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Voykit pocket guide · Nepal
Pangboche
One night on the Everest Base Camp trek: a rest day to acclimatise, visit the monastery and see the hermit caves. Two hours from Tengboche, 2.5 hours to Pheriche.
Pangboche (3,930–4,030 m) is a quiet Sherpa village on the Everest Base Camp trail, between Tengboche and Pheriche. Its main draw is the 17th-century monastery and the hermit caves above it. Most trekkers stop for a night to acclimatise and enjoy the views of Ama Dablam before pushing higher.
- Country
- Nepal
- Best months
- Oct–Nov, Mar–Apr
- Avoid
- Dec–Feb (cold, snow risk), Jun–Aug (monsoon, poor visibility)
- Stay
- 1 night
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 1,500–2,500 (check) · Mid Rs 2,500–4,000 (check) · High Rs 4,000+ (check) (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 |
|---|---|
| Dorm bed | Rs 500–1,200 (check) |
| Private room | Rs 1,500–4,000 (check) |
| Meal (dal bhat or similar) | Rs 500–800 (check) |
| Hot shower | Rs 300–800 (check) |
| Tea or coffee | Rs 100–200 (check) |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- LUA · Tenzing-Hillary Airport, Lukla
- Trek from Lukla takes 5–6 days to Pangboche; helicopter flights from Kathmandu land near Pangboche (check).
Typical fares
- Lukla → Pangboche (trek)
- 5–6 days; permit required (check)
- Helicopter from Kathmandu
- About $500–600 per person (check)
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
On foot only. The village is a cluster of houses along the main trail; the monastery is a short walk uphill.
See and do
Known for
- Pangboche Monastery (17th century)
- Hermit caves above the village
- Ama Dablam views
- Acclimatisation stop on the EBC trek
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Tengboche | Trek downhill, about 2 hours | 2 hours |
| Pheriche | Trek uphill, about 2.5 hours | 2.5 hours |
| Dingboche | Trek via Pheriche, about 3 hours | 3 hours |
Sleep
- Upper Pangboche
- Quieter, near the monastery; lodges like Tara Lodge and Highland Sherpa Resort.
- Lower Pangboche
- Fewer lodges, closer to the trail from Tengboche.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | नमस्तेnamaste |
| Thank you | धन्यवादdhanyavād |
| How much? | कति पैसा?kati paisā? |
| Dal bhat, please | दाल भात, कृपयाdāl bhāt, kripayā |
| Where is the lodge? | लज कहाँ छ?laj kahān cha? |
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: Pangboche is above 3,900 m. Acclimatise properly; watch for AMS symptoms.
- No ATM or reliable phone signal in the village; carry enough cash from Namche Bazaar or Lukla.
- Lodges close in the off-season (Dec–Feb and Jun–Aug); check ahead.
Altitude is the main risk. Acclimatise properly, drink water, and descend if you feel unwell. The village is safe; watch for icy trails in winter.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Pangboche yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Pangboche Monastery (17th century)
- Hermit caves above the village
- Ama Dablam views
- Acclimatisation stop on the EBC trek
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: Pangboche, revision 4877368 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4877368
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/pangboche). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.