Central Tibet and Kharta & Khansung Valley Trekking

Detail Itinerary:

Day 01: Fly to Gongkar Airport & drive to Lhasa (3600m/11811ft) 65 km, 1hr:

Your Tibetan guide will be waiting to welcome you at Gongkar Airport. After immigration formalities, you will drive for around 45 minutes to reach the old city, Lhasa (3660 meters). After checking in at your hotel, you are advised to take rest, drink plenty of fluids and most importantly let your body get used to Lhasa’s high altitude. During afternoon you can go around the hotel area for light walk and sightseeing. O/N at Hotel in Lhasa (BB)

Day 02: Sightseeing Tour of Drepung Monastery, Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Market:

After breakfast you will be briefed about the day’s program. Then your guide will take you to Drepung monastery, Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Market respectively.

Drepung Monastery: This Monastery is 8 km west of Lhasa. One of the three great Gelukpa Monasteries near Lhasa, the other two being Sera and Ganden. Until the occupation it served like its two sister monasteries as centre for learning and monastic training to which monks from all over Tibet would come to spend as long as 15 years methodically studying and debating the meaning of the Buddhist scriptures. For centuries it existed as a small monastic township housing thousands of fully ordained monks and other functionaries. It was founded in 1416 by Jam yang Chöje Tahsi Palden, a disciple of Tsong Khapa.

Jokhang Temple: Jokhang a seventh-century geomantic temple at the heart of Lhasa is the most sacred temple of all Tibet. It is considered to be a Power Place in all Tibet. Queen Bhrikuti, a Nepalese princess married to King Songtsen Gampo founded Jokhang Temple and in recognition of Queen Bhrikuti the main gate of the temple faces west towards Nepal.  The most impressive structure of the Jokhang Temple is the many chapels surrounding the temple.

Barkhor Market (Bazar): The most popular Barkhor Market (Bazaar) is a square where Tibetan handicraft items, Buddhist artifacts, carpets, paintings etc. are all in sale for your delight. At the end of the day your guide will escort you back to your hotel. Lhasa offers variety of Restaurant for both Lunch and Dinners.

After detail visit you will drive to hotel. O/N at Hotel in Lhasa (BB)

Day 03: Sightseeing Tour of Potala palace & Sera Monastery:

After breakfast your guide will take you on a tour to majestic Potala palace & Sera Monastery respectively.

Potala Palace: This Palace is also known as the “winter palace”. The imposing structure of the palace dominates the landscape of Lhasa. is a 13th storied complex monument rising to a height of above 117m which houses 10,000 shrines and over 200,000 images and about 1000 rooms.As you are guided through the ancient chambers of the palace, you get to see Tibetan art at its best. The Potala Palace has a vast array of intricate Tibetan murals and beautiful statues. You will also get to view the tombs of the eight Dalai Lamas.

Sera Monastery: This monastery is approx. 5km drive away from Lhasa. Sera Monastery was founded in 1419. It sits in the prettiest and most charming atmosphere at the base of Mount Purbuchok. Sera Monastery used to be an important center for learning where in the past approx. 5,000 to 6,000 monks resided. Currently about 550 monks are supposed to be living there. The important structures inside the monastery include Coqen Hall, (the main assembly hall), three Zhacangs (Buddhist colleges) and twenty-nine Khangtsens (monk dormitories).The most intriguing feature here is the nine-meter image of Maitraya which was erected in 1419; here one can also witness the practicing of debate among the monks, who pitch their knowledge against each other.

After detail visit you will drive to hotel. O/N at Hotel in Lhasa (BB)

Note: Since only a limited number of visitors are allowed inside the Potala palace every day, the order of sightseeing places will be decided upon by your guide.

Day 04: Drive to Shigatse (3,900m/12795ft) via Gyantse (3950m /12956ft) 360km, 5 hrs:

Leaving Lhasa and a drive of 360km, taking about 5 hours including break for lunch at one of the villages’ en-route. We will drive over two spectacular high passes – the Kampa La at 4750m and Karo La at 5010m, over, and along the beautiful deep blue green Lake called Yamdrok Lake or Turquoise Lake. The landscape of the Tibetan Plateau is truly unusual and spectacular.  We will arrive in Gyantse an old Tibetan Town against a backdrop of magnificent 14th-15th century fortresses and temples.  Here we will visit Pelkhor Chode Temple & Khumbum respectively.

Pelkor Chöde:Work started on the monastery by Rabten Kunzang in 1418 under spiritual guidance of Tsongkhapa’s disciple Khedrup Je, and was completed seven years later in 1425. Remarkably preserved, many statues and paintings inside date back to the time of its founding. Although the shrines are predominantly Shakya, it was traditionally unaffiliated and used as common assembly place. Today it is looked after by the Gelukpas.

