Tengboche

• Tengboche is the largest Sherpa monastery in the Khumbu area and exerts the greatest influence.

On foot - a good 6 or 7 hour hike from Namche, including one hour for lunch.

• The monastery - You may join the ceremonies, but filming or photographing inside is only permitted after receiving special permission to do so. Audience with the head rinpoche (abbot) can also be arranged, and these meetings are generally held in the morning. The ceremonies begin at 05:00 - though check before attending as the times change according to the season

• Eco-centerThe located outside the main monastery gate. The centre offers a permanent exhibition of Sherpa culture, a gift shop and a small cinema (a film on Sherpa culture and Tengboche Monastery is shown every half hour).

• Tengboche might be the first place on your trek that you have a clear view of Mount Everest. Ask one of the locals to point it out to you. Spectacular views of Ama Dablam, Thamserku and Kongde Ri.

Every October or November, Tengboche holds the Mani Rimdu festival that consists of nineteen day's of meditation, ceremonies of "pujas" and culminates with a blessing ceremony and spectacular mask dances. Tengboche monastery officially publishes the dates on their website.

There are no shops in the village, but the lodges keep a stock of necessities, such as batteries, throat lozengers, bandages etc - but remember that prices increase with altitude, so expect to pay more than in Namche.

There is a bakery outside the monastery gate that serves pizza and coffee - it claims to be the highest bakery in the world, and at nearly 4,000m it is easy to believe.

There are four lodges in the field in front of the monastery and one in the back, and their quality and price are about the same.