Yeti Mountain Home is a chain of six comfortable lodges along the trekking trails of the Khumbu, the Everest region of Nepal, offering a warm bed, an en-suite bathroom and good food at the end of each day's walk. In a region where most trekkers stay in simple teahouses, these lodges, built in traditional Sherpa style, bring a welcome level of comfort to one of the most famous journeys on Earth, the walk towards Mount Everest.
Yeti Mountain Home is a chain of six comfortable lodges along the trekking trails of the Khumbu, the Everest region of Nepal, offering a warm bed, an en-suite bathroom and good food at the end of each day's walk. In a region where most trekkers stay in simple teahouses, these lodges, built in traditional Sherpa style, bring a welcome level of comfort to one of the most famous journeys on Earth, the walk towards Mount Everest.
Location: Everest Region (Khumbu), Nepal
The lodges are spread along the main trekking routes of the Khumbu, at Lukla, Phakding, Monjo, Namche Bazaar, Thame and Kongde, each a short day's walk from the next, so trekkers can gain altitude gradually. Thame lies at around 3,800 metres, and Kongde, the most remote and spectacular, at around 4,250 metres.
Most trekkers fly from Kathmandu, or in peak seasons from Ramechhap, to Lukla's tiny mountain airstrip, one of the most dramatic in the world, then walk north through Sherpa villages, forests and suspension bridges towards Namche Bazaar, the bustling trading town that is the gateway to Everest. The Sagarmatha National Park, which protects the region, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Namche Bazaar, at around 3,440 metres, is the main town of the Khumbu, a horseshoe of houses, lodges, bakeries and gear shops clinging to a mountainside, with a lively Saturday market. Above it, the Sherpa villages of Khumjung and Khunde, and the great monastery at Tengboche, are among the highlights of any trek in the region.
Rooms and suites at Yeti Mountain Home
Each lodge has between 10 and 20 rooms, built in traditional Khumbu style, with plenty of natural wood, warm duvets and electric blankets or heated mats to keep beds warm on cold Himalayan nights. Unusually for the region, all rooms have en-suite bathrooms with hot and cold running water.
The dining rooms are warmed by sealed stoves, and guests are given a thermos of hot boiled water, a small but much-appreciated comfort at altitude.
Each lodge has its own character, from the bustling base at Lukla to the peaceful riverside setting at Phakding and Monjo, and the remote, high-altitude lodge at Kongde, which is often reached by helicopter or on a dedicated trek, and offers a rare sense of solitude in a busy region.
Facilities at Yeti Mountain Home
Meals are served in the lodges' dining rooms, with a mix of Nepali, Sherpa and international dishes, including the classic dal bhat, a hearty meal of lentils, rice and vegetables that fuels trekkers across the Himalayas. The lodges can also arrange guides, porters and itineraries, and many trekking companies use them for comfortable Everest treks.
Facilities are simple compared with hotels in the valleys, as everything must be carried in by porter or yak, but they are among the most comfortable in the Khumbu, and they make the region accessible to travellers who might not otherwise attempt it.
The mountain moment
The defining moment is the first view of Everest, which appears above the ridge of Nuptse and Lhotse on the trail just beyond Namche Bazaar, a distant plume of snow streaming from its summit. For many trekkers, it is the moment of a lifetime.
At Kongde, the most remote lodge, perched high on a ridge opposite Namche, the views across the Khumbu's great peaks, including Everest, Lhotse, Ama Dablam and Thamserku, are among the finest in the Himalayas, especially at sunrise.
Why Yeti Mountain Home is one of the best mountain hotels
Yeti Mountain Home earns its place in our Affordable stays collection because it brings comfort and warmth to one of the world's great mountain journeys, at a price that is modest by international standards, with rates varying by lodge and season, so check them when booking. It is not a luxury hotel, and altitude and weather make any trek in the Khumbu a serious undertaking. But for those who want to walk towards Everest without sacrificing a warm bed and a hot shower, it is an excellent choice.
It also complements Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge, our pick in the Annapurna foothills, offering a very different, higher and wilder Himalayan experience.
When to go to Yeti Mountain Home
The best trekking seasons are autumn, from October to November, with clear skies and the sharpest mountain views, and spring, from March to May, when rhododendrons bloom and the weather is warmer; spring is also the season for Everest expeditions. Winter is cold but often clear and very quiet, and the monsoon, from June to September, brings cloud, rain and leeches, with some lodges closing. Flights to Lukla are frequently delayed by weather, so build spare days into your plans.
Questions, answered
- Where are the Yeti Mountain Home lodges?
- There are six lodges in the Everest region, at Lukla, Phakding, Monjo, Namche Bazaar, Thame and Kongde.
- Do Yeti Mountain Home rooms have private bathrooms?
- Yes. All rooms have en-suite bathrooms with hot and cold running water, unusual in the region.
- How do you get to the Everest region?
- Most trekkers fly from Kathmandu, or from Ramechhap in peak seasons, to Lukla, then walk. Flights are often delayed by weather, so allow spare days.
