Trekking
Kharta to Kangshung Valley
Angel Tours and Trekking Operator organizes
tours, trekking and expedition for Tibet, India and Nepal based form Kathmandu
Nepal.
Tibet
Kharta valley trekking - 20 Days
This
trek is quite special with only a few people trekking this region in a year. A
Journey through the Kharta Valley , passing through several other verdant tiny
valleys along the way which are dotted with beautiful lakes on a journey to the
Khangshung face, the Eastern face of the Mt. Everest.
This
isolated region borders Mt. Everest in the West, to the South lies the jagged
Himalayan range of Makalu . North and East lies the arid Tibetan Plateau. The
region is famous for its pristine wilderness, beautiful lakes and superb views
of Mt. Makalu (8475m), Mt. Karma Changri (6289m) along with the enormous Khangsung
glacier. Detail
Itinerary : Day
1: The flight from Kathmandu to Lhasa is spectacular. From Gongkar airport it
is about 1½ hours' drive to Lhasa , first along the Yarlung Tsangpo then
into the Kyi Chu Valley . Days
2-3 : With a relaxed pace to allow for the effects of altitude, explore this fantastic
city on the roof of the world. The spiritual heart of Tibet is the Jokhang Temple
and every morning is full of life as pilgrims bring offerings of butter and barley
flour. The Potala Palace rises above the city and, more than any other sight,
symbolizes the history and culture of Tibet . Nearby are the huge monastic universities
of Drepung and Sera still active institutions. Day
4: A long, yet scenic day's drive across the Khamba La and Kora La (passes), along
the shores of Lake Yamdrok Tso to Gyantse. Once an important trading town, Gyantse
retains a feel of old' Tibet. Day
5: In the morning visit Gyantse's monastery Pelkor Choede and the
justifiably famous Kumbum, within the same complex. There may also be time to
visit the dzong (fort) that towers above the town. In the afternoon we make the
short (2-3 hour) drive along the valley to Shigatse. Day
6: Tashilhunpo is the seat of the Panchen Lama, second only in importance to the
Dalai Lama. Its numerous halls contain a 21.6-meter wooden statue of Maitreya,
the future Buddha and elaborate, jewel encrusted reliquary chorten. In the afternoon
we drive to Xegar. Day
7: Begins with a gentle hike up the Kharta Valley , passing prosperous farmhouses
and fields. After lunch we turn south and ascend to our camp in what the English
called the Valley of Lakes (14,000 feet ). Day
8: W alking up the chain of alpine lakes, reminiscent of marvelously magnified
Colorado timberline country, to our camp below the Shao La (15, 300 feet). From
here, if the weather allows, we have a chance to view of the immense massif of
Makalu and Chomolonzo. Day
9: We reach the Shao La (15, 300 feet). pass in early morning and as we descend
on tundra gives way to stunning green, gold, and pastel red vegetation: juniper,
silver fir, mountain ash, and rhododendron. We make camp near the mouth of a superb
side valley that plunges a thousand feet to the Kama River (13, 280 feet). Day
10: Begins with a steep winding climb through a Japanese wood-block forest. Wecontour
above the Kama Valley, through dwarf rhododendron and blue primula, looking down-valley
deep into Nepal, across to the looming mountain wall, dripping with hanging glaciers,
and ahead for our first views of Everest. We camp near a pretty lake at 14,500
feet; just over a rise peek the summits of Chomolonzo (25,551 feet), Lhotse, and
Everest. Day 11:
W e continue contouring to a spot called Sakyetang on the best map of the area,
the "Mount Everest Region" 1:100,000 map published by the Royal Geographic
Society (more on this map at itinerary's end). From here we look Kangshung Valley
and three of the world's five highest mountains. The summit of Mount Everest is
only 18 miles away. From Sakyetang we drop down to the confluence of the Kangshung
and Kama valleys, cross a bridge, and hike into the Kangshung, camping in a clearing
in dense foliage at about 14,150 feet . Lt. Col. C.K. Howard-Bury, who led the
first expedition into these parts, wrote in Mount Everest : the Reconnaissance,
1921: "It was very curious to see fir trees, birch, and juniper, and a very
luxuriant vegetation growing on either side of the ice and the moraines beneath
it." Day
12: takes us into the heart of the "valley like no other." We ascend
gradually on a pleasant trail through willows and wind flowers, then steeply up
and across a landslide - caused a decade ago by the slow collision of the Kandongshung
Glacier with the mountainside we're walking on to a meadowy morainal shelf above
the tumbling gray mass of the Kangshung Glacier. A couple of hours further on
is our high camp, Pethang Ringmo. Day
13: Pethang Ringmo was discovered by George Mallory and G.H. Bullock on that first
expedition. When Howard-Bury joined them there he found: ...a most delightfully
sunny spot at 16,400 feet, right under the gigantic and marvelously beautiful
cliffs of Chomolonzo...separated from us by the Kangshung Glacier, here about
a mile wide. Everest from here is seen to fill up the head of the valley with
a most formidable circle of cliffs overhung by hanging glaciers. Day
14: Some of us will want to get closer to the gargantuan East Face. Depending
on the weather and other factors, our trip leader will decide if it is possible
to hike to "Land's End". The walk takes a couple of hours along the
grassy shelf and ends up overlooking the glacier at just over 17,000 feet. Only
the daunting glacier separates us from the immense Kangshung wall. The summit
of Everest is just over eight horizontal and two and a third vertical miles away.
