Kharta Valley (Khangsung) Trek, North Face of Tibet Everest Trek, Tibet trekking

Kharta Valley (Khangsung) Trek, North Face of Tibet Everest Trek

, Tibet trekking

Introduction

Even though this trek requires some stamina it is definitely worth doing. You will find some of the grandest Himalayan sceneries on this spectacular walk, which takes you along steep-sided valleys and glacial lakes. In the summer the magnificent grassland flowers are in bloom in the remote Kangshung valley, which is also dubbed the Valley of Flowers.

The highest point on this trek is the Langma La Pass [5,320 metres], which offers outstanding views on a clear day. Towards the South we see Makalu, which dwarfs all the other peaks from this angle, including Everest. From here you can marvel at the big trio in the far west of the Kangshung valley - Lhotse Shar, Lhotse and Mount Everest. The valleys and ridges below the snowline are richly covered with grass and thick vegetation nurtured by the monsoon rain that manages to sneak behind these mountains.

On our way to Lhasa our Tibet trekking tour takes us to Everest Base Camp, where you will experience the sheer grandeur of Everest's north face you have to see it to believe it!!

Before we fly back to Kathmandu we spend a couple of days in Lhasa, the heart and soul of Tibet and object of devout pilgrimage. The medieval push and shove of crowds, the street performers, the stalls hawking everything from prayer -flags to jewel-encrusted yak skulls, and the devout tapping their foreheads to the ground at every step is an exotic brew that few newcomers can resist.

Outlined Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Lhasa (3660 m)

Day 2: Sightseeing in Lhasa

Day 3: Sightseeing in Lhasa

Day 4: Free day in Lhasa for acclimatization

Day 5: Drive to Gyantse (3950m)

Day 6: Sightseeing & drive to Shigatse (3900m)

Day 7: Sightseeing & drive to Shegar (4050m) 244km.

Day 8: Drive to Kharta (3690m)

Day 9: Rest day in Kharta for further acclimatization

Day 10: Trek to Lhundrubling (3990m)

Day 11: Cross Shao La (4970 m) & trek to Kaamo Tsangpo valley

Day 12: Trek to Khangsung valley (4300 m)

Day 13: Trek to Pethang Ringmo (4960m)

Day 14: Pethang Ringmo to Hoppo [4800 meters]

Day 15: Trek to Kangshung base camp [5090 meters]

Day 16: Trek to Base of Langma La (4800m)

Day 17: Cross Langma La [5390m] & trek to Lundrubling (3990m)

Day 18: Trek to Kharta (3690m)

Day 19: Drive to Rongbuk (5000m), trek to Everest North face base camp (5150m)

Day 20: Drive to Nyalam

Day 21: Drive to Kathmandu

Day 1: Arrive Lhasa (3660 m)

You will be met at Gonggar Airport by your Tibetan guide. After immigration formalities, you will be driven to Lhasa (3650 meters). It takes around 45 minutes to reach the old city. After checking in at your hotel, you are advised to take rest and take it easy. Drink plenty of fluids and let your body get used to Lhasa's high altitude. Note: There is no fixed program arranged for today.

Day 2 Sightseeing in Lhasa

After breakfast, you will be briefed on the day's program. An experienced guide will take you on a tour to Sera Monastery, Norbulingka and the Barkhor Square. At the famous Sera Monastery, you will get an insight into the important aspects of Tibetan Buddhism. You pay a visit to Norbulingka, the summer retreat of the Dalai Lama. Completed in 1956, the handsome building is ornately decorated with Tibetan carvings and paintings. Jokhang Temple provides yet another glimpse of the rich Tibetan cultural heritage. You will also get the chance to stroll around the busy Barkhor Square, the nerve centre of Lhasa. After the day's tour, you will be escorted back to your hotel.

Day 3: Sightseeing in Lhasa

After an early breakfast, you will be escorted by your guide to the majestic Potala Palace. The imposing structure of the palace dominates the landscape of Lhasa. As you are guided through the ancient chambers of the palace, you get to see Tibetan art at its best. The Potala Palace has a vast array of intricate Tibetan murals and beautiful statues. You will also get to view the tombs of the eight Dalai Lamas. Later in the day you will visit the beautifully landscaped Drepung Monastery where you can observe nuns and monks chanting and performing religious discourses. After the day's tour is over, you are escorted back to your hotel for a well- earned rest. Note: Only limited visitors are allowed inside Potala Palace every day. So the order of sightseeing places will be decided upon by your guide.

Day 4: Free day in Lhasa for acclimatization

A final day in Lhasa for acclimatization. This day is for you to spend it as you wish. Explore and soak in the sights and sounds of the old city, revisit a favorite monastery, go for souvenir hunting in the busy local market at Barkhor Square, or simply sit in a caf and watch pilgrims as they circumambulate the Jokhang Temple. There is also the option of an additional tour to places such as the Tibetan Medical Centre, Ganden Monastery and Tsurphu Monastery. But this additional tour will incur an extra cost.

Day 5: Drive to Gyantse (3950m)

Driving along the 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 at 7252m. On turning westwards, you come across another pass, Karo La at 5045m. From the road you can see huge glaciers tumbling down. After driving 261 km, beautifully landscaped Tibetan villages comes into view, as you enter the town of Gyantse.

