Kharta Valley Trek With EBC

Your guide will meet you at your hotel in the morning to begin your city tour of Kathmandu. You will visit the Boudhanath temple, the largest Buddhist stupa in Nepal, Pashupatinath, a Hindu pilgrimage site, and possibly view cremation ceremonies along the banks of the Bagmati River. Continue drive to Patan Durbar Square to see the ancient Nepalese architecture and end your tour after lunch.Then, you will visit the Patan museum. Overnight in Kathmandu

After breakfast drive through the beautiful Nepalese countryside to Kodari at the Nepal-Tibet border and to Nyalam on the Tibetan side of the border.

We allow rest day in Nyalam to acclimatize before heading up higher altitude. A short way out of town we visit a small temple calledNyalam Pelgye Ling, which is associated with the eleventh- and twelfthcentury poet Lama Milarepa.

After breakfast early in the morning we drive to Tingri through lush, green lower hills into the dry and arid landscape of the Tibetan Plateau. We cross several high passes including the Lalung La [5,050m], which offers the most breathtaking panorama of the Himalayan range including Mt Everest.

After driving 85 km to the north, you will reach Rongbuk. In Rongbuk you will visit the oldestmona stery, founded in 1902 by a Nyingmapa Lama. Here, you will find the cluster of meditation huts used by monks and hermits for over 400 years. In addition to the huts, hermits retreated to the many caves that dot the cliff walls around the monastery and valley below. You will walk along the ancient trails used by hermits. Overnight at Rongbuk monastery

Early moring we will go to see the sun rise view over the Mount Everest. The base Camp on Tibet side is also called North Everest Base Camp. Today we explore Everest Base Camp (5250m/17,220 ft) and itssurroundi ngs. While going for excursion, we can easily access by our transport up to Everest Base camp. From base camp we hike around or hire horse or use the local vehicle. From the base camp and nearbystunning view of Sagar matha (Everest), Shishapangama, Maklu and other surrounding snow capped peakslure us to go nearer and  nearer. It makes you feel that nature is utmost beloved. At Everest Base Camp on north we see Mani Walls. The prayer flags hung horizontally and vertically, the sacred syllable of mantra which symbolizes the peace and tranquility all over the world. It is believed that wind would blow the scared mantra all over world and peace would prevail in this universe.Overnight at Rongbuk monastery

On the way to Kharta we cross the Lalung La (pass) which lies at 5050m. On a clear day the north side of the main Himalaya Range from Shishapangma (8046m) to Gauri Shanker (7134m) in the east is visible from Lalung La pass. The drive continues across the Tibetan Plateau past a series of villages to the vast Tingri plains where we gain our first views of Mt. Cho Oyu (8201 m) and Mt Everest. After few hours of driving, we again cross another the Pang La pass, at 5150m, gaining great views of Everest and the surrounding area. The view from the top is incredible with uninterrupted views stretching from Makalu to Shishapangma. From here we drive down to the village of Phadhruchi where the jeep track divides – the west road heading to the Rongbuk Valley and the east road takes us to the Arun Valley(Phung  Chu) and the village of Kharta, the administrative headquarters of the region.

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 we take the smaller left trail towards Lhundrubling, which gives us a more gradual climb in elevation. The trail leads eventually to the Lhundrubling. Tonight we camp in a meadow.

We make an early start to cross 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. Overnight in camp

Today we walk 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.

About half an hour walk from our campsite we gain our first views of Lhotse Shar (8383m) and views of this immense glaciated. We continue walking through the stunning valley 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! Overnight in camp

While heading away from Pethang Ringmo towards Hoppo, the trail crosses lush verdant meadows and then follows several ascents. Thereafter, Kangshung Face of Everest zooms into picture showcasing towering Chomo Lonzo with its glistening glaciers. Few hours of more trekking bring you close to Hoppo at 4800 metres. Hoppo lies surrounded by rich yak pastures. It makes a perfect campsite. Overnight in camp

Kangshung Base Camp lies few kilometers away from Hoppo at an elevation of 5050 meters. En route, you ascend grass-strewn ridges along magnificent Kangshung Glacier. While journeying along this trail, you will not only get enlightened on the topological features of the surrounding places but will also bond with the nature on spiritual level. Along the way you get plenty of opportunity to witness North East Ridge of Everest. Overnight in camp

On this day you trek along the trail that leads to a valley from Pathang Ringmo and then skirts northwards to Langma La pass. Savoring the majestic sights of Himalayan range, you walk past yak pastures. Shortly after hours of adventurous and fun-filled transverse, you will spot an ideal campsite at Shurimo (4,800 m) located at the base of Langma La. Overnight in camp

It is advisable to make an early start while ascending to Langma La for about two hours. Transversing amidst mesmerizing vistas of Everest, Lhotse, and Makalu, you will descend steeply from Langma La pass to the valley. On entering the valley, you may encounter yak herders from Kharta at their camps. Several pristine villages are beautifully landscaped in the vicinity. Along the trail, you will meet up with the confluence of the Kharta Valley. You can also view Kanchenjunga massif nestled above the ridges beyond Kharta on the Nepal- Sikkim border. Further ahead, the trail advances towards village of
Lundrubling where we will set our overnight camp.

