| Everest Via Nangpa valley |
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| Tuesday, 07 November 2006 11:24 | |||||||
Page 1 of 2  If you want to trek in the Everest region of Nepal you have several choices on where to start your trek, you can fly into the small town of Lukla short cutting some very good trekking and begin your trek from there. This is the most popular option. The next thing to decide is which route to take!! This often depends on how much time is available to you. The minimum you should allow to get the best out of a visit to the region is 3 weeks.A more adventurous and longer route is via the remote Nangpa Valley which has recently been opened to trekkers. This trek was not able to be taken for many years because of its proximity to the Tibetan border. This region is unspoilt with authentic sherpa villages. The most common route is from Namche to Pangboche- Tukla- Gorak shep To view this route go to our Base Camp trek for details Namche Bazaar the centre of Sherpa culture In this trek you will be able to climb both Gokyo Ri and Kala Pattar and camp overnight at Base Camp. The companies that offer this trek offer these alternatives. Although longer it looks more interesting!! In common with most treks to this location you fly up to the mountain airstrip at Lukla and head north along the well-worn trail which follows the mighty Dudh Kosi river to Namche Bazaar. This sizeable Sherpa village is situated at the heart of the Khumbu and all the principal valleys of the region converge here. Most parties continue to follow well-trodden paths on the classic base camp trek but you leave the crowds behind and head up the remote Nangpa valley to Marulung................. Grade D/E YOU NEED TO BE VERY FIT-a regular hill walker. This is a tough trek. Accommodation - Hotel, Lodges and Camping Typical itinerary Day 1: Arrive Kathmandu. Transfer to hotel and overnight at Hotel, a charming four-star hotel located on the edge of Thamel, a district renown for good shopping. Accommodations in Kathmandu are on B&B basis. Orientation meeting. Day 2: Visits to local temples, markets and bazaars. Optional city tour. Overnight at Hotel. Day 3: Early morning departure for flight to Lukla (9,000-ft) in Solu Khumbu. The airstrip has been newly paved, but the flight remains as dramatic as ever. At Lukla, you will meet your local staff. Your baggage may be carried by either porters or yaks or a combination thereof. Begin trekking toward Namche Bazaar, the center of the Sherpa people. You'll proceed very slowly on the first days because these days are critical for proper acclimatization. All nights on the trail are in camp or an occasional inn. Day 4: Continue trekking to Namche (11,300’). Day 5: Time to walk about Namche, experience great views of the surrounding peaks, or to visit the National Park museum Day 6: Hike through rhododendron and pine forest and trek through severa linteresting small villages including Phurte, Samshing, Thesho. Lunch enroute. Chance to visit a Buddhist nunnery in Thamo. Keep a look out in this area for musk deer and pheasant of many species including the Impeyan pheasant (the extravagantly coloured national bird of Nepal). You may even see in the meadows and cliffs above the Himalayan tahr. After Thamo head for the small village of Samde and cross the Bhote Kosi (river). Climb gradually to the potato farming village and trading center of Thame located at 13,000-ft. (Trekking time about 5-6 hours). Day 7: Day hike to Thengpo summer (yak) settlement enroute to the Tashi Lapcha pass, the 18,000-ft entrance to the Rolwaling region lying farther west. Thengpo is the last yak settlement of the region. This marvellous valley is very isolated and is a peacefull area for appreciaation of the beautiful high peaks and enjoyment of the solitude. There is also the possibility to visit the Thame Monastery and the Rinpoche (the reincarnated head lama of Thame) at a later time. Alternatively, for a more restful time you spend the day in town and visiting the monastery. (Hiking time 7-8 hours). Day 8: Thame/Marulung. The trail heads north to Thame Teng and on through several small villages such as Chanakpa (13,087-ft), Tarnga (13,202-ft), Marlung (13,500-ft), and Lungden (14,235-ft). All except Chanakpa are seasonally occupied only in the spring and summer. Sherpas consider Taranga to be the homeland of the Yeti. Taranga potatoes are also reputed to be the best potatoes in the world. We may have lunch here and our cook will prepare a meal with these famous potatoes. (Hiking time 6 hours) Days 9 and 10: Above Marlung there are very few settlements and the vegetation becomes very sparse. Two days are set aside to get close to the Nangpa La. The level of acclimatization, weather conditions and other variables will dictate how close the group gets to the pass. It is unlikely the group will actually reach the top of the pass, but there should be excellent views of the Nangpa Glacier and the surrounding peaks. Camp at Sumna Phug at the convergence of the Sumna and Lunag Glaciers. Given time and the proper conditions, we'll proceed up the valley to Lunag or Kangchung at the base of Nangpai Gotaya, a spur of the 24,500-ft Nagpai Gossum massif. The Nangpa La is usually open at this time of year and, if lucky, you may encounter yak caravans or traders crossing the Nangpa La. Day 11: Lungden (14,235-ft). Head back down the valley to Lungden, from which the trail heads to the Gokyo Valley. Day 12: Relmo Lake (16,000-ft). Contour upward through alpine landscape to camp at Relmo Lake, a high cirque. (Hiking time 6 hours). Day 13: Gokyo via Renjo Pass (17,466-ft). One of the more difficult days of the trip DUE TO THE ALTITUDE. Typically the weather is clear at this time of year and the prospects for favourable conditions are excellent. From the pass there are excellent views of the mountain and other 8,000-mtr peaks to the east. Descend into the Gokyo Valley, cross the Gokyo Glacier and make camp at Gokyo Lake. (Hiking time 7½ hours) Days 14 to 16: Gokyo to Namche via Thangboche. Over the next three days pass the Gokyo Lakes and the snout of the Ngzumba glacier. On the lakes there are likely to be migrating Brahminy ducks and pochards. Descending toward Phortse you'll enter rhododendron forests occupied by the elusive Musk deer and Himalayan tahr. There are spectacular views downvalley of several ragged peaks including Thamserku, and Kangtega. Just before reaching Thangboche you'll pass through forests that are considered sacred. The picturesque community of Phortse is one of the loveliest and most traditional in the entire Khumbu region. At Thangboche, you will intersect the main expedition route to Base Camp. We plan to visit Khumjung before completing the circuit route at Namche. Day 17: Lukla. It's only a day's walk downvalley from Namche Bazaar to Lukla. Views of the mountain are still possible Day 18: Kathmandu. Early morning flight to Kathmandu. Transfer to the Malla Hotel and overnight. Afternoon is free for you to browse the shops and savour the last moments of your tour to Nepal. Day 19: Fly back home
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| Last Updated on Tuesday, 07 November 2006 11:29 |
