Kala Patthar
काला पत्थर
A black rock peak at 5,644 meters, the best Everest viewpoint reachable on foot along the south side of the mountain.
Kala Patthar means “black rock.” It is a small hill on the southern ridge of Pumori at about 5,644 meters, the highest point reachable on the south Everest route. Since you cannot see Everest's main summit from the base camp, most trekkers spend a night in Gorak Shep and climb up before dawn or in the evening. From here, you can enjoy close views of Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse and the Khumbu Glacier, and at sunrise the summit of Everest is the first to be lit. The climb from Gorak Shep rises about 500 meters and takes 1.5–2.5 hours. The air is thin, and temperatures often drop below −10°C, so bring plenty of warm clothing.
Opening hours
Open all day (set off before sunrise recommended)
Nearby sights
- Everest Base Camp (South)
- Thukla Pass Memorials
- Cho La Pass
- Chhukung Ri
- Mount Everest (Sagarmatha)
- Dingboche
- Sagarmatha National Park
- Island Peak (Imja Tse)