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 This is really an incredible adventure trek
along the 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
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.
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| Day
1 |
Fly
from Kathmandu to Lhasa (3650m.). 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. You stay overnight at
hotel.
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| 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. You stay overnight at 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. You stay overnight at hotel. |
| 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. You stay overnight at hotel.
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| 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. You stay overnight at
hotel. |
| 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. You stay overnight at hotel.
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| 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. You stay overnight
at camps. |
| Day 08: |
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. You stay overnight at camps. |
| Day 09: |
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. You stay
overnight at camps.
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Day 10:
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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] and 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).
You stay overnight at camps.
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| 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. You stay
overnight at camps. |
| 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.
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. You
stay overnight at camps. |
| 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. You stay overnight
at camps. |
| 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. You stay overnight at camps. |
| 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. You stay overnight at camps.
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| Day
17 |
Cross
Langma La [5390m] and 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.
You stay overnight at camps. |
| 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.
You stay overnight at camps. |
| 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. You stay overnight
at hotel. |
| 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. |
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