Kala Patthar : All You Need to Know Before Everest Region Trek

Thin air surrounds you, making every step heavier than the last, but your final step at the top of the summit of Kala Patthar makes the past blurry. The viewpoint from the top of it just wow. It feels like the world has expanded giving you the best view of nature ever. This place is famous for giving the best views of Mt.Everest (8.849m) and the surrounding mountain views.

The first rays of the sun, peeking through the edges of mountains bewitch you. A trip to Kala Patthar is one of the best once-in-a-lifetime journeys. It is popular for giving the best close-up and clear view of Mt.Everest. This is also the chance to get close to the tallest mountain in the world. The best part of this trip is the view of the sun’s rays reflecting on the white snow and making it golden, The whole process of surveys seeping through the corners of mountains feels like you are watching nature’s best performance.

Kalapatthar is one of the famous tourist attractions located in the Everest region. The meaning behind its name is “Black Rock” in English. The height of Kalapatthar is 5,644 m(18,519 ft) making the summit of it a notable viewpoint. It gives you gorgeous 360-degree panoramic views of Everest, Ama Dablam, Changtse, Nuptse, and other surrounding mountains.

The Kala Patthar Trek really gives you a sense of accomplishment. Those creations of nature really humble you. If you are thinking of visiting Kala Patthar, Access Nepal Tours & Trekking has a perfect package that will give you an experience that stays with you forever. To know more about this destination, we will explore more about it in detail in this blog.

What is Kala Patthar?

In English, Kala Patthar is called the “Black Rock,” which is a literal meaning of the name. This trek is included in the Everest Base Camp trek which the best-selling package of Access Nepal. Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar trek is a package is the once in a lifetime opportunity to witness the breathtaking panoramic mountain views.

Kala Patthar is known for being the best place to get a view of Everest. This hike is mostly included in the package of Everest Base Camp and Kalapatthar trek.

Importance of Kala Patthar:

The iconic viewpoint Kalapatthar is the best destination for people who love watching the sunrise. Starting with a morning hike and reaching the summit to watch those views from Kalapatthar is worth trying. Reaching the top by tirelessly walking and getting to see those breathtaking views not only connects you with nature but will also take you all stress for a moment.

The importance of Kalapatthar is given below:

1. It gives you the best views of the Mount Everest.
2. It doesn’t require any permits making it the highest altitude you can climb without a permit in Nepal.
3. It is the original base camp of Mt.Everest before a dip into an ancient lake bed.
4. It’s a highlight of the Everest Base Camp Trek.
5. Acclimatization is place for a mountaineers preparing for the summit of Mt.Everest

Kala Patthar Trekking

One of the popular attractions of the Khumbu region, the Kala Patthar trek is of popular adventure one should try. To reach the top of Kalapatthar, first of all, you have to go through an Everest Base Camp. There is no direct package that takes you to Kalapatthar because the route to this place includes many other fun activities one should never miss.

The trek to Kalapatthar is a short trek or hike that is located a little distance from the Everest Base Camp (5,364 m). It is one of the activities mostly done by people going for an Everest Base Camp trek. Kala Patthar’s altitude is higher than Everest Base Camp’s height. Standing with the full glory, this trip is worth every challenge and risk.

Similarly, the Kalapatthar trek is often part of the Everest Base Camp route. The trip starts from Kathmandu. From here you have a variety of options like a Heli flight from Kathmandu to Lukla, if you are seeking comfort other options include a thrilling flight from Kathmandu to Lukla or an offroad jeep drive from Kathmandu to Thamndanda where you will stay for the overnight and continue the tomorrow journey to Phakding.

The trekking in Kala Patthar takes you through, traditional villages like Namche Bazaar, Phakding, Monjo, Gorakshep, Thame, Khumjung, and many more. The trekking will be more fun if you visit there during peak season as the trails will be filled with colorful rhododendron forests and suspension bridges. monasteries, and Sherpa people.

The main trek to Kalapatthar starts the day after reaching the Everest Base Camp elevation. You will wake up early in the morning and trek to the summit of Kalapatthar. It usually happens because it gives you the legendary views of a sunrise like no other.

Kala Patthar View From Everest

When you say Kalapathhar the first thing that comes to mind is the beautiful sunrise views of Everest and other surrounding peaks. It is known for being the best place to see the Mount Everest because of the certain structure of Everest.

Some of the views that you will get see from the top of Kalapatthar are:

1. Mount Everest
2. Surrounding Mountains
3. Khumbu Icefall
4. Everest Base Camp
5. Valley of Everest region

How Difficult is Kala Patthar?

Kalapatthar is a challenging but achievable trekking destination for trekkers. High-altitude makes the trek to Kalapatthar difficult. The Kalapatthar’s altitude is more high than the elevation of Everest Base Camp (5,644 m). Due to the high altitude, there will be a high chance of getting altitude sickness. The higher you go the more air gets thin and makes breathing harder.

Therefore, if you have to acclimatize properly, since there will be a high chance of getting altitude sickness. The altitude sickness symptoms are headaches, nausea, and dizziness. If you feel any of these symptoms while trekking immediately inform your guide. Prevention is better than cure that’s why always walk slowly and drink plenty of water. This helps in avoiding altitude sickness.