Kumbum: Rabten Kunzang in July 1427 embarked on his most ambitious project – the construction of the  Kumbum (or Tashi Gomang Chöten), which was probably completed in 1439. the gilded copper roofing and the final consecration ceremonies, however not completed until 1474. the term Kumbum means having 100,000 images and refers to a particular style of stupa construction in which chapels are housed in ascending symmetrical stories.

Further we will drive for about an hour and we will reach the 2nd Largest city of Tibet – Shigatse. O/N at Hotel in Shigatse (BB)

Day 05: Drive to Old Tingri(4300m/14108ft), 360km, 6  hrs:

After breakfast you will be driving to Old Tingri via Yulung la(4950m) & Gyatso la(5220m) pass for about 6 hrs. O/N at hotel in Old Tingri (BB).

Day 06: Drive to Kharta Village Camp 140km, 5 hrs:

Today after breakfast in the morning, take a scenic drive to Kharta valley. Drive five hours to Kharta, enjoying beautiful views from the Pang La (17000) towards Makalu, Lhotse, Everest and Shisapangma (if weather is clear). Drive down the Dzakaa Chu and then the Phung Chu valley toward Kharta. We’ll make camp past the boarding school on the banks of the Kharta Tsangpo River, the headwaters of Nepal’s Arun River. O/N at Camping (AP)

Day 07: Trek to meadow camp (4160m/13,645ft):

Today we begin our first day of trekking after a hearty breakfast and start walking on a jeep trail along the banks of the Kharta River. At the end of the jeep road we cross a bridge and follow a winding trail above small, scattered villages set amid barley fields. Coming to a fork in the trail we take the smaller left trail towards Shao La, which gives us a more gradual climb in elevation than the fast ascent to Langma La. Both trails lead eventually to the Kangshung Face Base Camp. Tonight we camp in a meadow (4160m) above the Dambuk Chu (river valley) which drains from the Shao La. O/N at Camping (AP)

Day 08: Trek to Kaamo Tsangpo valley via Shao La (4000m/13,120)

We make an early start to ascend the Shao La (4790m) past a pair of lakes called the Tsho-Shao and up to the pass to gain incredible views of Everest (8848m), Makalu (8475m) and Lhotse (8501m). From the pass there is a steady descent to some yak pastures and a set of four stunning lakes, before some steep, rocky switchbacks. Reaching better terrain we then wind downwards through rather idyllic birch groves and dwarf rhododendrons to our meadow camp (4000m). It takes us about 3 hours to reach our lovely campsite, set in pine and fir forest just above the Kaamo Tsangpo Valley. This comparatively lush vegetation reflects the monsoon influence and summer rains that surge up the nearby Arun Valley throughout the summer months. O/N at Camping (AP)

Day 09: Trek Kaamo Tsangpo Valley – Shalung Tsho (4420m/14,498ft):

After breakfast this morning we have a bit of a heart starter as we climb from the Karma Tsangpo Valley floor through surprisingly lush juniper, birch and rhododendron forest. This is stunning walking as we pass through meadows and then dwarf rhododendron, keeping a look out for views of Mt Everest and Lhotse at the head of the valley. Our trail crosses alpine ridges where yak herders’ from Kharta village make their summer camps. We pass through a series of these meadows and past two beautiful lakes before setting camp in a meadow (4420m) and ascending a ridge and seeing our first uninterrupted views of the Kangshung Face of Everest, flanked by Lhotse. O/N at Camping (AP)

Day 10: Trek to Pethang Ringmo (4820m/15810ft):

About half an hour from our campsite we gain our first views of Lhotse Shar (8383m) and views of this immense glaciated landscape that is the headwaters of the Karma Tsangpo. After about an hour we meet the trail from Langma La and our trail plunges down onto the valley floor at Rabka Chu. We continue up the Kangshung Valley, entering thick forest where the rhododendrons grow up to 6m high, enormous for this altitude. We then cross a series of morainal hills to the meadows of Bathang, above which is a sacred lake and cave temple where Guru Rimpoche was said to have meditated. We continue up this stunning valley into the afternoon to reach Pethang Ringmo. This is a truly stunning camp, set in a meadow which is full of wildflowers in the monsoon and ringed by huge ice flows pouring from the peaks into the Kangshung Glacier. Mt Everest, Lhotse and Lhotse Shar are with us at the west end of the valley; while Jomolonzo’s frequent avalanches give us plenty of exposure to the power of the ice. O/N at Camping (AP)

Day 11: Trek Pethang Ringmo – Kangshung Everest base Camp (5090m/ 16,695ft):

