20 Day Kangshung Valley Trek

Day1. Pick Up From Airport Or Train Station And Transfer To Hotel

Upon your arrival at Lhasa airport or train station, you will be greeted by your Tibetan guide, from the airport to Lhasa city is 60km, around an hour drive will take you to the holy city Lhasa. Driving along the Brahmaputra river and Lhasa river. If you take the train to Lhasa, normally you will arrive in the late afternoon or evening, 20 minutes drive will take you to your hotel in Lhasa city. Check into the hotel, have a good rest to acclimatize to the high altitude.

Overnight at 3-star Shambhala Hotel or Gold star Shambhala Palace or 3-star Kyichu Hotel, located in the heart of Lhasa city with 200 meters from Jokhang Temple

Day2. Lhasa City Sightseeing, Visit Jokhang Temple And Sera Monastery(B)

After breakfast, you will visit the Jokhang, the holiest Buddhist temple in all of the Himalayas. Each day, many thousands of Buddhist pilgrims come here to worship. Many have traveled well over a thousand kilometers by foot to see this 1400-year-old temple. After lunch, you will visit the 600-year-old huge monastery complex of Sera. While at Sera, you watch the monks engage in entertaining Buddhist philosophical debates. In the evening, you will have free time to wander around the Old Town on your own.

Overnight at 3-star Shambhala Hotel or Gold star Shambhala Palace or 3-star Kyichu Hotel, located in the heart of Lhasa city with 200 meters from Jokhang Temple

(B)=breakfast

Day3. Lhasa City Sightseeing, Visit Drepung Monastery, Potala Palace (B)

Today you will be arranged to visit Drepung, Potala Palace. Drepung monastery was once the world's largest monastery in the history with 10,000 monks hailed from different monasteries all over Tibet. It is located on a small mountain so we can see the view of Lhasa city below.  After Drepung visited the massive 1000 room Potala Palace, the most iconic building in Tibet. You will work your way up the steps of the Potala and then go through the most important rooms in this famous UNESCO site. After lunch, you will explore another one of Tibet’s important monasteries.

Overnight at 3-star Shambhala Hotel or Gold star Shambhala Palace or 3-star Kyichu Hotel, located in the heart of Lhasa city with 200 meters from Jokhang Temple

(B)=breakfast

Day4. Lhasa / Yamdrok Lake [4,441m] / Gyantse [3,980m] / Shigatse [3,840m], 360KM, 7hrs (B)

Morning drive up to Kampala pass [4794m], you will have a glimpse of Yamdrok-Tso and spectacular views of Holy Mount Nyenchen Khangsar in the distance, the turquoise-colored Lake Yamdrok Yutso is one of the three holy lakes in Tibet, the unforgettable vista of the pincer-shaped turquoise water of the lake and amazing spectacle of Mt. Nyenchen Khangsar glacier from Karo la pass is wonders of the day. Then along the Friendship southern Hwy drive to Gyantse, visit the famous stupa - Gyantse Kumbum, one of the most stunning architectural wonders in Tibet. Late afternoon drive to Shigatse via visiting Shalu monastery on the way. One of the best wall paintings is located in Shalu monastery.

Overnight at 4 star Gesar Hotel

(B)=breakfast

Day5. Shigatse / Sakya [4,280m] / Pelber [3,950m], 200KM, 4hrs (B)

In the morning visit Tashilunpo Monastery after driving to Sakya and visit Sakya monastery on the way then drive to Pelber across Tsou-la Pass (4500m) and Gyatso-la Pass (5220m), with good weather you can see your first views of Mount Everest. At the end of the day’s 230km journey, we arrive in the evening at Pelber (New Tingri) (4300m).

Overnight in 2-star hotel in Pelber

(B)=breakfast

Day 6. Pelber / Kharta Chutang

This day will take you to the Geu La (5200M), which offers a panoramic view of the glacier-covered Himalaya. From here, you can see 4 of the world’s 15 highest peaks, including Mount Everest. From the Geu La, you will then travel to Tashizom village. 

Kharta Chutang town is around 60 km from the Tashizom village. Driving along the Pradruk valley with a few small villages along the way.

Camping with meals

Day 7. Begin Trek, 4-5 Hrs Walk

Hike up the Kharta Tsangpo valley past several villages. The trail to the Shao La leaves the Kharta valley and climbs steadily up a side valley to the south.

We'll camp either at the beginning of this climb on a ledge overlooking the valley and its villages (at approximately 13000 feet) or continue up the side valley following a small stream for another two hours to camp on meadows by the stream (14,000).

Camping with meals 

Day 8. Shao La, 4-5 Hrs Walk

Ascend steadily over rocky ground to reach the Shao La (16,300ft) in about two hours. Weather permitting; the views from here toward Makalu, Lhotse, and Everest are stunning. Once at the top of the pass, we descend for about an hour and then plunge steeply to the valley below. At once the scene changes from barren rock slopes to lush rhododendrons, birch, and willow trees. Continue one hour down this valley to camp at Joksum, following a stream through thick fir and juniper forests.

Camping with meals

Day 9. Trek, 5 Hrs Walk

Hike steeply through juniper and rhododendron forests to reach the high pastures above the Kama River. On clear days, we'll see splendid views toward Everest and Lhotse. The high ridges south of the Kama River drip with hanging glaciers and in the spring are alive with bellowing avalanches. We continue to traverse alpine meadows and pass yak herders' camps and a serene green lake to a campsite (145,00ft) on a large meadow and pass yak herders' camps and a serene green lake to a campsite (14,500ft) on a large meadow with great views of the Khangshung Valley.

