Kharta Valley Trekking

Fly from Kathmandu to Lhasa. From Gongkar airport it is about 1½ hours' drive to Lhasa, first along the Yarlung Tsangpo then into the Kyi Chu Valley. Stay overnight in hotel.

With a relaxed pace to allow for the effects of altitude, explore this fantastic city on the roof of the world.

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. Stay overnight in hotel.

In the morning visit Gyantse's monastery, Pelkor Choede and Kumbum, within the same complex. Stay overnight in hotel.

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. Stay overnight in hotel.

Begins with a gentle hike up the Kharta Valley, passing prosperous farmhouses and fields. Stay overnight in camp.

Walkup 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. Stay overnight in camp.

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, 280feet). Stay overnight in camp.

Begins with a steep winding climb through a Japanese wood-block forest. Stay overnight in camp.

We 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). Stay overnight in camp.

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 walk on to a meadows above the tumbling grey mass of the Kangshung Glacier. Stay overnight in camp.

Pethang Ringmo was discovered by George Mallory and G.H. Bullock on that first expedition. Stay overnight in camp.

Some of us will want to get closer to the gargantuan East Face. Stay overnight in camp.

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. Stay overnight in camp.

In a couple of hours for last views of Chomolungma, Goddess Mother of the World and her towering court. Stay overnight in camp.

We descend to the Kharta Valley, farmhouses, fields, yaks, and kids, into the riverside camp where we began (12,500 feet).Stay overnight in camp.

Drive from Kharta to Rombuk. Stay overnight in camp.

From Rhongphu to base camp is a 1½ to 2 hour walk of 7kms, continuing along the barren rock strewn valley. Stay overnight in lodge.

Another high pass gives a last, spectacular view of the Himalaya before descending to Nyalam. Stay overnight in lodge.

Completing border formalities the drive back to Kathmandu continues down the Bote Khosi valley. Stay overnight in hotel.