From our lovely camp at Pethang Ringmo we head out across the meadow to Kangshung Everest Base Camp, where we will camp for the night. It is a walk of only 2 ½ to 3 hours up to camp, so in the afternoon we can either relax or explore to the west of the camp, following the crest of a long moraine for about 45 minutes to its end at 5200m. Below us is a large glacial lake and across the valley we have one of the finest views in the Himalaya, with three of the world’s highest peaks in clear view. If we have enough energy we can climb another 2 hours to the crest of the main ridge for even more incredible views. O/N at Camping (AP)

Day 12: Trek to the base of Langma La (4800m/15,744ft):

After another hearty breakfast we follow the trail from Pethang Ringmo back down the valley to Rabka Chu, 2 hours or so below camp. From here we begin a big climb back up to where we came down from Shao La and our turn off north towards the Langma La. We continue on through the afternoon with great views of Makalu summit to our camp at the base of the Langma La, to get ready for our last big pass of the trip. O/N at Camping (AP)

Day 13: Trek Langma La – Shomale (4160m/13,645ft):

After breakfast in the early morning we head up to cross the Langma La pass. While crossing the Langma La should only take us about 2 hours, we will leave early this morning as a precaution. From our camp we climb past a stunning glacial lake, with more great views of the world’s highest mountains to the top of the pass at 5320m. From here we have a truly spectacular view, seeing Everest, Lhotse, and Makalu – the highest, 4th highest, and 5th highest mountains in the world respectively! From here we have a steep descent to the valley floor, which opens up as we pass yak herders’ camps from Kharta and the nearby villages. Heading down to where we join the Kharta Valley we have views of the stunning Kangchenjunga massif rearing above the ridges beyond Kharta on the Nepal- Sikkim Border. This is a special sight, with Kanchenjunga being the 4th highest mountain in the world and one of the most beautiful. We plunge down into the Kharta Tsangpo Valley, through the wild rocky terrain below the pass, past stunning Tsho Dramnyen, shaped like a Tibetan guitar, where we may see Blue Poppies. We continue coming into the first rhododendrons, meadows and juniper, into our delightful camp at Shomale (4160m). O/N at Camping (AP)

Day 14: Trek to Kharta:

We continue along our trail down into Lungdrubling, above the Kharta Tsangpo. We head downwards through terraced barley fields, stands of wild rose and stone fences, following the river valley back down into Kharta. We make camp here for the night, and prepare to drive to Rongbuk in the morning. O/N at Camping (AP)

Day 15: Drive to Rongbuk/Everest Base Camp [5020m/16,466ft), 150km, 5 hrs:

From Kharta we load into jeeps and drive to the village of Phadhruchi before continuing onto the Rongbuk Valley reaching the Dza Rongbuk Monastery and the Rongbuk Everest Base Camp. Dza Rongbuk Gompa and its accompanying hermitage retreats were introduced to the world in the 1920s through the accounts of the first British mountaineering teams. It is situated 8 kilometres below the Base Camp and was reconstructed after the excesses of the Cultural Revolution in the 1960's. We continue up to Everest Base Camp at 5020m where we camp for the night. O/N at guest house in Rongbuk (BB)

Day 16: Explore Everest Base Camp and drive to Shegar(4200m/13776ft) 100km, 2hr:

Today we have the opportunity to explore Everest Base Camp, which is actually quite dry and barren, but the views of Mt Everest more than compensate for this. It is a truly awe-inspiring place with the sheer north face of the highest mountain in the world towering above us. Nowhere is the view of Mt Everest as spectacular as it is from right here.
 We leave the Rongbuk Valley, taking our last long look at the awe inspiring view it has offered us for the last few days. We have a short drive towards Shegar, crossing the Pang La, a 5150m pass set back away from the main Himalayan Range. The view from the top is stupendous (weather permitting) with uninterrupted views stretching from Makalu to Shishapangma. O/N at hotel in Shegar (BB)

Day 17: Drive Shigatse, visit Tashilumpho Monastery. 260 km, 5 hrs:

After breakfast you will drive to Shigatse and your drive will be about 5hrs. We will travel along the Friendship Highway amidst picturesque landscape driving for approx 5 hrs. past small town of Lhatse. You will be crossing one of the highest Gyatso la pass (5220m) of the tour.Here in Shigatse, you will be visiting Tashilumphu Monastery. This monastery is one of the largest functioning monasteries in Tibet and there is much to explore within its high surrounding walls. There are about 39 amazing chapels inside including the huge Maitreya Chapel coated with gold; its workmanship certainly impresses everyone.After detailed visit of Shigatse, we will visit the local markets for shopping and local sightseeing. O/N at Hotel in Shigatse (BB)

Day 18: Drive to Lhasa via Northern route 290km, 5 hrs:

After breakfast you will drive to Lhasa via northern route and you will be driving for about 5 hrs.

Day 19: Tour Concludes (3600m/11811ft) 65 km, 1hr:

After breakfast, your guide will give you a final departure transfer for your next destination.  Tour Concludes.