Everest Panorama Trek

Enjoy the fascinating beauty of the Everest trail without exposing yourself to the harsh challenges of an extreme high-altitude trek. Yes, our Everest Panorama Trek allows you to take in the delights of the Everest Region without wearing you out physically. Take your time to explore the Sherpa villages and learn about the ancient Tibetan Buddhist culture. Savor your walk through the lush Dudh Koshi River Valley with stunning views of snow-covered mountains. Immerse yourself in the gorgeous natural beauty of the Khumbu landscape and Sherpa culture. Not having to race to a high-altitude destination like Everest base Camp or Gokyo means you can hike leisurely without worrying over issues related to high altitude.

The Everest Panorama Trek begins with a short flight to Lukla's Tenzing Hillary Airport. The airport, built on top of a cliff is regarded as one of the most dangerous airports in the world.  You start your trek right after you land in Lukla. Make your way out of the bustling streets and head down to the Dudh(Milky) Koshi River. Walk alongside the Milky River and cross over to Phakding, a large Sherpa village located on the banks of the river. After Phakding you head towards Namche Bazaar via the villages of Bangkar, Monjo, and Jorsale. Namche, known as the capital of the Sherpas, is a large town with amenities like shops, banks, cafes, bakeries, restaurants, and budget as well as luxury lodges. An additional day in Namche will offer you the opportunity to hike to Hotel Everest View, one of the highest-placed luxury hotels in the world. Grandiose views of Ama Dablam, Mount Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Thamserku, Kantega, Khumbila, etc., can be enjoyed from the hotel's viewpoint. Namche is also home to museums and art galleries that provide an insight into the rich culture and history of the Sherpas and the early Mount Everest expeditions.

Your last destination is Tengboche, a picturesque village with the oldest Buddhist monastery in Khumbu, Tengboche Gompa. The hike to Tengboche is filled with gorgeous views of the mountains and Buddhist architecture that decorate the landscape. The dense jungle surrounding Tengboche is also home to a host of rare Himalayan wildlife - Himalayan Tahr, Snow Leopard, Himalayan musk deer, Himalayan monal, Yellow-Throated Marten, Blood Pheasant, etc. 

After exploring Tengboche, you head down to Namche via the Sherpa heritage villages of Khumjung and Kunde. Both these villages were chosen by Sir Edmund Hillary's Himalayan Trust for its development projects. While Khumjung was the site for the first school in Khumbu, the first health center was built in Kunde. Khumjung also has a monastery with an interesting exhibit- the scalp of a Yeti(abominable snowman). After spending one more night in Namche you will walk down to Lukla via the same route and fly back to Kathmandu.

Everest Panorama Trek is a short and beautiful trek recommended for first-time hikers in the Everest Region. It is also a great hike for those who want to experience the grandeur of Mount Everest without having to trek above 4,000 meters. The trail offers panoramic views of some of the highest mountains in the world, like Mount Everest, Lhotse and more. You can also spend more time at quaint Sherpa villages learning about their unique culture.

Everest Panorama Trek Highlights

• Panoramic views of 6000, 7000 and 8000 meter peaks
• Set eyes on the world's tallest mountain Mount Everest
• Experience the pristine natural beauty of the Dudh Koshi River Valley
• Interesting cultural experience while visiting Sherpa villages
• Beautiful Tibetan Buddhist architecture and structures en route
• Less risk of high-altitude related issues

Route Overview

The Everest Panorama Trek begins from Kathmandu with a breathtaking mountain flight to Lukla. Your trek starts from Lukla, a picturesque Sherpa settlement. On your first day, you will follow the Dudh Koshi River and stop at the riverside village of Phakding. The next day's walk will take you past large mani stones, prayer wheels, and Sherpa villages with cute stone cottages. From Monjo, you will enter the Sagarmatha National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your destination is Namche Bazaar which lies high above the Dudh Koshi River Valley. On our way, you will cross waterfalls, pine forests, and thickets of rhododendron shrubs which add color to the trail with their red, pink, and white blooms during spring. There are also plenty of crossings over metal suspension bridges, the highest of which is the Hillary Bridge. After crossing the Hillary Bridge, you arrive in Namche.

Also known as the Sherpa capital, Namche is built by scooping out the side of a mountain. The lively town is flanked by the jagged spires of the Thamserku, Kantega, Khumbila, and Kongde Ri. You will spend an extra day here acclimatizing and exploring the town. A hike to the popular viewpoint of Hotel Everest View will allow you to enjoy panoramic vistas of Mount Everest, Ama Dablam, Thamserku, Lhotse, Nuptse, and other giants. On your way down) you can visit the art gallery and mountain museum Sagarmatha Next and the Sherpa Culture Museum. Namche is also home to bakeries and cafes that offer delectable apple pies, chocolate brownies, and other baked items.

