A Trek to The Everest North Face Base Camp-Mt. Everest Trekking

Location

South of Old Tingri, Near the Tibet-Nepal Border

Start - Finish

Old Tingri-Mt. Everest Base Camp

Passes

Lamna la (5060m)

Grade

Medium-Difficult

Season

May to Oct

Trekking Time

5 for One Way

Overview

The Mt. Everest North Face Base Camp trek is among the most popular for trekkers in Tibet. Being near Tingri on the Friendship Highway, it is relatively easy to access. And the walk is not particularly strenuous-only one low pass must be crossed. Near the Base Camp is the reconstructed monastery of Rongbuk, once one of the largest monastic complexes in the region. The views from here of the Everest North Face, perhaps the most dramatic of all its sides, are unforgettable. There are several trekking routes from Old Tingri to Mt. Everest, we choose the most popular and easiest one as below.

Itinerary day by day

Day 1 Fly into Lhasa

Today's Highlights:

Airport Pickup

Details:

Take flight into Tibet. Upon your arrival, local guide will meet you and transfer you to Lhasa. On the way, you can enjoy the heart-beating highland view along the Lhasa River. The rest time is free for relax and adjustment.

Day 2 Lhasa Sightseeing

Today's Highlights:

Potala Palace; Jokhang Temple

Details:

Today, our highlights are Potala Palace and Jokhang temple. Potala Palace: The cardinal landmark of Lhasa, Potala Palace, is a structure of massive portions. Its towering image already appearing on various occasions, but your first sight of the Potala will still be an awe-inspiring moment. Potala Palace is a place where you can appreciate the Tibetan culture, religion and art of architecture as well.

Jokhang Temple is the spiritual center of Tibet. Every day, pilgrims from every corner of Tibet trek a long distance to the temple to pray for their now and future. The temple is the product of Han, Tibetan and Nepalese architectural techniques. Around the temple is the Barkhor Street, the oldest street in a very traditional city in Tibet. We can have a visit after the Jokhang visit. Out there, we can visit a handcraft product store.

Day 3 Lhasa Sightseeing

Today's Highlights:

Drak Yerpa; Sera Monastery

Details:

Drak Yerpa: This morning, our tour begins with a 20km-drive out of Lhasa to one of the holiest cave retreats in Tibet, the Drak Yerpa hermitage. In old times, some ascetics and kings have sojourned here for meditation. Among them, the most famous ones are Guru Rinpoche, Atisha, Lhalung and King Songtsen Gampo. Here we could visit some meditation caves once used by those famous figures, like Lhalung-puk (monk Lhalung), Dawa-puk (Guru Rinpoche) and Chogyal-puk (Songtsen Gampo).

Sera is one of the greatest Gelugpa monasteries. Around 5km north of central Lhasa, It was founded in 1419 by Jamchen Choje, one of the eight disciples of Tsongkhapa, the founder of Gelugpa Sect, covering an area of 114,964 square metres. The structure is imposing, picturesque in disorder, and splendid in green and gold. It is a typical Tibetan architecture. The 'Buddhism Scriptures Debating' in Sera is very famous.

Day 4 Lhasa-Shigatse

Today's Highlights:

Drive to Shigatse; Yamdroktso Lake; Palkhor Monastery

Details:

Today we will drive to Shigatse. Make a tour to Yamdroktso Lake on the way. Yamdroktso Lake is a coiling, many-armed body of water shaped like a scorpion. It doubles back on itself on the western side, effectively creating a large island within its reaches. For Tibetans, it is one of the three holy lakes in Tibet.

Also, we will go for the tour of Palkhor monastery, built in the 15th century, is situated in the west of Gyantse Town with mountains enclosing form three sides of the east, west and north. Its uniqueness is that its three sects of Buddism-Shaja, Ningma and Guolu stayed harmoniously under one roof. We will stay in Shigatse tonight.

Day 5 Shigatse- Old Tingri (Ganggar)

Today's Highlights:

Tashilumpo Monastery

Details:

After today's visits to Tashilumpo monastery and in Shigatse, we are heading to the town of Shegar, we might call it the gateway to Mt. Everest area. On the way, you are going to pass two high mountains named Gyula and Gyatsola. We finally will arrive at Old Tingri (real name is Ganggar), the actual town and the surrounding area offer a fascinating glimpse of Tibetan Village life.

Day 6 Old Tingri to Lungjang

Today's Highlights:

Reach Lungjang

Details:

One hour or more from Tingri the track passes the settlement of Ra Chu, a discluster of whitel buildings along the hills rising to the east. We will reach a village of Nelung which is 3 to 4 hrs from Tingri. Continue along the track. After passing the wide valley, which is a prominent landmark of the Tingri Plain which runs north to south. At its northernmost tip is the village and monastery of Cholung. Then we will reach Lungjang, a friendly place and the last village on the Tingri Plain.

Day 7 Lungjang-Lamdu Drok

Today's Highlights:

Trekking to Lamdu Drok

Details:

Until Zamphuk is reached, there is no habitation except for the occasional nomad camp.Today we finally will reach Lamdu Drok campsite near a stone corrall and stream.

Day 8 Lamdu Drok-Zamphuk

Today's Highlights:

Trekking to Zamphuk

Details:

About 3 hours trekking from Lamdu reach a stone corrall on the right. Here the trail ascends to the Lamna la pass after only half an hour of climbing. After 2 hrs cross the stream to the left side of the valley and hike to a rocky promontory. Beyond the promontory is the village of Zamphuk sited high above the Zamphuk valley. Due to the altitude there is no cultivation in Zamphuk; the villagers reply on animal husbandry for a living.

Day 9 Zamphuk-Rongbuk Monastery

Today's Highlights:

Rongbuk Monastery

Details:

Descend from the village to rejoin the track from Tingri. Follow this to the southeast along the Zamphuk river to its confluence with the large Dzakar Chu which in its upper stretches is known as the Rongphuk Chu. In half an hour, the ruins of the cave monastery of Chophuk, sited within high cliffs, can be seen. Follow the base of the cliffs, ascend a small gorge then descend to a wooden bridge which spans the Rongbuk river. The Rongbuk Monastery is one and half more from here.

Day 10 Rongbuk Monastery-Everest Base Camp

Today's Highlights:

Everest Base Camp

Details:

Today is a 2 hours hiking to Everest Base Camp. The stunning view of this highest mountain will let you forget all the hardships for coming here. It's worthy! We can camp at the Base Camp tonight and take some pictures of the sunset here.

Day 11 Everest Base Camp-Lhatse

Today's Highlights:

Back to Lhaste.

Details:

Today we drive back Lhatse.

Day 12 Lhatse-Lhasa

Today's Highlights:

Back to Lhasa

Details:

Drive back to Lhasa.

Day 13 Leave Tibet

Today's Highlights:

Tour ends

Details:

Tour ends today, and you can catch the flight to your next destination. Hope you have a wonderful time in Tibet.

Tips for This Tour

1. Although this trek is possible from May to October, you'd better don't choose July and August when it is the monsoon. Road and bridges may be destroyed by heavy rain, and mudslide may occur;
2. Have more rest and keep energetic, when ascending you'd better have a rest after 20 to 50 meters;
3. Have some pills for preventing flu;
4. Avoid camping near the creek in case of sudden mountain torrents;
5. The condition of the accommodation is poor at this area, a good equipped tent is necessary
6. Bring heavy clothes due to the cold weather in night;
7. At Mt. Everest, the weather is changeable, so try to stay longer if you don't see its real face at the first sight.

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