Having made it to Mt. Everest Base Camp the day before, trekkers on Day 8 now claim the best view of their entire trip: from Kala Patthar at 18,519 feet.

The idea is to see this view around daybreak, so that means an early start. You will get up before dawn, drink some hot tea and down a quick snack before walking out into the cold and darkness. The guest houses of Gorak Shep are all right at the base of Kala Patthar, so you start climbing almost immediately.

It’s a slow, switchbacking climb upwards, on a spiderweb of makeshift trails that weave around large boulders. Take regular breaks to catch your breath as you approach 18,000 ft in elevation, and to take in the 360-degree panorama of mountain views as the the pre-dawn sun begins to light the landscape.

As you climb higher, the summit of Everest comes into view beyond Nuptse.

The last push is a scramble of about 100 meters across a boulder field and up to the summit. If you’ve timed it right, you’ll be on the rocky, flag-covered top as the sun crests the mountains in front of you and shines in your eyes. Look back down the valley, all the way to Tawache, Ama Dablam and beyond.

Spend 20 minutes or so on top taking pictures, then descend to your guest house to eat breakfast, pack up, and hike back down the glacier to Lobuche.

Trek the Himalayas

with Embark Exploration Company!