Leaving Namche, you will head towards Tengboche, a Sherpa settlement with the most important Buddhist monastery in the Khumbu Region. The walk takes you to one of the most picturesque sections of the trail, from where you can almost see Ama Dablam in its entirety, plus Nuptse, Lhotse, and Mount Everest. A steep downhill will bring you to another critical river in Khumbu, the Imja Khola. You can rest for a while at Phunki Tenga, which lies on the bank of this river. Later a steep ascent past a dense forest filled with amazing wildlife will bring you Tengboche.

The settlement of Tengboche is clustered around the majestic Tengboche Gompa. The monastery which is also known as Dawa Choling Gompa is the most important Buddhist monastery in the Khumbu Region. The biggest and grandest Mani Rimdu celebrations are held in this monastery (Thame Gompa and Chiwong Gompa are the other two venues of this festival). Sherpas from all over the region congregate at Tengboche Monastery to witness the prayer ceremonies and masked dances performed by monks. You can visit the monastery and attend a prayer meeting. The interior of the monastery is decorated with colorful Buddhist murals, scroll paintings, and statues of Buddhist deities. As Tengboche is situated on a ridge, the sunrise and sunset views are amazing from here.

From Tengboche, you will retrace your steps and return to Namche via Khumjung and Kunde. Khumjung has the oldest school in the Khumbu region while Kunde is home to the oldest health center established by Sir Edmund Hillary. From Namche, you will follow the same route back to Lukla. On arriving at Lukla you will bid goodbye to the local crew (porter and guide) and return to Kathmandu by flight. An extra day in the city will give you ample time to relax and recover your energy for your return journey back home.

How difficult is the Everest Panorama Trek?

The Everest Panorama Trek is graded as easy to moderately difficult. Depending on your experience, you can find the trek either easy or slightly difficult. For beginners the steep ascents, switchbacks, and descents on their way to Namche and Tengboche can be a bit exhausting. However, you can set your pace and walk slowly taking plenty of breaks en route.

For experienced hikers, this trek can be fairly easy. The foot-trails are well-maintained and in pretty good condition. It's easy walking and no technical skill is required to navigate the trail. However, you will have to be physically fit and strong enough to endure a daily hike of 4 to 5 hours on the trail. There are several Sherpa villages en route where you can stop for food and overnight rest. There's electricity, mobile, and internet connection. But do note most teahouses charge extra for charging your electronic gadgets, hot shower, and Wi-Fi.

Can a beginner do the Everest Panorama trek?

Yes, even beginners can do the Everest Panorama Trek provided they are physically fit and have no cardiac or lung issues. Since this is a multi-day trek your legs should be strong enough to take in a daily hike of about 4-5 hours on an undulating and hilly terrain (up, down, and flat). Even though this trek takes you to one of the highest trekking destinations in the world, altitude sickness is not much of an issue as you will remain well below the tree line (below 4000 meters). The highest place you will sleep is Tengboche which lies at an elevation of 3860 meters. However, you should take care and follow precautionary measures so as not to fall sick on the trail.

When is the ideal time for Everest Panorama Trek?

While you can do this trek any time of the year, the autumn and spring seasons offer the ideal conditions to trek in this region. During these two seasons, the days remain pleasant and warm enough to trek comfortably without putting on heavy layers. The skies remain clear and one can enjoy excellent views of the mountains. However, the trail remains busy and crowded during this time. Flights to and from Lukla are also rerouted to Manthali Airport during the peak seasons. This means you will have to take a 4-5 hour drive to Manthali from Kathmandu to catch your flight.

The summer and winter seasons are relatively quieter. There are fewer people on the trail and flights to Lukla operate from the domestic airport in Kathmandu. The downside is you will have to face inclement weather (rain, fog, clouds) in summer and extreme cold in winter. An early winter trek can be really pleasant if you can withstand the freezing nighttime temperatures. More and more trekkers now prefer to trek during the first few weeks of December as the skies remain cloudless and there’s fresh cover of snow on the mountains.

Alternative Treks you can consider

If you are ready for a challenging experience, you can choose the popular Everest Base Camp Trek or the Gokyo Valley and Renjo La Pass Trek. If you want a 360-degree experience and can afford a helicopter charter, you can try our Everest View Heli Tour and Everest Base Camp Heli shuttle Trek. Both these packages offer you an amazing trek and helicopter ride close to the Himalayan peaks and the Khumbu Glacier.