Tour Overview
Lhakpa Ri offers a chance to conquer a 7000m peak, which although strenuous, requires little technical climbing and is the next step for anyone who has already tackled Mera Peak or Island Peak. Whilst we acclimatise we take the opportunity to explore Lhasa and the surrounding areas, including the incredible Potala Palace. After a visit to Rongbuk and Everest Base Camp (Tibetan side) we begin our trek and slowly make our way along the Mallory Highway and prepare for the final push. This trek is certainly not for the novice but if you have trekked at high altitude previously and have good lungs and plenty of willpower then you won't be disappointed.
Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1Those on the group flight will be transferred to our central hotel. Those not flying with the group from London will join us at the hotel.
Day 2
Today there is a half-day sightseeing tour visiting the temples of Bodnath and Pashupatinath. Bodnath is one of the largest Buddhist Stupas in the world and home to a large Tibetan population, whilst Pashupatinath is the most important Hindu temple in the country. The tour will end at lunchtime and there will be time in the afternoon for individual exploration of the Durbar Square area of Kathmandu or Swayambunath, the Monkey Temple, with it’s all seeing eyes of Buddha overlooking the whole valley. There will also be a trip briefing today.
Day 3
An early morning transfer to the airport for the spectacular flight over the Himalaya to Lhasa. If the weather is clear there are wonderful views of Everest, Makalu, Kanchenjunga and other peaks en route. On arrival at Gonggar Airport we meet our vehicle and transfer one hour to Lhasa. As we near the Tibetan capital we see the great bulk of the Potala looming over the city. Lhasa is at 3,660m and we must take it easy for the first few days in order to acclimatise.
Day 5
These two days are spent in Lhasa, the religious, cultural and economic centre of Tibet. One of the highlights is a visit to the symbol of Tibet; the Potala Palace set high on Red Hill, the winter home of the Dalai Lama until 1959. The Potala is a vast building, containing the private quarters of the Dalai Lama, numerous staterooms and many important chapels. The most sacred shrine in Lhasa is the 7th century Jokhang Temple, where people come from all over Tibet to visit and pray in this spiritual heart of the country. We will join the many pilgrims as they circumambulate the many chapels inside. There is time to wander around the Barkhor, the old city, in company with the pilgrims. Around the Barkhor there are numerous stalls selling all sorts of handicrafts: brightly coloured boots and fur-lined hats, silver and turquoise jewellery, rosaries, prayer flags and charms, as well as beautiful Tibetan carpets, and all manner of ordinary household ware. We also visit Sera and Drepung monasteries, two of the great monasteries of the Gelukpa (yellow hat) sect, just outside Lhasa.
Day 6
Today we leave Lhasa for the drive to Rongbuk. Leaving the Lhasa valley we climb steeply to the first of the many passes to be crossed, the Kamba La (4794m), a traditional divide between ‘front' and ‘back' Tibet. At the top is a splendid panorama with the Yarlung Tsangpo, the great river of Tibet, behind us, while in front is a superb vista of the stunning scorpion-shaped turquoise lake of Yamdrok Tso and the peaks along Tibet's southern border. The road quickly drops down to the lake, and then follows the shore for a couple of hours. A short climb brings us to the Karo La (5,010m) passing close to a magnificent hanging glacier near the summit. This was the site of one of Younghusband’s battles in 1904. We then climb to our third pass of the day, the Simi La, before descending to a broad flat valley and the town of Gyantse, an important market town and trading crossroads. Gyantse is an attractive town dominated by the great fortress captured and destroyed by the British during their incursion into Tibet in the early years of this century. Apart from the fort, there are two particular points of interest in Gyantse - the Pelke Chode Monastery and the Kumbum Stupa. The stupa is reckoned the finest in Tibet and is filled with innumerable manifestations of Buddha. (Today’s drive is approximately 261 km).
Day 7
We spend part of the morning sightseeing in Gyantse, visiting the Kumbum Stupa and the Pelke Chode Monastery, before driving through a landscape of fields and low hills to Shigatse, Tibet's second largest town at 3,900m. Shigatse is situated near the junction of the Ngang and Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra) rivers, with many traditional low ceiling, flat roofed, mud brick Tibetan houses, but quite a lot of ugly modern Chinese buildings as well. It's a friendly and peaceful place, home of the Tashillunpo Monastery and traditional seat of the Panchen Lama, one of the great centres of Tibetan Buddhism. Unlike most religious buildings in Tibet, the Tashillunpo was largely untouched during the Cultural Revolution, and contains numerous impressive chapels and prayer halls. Don't miss the giant statue of the Maitreya Buddha that contains 280 kg of gold. After visiting Tashillunpo there is chance to do the ‘kora’, the pilgrim walk round the monastery, which ends in the bazaar. (Today’s drive is approximately 90 km).
Day 8
Leaving Shigatse we climb steadily to the top of the Tsuo La, 4,600m, from here the road drops steeply down towards Lhatse where the main road from western Tibet comes in. Another climb through virtually unpopulated high altitude moorland brings us to the summit of the Gyatso La (5,220m), the watershed between Tibet and the Indian sub-continent. A long descent brings us to Shegar. Shortly before Shegar on a clear day we may get a glimpse of Everest. (Today’s drive is approximately 233 km).
