Everest Kangshung Face Trek

Welcome to the Himalayan country of Nepal, the home of Mt. Everest. Upon your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, our representative will greet you and assist in transferring you to your hotel. Your first day in Nepal will be a rest day in Kathmandu. You can use this day to obtain any necessary permits for your trek or explore the sights of the Kathmandu Valley through a sightseeing tour.

After some time to refresh and relax at your hotel, you will have an evening meeting where we will provide a short briefing about your upcoming trek. Following this briefing, we will transfer you to a comfortable restaurant in Kathmandu for a welcome dinner. The following day, your trekking adventure will begin early in the morning.

Your journey begins with a scenic flight from Kathmandu to Gongar Airport in Lhasa. This one-hour flight offers breathtaking views of the Himalayas, including prominent peaks like Kanchenjunga (8,536m) and the mighty Everest (8,848m). As you land at Gongar Airport in Lhasa, you will be warmly welcomed by our Tibetan guide.

After completing immigration formalities at the airport, you will embark on a two-hour drive covering approximately 92 kilometers to reach Lhasa, situated at an altitude of 3,500 meters. Lhasa's high elevation may require some adjustment, so it's important to take it easy and rest for the remainder of the day to acclimatize to the altitude.

During your time in Lhasa, you will embark on a sightseeing tour, exploring the rich cultural and historical heritage of this fascinating city under the guidance of your Tibetan guide. Here are some of the key places and monasteries you will visit:

Sera Monastery: Sera Monastery is one of Tibet's most well-preserved monasteries, with its whitewashed walls and golden roofs. It is home to several hundred monks who live and study here.

Norbulingka Palace: This summer palace of the Dalai Lama, Norbulingka, is a serene and beautiful place to visit. You can explore its well-maintained gardens and historical buildings.

Jokhang Temple: Jokhang Temple is one of the most sacred shrines in Tibet. The temple complex is always bustling with devout Tibetans on pilgrimages. You will get to explore the intricacies of this important religious site.

Barkhor Bazaar: Surrounding the Jokhang Temple, the Barkhor Bazaar is a maze of narrow cobbled streets. It serves as the central market of Lhasa and is a vibrant place where you can experience Tibetan culture, shop for local goods, and witness the daily life of the locals.

These cultural and historical sites in Lhasa provide a deeper insight into Tibetan Buddhism and the local way of life.

On your journey from Lhasa to Gyantse, you'll experience the breathtaking landscapes and vistas of Tibet. Here's what you can expect during this drive:

You will travel by jeep along the Friendship Highway.

As you ascend to higher altitudes, you'll cross the Kamba La Pass, standing at 4,795 meters. From this pass, you'll be greeted with breathtaking views of Yamdrok Lake and the snow-covered peak of NazinkangSa, which reaches a staggering height of 7,255 meters.

Continuing your journey, you'll traverse another high pass, the Karo La, reaching an altitude of 5,050 meters. Here, you'll be treated to a spectacular view of a massive glacier that descends to within a few hundred meters of the road.

As you progress through the picturesque Tibetan valleys and colorful landscapes, you will eventually reach the town of Gyantse.

The drive from Lhasa to Gyantse will offer you a unique opportunity to appreciate the awe-inspiring natural beauty and geography of Tibet, as well as the cultural richness of the region.

On this part of your journey from Gyantse to Shigatse, you'll have the opportunity to explore some remarkable sites and get to know more about the rich cultural heritage of Tibet:

In the morning, you'll visit the Gyantse Dzong, which is a historic fort dating back to the 14th century. From this vantage point, you'll enjoy breathtaking views of Gyantse and the surrounding Nyang Chu valley.

Your next stop is the Gyantse Kumbum, a significant religious site characterized by its large gold-domed stupa. This stupa contains numerous small chapels, each housing an impressive collection of Tibetan Buddhist art and artifacts.

