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
Thame
A Sherpa village west of Namche with an old cliffside monastery and a long line of famous mountaineers.
- Altitude
- 3,820 m*
- Best months
- Mar-May, Oct-Nov
- Type
- Trek stop
- District
- Solukhumbu, Koshi
- Permit
- Permit required
Higher seasonal exposure: altitude (All year), flooding (Jun-Sep), seasonal closure (Jun-Sep).
Why go
Thame is a Sherpa village at about 3,820 m in the Bhote Koshi valley, a half-day walk west of Namche Bazaar. Within the Everest region it is quieter than the base camp trail and is visited as a side trip from Namche, as the last night of the Three High Passes route after the Renjo La, or as a stop on the way to Lungden.
The walk from Namche follows the hillside west through Phurte and Thamo, passing mani walls and small hydro schemes, with Kongde Ri and Thamserku in view. Above the village, Thame Gompa sits against a cliff and is one of the older monasteries in Khumbu. The village has been home to many noted Everest climbers.
History and culture
Thame and the upper hamlet of Thameteng were the last year-round villages on the old salt trade route between Tibet and the lower hills. Tenzing Norgay spent his childhood here, and climbers Apa Sherpa and Kami Rita Sherpa, who have each held the record for most Everest summits, come from Thame. The monastery holds a Mani Rimdu festival in spring. In August 2024 a glacial lake outburst flood swept down the valley and destroyed at least 15 buildings in the village.
Things to do in Thame
Visit Thame Gompa
Climb above the village to the monastery; visitors are usually welcome outside prayer times.
Day trip from Namche
Walk out and back in a long day, or stay overnight for a quieter acclimatisation stop.
Weather and the best time to visit Thame
Weather in Thame
Forecast for 3,820 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 few lodges; check that they are open after the 2024 flood damage.
No partner stays are listed here yet. List a property.
Getting there
Thame is reached on foot from Namche Bazaar in about 3-4 hours.
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.
- trekNamche to Thame via Phurte and Thamo, about 9-10 km and 3-4 hours.
Getting to Thame, 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
Fly Kathmandu or Ramechhap to Lukla, 25-40 minutes weather permitting, then two days to Namche Bazaar and 3-4 h west up the Bhote Koshi valley. In the busy seasons most flights leave from Ramechhap (Manthali), a 3-4 hour drive east of Kathmandu.
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 3-4 h3-4 h from Namche Bazaar via Phurte and Thamo, about 9-10 km with modest height gain
A half-day west from Namche into the quieter Bhote Koshi valley; also the last stage of the Three High Passes circuit, 4-5 h down from Lungden.
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
- Namche Bazaaron foot, about 3-4 hBack east to Namche Bazaar.
- Lungdenon foot, about 5-6 hUp the valley towards the Renjo La.
- Renjo Laon footVia Lungden; the crossing itself is a separate long day.
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 Three High Passes trek.
- Previous stop:
- Lungden (on the Three High Passes)
- Next stop:
- Namche Bazaar
- A typical day:
- From Lungden, about 4-5 hours down the Bhote Koshi valley; from Namche, about 3-4 hours west with modest height gain.
Risks and conditions
Seasonal risks around Thame
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
Thame stands at about 3,800-3,820 m in the Bhote Koshi valley. 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.
Floodinghigh in a typical yearJun-Sep
Thame was inundated by a glacial lake outburst flood on 16 August 2024, which destroyed at least 15 structures. Outburst floods from the glacial lakes above the valley are most likely in the warm, wet months, and the village sits on the valley floor.
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.
Snowmoderate in a typical yearDec-Mar
Snow falls on the trails around the village in winter and after spring storms, though it usually clears from the lower stages within a few days.
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.
- Check the current state of the trail and lodges after the 2024 flood.
- Walk clockwise around mani walls and chortens.
- There is no ATM; carry enough Nepali rupees from Kathmandu, Lukla or Namche.
Treks through Thame
Questions about Thame
How far is Thame from Namche Bazaar?
About 3-4 hours on foot to the west, with modest height gain.
Was Thame damaged in the 2024 flood?
Yes. A glacial lake outburst flood in August 2024 destroyed at least 15 buildings; check the current situation before you go.
Is Thame on the Everest Base Camp route?
No. It lies west of Namche, on the Renjo La route and as a side trip.
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.
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Kala Patthar
A dark ridge-top viewpoint above Gorak Shep with a close view of Everest, Nuptse and the Khumbu Glacier.
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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
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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.
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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.
Nearby
Editorial draft: facts are being checked against the sources below. Last checked 2026-10-06. Sources: Thame, Wikipedia, Thame, OpenStreetMap