It is located within the Khumbu area at 3,440 metres (11,286 ft) at its low point, populating the sides of a hill.

Namche is the main trading center and hub for the Khumbu region.

Namche Bazaar is popular with trekkers in the Khumbu region, especially for altitude acclimatization, and is the gateway to the high Himalaya.

There may also be a daily Tibet market where clothing and cheap Chinese consumer goods tend to be the main articles for sale.

Namche has electricity from the nearby Thame-Namche hydropower plant (600 kW), opened in October 1995 near Thame.