The gateway to the Everest region and main administrative centre, Namche Bazaar is one of the most important centres of Sherpa culture. The small town is sited on the side of a hill at an altitude of around 3,450m and houses the headquarters for the Sagamartha National Park as well as a police checkpoint, post office and bank. Anyone trekking in the region will stop here, and all the services required by trekkers can be found in the town, including books, trekking supplies, a great bakery and even (slow) internet access, although prices are higher than in Kathmandu. Although there is a small airstrip above Namche Bazaar, this is unsuitable for aircraft and only used by helicopters, so almost all supplies have to be carried by porters or yaks.
Namche Bazaar is a good place to acclimatise for a day or two, and there are several excellent acclimatisation treks in the region around the small town. A popular trek is to the Everest Hotel at an altitude of 3,800m on a ridge above town, from where Mount Everest can be seen on a clear day. Longer treks lead to the interesting Sherpa villages of the region, allowing trekkers to explore the fascinating culture of these remote people.
