Leave Lobuche and cross over the moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. The exact route differs year by year but it is usually well trodden within a few weeks of trekking season beginning, and cairns dot the route too so route finding is unlikely to be an issue.

Upon reaching the far side of the glacier the path climbs a grassy slope and then zig zags up scree to a point where you can see across to the Kongma La. A further 45 minutes of rocky traversing leads to the col which is adorned with thousands of prayer flags.

From the top Everest’s summit pyramid is just visible but it’s the Lhotse/Nuptse ridge that dominates the immediate view. Slightly further away is Makalu and in the distance is Cho Oyu, as well as many smaller peaks such as Pumori, which you will have seen close up if you visited Everest Base Camp.

The descent down the far side of the col is one of the most scenic sections of hiking in the Khumbu, which is a big claim but you will understand when you reach this point. Not long after leaving the col you pass a stunning lake (which is often frozen) and then some yak pastures. The final section of the descent down to Dingboche is down steeper grassy slopes which soon give way to the terraced fields that mark the edge of the village.