Detailed Itinerary of Everest
Advance Base Camp Trek
Detailed
Itinerary of Everest Advance Base Camp
Trek (21 days)
This is really an incredible adventure trek
along surreally sculpted Rongbuk Glacier
to Camp III at 6340 meter, the advance base
camp for the north Col route up Mount Everest.
One of the prominent features is that this
is the world’s highest trek that takes
you as close to the summit of Everest as
any non-climber can go without using any
technical climbing gears and without mountaineering
skill.
It offers you an awesome glimpse of the
striated rock summit of Mt. Everest. Excellent
view of entire Mount Everest from Rongbuk
turns you speechless. Among other noticeable
features of the trek are breath-taking display
of picturesque mosaic of Tibetan settlements,
nomadic herdsmen, ancient monasteries, high
Mountain passes, wide arid plains and awe-inspiring
mountain views.
You spend 4 amazing nights in Lhasa visiting
Potala Palace, Norbulingkha monastery, Jokhang
Temple, Barkhor Markets, Drepung monastery
and Tashilumpu in Shigatse. And finally
there are high chances to witness many Everest
climbers fighting their way to the summit.
Outline
Itinerary
Day
1
Fly
from Kathmandu to Lhasa (3650m.).
Upon arrival at Gonggar Airport,
You shall be met by your Tibetan
Guide and transfer provided
to Lhasa city. You stay overnight
here. Early morning you are
transferred to the airport to
board the plane for the flight
over the Himalaya to Lhasa.
If the weather is clear there
is a wonderful view of Everest,
Nuptse, Lhotse, Makalu, Kanchenjunga
and other peaks en route. On
arrival at Gonggar airport (which
is 90 km. from Lhasa), you meet
your vehicle and drive east
along the broad Yarlung Tsangpo
valley to Tsedang (3400m.).
After checking in to your hotel,
you drive south to see the oldest
building in Tibet, the Yumbu
Lakhang, a beautiful castle-like
dwelling and monastery, dramatically
perched on a spur looking out
over the fertile valley below.
If time permits you may be able
to visit a small monastery close
to Tsedang, or an interesting
carpet factory where you can
see the whole process of carpet
making.
Day
2
Sightseeing
in Lhasa. Foremost, your tour
begins with a visit to SERA
MONASTERY. An experienced
tour guide also working as an
interpreter escorts you to this
preserved monastery of white-washed
walls and golden roofs.
Equally adventurous and exciting
tempo builds up while touring
NORBULINGKA,
the summer palace of the Dalai
Lama. JOKHANG TEMPLE
is another important sacred
site which unravels more deep
seated mysteries of Tibetan
Buddhism. Visit to BARKHOR
MARKETS can be quite
a change from other visits as
you roam around the city savoring
every tiny detail from stall
hawkers coaxing their clients
to purchase their goods to exhibition
of Tibetan culture, custom and
tradition. Eventually, the tour
for the day concludes as you
return to the comforts of your
hotel.
Day
3
Sightseeing
in Lhasa. Like the previous
day, you experience invaluable
insights during your visits
to POTALA PALACE
and DREPUNG MONASTERY.
This 17th century POTALA
PALACE offers an awesome
view of entire city and also
has private quarters of the
Dalai Lama, numerous grand state
rooms and chapels. Ancient history
has it that Drepung Monastery
which was built in 14th century
used to shelter around 10,000
monks but as now there has been
quite a declination resulting
in only few hundreds. Tibetans’
respect and belief are immensely
knotted with this monastery.
Day
4
Free
day in Lhasa for acclimatization.
You get an entire day free for
acclimatization. After proper
rest, you can either indulge
in sightseeing, shop or do whatever
you fancy. You also get an option
of undertaking an additional
tour to places such as the Tibetan
Medical Centre, Ganden Monastery
and Tsurphu Monastery. But this
will incur extra costs.
Day
5
Drive
to Gyantse (3950m). Following
Friendship Highway, you drive
past Khamba La at 4794 meter
with a brief halt to savor majestic
views of Yamdrok-tso Lake and
Nazin Kang Sa standing proud
at 7252m. On turning westwards,
you come across another Karo
La pass at 5045m. If you glance
at the road, you can see huge
glaciers tumbling down into
the road. After hours of driving
for 261 km, beautifully landscaped
Tibetan villages become visible
as you enter the town of Gyantse.