Following your visit to these cultural gems, you will continue your journey to Shigatse, which is only a short drive of about 100 kilometers. Upon your arrival in Shigatse, you'll have the opportunity to enjoy lunch.

Shigatse is Tibet's second-largest city, and you'll have time to explore the local market and experience its vibrant atmosphere. Afterward, you'll embark on a detailed visit to the Tashilhunpo Monastery, one of the largest and most significant monasteries in Tibet. The monastery is known for its imposing walls and offers an abundance of religious and cultural treasures to explore.

This part of your journey is filled with cultural richness, history, and the chance to witness the grandeur of Tibetan Buddhism.

On this leg of your journey from Shigatse to Shegar, you'll continue to be amazed by the awe-inspiring landscapes of Tibet:

Your adventure unfolds along the friendship highway as you traverse the barren yet striking terrain of Tibet. The stark beauty of this region is sure to captivate you.

Beyond the small town of Lhatse, you'll reach the Gyamtso La, which is the highest pass on your journey, soaring to an elevation of 5,225 meters (about 17,139 feet). The panoramic views from this vantage point are bound to be nothing short of spectacular.

As you descend from the high pass, you'll find yourself amidst the vast plains of Tibet. Along the way, you'll pass by solitary monasteries and encampments of nomadic herders. These glimpses into the local way of life add to the depth of your cultural experience.

Your journey will eventually bring you to Shegar, where you'll settle in for the night at a local hotel. This marks another chapter in your exploration of Tibet's extraordinary landscapes and the unique communities that inhabit this remote region.

Tibet's rugged beauty and the resilient spirit of its inhabitants are sure to leave a lasting impression on your adventure.

As you continue your journey from Shegar to Kharta Valley, you'll be treated to more incredible views of the Himalayan giants:

You'll embark on a roughly five-hour drive that takes you through the rugged landscapes of Tibet. Along the way, be sure to keep an eye out for breathtaking vistas of some of the world's highest peaks.

The Pang La viewpoint provides an excellent opportunity to gaze upon the towering mountains of Makalu, Lhotse, Mount Everest, and Shishapangma, provided that the weather is clear and the mountains are visible.

Descending from the high mountain pass, you'll follow the path of the Dzakaa Chu, a river that leads you to the Chu valley en route to Kharta.

Your destination is Kharta, a settlement that offers a glimpse into the daily life of local communities. You'll make camp in the vicinity, situated beyond the boarding school and overlooking the Kharta Tsangpo River. This river is the headwaters of the Arun River in Nepal.

As you rest and take in the serene surroundings, you'll have a chance to appreciate the incredible Himalayan landscapes that unfold before you.

This leg of your journey is sure to be filled with unforgettable moments and captivating vistas as you immerse yourself in the natural beauty of Tibet.

Your Everest Kangshung Face Trek commences today with the start of an exciting and challenging journey. After a week of travel through Tibet, you've reached the Kharta Tsangpo valley. Here's what your trekking adventure involves:

The day begins with a trek through the Kharta Tsangpo valley, where you'll pass by several local villages, each offering a unique glimpse into the lives of the residents.

Your trail will eventually lead you away from the main Kharta valley as you ascend into a smaller side valley to the south.

Along this steep ascent, you'll be treated to sweeping views of the surrounding landscapes, including the valley and its picturesque villages.

You will establish your campsite at the base of this climb, where you can take in the remarkable vistas and enjoy the tranquility of the surroundings. This campsite is situated on a high ledge that overlooks the valley and the villages below.

Alternatively, you have the option to continue your ascent, following a small stream for approximately two more hours. This route will lead you to a campsite located in the meadows beside the stream. Here, you'll find a serene spot to set up camp, surrounded by the beauty of the natural world.

Your first day on the Everest Kangshung Face Trek promises to be both challenging and rewarding as you immerse yourself in the rugged terrain and stunning scenery of the region.

