Being a bone-numbing, four-hour diversion off the Friendship Highway, a trip to Everest Base Camp is only for the most committed and hardy visitor.

However, despite the inconvenience, you will be rewarded with magnificent views of the peak's north face and an enchanting craggy lunar landscape.

The camp itself is a makeshift tent village, but it's the staggering views that make this journey unforgettable. It is also possible to visit and stay at the nearby Rongbuk Monastery, the highest in the world.