Lake · 4,750 m
Gokyo Lakes
A chain of glacier-fed lakes beside the Ngozumpa glacier, with views of Everest and Cho Oyu from the hill of Gokyo Ri.
Everest Region (Khumbu)काला पत्थर
Kala Patthar
A dark ridge-top viewpoint above Gorak Shep with a close view of Everest, Nuptse and the Khumbu Glacier.
- Altitude
- 5,644 m*
- Best months
- Mar-May, Oct-Nov
- Type
- Viewpoint
- District
- Solukhumbu, Koshi
- Permit
- Permit required
Higher seasonal exposure: altitude (All year), snow (Dec-Mar), cold (Nov-Mar), cold (All year), seasonal closure (Jun-Sep).
Why go
Kala Patthar is a rocky high point on the south ridge of Pumori, directly above Gorak Shep. It is not a real mountain, but it is the place most trekkers on the Everest Base Camp route come for their view of Everest itself, because the summit cannot be seen from base camp. From the top, the black pyramid of Everest rises behind the Nuptse ridge, with the Khumbu Icefall, the base camp area and the Khumbu Glacier spread out below and Pumori close above.
Within the Everest region it is usually climbed at dawn from Gorak Shep, in about 1.5-2 hours, to catch the first light on Everest; some prefer late afternoon, when the sun is behind the viewer and lights the face. The path drops briefly to the dry lakebed, then climbs steep switchbacks to a broad shoulder and finally a short scramble over boulders to a summit hung with prayer flags.
It is also the highest point most trekkers reach on the trek, at roughly 5,550-5,645 m depending on the source, so the climb should only be made by people who have acclimatised well and feel fine at Gorak Shep. Wind on the ridge can be fierce and it is far colder than it looks.
History and culture
The name is Nepali for 'black rock', describing the dark stone of the ridge against the snow of Pumori. For decades the ridge has been the standard trekkers' viewpoint for Everest, and a webcam operated near the top for a time. The height on published maps varies by around 100 m, partly because the trail ends on a lower bump and the true top lies a little higher along the ridge.
Things to do in Kala Patthar
Dawn climb
Start in the dark from Gorak Shep with a headlamp and all your warm layers; allow 1.5-2 hours up and about an hour down.
Afternoon option
On a clear afternoon the light falls on the Everest face; this also gives a second chance if the morning is cloudy.
Weather and the best time to visit Kala Patthar
Weather in Kala Patthar
Forecast for 5,644 m. Conditions change fast in the mountains.
Weather data: MET Norway, licensed CC BY 4.0. A forecast, not a guarantee.
Best time to visit
Mar-May, Oct-Nov
- Jan
- Feb
- Good month: Mar
- Good month: Apr
- Good month: May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Good month: Oct
- Good month: Nov
- Dec
- Autumn (Sep-Nov)
- October and November usually bring the clearest skies and stable weather, with cold nights well below freezing.
- Winter (Dec-Feb)
- December to February is very cold, with snow possible on the trail; some lodges close and the high passes can be impassable.
- Spring (Mar-May)
- March to May is warmer and busy, with more afternoon cloud; late spring brings expedition traffic towards base camp.
- Monsoon (Jun-Aug)
- June to August brings cloud and rain, poor mountain views and frequent delays on the Lukla flights; few lodges stay fully open.
Where to stay
No overnight stays
No accommodation on the ridge; sleep at Gorak Shep.
No partner stays are listed here yet. List a property.
Getting there
Kala Patthar is climbed on foot from Gorak Shep, the last lodge stop on the Everest Base Camp trek.
Nearest hub: Lukla (Tenzing-Hillary Airport)
- flightKathmandu or Ramechhap (Manthali) to Lukla, roughly 25-40 minutes, weather permitting; in busy seasons many flights leave from Ramechhap.
- trekGorak Shep to the top, about 1.5-2 hours and roughly 450 m of climbing; add 2-3 hours each way if starting from Lobuche.
Getting to Kala Patthar, by mode
Nearest hub: Lukla. Times are typical ranges, not schedules, and vary with roadworks, weather and the season.
By airfrom Kathmanduabout 0.4-0.7 hLukla (Tenzing-Hillary)often delayed or cancelled by weather
A 25-40 minute mountain flight to Lukla, weather permitting, then the walk in. In the busy seasons most flights leave from Ramechhap (Manthali) instead of Kathmandu, a 3-4 hour drive east, which means a night-time road transfer. Cancellations for wind and visibility are routine, so spare days belong in the plan.
When to set off: Lukla flights are scheduled at first light, before the south-west wind builds from mid to late morning; Ramechhap departures leave Kathmandu by road around 03:00-04:00
On footfrom Gorak Shepabout 1.5-2 h1.5-2 h from Gorak Shep, about 450 m of climbing on a stony ridge; add 2-3 h each way from Lobuche
A pre-dawn there-and-back from the lodges at Gorak Shep, usually followed by a long descent the same day.