You will steadily ascend over rocky terrain to reach the Shao La pass in about 2 to 3 hours. If the weather is clear, the view from this pass towards Makalu, Lhotse, and Everest is a truly stunning experience. Once at the top of the pass, you'll descend for about an hour, and then you'll make a steep descent into the valley below. This transition is remarkable, as the landscape changes from barren rock slopes to lush terrain filled with rhododendron, birch, and willow trees.

Continuing your descent for about an hour will lead you to your campsite at Joksum, where you'll follow a stream through thick fir and juniper forests. The journey from the Shao La pass to Joksum offers a diverse and captivating range of landscapes, making your trek a memorable and ever-changing experience.

On this trekking day, you will hike steeply through juniper and rhododendron forests, ascending to the high pastures above the Kama River. If the weather is clear, you will be treated to splendid views of Everest and Lhotse. As you continue, you'll notice the high ridges to the south of the Kama River adorned with hanging glaciers, creating a breathtaking landscape. During the spring season, you may witness the spectacle of bellowing avalanches.

Your journey will take you through alpine meadows, passing by yak herders' camps and a tranquil green lake. You'll continue your traverse, eventually arriving at a campsite located on a large meadow. Here, you'll be greeted by fantastic views of the Khangshung Valley. This day's trek offers a blend of lush forests, high pastures, and dramatic landscapes, making it a memorable and rewarding experience.

On this trekking day, you'll embark on a journey up a ridge, which offers a clear and breathtaking sight of the entire Khangshung Valley. As you gaze upon the landscape, you'll be treated to magnificent views of some of the world's most prominent peaks, including Everest, Lhotse, Lhotse Shar, Tshertse, Petangtse, Chomolonzo, and Makalu, among others.

From this ridge, your descent is rather steep as you make your way down to the Kama River, which originates from the Langma La. After crossing the river, you'll enter the Khangshung Valley, a wide expanse drained by the Khangshung stream. In this valley, you'll find undulating hillocks that were formed as a receding glacier left its mark. These hillocks are now adorned with a lush growth of willow, rhododendron, juniper, and other shrubs.

Your campsite for the night is situated in a meadow known as Pethang, which is about an hour's walk uphill from the river crossing. This day's trek takes you through a diverse and picturesque landscape, immersing you in the natural beauty of the Khangshung Valley.

Pethang Ringmo is a remarkable place on your trek, offering breathtaking views and a unique landscape. To get there, you'll hike steeply up onto a large rockslide. From this vantage point, you'll be treated to amazing views of Makalu and witness the incredible impact of the Chomolonzo glaciers on the terrain.

After crossing the rockslide area, the trail takes you around the mountainside, eventually leading to a beautiful glade known as Opka. Continuing your ascent, you'll traverse through meadows on the lateral moraine, all while enjoying stunning views of Everest, Lhotse, and Tserse.

Finally, you'll arrive at your campsite on the grassy knolls of Pethang Ringmo. This location offers clear views and is situated at an impressive altitude, making it an excellent place to take in the surrounding natural beauty.

Khangshung Valley offers opportunities for optional day hikes. You can explore the Khangshung Valley by embarking on day hikes that take you alongside the glacier. These hikes might lead you to the base camps used by expeditions attempting to conquer the challenging east face of Mount Everest. Throughout your hikes, you'll be treated to very nice views and stunning landscapes, providing you with a memorable and rewarding experience in this remarkable region.

Today, we retrace our steps, heading back down the valley along the Khangshung Glaciers. We'll cross the rockslide located opposite the Chomolonzo glacier, and pass by Pethang as we make our way to a stream crossing at the Raabka Chu. The campsite on the grassy meadow across the river is a very pleasant place to spend the afternoon. An alternative way to reach this campsite is by taking a side trip to Guru Rimpoche’s cave at Tse Chu Lake. The trail ascends high above the Okpa meadows, crosses Lamtsho, and then descends steeply to the lake, offering another opportunity for exploration and adventure.

