A HIGH PASS CROSSING INTO THE KHUMBU REGION OF NEPAL

• Hiking through remote & little-traveled valleys
  
• Across the Tashi Lapcha Pass (18,876 feet / 5,755 meters)
  
• Explore picturesque farming villages
  
• Experience spectacular Himalayan scenery
  

Rolwaling is a remote valley running west to east just south of Nepal’s border with Tibet. When compared with the popular Everest and Annapurna regions, this valley offers the opportunity to visit the home of the Sherpa people in an environment basically unchanged for centuries. This trek has everything – from the quiet and relatively easy approach through the terraced farmland of the Bhote Kosi and Sun Kosi valleys to the high alpine valley and glacial lakes of the upper Rolwaling. On top of this, there is the spectacular open mountain scenery which is encountered during the approach to the Tashi Lapcha Pass.

From Kathmandu we drive to Jagat, on the Chinese road to Tibet, and trek eastwards over the Tinsang La (10,890 feet / 3,319m.). An early highlight of the trip is the spectacular view from this pass, which includes Gauri Shankar and the mountain panorama of the Rolwaling. This is followed by a four day trek across lovely terraced hillsides to Simigaon. This valley is steep-sided, covered in thick jungle and climbs steeply during the two day walk from Simigaon to Beding. Here, there is an interesting Buddhist Gompa where the monks carve intricate butter statues for use as temple decoration. We continue to the high summer pastures of Na Gaon where the narrow valley opens up into a wide bowl, giving us our first taste of open, mountain scenery after the confines of the lower valley. A rest day is spent at Na Gaon (13,700 feet / 4,180m), which helps with acclimatization, before proceeding towards the Tashi Lapcha Pass.

We leave the Rolwaling Valley by way of the adventurous Tashi Lapcha Pass (18,876 feet / 5,755m) into the Khumbu Valley. In the footsteps of Hillary, Hunt, Weir and many others, this route into the Khumbu was discovered on the 1951 Everest Reconnaissance Expedition. We now embark on one of the finest trekking challenges in the Nepal Himalaya. The effort of the climb is rewarded by the spectacular scenery of the Upper Drolambu Glacier; a world of ice and snow which is completely surrounded by dramatic 7,000 meter peaks. The crossing of the Tashi Lapcha is a fitting highlight to this classic trek, as we descend into the Thame Valley and further to Namche Bazaar, Monjo and the famous airstrip in Lukla. This is unquestionably one of Nepal’s finest treks.

The Rolwaling Valley & Tashi Lapcha Trek (Camping Trip) is part of our Himalayan Classic Trek Series. This trip is led by one of our experienced trekking guides and represent the gourmet trekking offerings of the great Himalayan Range. In 2024, we are able to arrange this incredible trek starting on any day of the week during the months of April, May and mid-September through early November for groups of 1 to 10 people. Please contact us with any questions or to receive a detailed day to day Trip Itinerary.

TRIP OUTLINE:
Day 1. Welcome to Nepal & the Himalayas! Met upon arrival and transfer to hotel.
Day 2. Free day in Kathmandu. Hotel.
Day 3. Drive to Chet-Chet (5 hours) & trek to Simigaon. 6,700 feet / 2,043m. 4 hour trek.
Day 4. Gyalche or Dong-Dong. 9,185 feet / 2,800m. 7 hour trek.
Day 5. Beding. 12,135 feet / 3,700m. 5 hour trek.
Day 6. Na Gaon. 13,710 feet / 4,180m. 4 hour trek.
Day 7. Rest & acclimatization day at Na Gaon
Day 8. Tsho Rolpa or Glacier Camp. 14,960 feet / 4,560m. 6 hour trek.
Day 9. To the base of the Tashi Lapcha Pass. 17,715 feet / 5,400m. 5 hour trek.
Day 10. Cross the Tashi Lapcha (18,876 feet / 5,755m) to Ngwale or Thyangbo. 16,070 feet. 8 to 9 hour trek.
Day 11. Contingency day on trek.
Day 12. Thame. 12,465 feet / 3,800m. 6 hour trek. Lodge.
Day 13. Monjo. 9,300 feet / 2,835m via Namche Bazaar. 5 hour trek. Lodge.
Day 14: Lukla. 9,185 feet / 2,800m. 3 to 4 hour trek. Lodge.
Day 15. Fly Lukla to Kathmandu or fly to Ramechap and drive to Kathmandu. Hotel.
Day 16. In Kathmandu for independent activities. Hotel.
Day 17. Transfer to the Kathmandu International Airport for our departure.