Hidden Villages near Everest: The Ancient Phortse Village

Namche Bazaar or Khumjung aren’t the only scenic towns in the Everest region. There are several hidden villages near Everest that many people aren’t aware of.

Phortse is one such ancient village that has remained hidden for a long time, even after the commercialization of the Everest summit. Given the record-breaking summits of the Sherpas of this village, it is no longer a mystery among the adventurers of Everest.

Let’s explore the blog to learn more about the traditional hidden villages near Everest, such as Phortse.

Traditional Sherpa Village Phortse

The traditional Phortse village is a hidden treasure tucked away from the crowded Everest region. It is located between the Tengboche and Pangboche villages, and hence, a little off the main chaos of the Everest trek. Some of the notable peaks, such as Ama Dablam, Thamserku, and Taboche, surround this village.

Located at an elevation of 3840 meters (12500 feet) above sea level, Phortse village is home to Sherpas who still prefer an ancient lifestyle. Approximately 100 Sherpa families reside in this village, maintaining a traditional way of life.

From farming to yak herding and mountaineering, residents still rely on traditional ways of earning a living. And this is one of the reasons why the Sherpas of this village have achieved record-breaking success on Everest.

Quick Facts About Phortse Village

Location: Khumbu region

Elevation: 3840 meters from sea level

Coordinate: 27.842°N, 86.740°E

Nearest Village: Namche Bazaar (at a distance of 5-6 hours trek)

Important Landmark: Khumbu Climbing Center

Why is Phortse Called Hidden Village?

Since the village doesn’t come across the main trail leading to the Everest Base Camp, it is called the hidden village. For reaching Phortse, you will have to take an alternate trail on the route between Namche Bazaar to Tengboche. You will have to trek off-trails for about 5.7 kilometers to reach the village.

Being located on a ridge, its geography  makes it invisible from the valleys beneath like Lukla and Phakding. The location is remote and many people do not actually visit the village and hence you will barely find teahouses to host guests. For many first time visitors, the village feels like a lost Himalayan sanctuary untouched by modern elements.

History of Phortse Village

The history of Phortse village dates back to the time between 15th and 16th century when Sherpas from the Tibetan side migrated to Nepal seeking good opportunities. It is believe that the people from eastern Tibet discovered the village and settled here as their humble sanctuary. They also brought their masonry skills and yak-based agricultural system that was a part of Nyingma tradition.

With time, the village became a center for herding yaks and farming. People started trading the yak wool ,butter, and salt in change for grain and new tools. Later, with commercialization of Everest, people got fascinated towards mountaineering and it remained as their primary profession.

But even with the exposure to outside world, residents of the village still maintain their spiritual disciple, follow monastery system of education and live with communal harmony.

Architecture of the Village

Entire architecture of Phortse village is based on Sherpa architecture that reflects their religious faith and is functional to withstand extremity of Everest. The houses are primarily built with locally sourced stone and layered in a unique way. Such a unique arrangement insulates the houses against freezing cold and cold winds.

The window frames, beams and doors of these houses are made of carved wood. These carvings represent unique symbols like lotus, endless knots, conch shell etc. which are auspicious ones in Buddhism. Besides, you will primarily see flat stone roofs which also functions as drying rack for the grains and potatoes.

These houses also have courtyards that are used to put animals as well as to store the produce and agricultural tools.

Things to Do in Phortse Village

Phortse village is a hub for witnessing the cultural practices in a serene environment set against natural beauty. Here are a few things you can do it Phortse village:

Pay a Visit to Phortse Monastery

The local Phortse Gompa is a centuries-old Buddhist monastery perched above the village. Colorful prayer flags and chanting monks make the ambience feel peaceful. You can attend morning or evening prayers to experience the deep spirituality that guides Sherpa life.

Explore Traditional Sherpa Homes

Residents of Phortse village still live in stone and wood houses that was built years ago. Visitors staying in the local homestays can watch people herd yaks, churn butter, and make traditional Sherpa dishes like Shyakpa (Sherpa stew) and tsampa (roasted barley flour).