Today's trek takes us on a steady uphill journey. It starts steeply at first and continues for about an hour until we reach a shelf above the river. We then proceed for another hour across relatively flat ground to a small meadow called Pangboche, where we'll stop for lunch. Afterward, we continue to hike steeply over alpine slopes for another couple of hours. This part of the journey leads us to a small but beautiful lake located at the base of the Langma La pass. From here, you can enjoy great views of Makalu and Everest. We'll set up our camp at Tsho Tshuringma for the night.

Today's trek takes us to the Langma La pass. We start by climbing steeply over rocky ground, and this ascent takes just over two to three hours. Along the way, we'll pass another lake, and the view of Makalu becomes more impressive as we climb upward. You can see Mt. Everest and the other attendant peaks throughout the ascent to the pass. From Langma La, we bid farewell to the Khangshung Valley and enjoy an impressive panorama of some of the world's highest Himalayan peaks. Then, we begin our descent, which lasts four to five hours and takes us over rocky moraines and through a glaciated valley. We'll set up camp on a grassy meadow beside a clear stream at Troshay for the night.

On this day, we'll follow the stream from our campsite, hiking down the Khaeta Tsangpo valley along a well-defined trail. The trail leads us across grassy hillsides used for grazing animals and past villages with barley and potato fields surrounded by willow and birch trees. After about two hours of hiking, we reach the fork in the trail where we initially climbed to Shao La at the beginning of the trek. We'll cross the river below Yulbe village and arrive at our riverside campsite, where we began the trek, marking the end of our journey in the Kharta Valley.

After a five to six-hour drive, we reach Rongbuk Monastery, which is known as the highest monastery in the world. This sacred site is dedicated to Mt. Everest and is the last sign of habitation before starting the trek to Everest via the north face. We will spend a night here, and it's a great place to relax, read, and acclimatize to the high altitude. With stunning views of Everest's north face, it's an incredible opportunity to unwind and appreciate the surroundings. Acclimatization is essential as we prepare to continue our journey to Everest Base Camp. On this day, we'll explore the vicinity of Rongbuk and the Everest Base Camp, taking it easy to ensure that we are properly acclimatized for the upcoming trek to EBC.

We continue our journey by rejoining the Friendship Highway, driving to Tingri. Upon leaving Tingri, we cross two more high passes, the Laling La at 5125m and the Shung La at 5210m. Once again, we are treated to magnificent views of the surrounding peaks, including Shisapangma, Cho Oyu, Menlingtse, and Gauri Shankar. Now, we begin our descent from the Tibetan plateau, passing through Nyalam, and eventually reaching Zhangmu, just before the Nepalese border. The transition is quite dramatic as everything suddenly becomes incredibly lush and green.

In the morning, we will drive back across the Tibet-Nepal border at Kodari. After completing the customs formalities and crossing the Friendship Bridge, which spans the Bhote Koshi River and marks the Chinese-Nepalese border, our Nepalese staff will meet us. We will then drive to Kathmandu through the beautiful Nepalese countryside, which takes approximately 5 hours. After checking in at the hotel, you'll have some time to rest and relax. Later in the evening, you will have an overnight stay at the hotel, and this marks the conclusion of your trip.

On this pleasant day, you have the option to enjoy a full day at leisure on your own or extend your trip with us at an additional cost. You can also take some time to explore Thamel for some last-minute shopping. In the evening, our representative will greet you and transfer you to an enriching cultural program, followed by a farewell dinner at a renowned Nepali restaurant. You will then have an overnight stay at the hotel.

As your journey in the beautiful Himalayan country of Nepal comes to an end, today is a free day for you. You can utilize this day for some last-minute shopping, finding special gifts for your friends and family, or simply relaxing and taking in the local atmosphere. If you've booked any additional trips or activities with us, you can enjoy those as well.

When it's time for your departure, our team will ensure that you are transferred to the International Airport for your flight back to your home country. We hope you had a wonderful time in Nepal, and we look forward to seeing you again in this Himalayan paradise. Safe travels!