Day 6: Sightseeing & drive to Shigatse (3900m)

Gyantse prides on Gyantse Dzong and Kumbum. Gyantse Dzong, a 14th century historical fort, overlooks the entire Gyantse and the surrounding Nyang Chu Valley. Kumbum has a large gold-domed stupa and houses several chapels and Tibetan Buddhist murals. After you enjoy exploring Gyantse, taking a 90 km drive, you will arrive at Shigatse, the second largest city of Tibet that lies at an altitude of 3900 meter. Tashilhunpo Monastery, being one of the largest functioning monasteries in Tibet is the major attraction of Shigatse.

Day 7 Sightseeing & drive to Shegar (4050m) 244km.

Today you will traverse along the Friendship Highway amidst picturesque landscape driving past the small towns 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, where you will meet your trekking crew (cook and trek guide from Nepal).

Day 8 - Drive to Kharta (3690m)

Ten kilometres past the town of Shegar, diverting from the main highway we move south towards the Everest region. From the top of Pang La (5150m) we get excellent views of the Everest and the surrounding countryside. From the pass we 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, which are the administrative headquarters of the region.

Day 9 Rest day in Kharta for further acclimatization

You can utilize this day for thorough acclimatization. This will prepare you mentally and physically for the real trekking adventure that lies ahead .

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. Traversing past barley fields, you follow the upper trail that ascends to Shao La. Few kilometers ahead, the trail opens to Lundrubling.

Day 11 Cross Shao La (4970 m) & trek to Kaamo Tsangpo valley

Starting early, you head along the trail past Shao La Pass at 4,970m, amid stunning views of Mount Everest [8,848m], Makalu [8,475m] and Lhotse [8,501m]. The trail steeply descends along picturesque yak pastures, through forests of rhododendron and dwarf birch, leading to the Kaamo Tsangpo Valley (4000m).

Day 12 Trek to Khangsung valley (4300 m)

The trail then skirts away from Kaamo Tsangpo Valley, passing through conifer forest and ascends steeply to 300-400 meter altitude. Herein, you can savor majestic views of Arun valley and Nepal. Along the trail, you can view the alpine ridges. Yak herders from Kharta village choose these ridges as their summer camps. The trail then ascends, crossing pristine emerald green lakes. En route you can view the Kangshung Face of Everest.

Day 13 Trek to Pethang Ringmo (4960m)

If you think you can deal with moraines and landslides, then you can begin trekking right away 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, lies at the end of the lake. This cave has prayer rooms and shelters pilgrims. A few kilometers ahead you will approach a bend, known as Orga. Beyond the Kangshung Glacier and at this spot, Mt Everest [8848 m] is clearly visible. You then traverse to the right, from where you ascend to a 150m 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 the picturesque alpine camp of Pethang Ringmo at 4,550m beneath the impressive peak of Chomo Lonzo [7,790m] 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 5950m ridge. You need to trek along another 5 km to reach the Mt Everest.

Day 14 Pethang Ringmo to Hoppo [4800 meters]

While heading away from Pethang Ringmo towards Hoppo, the trail crosses lush verdant meadows and then follows several ascents. Thereafter, Kangshung Face of Everest comes into view, along with the towering Chomo Lonzo with its glistening glaciers. Few hours of more trekking brings you to Hoppo at 4800m.

Day 15 Trek to Kangshung base camp [5090 meters]

Kangshung Base Camp lies few kilometers away from Hoppo at an elevation of 5050m. En route you ascend grassy ridges along the magnificent Kangshung Glacier. Along the way you get to view the 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 the Himalayan range, you walk past yak pastures. After traversing for hours, you arrive at Shurimo [4,800m] 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. After trekking amidst mesmerizing views of Everest, Lhotse, and Makalu for a couple of hours, 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. You will find several Tibetan traditional villages in the vicinity. Along the trail, you will pass the confluence of the Kharta Valley. You also get the view of Kanchenjunga massif nestled above the ridges beyond Kharta on the Nepal- Sikkim border. Further ahead, the trail advances towards village of Lundrubling.

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 re-enter the Chomolungma Nature Preserve and change landcruisers. A local landcruiser/bus takes you to Rongbuk Monastery and from here you trek 9 km to the Everest Base Camp.If you want to skip the trek you can rent a horse-cart. The base camp itself is dry and barren, but this is compensated by the magnificent views of the Everest. It is truly an awe-inspiring place, with the sheer north face of the highest mountain in the world towering above. A truck carrying tent and food supplies will follow you to the base camp.

Day 20 Drive to Nyalam

After watching the sunrise in the morning, you will trek back to Rongbuk and 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 at 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. Here you will part with your Tibetan guide and driver and walk to the Nepalese Immigration Control in Kodari, where you will be met by our Nepalese staff. After completing the re-entry formalities, you will be driven to Kathmandu which, depending on road and weather conditions, shall take about 5-6 hours.

For further enquiry please feel free to mail us at: enquiry@tibet-adventures.com

More information about this site http://www.tibet-adventures.com/trekking/tibet_east_&_north_faces_of_everest_trek.html

POST COMMENT

Ray Ban sunglasses are great for all An in depth Review Of The Samsung Galaxy S Mobile Phone Why you ought to Get the Samsung Galaxy S Mobile Now Flip up Clip on sunglasses - The shades that suit Prescription Eyewear Polarized Clip On Sunglasses Samsung LCD HDTV Review Learn About Samsung LN46C630 Spec Samsung HMX-T10 Camcorder with 20-degree Slanted Lens Preview Purchase Sunglasses For Cheap : Follow The Season's Trend Choosing The Right Sunglasses Samsung I9000 Galaxy S: The Newest As Well As Perfect Smartphone! Samsung Mobiles So How Effective Is Pantesin® d-Pantethine To Lower Cholesterol & Triglycerides?..............Dr Sam Robbins