Kathmandu  - What is probably the world's highest-altitude cybercafe has opened near the Mount Everest base camp in north-eastern Nepal, reports said Wednesday.

The internet cafe, located at 5,180 metres above sea level at Gorakse in Khumjung district, about 200 kilometres north-east of the Nepalese capital Kathmandu, is to provide internet access to tourists visiting the area, the Ekantipur website of Kantipur newspaper reported.

The area is popular with tourists on their way to the base camp of the world's highest peak, 8,848-metre Mount Everest.

The operator of Sherpa International Cafe, Chhetan Sherpa, said the cafe provides internet access from the highest altitude in the world.

Gorakse is about one hour's walk from the Everest base camp.

"We have started the service to enable tourists to communicate with their families," Sherpa told the website.

Sherpa said he was planning to open at least two more internet cafes along the popular trekking trail.

Thousands of tourists visit the Everest region each year which until now lacked basic communication facilities.

The base camp, located some 1,000 metres above Gorakse, is also the staging point for dozens of expeditions attempting to climb Mount Everest. (dpa)