Chheplung: The Village Below Lukla Where the Everest Trails Meet
Last updated 16 October 2026.
Short answer: Chheplung is a small village at about 2,660 metres, a short walk below Lukla on the trail to Phakding. Almost everyone on the Everest Base Camp trek walks through it in the first hour of day one, because it is where the trail from Lukla drops to meet the older path from the lower Solu valleys. On our Everest Base Camp Trek by Road, 15 days you also sleep there on the way out, before the walk down to Surke and the drive back to Phaplu. That trek costs USD 1,399 on Budget, USD 2,499 on Standard and USD 4,999 on Luxury per person for one to four people.
I am Shreejan. Chheplung is one of those places people pass without noticing, usually still thinking about the landing at Lukla. It is worth knowing, because it is a junction, a first view and, for some of our trekkers, a night's stop.
Where is Chheplung?
Lukla sits on its airstrip at 2,860 metres. From the edge of town the trail drops gently through fields and a few houses to Chheplung at about 2,660 metres, then carries on down the Dudh Koshi valley to Phakding at 2,610 metres. At Chheplung a second path comes up from the south: the older walking route through Surke and Paiya, which walkers coming from Jiri, Salleri and Phaplu still use today. So Chheplung is where the walk-in routes and the fly-in route become one trail to Everest.
| Fact | Chheplung |
|---|---|
| Height | About 2,660 m |
| From Lukla | A short downhill walk, under an hour for most people |
| Next village | Phakding, 2,610 m, on day one of the Everest Base Camp trek |
| Trail junction | The path south to Surke and Paiya, the old route to the lower Solu valleys |
| On our treks | Passed on day one of every Lukla start; a night stop on the 15-day trek by road |
What is Chheplung like?
It is a quiet farming village with a few lodges and tea houses, stone walls, potato fields and prayer flags along the trail. Coming from Lukla you are still in the green middle hills, with pine and rhododendron on the slopes and the river loud below. On a clear morning you can see snow peaks above the valley, the first mountain view many people get once they leave the airstrip behind. Everything around you is still under 3,000 metres, so this is gentle walking and a good place to find your pace.
For trekkers who drive in, Chheplung means something different. After days of walking up from the south through Surke, this is where you join the busy main trail. On the way back out on our by-road trek, it is your last night in the Khumbu before you turn south.
Who sleeps in Chheplung?
On most Everest itineraries nobody does. You walk through it to Phakding on day one. On our 15-day Everest Base Camp trek by road, which drives to Phaplu instead of flying to Lukla, the way out comes down from Namche to Chheplung for the night, and the next day you walk south to Surke and Thamdanda and drive back to Phaplu. That avoids the Lukla flight completely, which is useful in the busy months when flights move to Manthali or get delayed. My page on the flight versus the road compares the two ways in.
How does the by-road trek compare with the flight?
| Everest Base Camp by road, 15 days | Everest Base Camp, 12 days, fly to Lukla | |
|---|---|---|
| How you start | Drive to Phaplu, jeep to Thamdanda, walk via Paiya | Fly to Lukla, from Kathmandu or Manthali |
| Weather risk at the start | Road conditions only | Flight delays when cloud sits in the valley |
| Price, Budget, per person | USD 1,399 for 1 to 4 people | USD 1,399 for 2 to 4 people |
| Best for | People with more time who want to avoid the flight | People with less time |
The 12-day trek is on our Everest Base Camp Trek, 12 days page. If you want to read about the next stops, my guides to Phakding and to Paiya cover the villages on either side.
When is the best time to walk through Chheplung?
| Months | What to expect |
|---|---|
| March to May | Rhododendrons in flower on the lower slopes, warm days |
| June to August | Monsoon. Wet, muddy trail and frequent flight delays at Lukla |
| September to November | The clearest weather and the busiest trail |
| December to February | Cold mornings but often clear, and very few people |
What do the tiers include?
On Budget you carry your own bag, sleep in shared rooms and buy your own meals in the lodges. On Standard you have a private room, all meals and one porter for every two trekkers, who carries 10 kg for each of you. On Luxury you have your own porter for up to 15 kg and the best rooms available. Kathmandu hotels are not included in any trek tier. Buy insurance at home that covers trekking and helicopter rescue up to 6,000 metres, because the trek reaches 5,545 metres at Kala Patthar.
Questions people ask
How high is Chheplung? About 2,660 metres, a little below Lukla.
How far is Chheplung from Lukla? A short downhill walk, under an hour for most people, on the way to Phakding.
Why is Chheplung important on the Everest trail? It is the junction where the old walking route from Surke and the lower Solu valleys joins the trail from Lukla.
Do you stay overnight in Chheplung? Only on our 15-day Everest Base Camp trek by road, on the way out before the walk south to Surke. On the 12-day trek you walk through it to Phakding.
Can I reach Everest Base Camp without the Lukla flight? Yes. The 15-day trek by road drives to Phaplu and walks in through Paiya, joining the main trail near Chheplung.
Is there accommodation in Chheplung? Yes, there are a few simple lodges and tea houses.
What are the terms for this trek?
Group size is 1 to 20, and solo travellers are welcome; a solo price covers your own room and your own guide. The deposit is 10 per cent and it is non-refundable, with no refund if you cancel. You can move your trip free of charge to any date within one year with at least 72 hours notice. The balance is paid on arrival in Kathmandu in USD or EUR, cash or by card. Card carries 3.5 per cent and cash in Kathmandu carries none. We do not take Nepali rupees from foreign clients.
How do you plan this with us?
Message me on WhatsApp on +977 9810351300 with your dates, how many of you there are and whether you want to fly or walk in. I will tell you which tier and which route I would choose, and send you the exact quote.
Written by Shreejan Simkhada, CEO of The Everest Holiday, from a family of three generations of family guides. TAAN Member #1586. WhatsApp +977 9810351300.
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