THE KANGSHUNG FACE OF MOUNT EVEREST
A Journey to the Mysterious East Side of Mount Everest
20 days - Trek to the Kangshung Base Camp in Tibet - Breathtaking scenery - Sightseeing in the Ancient Capitals of Kathmandu and Lhasa - Visit Rongbuk
It is a little known fact that there is a third side to Everest, which offers arguably the most interesting approach and most dramatic view of the world's most famous mountain - the Kangshung Face. Very few people have made the journey to this side of the mountain, although the area did receive a certain amount of publicity when, in 1988, Stephen Venables became one of the first to reach the summit of Everest via a new route from the Kangshung Glacier. After spending a day of acclimatizing and sightseeing in Lhasa, we drive to the village of Kharta. Unlike the majority of Tibet, which is dry and quite barren, the region around Kharta supports productive farmland and remarkably lush forest. The trek in to the base camp for the Kangshung Face of Everest, at the place known as Pethang Ringmo, follows a rarely traveled route and includes some of the most beautiful alpine scenery imaginable. At an altitude of almost 14,000 feet, the forest in the spectacular Karma Valley is among the highest in the world. The high point of the walk-in to Pethang Ringmo is the 16,300 foot-high Shao La, which offers spectacular views of Chomolonzo, Makalu and Everest. Driving out from Kharta after the trip, we will take the opportunity to make a 2-day visit to the Rongbuk Valley, the base camp area for the north side of Everest, before continuing our overland journey to Kathmandu . This is the opportunity of a lifetime as we travel through a remote and mysterious region which sees very few foreign visitors.
The Kangshung Face of Mount Everest Trek is part of our Epic Himalayan Journey Series! These trips represent the gourmet trekking offerings of the great Himalayan Range. Please contact us with any questions or to receive a detailed trip itinerary.
2010 TRIP DEPARTURE DATE:
April 4 to April 23, 2010
(the trip date indicates the day you need to arrive in Kathmandu, Nepal and the day you can schedule to depart)
2010 LAND ONLY PER PERSON TRIP PRICE:
TO BE ANNOUNCED
Single tent and hotel room supplement: TBA
TRIP SNIPPETS:
Hotels: 8 nights hotels
Camping: 11 nights camping
Trek Grade: 10 days STRENUOUS trekking
Max. altitude: 5,000 meters / 16,400 feet at Pethang Ringmo Base Camp
Opportunity to hike higher on our free day at Base Camp
Strenuous Trekking = physically very challenging and
more suited to hikers who are used to extended days (6-10 hours) and who
are competent over uneven and difficult terrain. These treks will involve lengthy
periods at high altitudes.
TRIP OUTLINE:
Day 1: Arrive Kathmandu. Transfer to group hotel.
Day 2: Sightseeing in Kathmandu. Hotel.
Day 3: Fly to Lhasa. Hotel.
Day 4: Sightseeing in Lhasa. Hotel.
Day 5: Drive to Shigatse. Hotel.
Day 6: Drive to Shegar. Hotel.
Day 7: Across the Pang La to Kharta. Camp.
Day 8: Trek to Landrubling. Camp.
Day 9: Trek to foot of Shao La. Camp.
Day 10: Cross the Shao La to Zog Shum. Camp.
Day 11: Along the Karma Tsangpo to Parthang. Camp.
Day 12: Trek to Pethang Ringmo. Camp.
Day 13: Contingency day. Camp.
Day 14: Return trek towards the Langma La. Camp.
Day 15: Across the Langma La to Landrubling. Camp.
Day 16: Trek to Kharta, drive to the Rongbuk Valley. Camp.
Day 17: Exploration above Rongbuk. Camp.
Day 18: Drive to Zangmu. Hotel.
Day 19: To Kathmandu. Hotel.
Day 20: Depart Kathmandu.
Country Information: About Tibet
Mount Everest: About Mount Everest
Please contact us to receive a detailed day to day
Trip Itinerary.