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Voykit pocket guide · Nepal
Chhukhung
Spend 1–2 nights in Chhukhung as a high-altitude base for Island Peak or Chhukung Ri; most trekkers arrive from Dingboche and return the same way.
Chhukhung is a small settlement at 4,730 m in the Khumbu region, used almost exclusively by trekkers heading for Island Peak or the Chhukung Ri viewpoint. It has no shops, a handful of lodges and one main reason to be here: the altitude. Most people stay one night, climb Chhukung Ri the next morning and descend to Dingboche or continue toward Everest Base Camp.
- Country
- Nepal
- Best months
- Oct–Nov, Apr
- Avoid
- Dec–Feb (extreme cold), Jun–Aug (monsoon, clouds)
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- NPR
- Money
- NPR in small notes (100s and 500s) for taxis, tea shops and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget Rs 2,500–4,000 · Mid Rs 4,000–7,000 · High Rs 7,000+ (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Nepal Telecom (NTC) and Ncell sell tourist SIMs at Kathmandu airport and in town with passport and a photo.
- Emergency
- Police 100 · Ambulance 102 · Tourist police 1144
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round-pin sockets; a universal adapter covers them. Treks charge for device charging.
- Tipping
- Trekking guide: About 10–15% of the guide's total fee, at the end.; Porter: US$5–10 a day, at the end, in person.; Restaurant: Round up if 10% service is added; 5–10% if not.; Driver day: Rs 500–1,000.; Hotel staff: Rs 100–200.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Use filtered refill stations (Rs 50–100 a litre) or purification tablets; buying plastic bottles on treks leaves rubbish in the mountains.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels; squat toilets with a water jug elsewhere. Carry tissue; on treks toilets are outside and freeze in winter.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Lodge dorm bed | Rs 800–2,000 |
| Dal bhat (lodge meal) | Rs 600–1,000 |
| Bottle of water (1 L) | Rs 200–400 |
| Cup of tea | Rs 100–200 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- LUA · Tenzing-Hillary Airport, Lukla
- 7-day trek from Lukla via Namche Bazaar and Dingboche
Typical fares
- Lukla → Chhukhung (7-day trek)
- check
- Chhukhung → Dingboche (trail)
- about 2 h
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walking only. The village is a single cluster of lodges; trails to Chhukung Ri and Island Peak start from the edge of the settlement.
See and do
Known for
- Chhukung Ri viewpoint (5,546 m)
- Island Peak base
- High-altitude lodge stays
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Chhukung Ri | Trail from the village, about 3 h up, 2–3 h down | 6–7 h return |
| Island Peak base camp | Trail from Chhukhung, about 2–3 h | 4–6 h return |
| Dingboche | Trail descending the valley, about 2 h | 2 h |
| Everest Base Camp | Trail via Dingboche and Lobuche, about 2–3 days | 2–3 days |
Sleep
- Chhukhung village
- A handful of lodges; Panorama Lodge has a sun-room and clean facilities.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | नमस्तेnamaste |
| Thank you | धन्यवादdhanyavād |
| How much? | कति?kati |
| I am not well | मलाई सन्चो छैनmalāī sancho chaina |
| Please help | कृपया मद्दत गर्नुहोस्kripayā maddat garnuhos |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste with palms together; a handshake between men in business; avoid: Hugging or kissing in public
- Temples and stupas: Walk clockwise, spin prayer wheels clockwise, shoes off at shrines; avoid: Touching offerings; entering Hindu-only areas
- Food: Right hand, accept refills gracefully; avoid: Sharing food you have bitten; stepping over food
- Feet and heads: Keep feet flat and away from people and altars; avoid: Touching anyone's head
- Photos: Ask first; offer to show the picture; avoid: Photographing cremations or rituals without permission
- On the trail: Pass mani walls and chortens on the left (keeping them on your right); give way to yaks on the mountain side; avoid: Standing on the drop side when animals pass
Scams and watch-outs
- Altitude: 4,730 m. Acute mountain sickness is a real risk; ascend slowly and know the symptoms.
- No shops: stock up on snacks and supplies in Dingboche or Namche Bazaar.
- Prices rise with altitude: a bottle of water or a chocolate bar costs more here than in Lukla.
- Weather changes fast: afternoon clouds and wind are common; start any climb before 06:00.
Altitude is the main risk. Know the symptoms of AMS, descend if you feel unwell. Trails are well-marked but can be icy in the morning; carry microspikes in shoulder seasons.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Chhukhung yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Chhukung Ri viewpoint (5,546 m)
- Island Peak base
- High-altitude lodge stays
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Chhukhung, revision 4752011 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4752011
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/chhukhung). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.