Phakding is a popular stopover on the first day of the Everest Base Camp trekking route. Pema Choeling Monastery has stood above the village for more than 500 years. The place can therefore be considered both in terms of the trekking route stages and this historical connection when planning your trip.
Compare stages to Phakding
On the Everest Base Camp trekking route, the journey on the second day involves flying from Kathmandu to Lukla and then continuing to Phakding. The stage to Phakding is listed as taking four hours. The Gokyo-Chola Pass-Everest Base Camp trekking route also places Phakding on the second day, after the flight from Kathmandu to Lukla; that stage is listed as taking three hours. The time estimates for this section therefore differ by one hour.
On the third day, the first route lists the stage from Phakding to Namche as taking five to six hours. The Gokyo-Chola Pass itinerary also lists five to six hours for Phakding to Namche Bazaar. Comparing the two proposed routes, the stated difference in duration is therefore on the second day, while the following section is given the same time range on both. The hours listed are stage estimates, not current flight times. Check current flight and travel information before your trip when planning your specific itinerary.
The official Everest Three Passes trekking route also gives Phakding’s elevation as 2,651 m or 8,697 ft. This elevation provides an additional point of reference when looking at the different route plans.
The monastery and the route to Rimijung
Pema Choeling Monastery above Phakding has been in existence for more than 500 years. The proposed itinerary from Phakding to Rimijung includes a visit to Pemacholing Monastery. The itinerary also includes visiting a local blacksmith and observing his work, as well as visiting a tree nursery settlement. The trekking stage to Rimijung is listed as taking four hours. Returning to Phakding is one of three possible route options.
Another part of the Rimijung itinerary is the trek from Lukla to Phakding, during which the scenery is observed along the way. The proposal thus includes both a named trekking stage and cultural and local stops. Anyone considering the route can treat the four hours for the journey and the listed visits as separate parts of the proposed itinerary, rather than equating them with a current day or visit schedule.
Overnight stays and finding accommodation
One proposed itinerary lists Phakding or Monjo as an overnight stop and mentions lodges and teahouses. The municipality’s tourism strategy, published in 2026, describes significant growth in accommodation capacity in Phakding based on accommodation data through 2025. Both the overnight locations named in an itinerary and the longer-term development of accommodation capacity can therefore serve as planning reference points. Check specific availability for your travel dates before booking.
The wider regional setting may also play a role in travel planning: in the broader area around Phakding, Sagarmatha National Park combines dramatic mountains, glaciers, and deep valleys with Sherpa culture. This is the broader natural and cultural context; the stages and overnight locations described here refer to the proposed routes mentioned above.
Discover more destinations: Gorkha, Bhalam, Bandipur, Dhulikhel, Namche, Phulbari, Sheshnarayan, Meghauli.
For the main travel overview: Nepal.
