While Rongphu Monastery cannot claim to be the oldest monastery in the world, it is certainly the highest, standing at a towering 4980 meters with one of the best views in the world. It can only be a matter of time until one of the major hotel chains tries to buy this place and turn it into one of the craziest but most breath taking places in the world to spend the night!

The monastery here was first built in 1902 by the Nyingma Lama and originally housed more than 500 monks. Today, only about 50 monks and nuns remain, sharing the same prayer hall but with separate residences. The monastery was renovated in 1983 and there are some wonderful murals in the interior worth looking at. You can also stay the night here, although the standards are pretty basic! There is a shop and a small restaurant here too and you are permitted to put up a tent outside too.

The most spectacular thing remains however, the views of Mount Everest. Experts argue that this is THE best spot in the world to see the famous mountain. The Everest Base Camp is a wonderful two hour walk from here through valleys, along cliffs and past boulders. Alternately, the trip to the base can be done in 15 minutes by car. Try and get here early in the day (or spend the night) as the view of Everest is at its best first thing in the morning.