Phakding to Namche Bazaar Trek: Day 2 EBC Itinerary & Guide

Walking from Phakding to Namche Bazaar is the second day of the Everest Base Camp trek and a key trail used for almost every trek in the region.

Quick Facts

Start: Phakding at 2,610 meters
Finish: Namche Bazaar at 3,440 meters
Distance: 10.8 kilometers
Time: 6 to 7 hours of walking
Elevation Gain: 830 meters

The Journey

You start walking around 8 in the morning after breakfast. The trail goes up gradually at first, taking you through small Sherpa villages like Toktok, Monjo, and Jorsalle, and across five suspension bridges over the Dudhkoshi River.

You stop at Monjo to get your Sagarmatha National Park entry permit checked. After that, you usually stop for lunch in Jorsalle. The hardest part comes right after lunch: a steep climb up through a pine forest to reach Namche Bazaar. If the weather is clear, you might catch your first glimpse of Mount Everest during this final climb.

Highlights & Nature

Along the way, you will see traditional Sherpa houses, waterfalls, rivers, and Buddhist monuments like prayer flags and mani walls. On a clear day, you get great views of mountains like Thamserku and Taboche. You might also spot local wildlife, such as Himalayan Tahr or the national bird of Nepal.

Food and Drink

There are plenty of lodges and tea houses along the trail where you can buy meals, snacks, and hot drinks. Bottled water is available to buy, or you can fill up with tap water and use water purification tablets or drops. Make sure to carry enough water from Jorsalle because there are no shops for the final three hours of the walk.

What to Wear

What you wear depends heavily on the season. You can wear lighter clothes in warmer months like spring and summer, but it gets very cold from October through February. Always pack a thin windproof jacket and a rain cover in your small backpack.

Important Tips

Trail Traffic: The path can get busy with other trekkers, porters, and pack animals like mules and yaks. Always stand on the safe mountain side of the trail when they pass.

Weather: Afternoons can sometimes get windy, rainy, or hail, so it is best to start your walk early in the morning.

Wind: Hold onto your sun hat while crossing windy suspension bridges so it does not blow away.

Safety: Walk at a slow, comfortable pace to avoid altitude sickness, take regular breaks, and drink plenty of water.

Phakding to Namche Bazaar is a long trekking camp, the day-2 walk of the Everest Base Camp (EBC) trek. Not just during the EBC journey, you will be walking on this trail on every trekking route in the Khumbu Everest Region to Namche from Phakding.

The trail to Namche Bazaar from Phakding gradually ascends for the first few hours until you reach the Sagarmatha National Park office, where you issue a park entry permit. Then, you will have a steep ascent after lunch for 2–3 hours.

Before reaching Namche Bazaar, cross five different suspension bridges over the Dudhkoshi River after Phakding. Today, you will walk through several small Sherpa settlements from Phakding to Namche Bazaar.

Phakding to Namche Bazaar: Detailed Itinerary, Distance, Walking Hours, and Altitude Gain

The journey to Namche Bazaar on the second day of the Everest Base Camp trek from Phakding begins after breakfast in the guesthouse. You completed 10.8 Km (6.710809) with 6-7 hours of walking today. You start walking at 2610m (8562.992 feet) and reach 3440m (11286.09 feet) after gaining 830m (2723.1 feet) of altitude.

You start walking around 8:00 a.m. from Phakding on the second day of the Everest Base Camp trek towards Namche Bazaar. You cross the first suspension bridge after walking around 10–15 minutes from the lodge and will still be in the same town.

After walking for around half an hour to 45 minutes, you reach Zamfute, where you see a micro-hydro station, and ascend for 10 minutes to Toktok Village. At the end of Toktok Village, you see an attractive waterfall with a large water flow from June to September. However, it will be reduced during the other months of the year.

Right after crossing the waterfall, you will have an uphill section for around 20 minutes, from where you will see a magnificent view of Mt.Thamserku (6,608 m/198845.14 feet). You cross the second suspension bridge in Bankar and reach Chhumuwa and Monjo. You issue a Sagarmatha National Park entry permit at the end of Monjo Village, which costs 3000 NPR except for Indian and South Asian Trekkers. It costs 1500 NPR for Indian and South Asian travelers, and Nepalese trekkers also must have a permit to trek to Everest Base Camp, which costs 100 NPR.

After the checkpost, you will descend for around 10 minutes, walk on a flat part for another five minutes, and cross the third bridge over the same river before reaching Jorsalle. You stop for lunch in Jorsalle and make the final journey to Namche Bazaar.

