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Everest advance base camp trek |
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. |
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Itinerary
In
Details |
Day
01 :
|
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
02 :
|
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
03 :
|
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
04 :
|
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
05 :
|
Drive from Lhasa 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
06 :
|
Sightseeing and drive
from Gyantse 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
07 :
|
Sightseeing and drive
from Shigatse 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
08 :
|
Drive from Shegar 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
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. |
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 :
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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 :
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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 :
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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 :
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Drive from Kharta 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 :
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Drive from Rongbok 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 :
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Drive from Nyalam 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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