Lobuche sits in a shallow trough between the mountainside and the long ridge of stones left by the Khumbu Glacier. Climb a few minutes onto this lateral moraine east of the lodges and the view opens: below you, the glacier surface of rubble, ice and meltwater pools; to the north-east, Nuptse (7,861 m), its west face catching the evening light; and to the north, the sharp tops of Pumori and Lingtren on the border with Tibet.
The best time is the last half hour before sunset, roughly 5 to 5:30 pm in October and November. As the valley falls into shadow, Nuptse turns yellow, then orange, then a fading pink, often with a plume of snow blowing from its ridge. Bring a down jacket, hat and gloves, because the temperature drops sharply when the sun leaves the valley, and the wind can be biting on the moraine crest.
Stay on the main path along the moraine crest and keep back from the edges, where the slope drops steeply to the glacier and loose stones slide easily. Walk slowly: at nearly 5,000 m even a short climb leaves you breathless. Back at the lodge, warm up by the stove with soup and get an early night before the walk to Gorak Shep and Everest Base Camp the next morning.
Good for
- Photographers
- Couples
- Solo
- Groups
Questions travellers ask
Can you see Everest from Lobuche?
Not from the lodges. The ridges of Nuptse and the Lho La block Everest's summit. You see Nuptse, Pumori and Lobuche peaks. Everest comes into full view from Kala Patthar, above Gorak Shep, the day after Lobuche.
What time is sunset at Lobuche?
In October and November, sunset at Lobuche is roughly between 5 and 5:30 pm, with the best light on Nuptse in the last 20–30 minutes. In April and May it is around 6:15 to 6:45 pm. The valley floor loses sun earlier.
Is the Lobuche moraine safe to walk on?
The crest path is safe if you stay on it and walk carefully. The inner slope down to the glacier is steep and loose, so keep away from the edge. Do not try to walk onto the glacier itself.
