From Phakding the trail crosses and recrosses the Dudh Koshi through Tok Tok and Benkar, with views of Thamserku's snow ridges above the forest, then climbs gently to Monjo at about 2,835 m. Just past the village, a stone gate and office mark the entrance to Sagarmatha National Park, established in 1976 and listed by UNESCO in 1979. The park covers about 1,148 square km, from the forests here to the summit of Everest.
Your guide presents your national park permit, or buys it here if it was not arranged in Kathmandu, and the staff record your passport details. While you wait, look at the large relief map at the gate: it shows the whole Khumbu, from Gokyo and the Ngozumpa Glacier to Everest and Island Peak, and is a good way to picture the route ahead. Boards describe snow leopards, red pandas, Himalayan tahr, musk deer and the forests of rhododendron and fir.
After the gate, stone steps drop steeply to Jorsale on the river, the last village before Namche, and a common lunch stop. Rules inside the park include carrying out non-burnable rubbish, not cutting firewood and not disturbing wildlife. Plastic water bottles are discouraged; refill stations with treated water exist in several villages. Keep your permit and passport handy, as further checks happen at Namche and sometimes elsewhere.
Good for
- Families
- First-timers
- Groups
- Solo
Questions travellers ask
Where do I get the Sagarmatha National Park permit?
You can buy it at the Nepal Tourism Board office in Kathmandu or at the park gate at Monjo. Most agencies arrange it in advance. The fee for foreigners has been NPR 3,000 and lower for SAARC nationals; check current status before you travel.
When did Sagarmatha National Park become a World Heritage Site?
Sagarmatha National Park was established in 1976 and inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. It covers about 1,148 square km in the Khumbu, including Everest, Lhotse, Cho Oyu and their glaciers.
What wildlife can I see near Monjo?
Himalayan tahr on rocky slopes, musk deer in the forest, Himalayan monal and blood pheasants near the trail, and langur monkeys lower down. Snow leopards and red pandas live in the park but are rarely seen by trekkers.
