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Voykit pocket guide · Nepal
Thame
थामे
Thame is a half-day acclimatisation walk from Namche Bazaar, not a destination on its own. Go as a day trip from Namche or stay one night for the monastery and the old trade-route atmosphere.
Thame is a quiet Sherpa village at 3,750 m, off the main Everest trail. It is the end of the old Tibetan trade route via Nangpa La and gets far fewer visitors than Namche. The walk from Namche is relatively flat, making it a good altitude-acclimatisation day. Tenzing Norgay's house is here, and the village is home to mountaineers Ang Rita Sherpa and Appa Sherpa. Most travellers visit as a day trip from Namche or stay one night.
- Country
- Nepal
- Local name
- थामे
- Best months
- Oct–Nov, Mar–Apr
- Avoid
- Dec–Feb (cold, snow possible), Jun–Aug (monsoon, leeches on trails)
- 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 · Mid Rs 2,500–4,000 · High Rs 4,000+ (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 |
|---|---|
| Dal bhat (typical meal) | Rs 500–800 |
| Tea or coffee | Rs 100–200 |
| Bottle of water (1 L) | Rs 100–150 |
| Lodge room (private, basic) | Rs 500–1,500 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- LUA · Tenzing-Hillary Airport, Lukla
- Then trek to Namche (2 days) and on to Thame (half-day from Namche)
Typical fares
- Lukla → Namche (trek)
- about 2 days, Rs 1,000–2,000 per day for food and lodging (check)
- Namche → Thame (trek)
- about 2–3 hours, no cost
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 trail from Namche is well-marked and takes about 2–3 hours each way.
See and do
Known for
- Thame Monastery (one of the oldest in the region)
- Tenzing Norgay's house
- Old Tibetan trade route
- Sundar Peak climb (false summit near 5,000 m)
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Namche Bazaar | Walk back the same trail, about 2–3 hours downhill | About 3 h |
| Gokyo | Trek via the high pass (Renjo La, 5,360 m) or via Namche and the main trail | About 2–3 days |
| Lukla | Trek back via Namche and the standard trail | About 3–4 days |
Sleep
- Thame village
- A few simple lodges, including Everest Summiteer Lodge of Apa Sherpa. Basic facilities, no luxury.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | नमस्तेnamaste |
| Thank you | धन्यवादdhanyavād |
| How much? | कति?kati |
| Where is the lodge? | लज कहाँ छ?lodge kahā̃ 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: Thame is at 3,750 m. Acclimatise in Namche (3,440 m) before heading up.
- Last lodges may close in deep winter (Jan–Feb). Check ahead.
- No ATM in Thame; bring enough cash from Namche or Lukla.
- Weather changes fast; carry rain gear and warm layers even in clear weather.
Thame is safe for tourists. The main risks are altitude sickness (ascend slowly, know the symptoms) and weather changes. No crime reported. Carry a headlamp and first-aid kit.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Thame yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Thame Monastery (one of the oldest in the region)
- Tenzing Norgay's house
- Old Tibetan trade route
- Sundar Peak climb (false summit near 5,000 m)
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: Thame (Nepal), revision 3509985 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=3509985
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/thame-nepal). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.