Day
6
Sightseeing
& drive to Shigatse (3900m).
Gyantse prides on GYANTSE
DZONG and KUMBUM.
Gyantse Dzong is a historical
fort built in the 14th century
and overlooks a mesmerizing
view of entire Gyantse and surrounding
Nyang Chu Valley. Kumbum has
large gold-domed stupa and houses
several chapels and Tibetan
Buddhist murals. After you enjoy
exploring Gyantse, you will
take a 90 km drive to Shigatse.
Having driven to an altitude
of 3900 meter, you find yourself
at Shigatse, second largest
city of Tibet. TASHILHUNPO
MONASTERY being one
of the largest functioning monasteries
in Tibet is a major attraction
of Shigatse.
Day
7
Sightseeing
& drive to Shegar (4050m).
Today you will transverse along
the Friendship Highway amidst
picturesque landscape driving
past small town of Lhatse and
Gyamtso La pass at 5220m. As
the route opens into plains,
many monasteries and camps of
nomadic herders become visible
en route to Shegar.
Day
8
Drive
to Kharta (3690m). Ten kilometres
after the town of Shegar you
divert from the main highway
and drive south towards the
Everest region. From the top
of Pang La (5150 meters) you
gain views of Everest and the
lie of the surrounding country.
From the pass you descend to
the village of Phadhruchi where
the jeep track divides - the
track to the west heading to
the Rongbuk Valley - the one
to the east leading to the (Phung
Chu) Arun Valley and the village
of Kharta - the administrative
headquarters of the region.
Your camping support team will
pitch tent just on bank of glacier
and cook tasty three course
meals.
Day
9
Rest
day in Kharta for acclimatization.
Since the days that lie ahead
are pretty adventurous, you
can utilize this day acclimatizing
thoroughly. This will retain
your adventure spirit and keep
you physically and mentally
fit for the forthcoming venture.
Day
10
Trek
to Lhundrubling (3990m). As
you head away from Kharta Valley,
you will find a bridge over
Lang Chu. On crossing this bridge
the trail progresses towards
north bank of crystal-clear
Kharta Chu westward. Transversing
past barley fields, you have
to follow the upper trail that
ascends to Shao La. Few kilometers
ahead the trail opens into Lundrubling
where you can camp for the night.
Day
11
Cross
Shao La [4970 m] & trek
to Kaamo Tsangpo valley. Starting
early, you have to head along
the trail past Shao La Pass
at 4,970 metres amid stunning
views of Mount Everest [8,848
metres], Makalu [8,475 metres]
and Lhotse [8,501 metres]. The
trail steeply descends along
picturesque yak pastures leading
to the Kaamo Tsangpo Valley
(4000m). It gets more sinuous
as it cross forests of rhododendrons,
dwarf, birch and groves.
Day
12
Trek
to Khangsung valley (4300 m).
The trail skirts away from Kaamo
Tsangpo Valley through conifer
forest and ascends steeply to
300 to 400 meter altitude. Herein,
you can savor majestic view
of Arun valley and Nepal. Alpine
ridges can be viewed along the
trail. Yak herders from Kharta
village choose these ridges
as their summer camps. The trail
then ascends crossing emerald
green lakes. Along the route,
you can view the Kangshung Face
of Everest. Camping at lush
meadows of Khangsung valley
provides an exceptional experience.
Day
13
Trek
to Pethang Ringmo (4960m). Sacred
lake lies to the north from
your camp. If you think you
can deal with moraines and landslides,
then you can right away begin
trekking along the trail to
this lake for 40 minutes. A
sacred cave most popularly renowned
as a meditation place of Padmasambhava,
the lotus-born Buddha, rests
at the end of the lake. This
cave has prayer rooms and shelters
pilgrims. Few kilometers ahead
you will approach a bend, known
as Orga, beyond the Kangshung
Glacier and at this spot Mt
Everest [8848 m] becomes distinctly
visible. Then you have to transverse
to the right ascending to a
150 m ridge that overlooks the
Karma River and glacier. 3 hours
of trekking will take you to
Kangshung Face base camp at
5000 m. After few rock-strewn
descents, you will enter picturesque
alpine camp of Pethang Ringmo
at 4,550 metres beneath the
impressive peak of Chomo Lonzo
[7,790 metres] and Makalu. Several
stone huts can be seen lying
scattered which are commonly
used by yak herders as summer
camps. You may even trek westwards
along the glacier to a 5950
m ridge. You need to trek along
another 5 km to reach up to
Mt Everest.
