Trekking to the Kangshung (East) Face of Everest

Duration: 21 days (11 nights camping, 10 days trekking)
Months offered: Spring, summer, autumn
Costs: From $ 2,900

The eastern, Kangshung, face of Mt. Everest (Chomolungma) and the valley beneath it is one of the most dramatic and little-visited locations in the Himalaya. The first three days in Lhasa and the drive through Gyantse and Shigatse allows participants to visit some of the most important cultural and religious sites in central Tibet before reaching our trainhead. We then drive deep into the Himalaya and the starting point of our trek in the Kharta valley. Our trek crosses the Shao-la into the uninhabited Kama valley, an ecological wonderland formed by the warm, moist air flowing up the Arun valley from Nepal and collecting in the glacial basins of the high Himalaya. This is region where, during spring, one encounters entire hillsides covered in giant blue poppy pictured above. It is also the route taken by the early 1920s British Everest expeditions. We walk past alpine meadows, juniper and rhododendron forests, and mountain tarns to reach the outlet of the Kangshung glacier. Here we walk beneath the soaring faces of Chomolonzo and Makalu into the lap of Chomolungma and Lhotse and make high camp in the meadows beside the glacier. With nothing but snow peaks towering above us while we relax in the idyllic meadow of Pethang Ringmo it is easy to imagine how this is the secret northern entrance to the fabled "Hidden Land" of Khembalung. This is an unforgettable location far from any road and nestled amongst the world's highest peaks. We return to our vehicles by another route over the Langma-la and enjoy a final camp before driving out via Tingri. Participants have an option of departing Tibet overland via Nepal which reduces time in Tibet to 20 days, or stick the itinerary included here which exits via the Lhasa airport back to Chengdu.

Basic itinerary:
Day 1-3: Lhasa sightseeing.
Day 4-8: Sightseeing enroute to Kharta trailhead via Yamdrak-tso to Gyantse, Shigatse.
Day 9-13: Trekking via Shao-la to Pethang Ringmo. Day 14: Rest and exploration.
Day 15-18: Trekking via Langma-la to Kharta and vehicles.
Day 19: To Shekar(or optional extension to Northface basecamp).
Day 20: Drive to Airport. Day 21: Fly home