After lunch in Jorsalle, you cross the fourth suspension bridge and walk close to the Dudhkoshi River for about half an hour on a gradual up-and-down path, then start ascending towards the highest and final bridge for around 20 minutes. Now, you cross this high bridge and walk on a steep, ascending trail through the pine forest. If the weather is clear, you may see the first view of Mount Everest today while walking on this part. You reach Mislung after crossing the pine forest and checking in your permit at the police post, and you walk another 15 minutes to get to Namche Bazaar, the most beautiful town on the Everest Base Camp trekking route. Check out a quick fact about Phakding and Namche Bazaar below:

Everest Base Camp Trek Day 2: Phakding to Namche Bazaar
Starting Location: Phakding (2610 m/8,562.992 feet)
Final Destination: Namche Bazaar (3,440 m/11,286.09 feet)
Walking Distance: 10.8 Km (6.710809)
Walking Hours: 6-7 hrs.
Elevation Gain: 830m (2,723.1 feet)

Check out the 15-Day Everest Base Camp Trekking Itinerary, map, cost, preparation, and more here.

Having information about Lukla Flight cancellations and alternative options helps you plan a trek to Namche Bazaar from Phakding.

Attractions while walking to Namche Bazaar from Phakding

Walking through traditional Sherpa Villages and seeing local architecture and decorated buildings is magnificent along the way to Namche Bazaar. Crossing suspension bridges gives you an adventurous feeling on the way, and seeing charming natural attractions such as rivers, streams, waterfalls, green forests, and more with fresh air makes your journey meaningful.

You will see the outstanding views of Mt.Thamserku, Taboche, and Everest along the way, and Kongde when you reach Namche Bazaar today. You may also see the Himalayan Tahr on a trek in late autumn and winter, and the Nepalese national bird (Himalayan Monal). Buddhist monuments like Stupas, Mani Walls, Mani Rocks, Mani Wheels, prayer flags, and more decorate the trail to Namche Bazaar.

Food and Drink along the way to Namche Bazaar

There are plenty of guesthouses and restaurants along the way to Namche Bazaar after leaving Phakding, so you have places to stop for lunch, snacks, and hot drinks. It is optional to reach any particular location for food if you amble, or you can even get to Namche for lunch if you are a fast walker, but it might be a late lunch.

The food is served from a menu, so you have many choices of food items. For drinks, you can quickly buy a bottle of water in the shops, lodges, or restaurants along the way. You can also drink regular tap water if you do not want to buy mineral water. Still, you must use purification methods like sterilizers, water tablets, or drops before you drink it. But you must take more than a liter of water from Jorsalle for the final 3 hours because you won’t have any places to buy water and will rarely find a tap to refill your empty water bottle.

Clothes to Wear for the Phakding to Namche Bazaar Trek

Wearing trekking clothes from Phakding to Namche depends on the temperature and season. If you are on this trail in spring, summer, and September, you can wear shorts, but it gets cold in October. So, walking in October, November, December, January, and February will be freezing, and you need to wear long sleeves.

Take a thin windproof jacket, one pair of changing clothes, and a rain cover in your daypack. At the same time, you walk from Phakding to Namche Bazaar during the Everest Base Camp trek.

Why Trek to Namche Bazaar from Phakding?

Khumbu Valley and magnificent mountain views

It is often said that you trek to Namche Bazaar on the second day of your trek to Everest Base Camp. But you do not just go to the base camp; you also walk on this trail for other trekking packages in the Everest Himalayas, peak climbing, and expedition trips. Below is what it takes to walk from Phakding Village to Namche Bazaar in the Khumbu Region.

Besides the listed treks, you can visit Namche Bazaar by walking from Phakding during Island Peak climbing, Lobuche peak climbing, and other high mountain expeditions. Suppose you fly by helicopter for the Everest Base Camp Helicopter tour. In that case, you will see this beautiful Sherpa town in the Everest Region and trekkers from Phakding Village to Namche Bazaar.

Things to remember while trekking from Phakding Village to Namche Bazaar

You meet many trekkers walking to Namche Bazaar or returning to Lukla after the Base Camp visit. This means that the trekking path will be busy. You also encounter porters, mules, and Jopke (a hybrid between a cow and a yak) carrying loads. Stand on the safe side if you meet them in a narrow space, ensuring the load does not push you.

It might be windy in spring, and rain or hail can sometimes fall after 3 or 4 p.m., so if you are on the trek during this time, you might suffer from these conditions. It is recommended that you start earlier and reach Namche Bazaar early.

You will wear a sun hat during the trek. It can be blown by the wind while crossing suspension bridges, so take care of your hat by taking it off and holding it in your hand. Walking fast can cause altitude sickness, so saunter as much as you feel comfortable on the ascending trail. Take enough breaks and drink plenty of clean water on the way to Namche during the second day of the Everest Base Camp trek.

Conclusion

Phakding to Namche is day 2 of the Everest Base Camp trek. It is the longest walk going towards the base camp. After completing the base camp and Kala Patthar visits, there are even longer hours of walking back to Lukla. Also, today is the highest elevation gain compared to the other trekking days in the trip. Hopefully, you got what you wanted about the second day of the Everest Base Camp itinerary here. Please do not feel uneasy about asking if you have more questions about this day, the full itinerary, difficulties, safety, or anything about the Everest Base Camp trek through our Contact Us page, direct call, or WhatsApp at any time.