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)दिङबोचे
Dingboche
A walled-field Sherpa village in the Imja valley, the usual acclimatisation stop on the way to Everest Base Camp.
- Altitude
- 4,410 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
Dingboche is a Sherpa village at about 4,410 m in the Imja valley, east of the main Khumbu valley. Within the Everest region it is where most trekkers spend two nights on the way to Everest Base Camp, using the rest day to climb the ridge above the village. Its stone-walled fields of potatoes and barley, protected from wind and grazing yaks, give it a patchwork look from above.
The village faces south and is sunnier and more sheltered than Pheriche across the ridge, which is why most itineraries sleep here on the way up. Ama Dablam rises to the south, Lhotse and Island Peak (Imja Tse) to the north-east. The Nangkartshang ridge behind the village, at about 5,083 m, is the standard acclimatisation walk. From Dingboche the trail continues north-west to Lobuche, or east up the valley to Chhukung for the Kongma La.
History and culture
Dingboche was a summer grazing and farming settlement for Sherpa families from lower villages, and its walled fields are still farmed. Today most buildings are lodges. The population was estimated at about 200 in 2011. A small gompa stands above the village, and mani walls and chortens mark the trail in and out.
Things to do in Dingboche
Climb Nangkartshang
A steep path climbs the ridge behind the village towards about 5,000 m for views of Makalu, Lhotse and Island Peak; return to sleep in Dingboche.
Walk up the Imja valley
An easier acclimatisation option follows the valley towards Chhukung and back.
Weather and the best time to visit Dingboche
Weather in Dingboche
Forecast for 4,410 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
Many lodges, most with heated dining rooms; rooms are simple and unheated.
No partner stays are listed here yet. List a property.
Getting there
Dingboche is reached on foot, usually on the fifth or sixth day from Lukla, via Namche and Tengboche.
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.
- trekTengboche to Dingboche, about 10-12 km and 5-6 hours, via Pangboche and above the tree line.
Getting to Dingboche, 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 Tengbocheabout 5-6 h5-6 h from Tengboche, about 10-12 km and roughly 550 m of ascent via Pangboche
The fifth or sixth day from Lukla, leaving the last forest behind; most parties spend two nights here.
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
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:
- Tengboche
- Next stop:
- Lobuche (or Chhukung on the Three High Passes)
- A typical day:
- From Tengboche, about 5-6 hours and roughly 550 m of height gain via Pangboche, leaving the forest behind.
Risks and conditions
Seasonal risks around Dingboche
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
Dingboche stands at about 4,410 m and is a usual acclimatisation stop. 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.
Floodingmoderate in a typical yearMay-Sep
Imja Tsho, the glacial lake at the head of the Imja valley, is listed among the potentially dangerous lakes of the Himalaya and was lowered by over 4 million cubic metres in 2016 to cut the hazard; outburst floods are most likely in the warm, wet months.
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.
- Use the rest day actively: climb a few hundred metres and come back down to sleep.
- 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 Dingboche
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 Dingboche
Why do treks stop for two nights in Dingboche?
At about 4,410 m it is a natural point for an acclimatisation day before going above 4,900 m; most people climb the ridge behind the village and return to sleep.
Dingboche or Pheriche?
Both are at a similar height on either side of a ridge. Dingboche is sunnier and less windy; Pheriche has the seasonal aid post and is often used on the way down.
How high is Dingboche?
About 4,410 m. Altitude sickness is a real risk from here on, so watch for symptoms.
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.
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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 · 4,038 m
Dole
A small lodge village in the upper Dudh Kosi valley, the first night above Namche on the way to Gokyo.
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Dzongla
A tiny lodge stop on a high pasture below Cholatse, the eastern base for crossing the Cho La.
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Gorak Shep
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Nearby
Editorial draft: facts are being checked against the sources below. Last checked 2026-10-06. Sources: Dingboche, Wikipedia, Dingboche, OpenStreetMap