Camping with meals

Day 10. Trek, 4-5 Hrs Walk

Hike up a ridge affording a clear sight right up to the Khangshung Valley, with views of Everest, Lhotse, Lhotse Shar, Tsetse, Petangtse, Chomolonzo, Makalu and a myriad of other great peaks. From this ridge, we descend rather steeply down to the Kama River coming from the Langma La.

After wading across the river we enter the Khangshung Valley, a wide valley drained by the Khangshung Valley, a wide valley drained by the Khangshung stream.

A receding glacier has left behind wide undulating hillocks now covered by a thick growth of willow, rhododendron, juniper, and other shrubs. Camp at the meadow called Pethang (14,200ft), about an hour's walk uphill from the stream crossing.

Camping with meals 

Day 11. Pethang Ringmo, 4-5 Hrs Walk

Hike steeply up onto a large rockslide. The views of Makalu and the incredible upheaval caused by the Chomolonzo glaciers are amazing. After the rockslide, the trail traverses around the mountainside to reach a beautiful glade, locally called Opka.

Continue hiking up meadows of the lateral moraine with views of Everest, Lhotse, and Terse to reach the camp on the grassy knolls of Pethang Ringmo (16,000ft).

Camping with meals

Day12. Khangshung Valley

Optional day hikes up the Khangshung Valley alongside the glacier to the base camp (17,000ft) used by expeditions attempting the east face of Everest.

Camping with meals

Day 13. Raabka Chu, 6-7 Hrs Walk

Retrace our steps down the valley along the Khangshung Glaciers, across the rockslide opposite the Chomolonzo glacier, and past Pethang to a stream crossing at the Raabka Chu. The camp (13,500ft) on the grassy meadow across the river is a very pleasant place to spend the afternoon.

We can also reach this campsite from Pethang Ringmo by taking a side trip to Guru Rimpoche's cave at the Tse Chu Lake. The trail climbs high above Okpa meadows, crosses Lamtsho (16,200ft), then descends steeply to the lake.

Camping with meals

Day14. Rabka Chu To Tso Tshuringma, 4 Hrs Walking

Hike steadily uphill, steeply at first for an hour to a shelf above the river, then another hour across the relatively flat ground to a small meadow called Pangboche, where we have lunch. Continue to hike steeply over alpine slopes for another couple of hours to a small but beautiful lake at the base of the Langma La (17,500ft). The views of Mount Makalu and Mount Everest are great from here. We camp at Tsho Tshurigma (16,000ft).

Camping with meals

Day 15. Tsho Tshurigma To Troshay Meadow Camp, 6 Hrs Walk

Climb steeply over rocky ground to reach the Langma La (17,500ft) in just over two hours. En route, we pass another lake, and the views of Makalu become more impressive as we climb upwards, while Everest and all the other attendant peaks are visible all the way to the pass.

From Langma La we bid farewell to the Khangshung Valley and the impressive panorama of some of the world's highest mountains, then descend steeply four hours over rocky moraines and glaciated valleys.

The camp is on a grassy meadow beside a clear stream at Troshay (14,000ft).

Camping with meals

Day 16. Trek From Troshay To Kharta

We follow the stream from camp down the Kharta Tsangpo valley along a well-defined trail, hike across grassy hillsides used for grazing animals, and pass by small villages with barley fields ringed by willows.

After two hours we reach the fork of the trail where we climbed to Sha La pass at the beginning of the trek. We will cross the river below Yuba village and reach the riverside campsite where we started the trek.

Camping with meals

Day 17. Chutang / Rongbuk Monastery / Everest North Face Base Camp

Today drive from Kharta Chutang town to Mount Everest North Face base camp via small villages and the valley of Padruk. The duration is around 80 km with a driving duration of around 6 hours. 

The new rule to protect the environment of Everest national park, Travelers can only reach the Rongbuk monastery, which is 4km before the previous camp.

Overnight at tea tent dormitory or off-season from November to March at Rongbuk monastery dormitory (No private bathroom and no shower)

( Breakfast )

Day 18. Everest Base Camp / Shigatse / Or Everest Base Camp / Kyirong Town

Travel back to Lhasa

For Travelers who are planning to travel back to Lhasa, Today Travelers will drive from Mount Everest base camp to Shigatse, which is 340km with a driving duration of around 7-8 hours. 

Overnight at 4-star Gesar hotel

Breakfast

Travel to Nepal 

For Travelers who are planning to travel to Nepal, Today Travelers will drive from Mount Everest base camp to Kyirong town via Old Tingri, Phikutso Lake, and view Mount Cho ou yo and Mount Shishapangma. (8012) The only mountain fully planted in Tibet. 

Overnight at 3-star Kyirong hotel

Breakfast

Day 19. Shigatse / Lhasa Or Kyirong / Cross Nepal Border

Travel back to Lhasa

For Travelers who are planning to travel back to Lhasa, Today Travelers will drive from Shigatse to Lhasa through the northern friendship highway, which is 280km with a driving duration of 5 hours. 

Overnight at 3-star Shambhala Hotel or Gold star Shambhala Palace or 3-star Kyichu Hotel, located in the heart of Lhasa city with 200 meters from Jokhang Temple

(B)=breakfast

Travel to Nepal 

Travelers who are planning to travel to Nepal, Today Travelers will drive from Kyirong town to Nepal border bridge between Rasuwa town via crossing the border and travel to Kathmandu. 

Day 20. Lhasa Airport / Train Station Dropping Off

Morning Lhasa airport or train station dropping off, the time comes to say your farewells to your guide and driver, end the trip.