Sightseeing · Namche Bazaar
Khumjung & Khunde Sherpa Villages
Traditional Sherpa villages above Namche with Hillary's school and hospital, a hilltop monastery and Everest views.
Khumjung and Khunde are twin traditional Sherpa villages on the plateau above Namche Bazaar, at around 3,790m, sheltered beneath the sacred peak of Khumbila. They are the heart of Sherpa rural life in the Khumbu and a highlight of the classic acclimatization day from Namche — stone houses, potato terraces and prayer-flag-strung lanes far from the bustle of the trail.
Khumjung
The larger village, Khumjung is known for its monastery — said to hold a relic linked to the yeti legend — and for the Khumjung school, founded by Sir Edmund Hillary in 1961, which still educates local children. Wandering its lanes between stone-walled fields gives a real sense of how Sherpa families live at altitude.
Khunde
A short walk away, quieter Khunde is home to the Khunde Hospital, established by Hillary's Himalayan Trust in 1966 to serve the Khumbu's communities. The village sees fewer trekkers and rewards a slow visit.
The two villages together form the cultural heartland of the Khumbu's Sherpa population, set on a high plateau of barley and potato fields with the sacred summit of Khumbila rising above. Sherpa Buddhism forbids climbing Khumbila out of respect for the mountain god believed to dwell there, and the peak watches over daily life in both villages. Walking between the stone houses, chortens and mani walls offers a far quieter, more authentic picture of mountain life than the busy main trail below.
Why visit on an acclimatization day
At around 3,790m, the plateau is high enough to give your body useful adjustment while still being an easy return to sleep low in Namche. The walk up to the ridge and out across the fields is gentle, scenic and culturally rich — exactly the kind of unhurried height gain that makes for a safe, well-spent rest day before continuing toward Everest.
Good to know
- Altitude: Around 3,790m — perfect for the climb-high, sleep-low acclimatization rule.
- Make a loop: Combine the villages with Hotel Everest View at Syangboche and the Everest View Point for the full rest-day circuit.
- Respect: These are working villages and a living monastery — visit quietly and ask before photographing people.
See our full guide to acclimatization day hikes from Namche and the wider Everest region treks. Review altitude sickness in Nepal before going higher, and start from the Namche Bazaar travel guide for the overview.
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Frequently asked questions
Where are Khumjung and Khunde?+
They are twin Sherpa villages on the plateau above Namche Bazaar, at around 3,790m, beneath the sacred peak of Khumbila. Khumjung is the larger of the two, and they sit a short walk apart, both reached on a day hike from Namche.
What is there to see in Khumjung?+
Khumjung has a traditional Sherpa village layout of stone houses and potato fields, a monastery said to hold a relic linked to the yeti legend, and the Khumjung school founded by Sir Edmund Hillary in 1961, which still serves the local community.
What is special about Khunde?+
Khunde is home to the Khunde Hospital, established by Hillary's Himalayan Trust in 1966, which has long served the Sherpa communities of the Khumbu. The quieter village offers a genuine look at everyday Sherpa life away from the main trekking trail.
How do you visit Khumjung and Khunde from Namche?+
Both are visited on an acclimatization day hike from Namche, usually combined with the Everest View Point and Hotel Everest View at Syangboche. The route climbs to the ridge then drops onto the plateau, returning to sleep low in Namche.
