Day 10-12: Rest & Acclimatization Days (Namche Bazaar)

Namche Bazaar is the perfect small hill town and a base for trekkers, guides, porters & mountaineers for rest/acclimatization days if starting from Jiri or Lukla or beyond. For food/lodging recommendations: we enjoyed staying at Norling Hotel on the western part of Namche, which has a welcoming owner/staff and great food. Typically, the price of lodging is around 100-200 Rs if you eat at least breakfast and dinner there.  However, we also enjoyed lunch at Daphne Bar (also a great bar that shows football matches), The Liquid Bar (movies and bar food), a German Bakery next to the ATM machine, & the bakery almost across from Daphne Bar which shows movies. If you want to stay in a lovely village with less tourists and equally wonderful, if not better food, we recommend Khumjung. There are several clothing stores selling used and knock off brand trekking/mountaineering gear and a couple of brand name stores selling the real thing such as Mountain Hardware. You can bargain at all shops except brand name stores. There are also some wonderful local craft stores, a Buddhist Gompa, Mueseum, and on Saturdays make sure to visit the outdoor market in lower Namche. 
Day hikes are particularly important as it will allow you to properly acclimatize before venturing to higher elevations where the air is thinner and the breathing more difficult. Don't be surprised if while in Namche or at higher elevations, you wake up at night catching your breath.  There are several day hikes you can enjoy including walking up two separate routes above Namche Bazaar. The first on the left side of Namche passes the Gompa and the other, on the central/right side of Namche passes the museum and police station. Both are steep ascents but we enjoyed the trail passing the Gompa more. You can hike to Khumjung, Khunde, Phurte/Thame or Kyangjuma.  Above Namche the you walk through Juniper forests and pass Gentian flowers. You can visit or stay in the four star Everest View Hotel above Namche Bazaar however we found it cold and unwelcoming. For a top notch view, when reaching the crest above Namche, walk up on the left/upper side of the large dirt airstrip, past the agricultural project (on your left) and past the faded stupa and you will get your first spectacular view of mighty Himalayan giants such as Kangtega & Ama Dablam.