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)टेङबोचे
Tengboche
A ridge-top monastery village between Namche and Dingboche, facing Ama Dablam, Everest and Lhotse.
- Altitude
- 3,867 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), seasonal closure (Jun-Sep).
Why go
Tengboche sits on a forested saddle at about 3,867 m, a day's walk east of Namche Bazaar on the trail to Everest Base Camp. Within the Everest region it is the spiritual centre of Khumbu, built around Tengboche Monastery, the largest gompa in the area. The village itself is small: the monastery, a few lodges, a bakery and a meadow with one of the classic views of Ama Dablam, Everest, Lhotse and Nuptse.
The walk in from Namche contours above the Dudh Kosi, drops to the river at Phunki Tenga and then climbs about 600 m through rhododendron and fir forest. Many trekkers stay here, or at Deboche a little further on, and visit the afternoon prayers in the monastery. Sleeping space is limited in peak season, so some groups pass through to Deboche or Pangboche.
History and culture
Tengboche Monastery, also called Dawa Choling Gompa, was founded in 1916 by Lama Gulu with links to Rongbuk Monastery on the Tibetan side of Everest. It was destroyed by an earthquake in 1934 and by fire in 1989, and rebuilt each time with local and international help. It belongs to the Nyingma tradition and hosts the Mani Rimdu festival, held in autumn, with masked dances in the courtyard. Visitors should dress modestly, remove shoes in the prayer hall and ask before taking photographs inside.
Things to do in Tengboche
Monastery prayers
Visitors may usually sit quietly at the back during afternoon prayers; check the times at the monastery.
Sunset and sunrise views
Walk to the edge of the meadow for light on Ama Dablam and the Everest massif.
Walk to Deboche
A short descent through forest leads to Deboche and its small nunnery.
Weather and the best time to visit Tengboche
Weather in Tengboche
Forecast for 3,867 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 handful of lodges near the monastery fill quickly in peak season; more lodges are at Deboche, 15-20 minutes further on.
No partner stays are listed here yet. List a property.
Getting there
Tengboche is reached on foot from Namche Bazaar in about 5-6 hours, three to four days 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.
- trekLukla to Namche Bazaar in two days, then Namche to Tengboche, about 9-10 km and 5-6 hours, with a steep final climb from Phunki Tenga.
Getting to Tengboche, 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 Namche Bazaarabout 5-6 h5-6 h from Namche Bazaar, about 9-10 km: a contouring trail, a 300 m descent to Phunki Tenga, then a 600 m climb through forest
Three or four days from Lukla, with the steep climb from the river to the monastery as the day's work.
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
- Dingbocheon foot, about 5-6 hUp past Pangboche and above the tree line.
- Namche Bazaaron foot, about 4-5 hBack down on the descent.
- Phericheon foot, about 5-6 hVia Pangboche to Pheriche and the aid post.
- Khumjungon foot, about 4-6 hWest on the high trail to Khumjung.
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:
- Namche Bazaar
- Next stop:
- Dingboche
- A typical day:
- From Namche, about 5-6 hours: a contouring trail, a descent of about 300 m to Phunki Tenga, then a climb of about 600 m through forest.
Risks and conditions
Seasonal risks around Tengboche
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
Tengboche is at about 3,867 m; it is also the line above which winter snow starts to block the trails. 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.
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.
Coldmoderate in a typical yearNov-Mar
Nights drop well below freezing from November to March, with frost most mornings and only the dining room heated in most lodges.
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.
Othermoderate in a typical yearJun-Aug
June to August is wet: heavy rain hides the mountains, the stone staircases and bridge approaches stay slippery, and leeches are a nuisance in the forest below about 3,000 m.
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.
- Dress modestly in the monastery, remove shoes in the prayer hall and do not photograph inside without permission.
- 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 Tengboche
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 Tengboche
How long is the walk from Namche to Tengboche?
Usually 5-6 hours, with a descent to the river at Phunki Tenga and a climb of about 600 m to the monastery.
Can visitors enter Tengboche Monastery?
Yes, the prayer hall is usually open to respectful visitors, especially during afternoon prayers. Remove your shoes and ask before taking photographs.
When is the Mani Rimdu festival at Tengboche?
It is held in autumn, usually in October or November, on dates set by the Tibetan lunar calendar; check the dates for the year you travel.
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
Valley or region
Everest Region (Khumbu)
The Sherpa homeland below Everest, reached on foot from Lukla through stone villages, monasteries and glacial valleys.
Editorial draft: facts are being checked against the sources below. Last checked 2026-10-06. Sources: Tengboche, Wikipedia, Tengboche Monastery, Wikipedia, Sagarmatha National Park, Wikipedia