Day
14
Trek
from Pethang Ringmo to Hoppo
(4800 metres). While heading
away from Pethang Ringmo towards
Hoppo, the trail crosses lush
verdant meadows and then follows
several ascents. Thereafter,
Kangshung Face of Everest zooms
into picture showcasing towering
Chomo Lonzo with its glistening
glaciers. Few hours of more
trekking bring you close to
Hoppo at 4800 metres. Hoppo
lies surrounded by rich yak
pastures. It makes a perfect
campsite.
Day
15
Trek
to Kangshung base camp (5090
metres). Kangshung Base Camp
lies few kilometers away from
Hoppo at an elevation of 5050
meters. En route, you ascend
grass-strewn ridges along magnificent
Kangshung Glacier. While journeying
along this trail, you will not
only get enlightened on the
topological features of the
surrounding places but will
also bond with the nature on
spiritual level. Along the way
you get plenty of opportunity
to witness North East Ridge
of Everest.
Day
16
Trek
to Base of Langma La (4800m).
On this day you trek along the
trail that leads to a valley
from Pathang Ringmo and then
skirts northwards to Langma
La pass. Savoring the majestic
sights of Himalayan range, you
walk past yak pastures. Shortly
after hours of adventurous and
fun-filled transverse, you will
spot an ideal campsite at Shurimo
[4,800 metres] located at the
base of Langma La.
Day
17
Cross
Langma La [5390m] & trek
to Lundrubling (3990m). It is
advisable to make an early start
while ascending to Langma La
for about two hours. Transversing
amidst mesmerizing vistas of
Everest, Lhotse, and Makalu,
you will descend steeply from
Langma La pass to the valley.
On entering the valley, you
may encounter yak herders from
Kharta at their camps. Several
pristine villages are beautifully
landscaped in the vicinity.
Along the trail, you will meet
up with the confluence of the
Kharta Valley. You can also
view Kanchenjunga massif nestled
above the ridges beyond Kharta
on the Nepal- Sikkim border.
Further ahead, the trail advances
towards village of Lundrubling
where you will set your overnight
camp.
Day
18
Trek
to Kharta (3690m). You trek
along the trail turning away
from Lundrubling towards Kharta
for about 3 hrs and board the
waiting 4WD Land cruiser to
drive back to Tashidzong.
Day
19
Drive
to Rongbuk (5000m), trek to
Everest North face base camp
(5150m). Less than an hour after
leaving Tashidzong you reenter
the Chomolungma Nature Preserve
and have to change Landcruisers
for reasons the authorities
cannot satisfactorily explain.
So a local Landcruiser/bus takes
us up to Rongbuk Monastery and
from here we trek the 9 kms
to Everest Base Camp (horse
carts are also an option). The
base camp itself is dry and
barren, but the views of Everest
more than compensate for this.
It is a truly awe-inspiring
place with the sheer north face
of the highest mountain in the
world towering above you. A
truck carrying tent, food supplies
will follow you to the base
camp.
Day
20
Drive
to Nyalam. After catching the
sunrise in the morning you will
trek back to Rongbuk to board
land cruisers to drive past
Tingri across Lalung La pass
at 5124m and Shung La pass at
5200m. Savoring the enchanting
views of the surrounding peaks
of Shishapangma, Cho Oyu, Menlungtse
and Gauri Shankar you will finally
arrive Nyalam.
Day
21
Drive
to Kathmandu. From Nyalam, you
drive to the border town of
Zhangmu. From Zhangmu, it’s
a short drive to the Friendship
Bridge which spans the Bhote
Kosi River and marks the Chinese
- Nepalese border where you
will part with your Tibetan
guide and driver and walk to
Nepalese Immigration Control
in Kodari where you will be
met by our Nepalese staff. After
completing the re-entry formalities
we continue the drive to Kathmandu
which, depending on road and
weather conditions, should take
about 5-6 hours.
