Nepal's Everest region is an area of high mountains, Sherpa villages, steep trails, but above all, fantastic scenery.
Roads in this area are non-existent - the road east from Kathmandu stops at the small town of Jiri, which was the starting point for many Everest expeditions before the airstrip at Lukla was built in 1964. Some trekkers, keen to follow in the original footsteps of Mallory, Hillary and Norgay, still trek into the region from Jiri, a nine-day walk to Lukla at around 2,800m.
Lukla
Lukla, however, is now the main entry point for visitors to the region: the original airstrip is now a proper (albeit small) airport, and from here the trail up to Namche Bazaar, Tengboche and on to base camp is easy to follow.
Trekking
Walking in the region is not easy - the trails are often steeply ascending or descending, you share the path with yaks and mules, and the altitude makes the effort harder, but the rewards include wonderful mountain scenery, Buddhist monasteries and temples, and the hospitality of the local people, who live a hard life, but are always ready with a smile.
Ama Dablam, Everest Region, Nepal
Yak, Everest Region, Nepal
Mani stones, Everest region, Nepal
Places in Everest