Fact of Trip
Trip Length: 18 Days
Activity: Cultural Spiritual Experience
Season: All Year Around
Trip Level: Moderate
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Jeep/Van/ Flight
Everest Advanced Base Camp trek is 18 days long adventure tour package
that will take you to the 3rd base camp of the mighty Everest summit. Everest Advanced Base Camp trek tour will take you to the 3rd base camp of the summit and this
as near as one can get to the mighty Everest if he/she doesn’t intend to climb
to the top.
Along with the Everest Base Camp trek we will be visiting Lhasa city,
Gyantse, Shigtse and other places on the way.
Anyone who wants to be the part of the tour must be physically and
mentally fit. The climate in high altitude is bit harsh and the thin air
with less amount of oxygen can cause fatigue pretty fast.
Everest Advanced Base Camp Trek Itinerary
Day 1 : Arrive Lhasa
(3660 m)
Today we will fly from
Kathmandu, TIA to Lhasa, Goggar Airport over the beautiful mountain range. It
will take about an hour to drive from the airport to the old city and to your
hotel. There are no programs today. You are suggested to take rest and drink
lots of fluids, which will help you to get acclimatized in the Tibetan
Altitude.
Day 2, 3, 4 : Sightseeing in Lhasa
Lhasa is a huge place and it will take about 2 full days to explore Lhasa.
We will be visiting following places in Lhasa:
Potala
Palace :
Political and religious centre of Tibet, Potala palace is one of
the most beautiful monuments in Tibet. With 1000 rooms and 13 stories to
explore this is probably the most popular tourist attraction in Tibet.
Elegantly decorated with hundreds of Thangka paintings, frescos and images
created hundreds of years ago the Potala palace is a perfect example of how
ancient monuments should be preserved.
Jokhang
Temple :
Jokhang temple which was constructed back ion 7th century attracts hundreds of tourist every year. This temple has a very huge
Sakyamuni Buddha statue and is considered the holiest place in Tibet.
Sera and
Drepung monasteries :
Sera and Drepung monasteries were founded in 1419
which are actually numerous white temples and Buddhist buildings in the foot of
a rocky hill. Back in its days, Drepung monastery use to have 8,000 monks to
teach traditions of Vajrayana, Mahayana, and Sutrayana, the three vehicles of
Tibetan Buddhism.
Norbulingka
palace : Constructed by the 7th Dalai Lama this Norbulingka
Palace is not actually just one palace. This is a huge garden with numerous
palaces built by many Dalai lamas in different period of time.
Along with these places we will be visiting the
Barkhor Market with is probably the busiest place in Lhasa and offers anything
you want to buy. Here you can pick up some Tibetan Souvenir for you and some
gifts for your loved ones.
The 3rd day of the Lhasa stay i.e. the 4th day of the
tour is for the tour is for the rest. This day we will rest and prepare for the
further travelling. This day you can revisit your favorite monastery or go to
the Barkhor Street to buy something for yourself and your loved ones.
Day 5 : Drive Lhasa - Gyantse (3950m)
Today we will drive from Lhasa to Gyantse on the friendship highway, through
the stunning views of the glaciers just few hundred meters away from the road,
lakes at very high altitude, High Mountain passes, beautiful Tibetan villages
and colorful slopes of the Tibetan hills. Our overnight accommodation is at the
Gyantse Hotel.
Day 6 : Sightseeing &
Drive Gyantse - Shigatse (3900m)
Today before leaving gyantse we will visit Gyantse Dzong and Gyantse Kumbum.
Gyantse Dzong is a 14th century Tibetan fort from where we can
observe the stunning view of the Gyantse town. Gyantse Kumbum has a large
gold-domed stupa and houses, several chapels and Tibetan Buddhist murals.
After exploring Gyantse
we will drive to Shigatse, the second largest city of Tibet which is about 90
Km away from Lhasa. Here we will visit the largest operating monastery in
Tibet- the Tashilhunpo Monastery and explore the local market. Our overnight
accommodation will be either at Shigatse Hotel or Shandong Mansion.
Day 7 : Sightseeing &
Drive Shigatse - Shegar (New Tingri: 4050m)
Today we will drive along the friendship highway to Shegar from Shigatse. We
will drive through the highest pass in Tibet, the Gyamtso La, at the altitude
of 5220m, the barren yet stunningly beautiful landscape of Tibet and we will
come across the camps of nomadic herders in our way to Shegar.
