20-Day Trekking in Tibet to Kangshung Valley

20-Day Trekking in Tibet to Kangshung Valley. Have you heard about the 20-day trek to Kharta Kangshung Valley in Tibet? It's one of the area's hidden gems, offering stunning views of the east face of Mount Everest Base Camp. The trek is about 60-70 km from my hometown, Tashizom, and is considered the most beautiful and unique in Tibet. Locals refer to the area as Kharta, a small town near the Nepal border.

20 Day Trekking in Tibet to Kangshung Valley Number 1 Trek

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• Group Price & Size
• 6,880 US dollars Per Person
• Minimum 3 People to Max 8 People
• Single room supplement 900 $ hotels

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Day1. Arrival in Lhasa and transfer to the Hotel

Upon your arrival at Lhasa airport or train station, you will be greeted by your Tibetan guide. The distance from the airport to Lhasa city is 60 km, and a one-hour drive will take you to the holy city of Lhasa. You are driving along the Brahmaputra River and the Lhasa River. If you take the train to Lhasa, you will usually arrive in the late afternoon or evening. A 20-minute drive will then bring you to your hotel in Lhasa City. Check into the hotel and rest well to acclimate to the high altitude.

In Lhasa City, travelers can choose from three hotel options: the Gold Star Shambhala Palace, known for its Tibetan home ambiance; the 3-star Kyichu Hotel, featuring a garden restaurant; and the 4-star Shambhala Hotel, which offers an oxygen room. All accommodations include breakfast.

Day2. Lhasa City Sightseeing (3700m)

After breakfast, you will visit the Jokhang, the holiest Buddhist temple in the Himalayas. Each day, many thousands of Buddhist pilgrims come here to worship. Many have traveled well over 1,000 kilometers on foot to see this 1,400-year-old temple. After lunch, you will visit the 600-year-old massive 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 alone.

In Lhasa City, travelers can choose from three hotel options: the Gold Star Shambhala Palace, known for its Tibetan home ambiance; the 3-star Kyichu Hotel, featuring a garden restaurant; and the 4-star Shambhala Hotel, which offers an oxygen room. All accommodations include breakfast.

Day3. Lhasa City Sightseeing (3700m)

Today, we visited the beautiful Potala and Norbulingka Palaces. Potala Palace is the Winter Palace, built in the 17th century by the fifth Dalai Lama. It provides fantastic views of the entire city and houses the Dalai Lama's private quarters, numerous grand staterooms, and chapels. Norbulingka Palace is the summer palace of the Dalai Lama, built in the 18th century by the seventh Dalai Lama.

In Lhasa City, travelers can choose from three hotel options: the Gold Star Shambhala Palace, known for its Tibetan home ambiance; the 3-star Kyichu Hotel, featuring a garden restaurant; and the 4-star Shambhala Hotel, which offers an oxygen room. All accommodations include breakfast.

Day4. Lhasa / Yamdrok Lake / Gyantse / Shigatse

Morning drive up to the 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 the fantastic spectacle of Mt. Nyenchen Khangsar glacier from Karo la pass is a wonder of the day.

Then, along the Friendship Southern Hwy drive to Gyantse, visit the famous stupa - Gyantse Kumbum, one of Tibet's most stunning architectural wonders. Late-afternoon drive to Shigatse, with a stop at Shalu Monastery on the way. One of the best wall paintings is located in Shalu Monastery. [3,840m], 360KM, 7hrs.

Overnight at the 4-star Gesar Hotel Deluxe Room. (B)=breakfast

Day5. Shigatse / Sakya [4,280m] / Pelber

In the morning, visit Tashilunpo Monastery after driving to Sakya and Sakya monastery on the way, then go 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) [3,950m], 200 km, 4 hours.

Overnight at the 4-star Mount Everest International Hotel in Pelber town. (B)=breakfast

Day 6. Pelber / Kharta Chutang

This day will take you to the Gawu La (5200m), which offers a panoramic view of the glacier-covered Himalayas. You can see four of the world’s 15 highest peaks, including Mount Everest. From the Geu La, you will then travel to the Tashizom village. Kharta Chutang town is approximately 60 km from Tashizom village. I was driving along the Pradruk valley, passing several small villages.  [4,200m], 150KM, 6hrs.

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. The scene suddenly 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 of 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 serene green lake to a campsite (145,00ft) on a large meadow and yak herders' camps and a peaceful green lake to a campsite (14,500ft) on a large meadow with 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. We descend rather steeply from the Langma La to the Kama River. After wading across the river, we enter the Khangshung Valley, a broad valley drained by the Khangshung Valley, a broad 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 Chomu lanzo glaciers are fantastic. After the rockslide, the trail traverses around the mountainside to reach a beautiful meadow, 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

We'd appreciate it if you could 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 charming 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), and 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 from 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, we descend steeply for 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 reached the trail fork where we had climbed to Sha La Pass at the beginning of the trek. We will cross the river below Yuba village and get to the riverside campsite, where we will start the trek.

Camping with meals

Day 17. Chutang / Everest North Face Base Camp 

Today, embark on an exciting journey starting from the charming town of Kharta Chutang as you drive towards the breathtaking base camp at the North Face of Mount Everest. Along the way, you will traverse through a series of picturesque small villages and the stunningly beautiful valley of Padruk, allowing you to immerse yourself in the incredible nature that this region has to offer.

The entire journey covers approximately 110 kilometers, with an estimated driving time of about six hours, along winding roads that showcase captivating landscapes and the serenity of rural life. The base camp itself is situated at an impressive altitude of 5,200 meters, promising an unforgettable adventure for all who venture there.

Overnight at Rongbuk Monastery Hotel (No shower) (B)=breakfast.

Day 18. EBC / Shigatse / or EBC/ Kyirong Town 

Travel back to Lhasa

For Travelers planning to return to Lhasa Today, they will drive from Mount Everest base camp to Shigatse, a 340km trip that takes 7-8 hours. 

Overnight at the 4-star Gesar Hotel Deluxe Room. (B)=breakfast

Travel to Nepal 

Travelers planning to travel to Nepal today will drive from Mount Everest base camp to Kyirong town via Old Tingri and Phikutso Lake and view Mount Cho Oyu and Mount Shishapangma. (8012) The only mountain fully planted in Tibet.  [3,900m], 280KM, 7hrs

Overnight at JomoLangZong Hotel with private bathroom (B)=breakfast.

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

Travel back to Lhasa

Travelers planning to return to Lhasa today will drive from Shigatse to Lhasa via the northern Friendship Highway, a 280km route that takes 5 hours to complete. 

In Lhasa City, travelers can choose from three hotel options: the Gold Star Shambhala Palace, known for its Tibetan home ambiance; the 3-star Kyichu Hotel, featuring a garden restaurant; and the 4-star Shambhala Hotel, which offers an oxygen room. All accommodations include breakfast.

Travel to Nepal 

Travelers planning to travel to Nepal Today will drive from Kyirong town to the Nepal border bridge at Rasuwa town, cross the border, and continue to Kathmandu. 

Day 20. Lhasa Airport / Train Station Dropping Off

Good morning. Lhasa airport or train station drop-off. The time comes to say farewell to your guide and driver.