Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu
Upon your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, you will be warmly greeted by a staff / representative from Ang Rita Trek & Expedition as you come out at the airport after the immigration formalities. You will be transferred to a hotel. An orientation of the trip will be arranged at a convenient time.
Day 02: Sightseeing Tour and Trip Preparation.
After breakfast we will take you for a guided cultural tour and visit some of the historical and cultural sites which most of them are illustrated on the world heritage sites. You will visit historic Kathmandu Durbar Square clustered with old royal palaces and distinctive pagoda roofed temples, stone sculpture and old monuments. Swaymabhunath, the Buddhist stupa believed to be 2500 years old towering on the top of a hill commanding sweeping view of Kathmandu valley, the most profound expression of Buddhist symbolism in Nepal and possibly in the world. Afternoon will be used for orientation and the preparation for the trip.
Day 03: Kathmandu - Lukla - Chutanga (3050m. ): 4 - 5 hrs.
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the domestic terminal of Kathmandu airport for an early morning flight to Lukla (2,800m/9,186ft), a gateway for Everest. After an adventurous 35 minute flight with spectacular views of breathtaking Himalalays, we land at Tenzing-Hillary Airport at Lukla. Upon arrival at Lukla, the trekking guide will arrange the loads for the porters to carry and commence the trek. We ascend slowly for 3 hours and steep up for one hour and arrive at Chutanga for the camping. The views of Numbur (6957m), Karyolung (6511m), Kwangde (6011m ) are magnificent from here.
Day 04: Acclimatization Day
Our experience has proved that acclimation before confronting Zetrwa la (4450m. ) is crucial. We hike up towards the pass for acclimatization and return to the camp and relax the rest of the day for acclimatization.
Day 05: Chutanga – Thulikharka ( 4300m. ); 6 – 7 hrs.
We steeply climb up passing yak pasturelands and bushes. The trail crosses the Kalo Himal Ridge which marks the boundary of Khumbu and Hinku Valley. Once we arrived at the pass, the views of Karyolung and Lumding Himal are magnificent. We further hike and descend to Thulikharka.
Day 6 Thulikharka – Mousamkharka (3700m. ); 5 – 6 hrs.
The trail descens the rock-strewn path passing through rhododendron and pine forest. We find virtually, no human settlement on the trail. Kusum Kangaru, Peak 43 and Hinku Valley appear impressive as we descend. We arrive at Mausamkharka for the camping.
Day 07: Mausamkharka – Thagnak (4350m. ); 5 – 6 hrs.
We walk all day through the side of the mountain and the trail is narrow. We pass through the pasture lands and the patches of the jungle on the trail become thinner as we ascend near the snow line. We arrive at Thagnak.
Day 08: Rest day at Thagnak
Rest day in Thagnak. It is worth spending an extra day at Thagnak, which is in a superb setting surrounded by stunning peaks including Peak 43 (6,769m). There is a huge moraine in the north of Thagnak where a beautiful glacial lake, Sabai Tsho is dammed. It is worth exploring around for acclimatization purpose. Thagnak is also a base for climbing east and north-east side of Kushum Kanguru.
Day 09: Thagnak – Khare ( 5099m. ); 5 – 6 hrs.
We follow the lateral moraine of Dig Glacier to Dig Khraka which offers the spectacular views of Charpate Himal. The trail climbs through moraines and to the snout of the Hinku Nup and Shar Glaciers and then climbs more steeply to Khare (5,099m).
Day 10: Khare – Mera Base Camp (5300m.); 4 – 5 hrs.
We ascend for three hours and arrive at Mera La (5,415m). Normally, the pass will be covered with snow from Nov.- April. Again the views from the pass are spectacular. We descend about 100m towards the Hongu side and set up the base camp (5,300m) in the moraine below the ice. We embrace the spectacular scenery of snow-slope and the panorama of Himalayan peaks.
Day 11: Base Camp – High camp ( 5700m. ); 4 – 5 hrs.
We walk up through rocky trail for about 4 hours to the top of the rock band, which is marked by a large cairn. We set up a high camp and make preparation for the next day to get to the summit.
Day 12: Summit (6476m.)– Kongma Dimngma (4850m., 9 – 10 hrs.)
We start early morning after breakfast around 3:00am. Initially, we hike on the flat land on snow and gradually ascend with the help of main rope. There will be steep climbing near the summit but it would be rather non technical. After we reach the summit we embrace the spectacular panorama of the Himalayas including the 8000m. giants; Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Cho Oyu, Makalu and Kanchanjunga. We descend to base camp and enjoy the hot meal. We return to high camp and then to Kongma Dimngma.
Day 13: Kongma Dingma –Pokhari camp (5035m., 6- 7 hrs)
We gradually ascend through Hongu valley, the real mountain wilderness. There are several lakes and Himalayan peaks loom over the valley. We camp near the lakes.
Day 14: Pokhari Camp - Baruntse base camp (5300m., 6 hrs.)
We continue following Hongu Valley passing through small boulders. The valley appears more barren as we climb up. We follow the right bank of Barun Glacier and arrive at Baruntse base camp. The camp will be set up on a broad open valley at foot of the East Col
Day 15 – 27: Climbing
We establish two high camps above Baruntse Base Camp. After having rest at Baruntse base camp, we cross the East Col and set Camp I on the flat expanses of the glacier and at the foot of the South East Ridge, at an altitude of 6,000m. The climbing Sherpas will make the route and carry the loads to Camp I. The climbing from Camp I follows steepening slopes to a small col at the altitude of 6,450m where Camp II will be placed. The climbing members will have enough acclimatization by spending night at camp I and Camp II and enough rest at the base camp before heading for the summit.From Camp II we climb 45 degrees snow slopes past a subsidiary summit at 6745m. from where the route becomes more difficult. We climb through short, steep steps for snow and ice to gain the ridge at about 7000m. We further climb a marked cleft and ice cliff to get broader and easier slope above which leads to the summit at 7129m. We descend by the same route to the base camp,
Day 28: Retrace to Pokhari camp (5035m., 5 – 6 hrs.)
We descend through Barun Glacier and passing small boulders to arrive at the camp site.
Day 29: Pokharai camp – Kongma Dingma ( 4850m., 6 – 7 hrs.)
We pass several small lakes following Hongu Valley gradually descending to Kongma Dingma.
Day 30: Kongma Dingma – Thagnak ( 4350m. ); 6 – 7 hrs.
We ascend to Mera la and then descend through moraines and further descend more steeply to Khare. We further follow the lateral moraine of Dig Glacier and arrive at Thagnak.
Day 31: Thagnak – Thasingdingma ( 3500m. ); 6 – 7 hrs.
We pass through the pasture lands and the patches of the jungle along the hill side and further below beautiful pine and rhododendron forest and arrive at Thasingdingma.
Day 32: Thasingdingma – Chutanga ( 3050m. ); 7 – 8 hrs.
Today we cross Zetrwa la. We gradually ascend to Thulikharka and then to the pass. We steeply descend to Chutanga.
Day 33: Chutanga – Lukla ( 2800m. ); 3 – 4 hrs.
We gradually ascend to arrive Lukla.
Day 34: Lukla – Kathmandu flight.
Day 35: Free day in Kathmandu. Farewell dinner
Day 36: Airport transfer for international flight.