Day 8 : Drive Shegar -
Rongbuk (5000m)
This day we will drive
from Shegar to Ronbuk valley which is just a 4 Km away from the Everest Base
camp. On the way we will have to pass Pang La, and from here we get see the
incredible Himalayas. The view of mountains stretching from Makalu to
Shishapangma is awe-spinning. Reaching Rongbuk, we will stay overnight at the
Gompa Guest House.
Day 9-10 : At Base Camp
Two days at base camp to acclimatize and explore around.
Day 11 : Trek from Everest Base Camp to Camp 1 (5460m)
This day we will trek from Everest base camp to camp 1. We will have to walk
along the Rongbuk Glacier for about 2 and half hours. Camp 1 lies amidst hills
under stunningly beautiful and flamboyant granite cliffs. After arriving at
camp 1 you might want to visit snout of the East Rongbuk Glacier which lies at
the distance of 20 minute walk from camp 1.
Day 12 : Trek to Interim
Camp (5760m)
This day we will trek from camp 1 to the interim camp through gravel mounds,
mud plain to rocky moraine. Interim camp will prove to be very helpful to get
your body acclimatized to the high altitude and your body needs to get adapted
to the altitude and climate of that place in order to trek from the camp to the
camp 2.
Day 13 : Rest day at Interim Camp (5760m)
A rest day for preparation to climb higher up or you may wish to explore
around.
Day 14 : Trek to Camp II (5970m)
Its will take around 3 and half hours to climb up to campIIfrom the interim camp. You
will approach Camp II at 5970 meter as you near the south side of the glacier
at the eastern end of the Changtse Glacier junction lying below huge cliff. From
the camp II you can capture sceneries of the huge seracs rising to 50 feet and
more off the surfaces of the glacier along with the ranges of white and shiny
mountains like you’ve never seen before.
Day 15 : Trek to Camp III (6340m) and return to Camp II
This is the day you will march to the camp III of the Everest advanced base camp
trek. You will have to move along moraine following the glacier to the right
around the eastern flanks of Changtse. Bit further you will have to ascend some
hills which will lead you to the place where the glacier softens in to smooth
and open ice carpet. On the way can see many tents and discarded oxygen bottles
used by the mountaineers and trekkers. About 1480 m straight up from the camp III
lies the Pinnacles, always challenging the adventurous trekkers to explore its
charisma.
The northeast ridge has
kept itself away from most of the climbers because of its intricacy. North Col
lies at 7066 meter in the West connecting Everest’s Northeast Ridge and
Changste. From here, with a help of a binocular you can see the real Everest
standing about 800 feet i.e. 2400m higher than the Camp III. Beyond the Camp
three there are barren gravel hills just beside the glaciers. You might take an
hour’s stroll if you are fully acclimatized with the altitude and climate. Finally
you will have to conclude your trek today and return back to Camp II which will
take you around 2 hours climbing of downhill. Here at Camp II you will call it
a day and rest for the night.
Day 16 : Return to Base
Camp
Today you will trek to the comfortable lower altitude to the Base Camp. It’s a
day long downhill trek.
Day 17 : Drive Base Camp
to Nyalam (215 km)
Today is the day you will have to drive about 215 Km from the Base Camp to the
Nyalam city along the friendship highway. En route you will go through the Pang
La pass. We will halt our driving for a quick lunch at Tingri and drive on. On
the way we will stop at the Lalung La pass located at the height of 5124m,
which offers fantastic view of Cho Oyu and other mountain peaks like Shishapangma,
Menlungtse and Gauri Shankar. As you leave the Tibetan plateaus you will
progress towards the Nyalam city where you will spend the night at a cozy warm
hotel.
Day 18 : Drive Nyalam
(3750m) to Kathmandu
Today after the morning breakfast you will drive from Nyalam to Zhangmu,
through the winding downhill road offering you fantastic views of beautiful
waterfalls. This drive will take around an hour. A few kilometers drive from
Zhangmu will take you to the friendship bridge on the Bhotekoshi River, which
separates Tibet from Nepal. You will drive through the lush greenery of
Nepalese countryside for five hours to reach Kathmandu to enjoy its evening
markets and bustling beauty. En route you can stop for quick fish snack at
Chehere and Dolalghat.