20 days Overland journey from
Lhasa to Nepal border & Trek to the Everest
East -Kangshung Face
Departure : Kathmandu/Chengdu/Beijing
Best Season : May-June &
Sept-Nov
The trek to the east face of Everest
known as the Kangshung Face is one of the most
gorgeous in the world. This trek is relatively
unknown and it passes through pristine, untouched
valleys and lakes. In fact, the entire region
from Kharta to the Kama Valley - extending to
the Arun Valley on the Nepal side - is part
of the blessed land of Guru Rinpoche called
"Be-yul Khembalung" or the Hidden
Valley.
The whole region abounds with
holy lakes, mountains, and the sacred "Kharta
Tsechu", the long life water spring. Kharta
and the Kama Valley are characterized by magnificent
alpine scenery and rich flora and contain the
highest known forests in the world. Three of
the world's highest peaks Everest 8848 m, Lhotse
8501 m, and Makalu 8463 m overlook the valley.
We begin our trip by exploring
the fabled city of Lhasa and head out to Nepal
border through the rugged mountain terrain visiting
places of interest en route. At Dingri we meet
our Nepali Sherpa trekking crews and then continue
to Kharta from where we formally commence our
trek.. We are probably one of the few Nepali
outfits that engage our own Sherpa staffs for
all of our trekking trips in the Tibetan Himalayas.
DAY 1 : KATHMANDU-LHASA
(3650 M), 90 KMS
Transfer to airport to connect CA408 KTM-LXA
flight. Upon arrival you will be met by our
Tibet representative & transfer to kKyichu
Hotel. Walking tour of Jokhang & the bustling
Barkhor market.
DAY 2 : LHASA
Guided sightseeing tour of Potala, the winter
palace of the Dalai Lama; Drepung, the biggest
monastic university of Tibet & Nechung Monastery,
temple of the State oracle of Tibet.
DAY 3 : LHASA
Guided sightseeing tour of Norbulinka, the summer
palace of the Dalai Lama and Sera Monastery.
DAY 4 : LHASA-SHIGATSE
Drive to Shigatse. Visit Tashilhunpo Monastery,
the seat of Panchen Lama who is the 2nd in the
Buddhist religious hierachy & Shigatse Market.
O/N Shigatse Hotel.
DAY5 : SHIGATSE-SAKYA-SHEGAR/DINGRI(4350
M)
Drive to Shegar across Tsoula pass (4500 M)
& Gyatso la pass (5220 M). En route visit
Sakya Monastery.
DAY 6 : SHEGAR-KHARTA
(12,300')
Drive five hours to Kharta , enjoying beautiful
views from the Pang La (17,000') toward Makalu,
Lhotse, Everest, and Shishapangma (if clear).
Drive down the Dzakaa Chu and then the Phung
Chu valley toward Kharta. We'll make camp past
the boarding school on the banks of the Kharta
Tsangpo river, the headwaters of Nepal's Arun
River.
DAY 7 : BEGIN TREK
Hike up the Kharta Tsangpo valley past several
villages. The trail to the Shao La leaves the
Kharta valley and climbs steadily up a side
valley to the south. We'll camp either at the
beginning of this climb on a ledge overlooking
the valley and its villages (at approximately
13,000 feet) or continue up the side valley
following a small stream for another two hours
to camp on meadows by the stream (14,000').
(4 hours hiking.)
DAY 8 : SHAO LA
Ascend steadily over rocky ground to reach the
Shao La (16,300') in about two hours. Weather
permitting, the views from here toward Makalu,
Lhotse, and Everest are stunning. Once at the
top of the pass we descend for about an hour
and then plunge steeply to the valley below.
At once the scene changes from barren rock slopes
to lush rhododendrons, birch, and willow trees.
Continue one hour down this valley to camp at
Joksum, following a stream through thick fir
and juniper forests. (4 hours hiking.)
DAY 9 : TREK
Hike steeply through juniper and rhododendron
forests to reach the high pastures above the
Kama River. On clear days, we'll see splendid
views toward Everest and Lhotse. The high ridges
south of the Kama River drip with hanging glaciers
and in the spring are alive with bellowing avalanches.
We continue to traverse alpine meadows and pass
yak herders' camps and a serene green lake to
a campsite (14,500') on a large meadow with
great views of the Khangshung Valley. (5 hours
hiking.)
