Jorsalle (also spelled Jorsale or Thumbug) is a small riverside village at about 2,740 metres, just inside the Sagarmatha National Park gate at Monjo. It is the last village before the hardest climb of the early trek: the steep, zig-zagging “Namche Hill” up to Namche Bazaar. Most trekkers stop here for lunch and a rest before the climb.

Jorsalle at a glance

• Altitude: about 2,740 m (8,990 ft)
• Other spellings: Jorsale, Jorsala, Thumbug
• Location: on the Dudh Koshi, about 30 minutes beyond the Monjo park gate
• Known for: last lunch stop before the climb to Namche
• To Namche Bazaar: about 2.5 to 3 hours, gaining roughly 700 m
• Landmarks ahead: the Hillary Suspension Bridge and the first viewpoint of Everest
• On our trek: Day 3 (Phakding to Namche) and Day 12 (Namche to Lukla)

What to expect in Jorsalle

After the park checkpoint, the trail drops steeply to the river and crosses a suspension bridge to reach Jorsalle. The village is a line of lodges and tea shops along the trail, with sunny terraces looking over the Dudh Koshi. It is lower and warmer than Namche, with fields of potatoes and vegetables, and is a pleasant, sheltered place to eat. A few lodges offer rooms if you want to split the day.

The climb to Namche Bazaar

Beyond Jorsalle the trail follows the river along sandy flats, crosses back to the east bank, and reaches the confluence of the Dudh Koshi and Bhote Koshi rivers. Here you cross the high Hillary Suspension Bridge, draped in prayer flags, and the climb begins in earnest: around 600 m of switchbacks through pine forest. About halfway up, at a clearing with a toilet and a tea stall, a gap in the trees gives you your first view of Mount Everest on a clear day, with Lhotse beside it. From there it is about another hour to Namche.

Tips for the Jorsalle to Namche climb

• Eat a good lunch in Jorsalle; the next food stop is in Namche.
• Fill your water bottles and use purification tablets or a filter.
• Start slowly. The altitude is starting to matter, and steady steps are faster than rushing and resting.
• Step to the mountain side of the trail when yaks or porters pass.
• Keep an eye out for the Everest viewpoint halfway up.

Jorsalle on the 14-day Everest Base Camp Trek

You stop here for lunch on Day 3, walking from Phakding to Namche Bazaar, and pass through again on Day 12, when the downhill walk from Namche makes it a welcome tea stop on the way to Lukla.