We're nearly encircled by mountains: (from the right) Khartse, the mass of Everest. Day
15: Climb steeply to a point near Sakyetang, then contour northward, the whole
Everest extravaganza just in back of us, and ascend to a camp next by an austere
lake at 16,385 feet. The sunrise from this camp can bealmost frighteningly spectacular;
in a few intense moments Everest and the whole panoply of peaks change from cold
pewter to rose, to gold, to blinding white. Above the camp is the 17,600 foot
Langma La. Day
16: in a couple of hours for last views of Chomolungma, Goddess Mother of the
World, and her towering court. From Langma La we descend a couple of thousand
feet (passing a rare rock glacier on the way), back into Tibet, as it were, to
camp (14,000 feet). On the morning of Day
17: we descend to the Kharta Valley, farmhouses, fields, yaks, and kids, into
the riverside camp where we began (12,500 feet). Day
18: Drive from Kharta to Rombuk. Day
19 : From Rhongphu to base camp is a 1½ to 2 hour walk of 7kms, continuing
along the barren, rock strewn valley. This is followed by a fantastic drive through
almost uninhabited valleys to the small town of Lao Tingri. Catch as last view
of the mountain from here. Another
high pass gives a last, spectacular view of the Himalaya before descending to
Nyalam. Day 20:
Descending to Zhangmu on the China-Nepal border. Completing border formalities
the drive back to Kathmandu continues down the Bote Khosi valley. PRICE
IN USD PER PAX
Category
| 02
pax | 3-5
pax | 6-9
pax | 10-13
pax | Standard
| USD
2875 | USD
2320 | USD
1985 | USD
1845 | Superior
| USD
2945 | USD
2385 | USD
2050 | USD
1910 | KTM-LXA
flight | USD
340 | USD
340 | USD
340 | USD
340 | Visa
fees | USD
45 | USD
45 | USD
45 | USD
45 | Single
Supplements: USD 265 for superior tour USD 320 for standard tour Best
Time to Go : May - October
Cost
Included Accommodation Lhasa, Gyantse, Shigatse - Twin share
Other accommodation twin or multi share. Breakfast on non-camping
portion of trip All camping equipment whilst trekking / camping.
Meals whilst trekking / camping. Porters or pack animals for personal
gear whilst trekking. Transport as per itinerary All airport
transfers Sightseeing as per itinerary English speaking interpreter/guide
Tibet entry permit Chinese visa fees One way flight Kathmandu-Lhasa | Cost
Ex cluded
Personal expenses such as drinks, postage, laundry Lunch and dinner
on non-camping portion of trip. Travel insurance Emergency
evacuation Tips and gratuities Costs arising from unforeseen
events outside the control of Royal Mt. Trekking. (eg. Landslides)
| Hotel
names in Tibet : | |
Superior
tour Dhood Gu hotel in Lhasa Gyantse hotel in Gyantse Shigatse
hotel in Shigatse Shegar hotel in Shegar Rombukhotel in Rombuk (outside
bathroom) Nyalam Guest House in Nyalam (outside bathroom) | Standard
tour Mandala hotel in Lhasa Jian Zang hotel in Gyantse Gang
Gyen hotel in Shigatse Snow land guest house in Shegar (outside bathroom) Rombukmonasteryguest
house in Rombuk (outside bathroom) Nyalam guest house in Nyalam (outside bathroom) |
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