Similarly. the trails to Kalapatthar are steep especially when come near the top. You have to be physically fit with good stamina and know how to balance yourself properly. The paths are rocky and uneven, that’s why, it’ll require trekking experience. This makes it even harder due to the lack of oxygen.

Another reason for making the hike to Kalapatthar difficult is the weather conditions. In the Himalayas, the weather is very unstable and cold. In the morning temperature can drop below freezing point and chilly winds add more challenges.

Kala Patthar Weather

The temperature of Kala Patthar is usually cold, especially during the winter season. The best time to visit the Kalapatthar is during Autumn (September to November) and Spring (March to April). If you are going for a trek there, visiting there during the peak season is highly recommended.

However, Access Nepal Tours and Trekking does the trek during the off-season too. Trekking in the off-season is recommended for seasoned trekkers only because other time of the month comes with many risk factors.

Below is the list of weather conditions in Kala Patthar:

• Autumn Season: It is the peak season for trekking in Nepal because of the stable weather conditions. Autumn season in Kalapatthar usually starts from September to November. If you go for a trek to Kalapatthar during this time of month, your experience will be very good. The clear views of the mountains and skies make it the best time since you are going for a sunrise and sunset view from Kalapatthar. Due to the peak season, the trails will be crowded.
• Spring Season: It is also the best time to go for a trek to Kalapatthar. The temperature will go up and the weather becomes warm. The spring season in Kalapatthar is from March to April. It is the perfect time for trekking in the Himalayan region. The route will also get colorful with wildflowers and rhododendrons. The views will also be clear and beautiful.
• Monsoon Season: In Nepal, the monsoon and summer season happens together. Starting from May to August. At this time trekking in high-altitude regions is quite risky. There will be a high chance of the trails getting blocked due to the landslides. Rain also causes the route to be muddy and slippery.
• Winter Season: There will be lots of snowfall in Kalapatthar during the winter time. The extreme cold and heavy snowfall makes the trekking quite difficult. The view will not be clear and it will be pointless to trek to Kalapatthar and not be able to see the views.

Can We See Everest from Kala Patthar?

Yes, we can see the Everest from Kalapatthar. Kala Patthar Everest view is the major highlight of the trek. People around the world travel there to get the best views of the Everest. This place is popular because of the close and clear view of Everest which cannot be seen even from the Base Camp.

The highlighting part of the Kalapatthar is the sunrise and sunset view. People trek early in the morning for the sunrise views as it makes the snow-covered peak of Everest shine golden. Some also go for trekking in the afternoon for the sunset. The main reason for visiting the place is just for a panoramic view of the surrounding peaks.

How Much Does it Cost to Climb Kala Patthar?

The cost for Kala Patthar most of the time depends on the accommodation, transportation, and food. The trip to Kalapatthar mostly comes in a package that is hugely influenced by the companies.

Therefore, if you are planning a trip to Kalapatthar through a travel agency, it will range from $1200 to $1500 US dollars. Most of the packages cover all the expenses of transportation, food, guides, accommodation, permits, and many more. It will be more time-saving and easy to plan for the trip.

However, if you are thinking of traveling on your own the price may fluctuate. It can go higher or lower too. But if you want to travel with ease and explore the place in more depth, we recommend you go via a package.

Everest Base Camp to Kala Patthar Distance

The distance between Everest Base Camp to Kala Patthar is 9 kilometers. However, there is no direct route between EBC and Kalapatthar. That’s why you have to start the trek from Gorakshep which is a small village near the Everest Base Camp. People usually stay at the hotel here and start their trek to Kalapatthar early in the morning.

Likewise, the distance between Gorakshep and Kalapatthar is between 2 to 3 kilometers. Despite the distance between Goarkshep and Kalapatthar being small, the journey is still challenging. The trails of Kalapatthar are steep and you have to be careful about your safety.

How to Trek to Kala Patthar?

For the trek to Kalapatthar, the thing you need is proper planning. With detailed planning, your dream of seeing Everest from close will be real.

Make an Itinerary

For the trekking in Kalapatthar, you have to go through Everest Base Camp. Most of the package includes this part. Therefore for this, the typical route follows like this: Lukla, Namche Bazaar, Tengboche, Dingboche, Lobuche, Gorakshep, and Kala Patthar. However, the number of days to complete it depends on the pace. The typical day for it to complete is 14 days.

Acclimatization

Acclimatization is the process of staying overnight between the trek and going to a high-altitude place. This is the major part of trekking in high-altitude regions to avoid altitude sickness. For the 14 days of Kalapatthar, they usually have two days of acclimatization stay in Namche Bazaar and Dingboche.

Kala Patthar Summit

Once you reach the Gorakshep after enjoying the exploration at Everest Base Camp, you will have two options. If you are not tired and love sunset views you can trek to Kalapatthar in the afternoon and enjoy the sunset views. However, if you are tired and prefer morning views, you can stay for the night in total at Gorakshep and trek to Kalapatthar early in the morning.

Return Back

After completing your main goal of the trip, you have to come back to Gorakshep and get your backpacks. After checking out, return back safely following the same route back to Lukla and Kathmandu.

If you are interested in Kala Patthar Trek, Access Nepal Tours and Trekking has an ideal package made for you. You can customize the itinerary according to your preference. For more inquiries, you can visit our official home page or contact us via Email or WhatsApp.