Kharta Valley Trek Tour

The Kharta Valley trek is an absolute classic and quite special with only a few people trekking this region in a year. A real Tibetan journey passes through some of the most spectacular landscapes, 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 Mt. Everest.

Kharta Valley trek is a quite isolated region that borders Mt. Everest on the Western side, to the southern side lies the jagged Himalayan range of Mt. Makalu, and north and east lie the dry Tibetan Plateau. Kharta Valley trekking region is famous for its pristine wilderness, amazing, incredible views of Mt. Makalu 8480m, beautiful lakes, and breathtaking view of Mt. Karma Changri 6295m along with the massive Khangsung glacier.

This is a real journey into Tibet, the 'Abode of the Snows' and land of Lamas, where nomads in yak-hair tents roam the plateaus with their yaks, a land of spectacular, snow-topped peaks and the wonderful, spirited Tibetan people themselves.

Highlights of Kharta Valley Trekking

Visit Potala Palace, Jokhang, Drepung & Sera monastery.

The spectacular Kharta Valley trek

Kangshung Face of Everest

Incredible views of Mt. Makalu 8480m

Tour to Tibet Everest Base Camp including Rongbuk monastery

DETAIL ITINERARY:

Day 01: Lhasa Arrive:

one hour and twenty-five minutes flight from Kathmandu to Lhasa offers spectacular views of the Himalayan range of snow-capped peaks. From Gongkar airport it is about 2 hours drive to Lhasa first through the Yarlung Tsangpo then into the Kyi Chu Valley. Overnight at hotel.

Days 02, 03, 04: THREE DAYS PROGRAM:

Over the following three days we visit the palaces, Buddhist temples, stupas, and monasteries of Lhasa with a Local guide. Most afternoons will be free to discover the endlessly interesting markets, walk around Jokhang temple with the numerous other pilgrims, or perhaps best of all, sit in Barkor square and immerse yourself in the exotic atmosphere. There is also the option of additional tours to places such as Ganden Monastery and Tsurphu Monastery at an extra cost. Overnight at hotel.

Places to see on this tour:

Jokhang Gompa Jokhang is the holiest gompa in Tibet. Shuffle among the pilgrims, butter lamps permeating the air, and find gruesome Gods in hidden annexes. There is always a procession of devout Tibetans through the complex. After walking the holy inner circle complete a circuit of the Barkor, the market surrounding the Jokhang, for good luck. It is the best market to shop for all things Tibetan.

Drepung and Sera Monasteries Sera is one of the best-preserved monasteries in Tibet, renowned for its lively debating sessions in the courtyard each afternoon. Within its whitewashed walls and golden roofs, several hundred monks live and study. Drepung was founded in the 14th century and was once the largest gompa in the world with a population of around 10,000 monks. These days the figure has been reduced to several hundred, but there is still much interest to see here, as the structure escaped relatively unscathed during the Cultural Revolution.

Norbulingka- Norbulingka is the summer palace of the Dalai Lama and is in a quiet and relaxing garden. One particular mural inside depicts the history of Tibet and all the Dalai Lamas.

Potala Palace - The magnificent Potala Palace dominates the city of Lhasa. It contains the winter quarters of the Dalai Lama, the jewel-encrusted gold and silver stupas of previous Dalai Lamas as well as numerous grand state rooms and many important chapels. There has been a palace on this site since the 5th or 6th century, but the present palace was constructed in the 17th century.

Day 05: Trek

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. Overnight at hotel.

Day 06: Trek

In the morning visit Gyantse's monastery – Pelkor Choede – and the justifiably famous Kumbum, within the same complex. We will try our best to take you to visit the dzong (fort) that towers above the town. In the afternoon we make the short (90 km, 2 hours) drive along the valley to Shigatse. Overnight at hotel.

Day 07: Trek

Visit Shigatse city including Tashilhunpo monastery, 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 early afternoon, we drive to Xegar. Overnight at hotel.

Day 08: Trek

Our trekking begins with a gentle hike up the Kharta Valley, passing wealthy farmhouses and fields. After lunch, we turn south and ascend to our camp in what the English called the Valley of Lakes. Overnight in tents.

Day 09: Trek

Walking 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 permits, we have a chance to view the massive Mt. Makalu and Mt. Everest. Overnight in tents.

Day 10: Trek

We reach the Shao La (15, 300 feet) Pass in the early morning, and as we descend tundra gives way to the 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. Overnight in tents.

Day 11: Trek

Trek Begins with a steep winding climb through a Japanese wood-block forest. We contour 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. overnight in tents.

Day 12: Trek

We continue contouring to a spot called Sakyetang on the best map of the area, the "Mount Everest Region" 1:100,000 maps published by the Royal Geographic Society (more on this map at the itinerary's end). From here we look at 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." Overnight in tents.

Day 13: Trek

The further trek 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 few hours further on are our high camp, Pethang Ringmo. Overnight in tents.

Day 14: Trek

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.” Overnight in tents.

Day 15:Trek

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. Overnight in tents.

Day 16: Trek

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 be almost 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. Overnight in tents.

Day 17: Trek

in a few 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). Overnight in tents.

Day 18: Trek

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

Day 19: Drive from Kharta to Rongbuk Base Camp.

Overnight in tents or local guest houses.

Day 20: From Rhongphu to base camp is a 2 to 3-hour walk of 7kms:

Continuing along the barren, and rock-strewn valley. This is followed by a fantastic drive through almost uninhabited valleys to the small town of Lao Tingri. Catch the last view of the mountain from here. Another high pass gives a last, spectacular view of the Himalayas before descending to Nyalam. Overnight at a local guest house or in tents.

Day 21: Descending to Zhangmu

On the China-Nepal border. Completing border formalities the drive back to Kathmandu continues down the Bote Khosi valley. Overnight at a hotel in Kathmandu.

Cost Includes:

Necessary ground transfers by private vehicle as per our itinerary.

Welcome dinner with the Live Nepalese Cultural Program.

Airfare: Kathmandu-Lhasa.

Tibet Travel Permit Fee, Tibet Visa fee, and all other applicable fees.

Guided sightseeing in Lhasa (includes all entrance fees).

Hotel in Lhasa (Twin sharing, bed & breakfast basis including all applicable Tax and VAT).

All hotels in the cities (including breakfast).

Visa fee and insurance of staff, guides and porters, Yak and Yak men.

Three times meal a day while camping (prepared by our kitchen crew),

All camping equipment such as two men's tent, Dinning Tent, Kitchen tent, tables, chairs, mattresses and etc.

All other necessary equipment like Portable Altitude Chamber (PAC) (For the altitude problem) and etc.

Trekking permit fees.

Cost Excludes:

Airport Taxes & excess baggage charges.

All expenses of personal nature such as beverages, telephone bill, laundry bill, mineral water, tips and etc.

Personal medical and travel insurance.

Rescue & evacuation - if needed.

Nepal re-entry visa fee.

Short Info:

Aaradhana has been organizing Trekking and tour in Tibet for many years. We specialize in the Tibet Kharta Valley Trek. On our Tibet Kharta Valley Trek, the entire group treks/tours are led by our highly experienced guide. All the permits, entry fees, bed, and breakfast in cities, and full board on a remote part of trek on the Tibet Kharta Valley Trek in Tibet are provided. We stay in a lodge/tent on the Tibet Kharta Valley Trek. The Tibet Kharta Valley Trek takes 21 days, with some time in Lhasa.