocheabout 5-6 h5-6 h from Dingboche via Dughla, about 7-8 km with a steep climb to the Thukla memorials and roughly 500 m of ascent
From Dingboche or Pheriche; sources give 4-6 h from Pheriche and 5-6 h from Dingboche for the same arrival.
When to set off: teahouse stages start after breakfast, usually by 07:30, to arrive before the afternoon cloud and wind
Where people go next
- Gorak Shepon foot, about 2-3 hUp the moraine to the last lodges below base camp.
- Dzonglaon foot, about 2.5-4 hWest on the traverse for the Cho La.
- Dingbocheon foot, about 4-5 hBack down via Thukla on the descent.
- Kongma Laon foot, about 3-4 hUp over the Kongma La towards Chhukung.
Permits and fees
Permit required
This stop is inside Sagarmatha National Park; the park entry permit and the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality permit apply. Check whether a TIMS card is currently required.
- Sagarmatha National Park entry permit: Issued in Kathmandu or at the park entrance near Monjo; check the latest rules and fees.
- Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality entry permit: Local permit collected in the Lukla area.
- Licensed guide: Since April 2023 foreign trekkers in national parks and conservation areas are generally required to go with a licensed guide; the local municipality in Khumbu has disputed this, so check the current rule.
Verify before travel: permit rules and fees change. Checked 2026-10-06 against Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation.
On the trail
On the Everest Base Camp trek, Three High Passes trek.
- Previous stop:
- Dingboche (or Chhukung via the Kongma La)
- Next stop:
- Gorak Shep
- A typical day:
- From Dingboche, about 5-6 hours and roughly 500 m of height gain, with a steep climb from Dughla to the Thukla memorials.
Risks and conditions
Seasonal risks around Lobuche
What this place is typically exposed to, and when. These are seasonal patterns, not a report on conditions now.
Altitudehigh in a typical yearAll year
Lobuche is at about 4,910-4,940 m and is where altitude problems most often show on this trek. Acute mountain sickness is common on fast ascents - it affects roughly 40 per cent of people who go up quickly to 3,000 m, and more above that. General information, not medical advice: gain height slowly, keep sleeping-height gains small (about 300 m a day once high), build in rest days, learn the symptoms - headache, nausea, breathlessness, broken sleep - and descend if they get worse. See a doctor before travelling and carry insurance that covers helicopter evacuation.
Snowhigh in a typical yearDec-Mar
Deep winter snow can block the trails above Tengboche, and spring storms leave fresh snow on the higher stages; December to March is the usual snow window at this height.
Coldhigh in a typical yearNov-Mar
Nights are far below freezing from November to March at this height, with wind on the open moraine and unheated bedrooms in the teahouses; a winter-rated sleeping bag and down layer are the norm.
Seasonal closurehigh in a typical yearJun-Sep
Lukla flights are the weak link in the monsoon: poor visibility stops operations at the airstrip about half the time in that season and about half of flights are cancelled, and waits of several days happen. Any itinerary built on the flight needs spare days at both ends.
Seasonal closuremoderate in a typical yearDec-Feb
Above Tengboche many teahouses do not stay open through the deep-winter months, so the high stages are seldom walked in December to February and food and beds are harder to find.
Otherlow in a typical yearJun-Aug
The monsoon brings cloud and rain rather than views, and the stages are wet and misty underfoot, although the upper valleys get less rain than the forest below.
Check current conditions before you travel
Roads, trails, passes and flights change with the weather and with roadworks, and nothing on this page describes conditions today. Before you set off, check the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology for weather and flood warnings, the Nepal Disaster Risk Reduction Portal for incidents, and the local authority, police or your licensed operator for road, trail and flight status.
Practical tips
- This is high altitude: go up slowly, watch for headache, nausea and unusual tiredness, and descend if symptoms get worse. General information, not medical advice.
- Many people sleep badly here; drink enough water and avoid going higher with a worsening headache.
- There is no ATM; carry enough Nepali rupees from Kathmandu, Lukla or Namche.
- Charging, hot showers and Wi-Fi, where available, are paid extras and depend on solar or small hydro power.
Treks through Lobuche
A long, demanding circuit of the Khumbu over the Kongma La, Cho La and Renjo La, all above 5,300 m, taking in Everest Base Camp, Kala Patthar, the Gokyo Lakes and the Thame valley.
- Days
- 19 days
- Maximum altitude
- 5,644 m
- Difficulty
- Challenging
Questions about Lobuche
How high is Lobuche?
About 4,910-4,940 m depending on the source. Altitude sickness is common at this height.
How far is Lobuche from Gorak Shep?
About 2-3 hours on a rough trail along the Khumbu Glacier moraine.
Is Lobuche the same as Lobuche Peak?
No. Lobuche is the lodge settlement; Lobuche East and West are climbing peaks above it that need a climbing permit.
More in Everest Region (Khumbu)
All of Everest Region (Khumbu)Lake · 4,750 m
Gokyo Lakes
A chain of glacier-fed lakes beside the Ngozumpa glacier, with views of Everest and Cho Oyu from the hill of Gokyo Ri.
Viewpoint · 5,644 m
Kala Patthar
A dark ridge-top viewpoint above Gorak Shep with a close view of Everest, Nuptse and the Khumbu Glacier.
Viewpoint · 4,065 m
Pikey Peak
A grassy 4,065 m summit in lower Solukhumbu with a long view of the eastern Himalaya, reached on a short trek through Sherpa villages.
Trek stop · 4,730 m
Chhukung
A high lodge settlement at the head of the Imja valley, below Lhotse's south face and Island Peak.
Mountain pass · 5,420 m
Cho La
A glaciated pass linking the Everest Base Camp trail with the Gokyo valley, crossed between Dzongla and Thagnak.
Trek stop · 4,410 m
Dingboche
A walled-field Sherpa village in the Imja valley, the usual acclimatisation stop on the way to Everest Base Camp.
Trek stop · 4,038 m
Dole
A small lodge village in the upper Dudh Kosi valley, the first night above Namche on the way to Gokyo.
Trek stop · 4,830 m
Dzongla
A tiny lodge stop on a high pasture below Cholatse, the eastern base for crossing the Cho La.
Nearby
Editorial draft: facts are being checked against the sources below. Last checked 2026-10-06. Sources: Lobuche (mountain), Wikipedia, Lobuche, OpenStreetMap, Everest Base Camp Trek, Wikivoyage