You trek along the trail turning away from Lundrubling towards Kharta for about 4 hrs overnight in camp

Leaving Kharta, you will drive to Shegar enjoying beautiful views of the Himalayan mountains range (if weather permits) passing through isolated monasteries and nomadic herders’ camps en route to Shegar. Here in Shegar you will visit the ruins of Shegar Dzong (Crystal Fort), once the capital of the Tingri region. You can take a short excursion to nearby view-point to see the distant Mt Everest and take photographs.

From Shegar we drive to Shigatse which is the second largest city in Tibet and the capital of Tsang province. Shigatse is also home to Tashilunpo Monastery – place of Panchen Lama who is second in spiritual importance only to the Dalai Lama. The Tashilunpo Monastery was built in 1447 by Gendun Drup and used to house more than 3000 monks in the past. One of the most interesting sights at Tashilunpo includes a nine-storey gilded statue of Maitreya, also called the “Future Buddha”. Overnight in hotel

Today you will drive to Gyantse. One of the major attractions of Gyantse is the Pelkor Chode Monastery founded in 1418 and it houses the Kumbum, a large gold-domed stupa. The small chapels in Kumbum you will find an impressive array of Tibetan Buddhist murals and statuary. The Gyantse Dzong itself is a fort dating back to the 14th century. It offers fantastic view of Nyang Chu valley and Gyantse town itself. Overnight in hotel

Today’s drive will take you across two high passes – first the Karo La (5045m) that gives way to wonderful views of Yamdrok Tso (also called Turquoise Lake). In fact, you will drive for hours by the side of Yamdrok Tso and endless bends and curves of the road. The other high pass is Kamba La at 4794m. The drive from Gyantse to Lhasa is 259km but the scenery is fantastically amazing. Lhasa, the remote adobe of the Dalai Lamas, center of devout pilgrimage and heart and soul of Tibet, has always been a city of wonders – even after the large-scale encroachments of modern Chinese influence.
The first hint that Lhasa is close is the Potala, a vast white-and-ochre fortress soaring over one of the world’s highest cities. It’s a sight that has heralded the marvels of the Holy City to travelers. Overnight in hotel

Today you will start much-awaited sightseeing tour in Lhasa. Accompanying on your tour there will be a
Tibetan/Chinese guide and interpreter. First you will visit the Sera Monastery; approximately 5km north of central Lhasa. It used to be one of Lhasa’s two great Gelugpa monasteries second only to Drepung. The monastery is interesting to visit particularly in the morning when the monastery is at its most active. The whitewashed walls and golden roofs along with several hundred monks, all make a fascinating visit. We will find time to have lunch in between tours and continue our sightseeing. Next attraction will be the Norbulingka Palace; the summer palace of the Dalai Lama. The park of the palace is most interesting to visit during festivals. Jokhang Temple is next in our touring list. It is the most revered religious site in Tibet Thick with the smell of yak butter, echoing with the murmur of mantras and bustling with awed pilgrims, the Jokhang is an unrivalled Tibetan experience.. Barkhor Market is an area unrivalled in Tibet for its fascinating combination of sacred significance and push-and-shove market economics. This is both the spiritual heart of the Holy City and the main commercial district for Tibetans. Overnight in hotel

On this day you will visit the Potala Palace – Lhasa’s cardinal landmark. It is one of the great wonders of world architecture. As has been the case with centuries of pilgrims before you, the first sight of the fortress-like structure will be a magical moment that you will remember for a long time. It’s hard to peel eyes away from the palace. The Potala is a strucutre of massive proportions, an awe-inspiring place to visit. This used to be the palace of the Dalai Lama. An old palace used to be in this place since 5th or 6th century. The present palace, however, was constructed in the 17th century.
Drepung Monastery which we visit next is another fascinating place. It was founded in the 14th century and once used to be the largest monastery in the world where a population of over 10,000 monks used to live. In recent times, the number is reduced to some hundreds. The place is still very interesting as it still preserves the originality. The remaining time will be free to explore Lhasa on your own. Overnight in hotel

Today you are leaving Lhasa city and flying back to Kathmandu