Monjo Lodge

A long stone pathway winds through flower-filled gardens to the main lodge, where two bright sunrooms bookend the first-floor hallway – perfect for watching the afternoon light shift across the peaks. Downstairs, the dining room centres around a wood-burning stove, its warmth a magnet after a day on the trail. Meals lean heavily into fragrant Nepali and Tibetan flavours, with vegetables plucked fresh from the greenhouse. There's a well-stocked bar too, and a happy hour tradition that brings guests together over drinks and snacks before supper.

All 11 rooms share a traditional aesthetic: exposed wooden beams, polished floors, and large windows framing the Himalayan skyline. Bathrooms are en-suite with hot showers (solar-permitting), and beds come with electric mats to chase away the mountain chill. Little touches set the tone: cosy slippers at the door, padded jackets for evening wanderings, and a thermos of hot water waiting on arrival. It's comfort pitched just right for high-altitude trekking with nothing flashy and everything considered.

Monjo marks the official entrance to Sagarmatha National Park, so you'll pass through the permit checkpoint before continuing towards Namche or the famous Tengboche Monastery. For acclimatisation, a half-day hike to Thumbug village gains enough altitude to stretch the lungs without overdoing it, while the ridge above town rewards early risers with sunrise views over Thamserku. In the village itself, the small Buddhist gompa and ancient mani walls carved with prayers offer a gentler pace – and a glimpse into Sherpa spiritual life.