Day 9
We now leave the Friendship Highway and head south on a rough road, which was constructed in 1960 for one of the Chinese Everest expeditions. Just after leaving the main road we cross the Pang La, or Guo La as it is called by the Tibetans (5,150m), with some of the most stunning views yet of the mountains including Everest, Makalu, Lhotse, Cho Oyu and Gyachung Kang. We now drop down to Tashi Dzom and follow the river into the Rongbuk Valley. Everest is lost from sight for a while but just before we reach Rongbuk it comes into view again, more impressive than ever. We camp tonight near the Rongbuk Monastery (4,900m) from where we get the most spectacular sunset on the North Face of Everest.
Day 10
Rongbuk is the highest monastery in the world, and the site of the original base camp for the first British expeditions on Everest. From Rongbuk we start our trek; today is an easy 11km walk to the present day Everest Base Camp (5,200m), the views en route are amazing with the North Face of Everest so close you feel like you can touch it! We may spot herds of blue sheep along the roadside. Just past the end of ‘base camp’ is a small hill strewn with prayer flags, and near to this is the Mallory memorial plaque.
Day 11
We spend the day at base camp to aid acclimatisation. This is time to enjoy the views and for the energetic there are plenty of hills for acclimatisation walks. It is important though not to overdo things; this is time for rest and drinking plenty of fluids.
Day 12
Today our yaks will appear and we trek from base camp to Camp l at 5,500m on the East Rongbuk Glacier
Day 13
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Day 14
We move up to Camp ll (5,840m), which is at the start of the Magic Highway. This is an unlikely river of moraine that flows right through the pinnacles of the East Rongbuk Glacier. It was christened by George Mallory in 1922 and the route is surprisingly easy walking although the altitude makes it hard work. We will spend two nights at Camp ll for rest and further acclimatisation.
Day 15
We set off up the ‘Magic Highway’ via the junction of the East Rongbuk and Changtse glaciers to Camp lll. Camp lll is also known as Everest Advanced Base Camp and is at 6,400m. The yaks will leave us today and return to the base camp for a few days.
Day 17
These two days are for more important acclimatisation. We will be sleeping at 6,400m and need to acclimatise to this height. We can trek to the Raphu La (6,500m), which is at the foot of the north-east ridge of Mount Everest and has amazing views of the Kangshung Face of Everest, Makalu and Pethangste.
Day 18
We make a very early start for the ascent of Lhakpa Ri (7,045m). We have 650m of ascent and the going will be very slow due to the altitude. We ascend the glacier at an easy angle that gradually steepens as we near the top of the Lhakpa La. As we climb the final ridge we shall move together roped up in small groups led by our climbing sherpas. Magnificent views of the Kangshung Face greet us as we climb the final ridge to the summit. Finally we reach the summit where we’re rewarded for all our efforts by incredible views of the north-east ridge of Everest, the North Col, Changste, Shishmapangma, Makalu, Cho Oyu and many lesser known, but no less beautiful peaks. To the north the Tibetan plateau extends as far as the eye can see. After the ritual summit photo we descend carefully to camp.
Day 19
A spare day in case of bad weather or we need more time to acclimatise. Group members will acclimatise at different speeds and it is important to allow contingency days to allow all clients maximum chance of achieving their goal.
Day 20
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Day 21
We descend to Camp l via Camp II, returning to Base Camp and Rongbuk. Depending on weather and which day we climbed the itinerary for these days is flexible. If all has gone well we may drive to Old Tingri on the afternoon of day 21.
Day 22
If conditions allow we take the spectacular direct road to Old Tingri where we join the main Friendship Highway again. This road is not in good condition but the incredible views more than make up for any discomforts. We cross a desolate 5,000m pass continuing down towards Old Tingri passing through several isolated villages with great views back towards Nepal. (If there has been a lot of rain this road can be impassable, in which case we must take the longer route back via Shegar). At Old Tingri we meet the main road and turn west and then south towards the main chain of the Himalaya. As Everest recedes from view we have a splendid panorama of Shishmapangma, the only 8,000 m. peak entirely in Tibet, the views are spectacular - to the north is a vast open landscape with range upon range of mountains beyond, while ahead of us to the south there is an amazing panorama of snow-capped peaks of the main Himalaya chain. A steady climb brings us to the summit of the Lalung La (5,000m) and then the Tong La (5,100 m.) as we leave Tibet with the most amazing views - from the pass the road drops into a gorge between snow-capped peaks. A long and sometimes steep descent brings us down to Nyalam. We continue on down the gorge, which narrows considerably - the road is a tremendous feat of engineering - and in less than an hour we leave the stark scenery and pass into an altogether different world, descending dramatically into a forested gorge until we arrive at Zhangmu and our stay our final night in Tibet at a simple Tibetan owned guest house with very welcome hot showers!
Day 23
After completing the Chinese border formalities, we drive or walk down to the Friendship Bridge. This depends on the amount of traffic and road conditions. Usually we can drive most of the way and just have a short walk along the road. Once across the bridge, we are in Nepal, and as soon as the formalities are complete, we pick up our transport. The road follows the Bhote Kosi Valley down to its junction with the Sun Kosi at Barabise. We continue down the Sun Kosi past rice terraces, small villages and scrub woodland to Dolalghat where we leave the river and complete our journey to Kathmandu, stopping for lunch en route. We should arrive in Kathmandu late afternoon.
Day 24
End Kathmandu after breakfast
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