Author: tourrealmin

Exploring the Kharta Valley was how Mallory’s 1921 Everest Reconnaissance Expedition eventually realized how to climb Everest. They trekked from Sikkim, instead we drive to the last villages, beginning in the dry Kharta Valley and climb into lush scrub camping by alpine lakes. Over the first pass the panoramas open up, HUGE mountains litter the horizon. More pleasant trekking brings us to in your face Everest views and we actually stay at the normal Everest Base Camp as well as visiting Dza Rongphu (Rongbuk) Gompa.

As a bonus, before the trek we take an incredible snow-peak filled flight from Kathmandu to Lhasa, where we spend three and a half days exploring Jokhang Gompa and Barkor Square in the Tibetan quarter, the Potala Palace and Drepung and Sera Gompas just north of the city. Afterwards, we drive south through Tibetan villages to Shigatse and Tashilhumpo Gompa, perhaps the most resplendent monastery in Tibet.

The trek is a pioneering high-altitude trek, right on the remote border of Tibet and Nepal. The efforts, and lightweight style final approach, is well rewarded by spectacular views into the Western Cwm, across the great Northern Walls Mt. Nuptse, and directly into the moving “Ice River” of the Khumbu Icefall across the border. The Lhotse face and South west face are seen from here too.

This trek affords perspectives of Mt. Everest which have only been the domain of mountaineers in the past, due to access being available only by a mountaineering permit. The route followed takes the trail to the North Side of Everest, but continues past the East Rongbuk Glacier to the site of Tilman’s 1938 “Lake Camp”, (west side base camp today) continuing to the site of his old North Face Camp before breaking out across the glacier under Everest’s West Ridge to the vantage point of the Loh La.

A visit to the famous North base camp of Everest is another highlight of this trip. The trail passes through alpine meadows, forests filled with wildflowers, glaciated valleys, high mountain passes, traditional Tibetan villages, ancient monasteries, rich barley fields, picturesque yak pastures, Tibetan nomadic land, emerald green lakes and so many other captivating sights.

Driving along the Friendship Highway you pass through small Tibetan settlements, where you will see nomadic herdsmen wandering across the wide arid plains. You will meet the trekking support crew at the trail head point at Kharta. Yaks will carry the food supplies and trekking equipment. You camp amidst spectacular mountain scenery. Crossing the 5330-meter-high Langma-La (pass), the highest point of the trek, on your way to Everest’s east base camp gives you an ultimate high-altitude experience. Some of the peaks which you get to view on this trek are Shishapangma, Cho Oyu, Menlungtse, Gauri Shankar and the Kanchenjunga massif.

Everest Base Camp Trek from Tingri traverse along the centuries old nomadic territories, fortified villages, alpine valleys, nomadic settlements, barley fields and succession of glaciated mountain passes. South Tibet unveils its rugged beauty in all its glory as you proceed from Tingri to the Everest base Camp at 5200m. But before you head off high into the wilderness of the Tibetan highlands, you shall be expertly guided to the exquisite sights around Lhasa, Gyantse and Shigatse.

A seemingly infinite series of broad ridge-top paths and alpine meadows leads to Lamna-La pass at 5150m overlooking splendid panorama. You can explore rarely-visited areas amid glacier-carved environment. As you near Rongbuk at 5000m, the trek gets more adventurous. The mere thought of Everest Base Camp nestled just a few kilometers away at Rongbuk is enough to heighten any trekker’s adventurous spirit. You are sure to get mesmerized by the surreally sculpted Rongbuk glaciers, on our way up to the Everest Base Camp.