When to set off: most parties leave Gorak Shep between 04:00 and 05:00 to be on top for sunrise
Where people go next
- Gorak Shepon foot, about 1-1.5 hBack down for breakfast at Gorak Shep.
- Phericheon foot, about 5-7 hThe long descent after the climb, via Lobuche and Thukla.
- Lobucheon foot, about 3-5 hDown the moraine to Lobuche on the way out.
Permits and fees
Permit required
This stop is inside Sagarmatha National Park; the park entry permit and the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality permit apply. Check whether a TIMS card is currently required.
- Sagarmatha National Park entry permit: Issued in Kathmandu or at the park entrance near Monjo; check the latest rules and fees.
- Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality entry permit: Local permit collected in the Lukla area.
- Licensed guide: Since April 2023 foreign trekkers in national parks and conservation areas are generally required to go with a licensed guide; the local municipality in Khumbu has disputed this, so check the current rule.
Verify before travel: permit rules and fees change. Checked 2026-10-06 against Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation.
On the trail
On the Everest Base Camp trek, Three High Passes trek.
- Previous stop:
- Gorak Shep
- Next stop:
- Gorak Shep, then Pheriche or Dzongla
- A typical day:
- A pre-dawn climb of about 1.5-2 hours from Gorak Shep, back for breakfast, then a long descent the same day.
Risks and conditions
Seasonal risks around Kala Patthar
What this place is typically exposed to, and when. These are seasonal patterns, not a report on conditions now.
Altitudehigh in a typical yearAll year
The viewpoint is at about 5,545-5,645 m depending on the source, the highest point most trekkers reach. Acute mountain sickness is common on fast ascents - it affects roughly 40 per cent of people who go up quickly to 3,000 m, and more above that. General information, not medical advice: gain height slowly, keep sleeping-height gains small (about 300 m a day once high), build in rest days, learn the symptoms - headache, nausea, breathlessness, broken sleep - and descend if they get worse. See a doctor before travelling and carry insurance that covers helicopter evacuation.
Snowhigh in a typical yearDec-Mar
Deep winter snow can block the trails above Tengboche, and spring storms leave fresh snow on the higher stages; December to March is the usual snow window at this height.
Coldhigh in a typical yearNov-Mar
Nights are far below freezing from November to March at this height, with wind on the open moraine and unheated bedrooms in the teahouses; a winter-rated sleeping bag and down layer are the norm.
Coldhigh in a typical yearAll year
The climb is normally done before dawn for the light on Everest, in the coldest hours of the day and in wind on an exposed ridge; frostbite risk makes a down jacket, mittens and a headtorch standard even outside winter.
Seasonal closurehigh in a typical yearJun-Sep
Lukla flights are the weak link in the monsoon: poor visibility stops operations at the airstrip about half the time in that season and about half of flights are cancelled, and waits of several days happen. Any itinerary built on the flight needs spare days at both ends.
Seasonal closuremoderate in a typical yearDec-Feb
Above Tengboche many teahouses do not stay open through the deep-winter months, so the high stages are seldom walked in December to February and food and beds are harder to find.
Otherlow in a typical yearJun-Aug
The monsoon brings cloud and rain rather than views, and the stages are wet and misty underfoot, although the upper valleys get less rain than the forest below.
Check current conditions before you travel
Roads, trails, passes and flights change with the weather and with roadworks, and nothing on this page describes conditions today. Before you set off, check the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology for weather and flood warnings, the Nepal Disaster Risk Reduction Portal for incidents, and the local authority, police or your licensed operator for road, trail and flight status.
Practical tips
- This is high altitude: go up slowly, watch for headache, nausea and unusual tiredness, and descend if symptoms get worse. General information, not medical advice.
- Wear every warm layer, gloves and a hat; the dawn wind on the ridge is very cold.
- Turn back if you are breathless at rest, confused or unsteady; these are emergency signs.
- Carry water and a snack; there is nothing on the ridge.
Questions about Kala Patthar
How high is Kala Patthar?
Published heights range from about 5,545 m to 5,645 m; maps and sources disagree, partly because the trail top and the true top differ.
Can you see Everest from Kala Patthar?
Yes. It is the classic close view of the Everest summit, which is hidden from base camp itself.
How long does it take to climb Kala Patthar?
About 1.5-2 hours up from Gorak Shep and about an hour back down, for an acclimatised trekker.
More in Everest Region (Khumbu)
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A small lodge village in the upper Dudh Kosi valley, the first night above Namche on the way to Gokyo.
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Dzongla
A tiny lodge stop on a high pasture below Cholatse, the eastern base for crossing the Cho La.
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Gorak Shep
The last lodges below Everest Base Camp, on a sandy dry lakebed beneath Kala Patthar.
Nearby
Valley or region
Everest Region (Khumbu)
The Sherpa homeland below Everest, reached on foot from Lukla through stone villages, monasteries and glacial valleys.
Editorial draft: facts are being checked against the sources below. Last checked 2026-10-06. Sources: Kala Patthar, Wikipedia, Kala Patthar, OpenStreetMap