DAY 10 : TREK
Hike up a ridge affording a clear sight right
up the Khangshung Valley, with views of Everest,
Lhotse, Lhotse Shar, Tshertse, Petangtse, Chomolonzo,
Makalu, and a myriad of other great peaks. From
this ridge we descend rather steeply down to
the Kama River coming from the Langma La. After
wading across the river we enter the Khangshung
Valley, a wide valley drained by the Khangshung
stream. A receding glacier has left behind wide
undulating hillocks now covered by a thick growth
of willow, rhododendron, juniper, and other
shrubs. Camp at the meadow called Pethang (14,200'),
about an hour's walk uphill from the stream
crossing.
DAY 11 : PETHANG RINGMO
Hike steeply up onto a large rockslide.The views
of Makalu and the incredible upheaval caused
by the Chomolonzo glaciers are amazing. After
the rockslide the trail traverses around the
mountainside to reach a beautiful glade, locally
called Okpa. Continue hiking up meadows of lateral
moraine with views of Everest, Lhotse, and Tserse
to reach camp on the grassy knolls of Pethang
Ringmo (16,000'). (4-5 hours hiking.)
DAY 12 : KHANGSHUNG VALLEY
Optional day hikes up the Khangshung Valley
alongside the glacier to the base camp (17,000')
used by expeditions attempting the east face
of Everest.
DAY 13 : RAABKA CHU
Retrace our steps down the valley along the
Khangshung Glacier, across the rockslide opposite
the Chomolonzo glacier, and past Pethang to
a stream crossing at the Raabka Chu. The camp
(13,500') on the grassy meadow across the river
is a very pleasant place to spend the afternoon.
(4 hours hiking.)
We can also reach this campsite
from Pethang Ringmo by taking a side trip to
Guru Rimpoche's cave at Tse Chu lake. The trail
climbs high above Okpa meadows, crosses Lamtsho
(16,200'), then descends steeply to the lake.
(6-7 hours hiking.)
DAY 14 : RAABKA CHU TO
TSO TSHURIGMA
Hike steadily uphill, steeply at first for an
hour to a shelf above the river, then another
hour across relatively flat ground to a small
meadow called Pangboche, where we have lunch.
Continue to hike steeply over alpine slopes
for another couple of hours to a small but beautiful
lake at the base of the Langma La (17,500').
The views of Makalu and Everest are great from
here! Camp at Tsho Tshurigma (16,000'). (4 hours
hiking.)
Day 15 : TSHO TSHURIGMA
TO TROSHAY MEADOW CAMP
Climb steeply over rocky ground to reach the
Langma La (17,500') in just over two hours.
En route we pass another lake, and the views
of Makalu become more impressive as we climb
upwards, while Everest and all the other attendant
peaks are visible all the way to the pass. From
Langma La we bid farewell to the Khangshung
Valley and the impressive panorama of some of
the world's highest mountains, then descend
steeply four hours over rocky moraines and glaciated
valleys. Camp is on a grassy meadow beside a
clear stream at Troshay (14,000'). (6 hours
hiking.)
Day 16 : TROSHAY TO KHARTA
We follow the stream from camp down the Kharta
Tsangpo valley along a well defined trail. We'll
hike across grassy hillsides used for grazing
animals and past villages with barley and potato
fields ringed by willows and birch. After two
hours we reach the fork of the trail where we
climbed to Shao La at the beginning of the trek.
Cross the river below Yulba village and reach
our riverside campsite where we started the
trek.
Day 17 : RONGBUK MONASTERY/EVEREST
BASE CAMP
Drive five to six hours to Rongbuk monastery
(16,400'), the highest monastery in the world
and a shrine dedicated to Everest, is the last
sign of habitation before commencing the trek
to Everest via the north face.
Day 18 : RONGBUK MONASTERY/EBC
Hike along the Dza Rongphu Glacier, the main
glacier flowing from the northern flanks of
Everest, or just relax and take in the marvelous
views from camp.
Day 19 : TINGRI PLAINS
Drive six hours to the Tingri plains. O/N Nylam.
Day 20 : TO KATHMANDU
Drive to Zhangmu, a town near the Tibet/Nepal
border, where we will go through customs and
immigration before continuing on to Kathmandu.
(5-6 hours driving.
Trek Includes