Watch Magical Sunrise and Capture Good Pictures

You can catch the stunning view of Mount Ama Dablam from the highest point of this village. In fact it is the most photographed peak from Phortse as the mountains look golden in the early morning and late evening light.

Short Acclimatization Hikes

There are a number of trails along the ridge that lead to high points above the Dudh Koshi Valley. Nearby, Phortse Thenga and Mong La are small villages surrounded by rhododendron forests and offer amazing views in all directions.

Take Mountaineering Lessons

Phortse is known as a “village of climbers” as it is home to one of the best mountaineering institute called the Khumbu Climbing Center. The climbing center was established by Alex Lowe Charitable Foundation for training proper safety techniques and advanced mountaineering trainings to the Sherpas.

Not just how to climb, the training also teaches the best ways to rescue people stuck at mountain. They also teach how to make mountain climbing sustainable. If you aren’t keen to learn the skill sets yet, you can still choose to stay there and witness the training sessions.

Comparing Phortse vs. Namche Bazaar

Namche Bazaar and Phortse village both are Sherpa residence, each with their own value and offerings. While Namche is more vibrant and lively with regular flow of tourists, guides, and traders, Phortse offers peace and authentic rawness of Sherpa lifestyle.

Here’s a quick comparison between both the Sherpa hubs:

Trekking to Phortse Village

Most trekking companies do not offer a separate trekking package for excursing through the Phortse village. But you can customize your itinerary to include it as a side excursion on your Everest trek itinerary. Whether you are trekking to the base camp or reaching the Gokyo lake, Phortse village can be explored on your way to or back from the destination.

If you are keen to explore the scenic Everest villages on your EBC trek, here’s what a typical Phortse trek itinerary looks like:

Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu

Day 2: Fly to Lukla and Trek to Phakding

Day 3: Trek from Phakding to Namche Bazaar

Day 4: Acclimatization Day in Namche

Day 5: Trek to Phortse via Mong La

Day 6: Explore Phortse Village

Day 7: Trek to Pangboche and continue your regular trek.

Best Time to Visit

Alike most of the Himalayan treks, the best time to visit Phortse village is during the springs and autumn seasons. Since the March to May months during spring seasons have mild temperature with clear skies and spring blossoms, it is fit for trekking.

Likewise, in the Autumn months between September to November, the weather is very stable and the views are clearer too.

Permits Required

If you have obtained the permits for Everest base camp trek, you will not require any additional permit to visit Phortse village. However, if Phortse is your sole destination, you will require two different permits:

• Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Entry Permit
• Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit

Other Hidden Villages Near Everest

Everest region has many more scenic villages that aren’t known to the world. These small settlements do not come across the mainstream trekking trails and hence have remained hidden to many. Some of these hidden villages that you can visit are:

Thame: Birthplace of Tenzing Norgay Sherpa, with an ancient monastery over 300 years old. It also adorns the old Thame monastery where people celebrate many Sherpa festivals.

Mong La: A peaceful ridge village with exceptional sunrise views of Ama Dablam.

Pangboche: Home to one of the oldest monasteries in Khumbu, believed to house a relic of the “Yeti scalp.”

Phortse Thenga: Small settlement below Phortse, surrounded by rhododendron forests and waterfalls.

Mende Village: A quiet spot above Thame Valley, rarely visited by trekkers.

Less-Known But Iconic Phortse

Phortse doesn’t come across the leading destination of Everest region but it is truly worth visiting, especially if you are looking for authentic experience of Himalayas. It is haven for people who prefer peace over chaos of crowded trails.

And to top that off, the authentic experience of Sherpa culture and lifestyle is a must-see. You can closely see rich Sherpa architecture, visit monasteries adorned with quite stone path, spinning prayer wheels, and smiling Sherpas. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that Phortse village is a living museum of ancient Sherpa tradition.

Keep travelling to the heart of Himalayas, the Sherpa villages!