> DETAILED ITINERARY
Day 1 Arrival in Kathmandu
Flying to Kathmandu along the northern border of Nepal
on a clear day is in itself an exciting and memorable
experience as exotic panoramic view of snow-capped Annapurna
mountain range peaks sprawls before you. The Nepali
support team will meet you at the airport and escort
you to your hotel.
Day 2 Sightseeing of
Kathmandu Valley
Kathmandu, being a historical and cultural heart of
Nepal, is a popular destination for tourists, trekkers
and adventure seekers. The city presents a wonderful
mixture of Hinduism, Tibetan Buddhism and Western influence
in the Valley. Patan and Bhaktapur are its two major
neighboring cities which bear immense historical, cultural
and religious significance. There will be a half day
guided tour to the famous & biggest Hindu shrine
PASUPATHINATH, the largest Buddhist stupa in town BOUDHANATH,
the 15th century palace of 55 windows and SOYAMBHUNATH.
In the evening, a trip orientation meeting will be organized.
Day 3 Flight to Lukla
[2850m]
We take an early morning flight to Lukla. During the
flight, we can bask in the mesmerizing views of giant
snow-capped mountain peaks. We will be camping for the
night outside one of the many lodges.
Day 4 Trek to Chutanga
[3050m]
On arriving at Lukla, we meet the trekking crew. We
then head eastwards from Lukla. The trail crisscrosses
through pristine hamlets and thick forest along Kalo
Himal Ridge. We must stay aligned with our specific
route. Otherwise, we may deviate from the target destination.
At the time of winter, snow makes us transverse steep
terrain. But during favorable climatic condition, the
trail is usually straightforward. After 3-4 hours of
trekking, we enter Chutanga.
Day 5 At Chutanga
We spend two memorable nights at Chutanga. This gives
us sufficient time for acclimatization prior to confronting
Zatrwa La. We can indulge in leisurely trek to a small
4000m peak below the Zatrwa Teng Pass. Excellent views
unveil as we glimpse over the valley of the Dudh Kosi
and the picturesque trail zigzagging towards Zatrwa
La. After exploring, we descend back to our camp at
Chutanga and succumb to complete relaxation.
Day 6 Trek to Tuli kharka
[4300m]
The trail crosses the Kalo Himal Ridge which separates
the Khumbu from the Hinku Valley. Further ahead, we
transverse a comfortable path showcasing a cairned notch
on the ridge with a collection of prayer flags at an
elevation of 4450m. En route we may encounter yak herders.
The views across the Dudh Kosi towards Karyolung and
the Lumding Himal are very impressive and so is the
view across the rolling foothills east of the Hinku
Valley. Half an hour below the pass is a huge boulder
which marks our campsite, Tuli Kharka. 6 to 7 hours
of trekking finally take us to Tuli Kharka.
NOTE: If conditions are
particularly bad, we do have the option of crossing
a lower pass to the south of the Zatrwa La, an alternative
which involves 2 additional days of trekking.
Day 7 Trek to Mosum kharka
[3700m]
The trail descends the rock-strewn path leading to a
fine vantage point of the Hinku valley where mesmerizing
views of the south face of Mera Peak become visible.
The trail zigzags through forested areas and then descends
steeply into the Hinku valley. Enchanting panorama of
Peak 43 and Kusum Kangguru unfolds as we bask in the
splendor of nature surrounding us from the Hinku Valley.
We experience the most exotic and delightful feelings
as we walk past forests of pine and rhododendron. Soon
after reaching Mosum Kharka, we set a campsite by the
banks of Hinku Drangka [river].
Day 8 Trek to Tangnag
[4350m]
As we head to the west bank of the Hinku Khola northwards,
forest blurs in and valley zooms out. We spot meadows
being used as grazing areas for goats, sheep and yaks
in the Upper Hinku. After several ascents for 4-6 hours,
we approach summer settlement of Tangnag as we cross
a single-plank bridge at Gondishung. We halt for lunch
at this spot. Lying in its vicinity is 200 year-old
gompa resting beneath a massive boulder and a number
of crude mani walls. The trail offers an outstanding
view of Peak 43.
Day 9 At Tangnag
We utilize two days getting completely acclimatized.
After proper rest, we can explore other adventure possibilities
like strolling by Sabal Tsho, beautiful moraine-dammed
lake which is hidden behind the Sabal Glacier and climbing
a peak up to an altitude of nearly 5000m. We can also
explore Hinku Nup Glacier which leads north toward Kangtaiga.
The upper Hinku valley turns to the east at Tangnag,
crossing the moraine of the Dig Glaciers.
Day 10 Trek to Khare
[5000m]
As we walk away from Tangnag, the trail ascends to a
wide grassy basin, popularly called Dig Kharka. We continue
walking for hours. After a while, we arrive at Khare.
There are many campsites at Khare and the most popular
one is at the upper end of Khare lying beneath a group
of boulders. We choose this site for camping. This campsite
offers splendid vistas of huge north face of Mera, Hinku
Shar Glacier and Mera La.
Day 11 Khare upper end
[5500m]
We use this day for acclimatization. After proper rest,
we take a walk up to a small peak on the west side of
the Hinku Nup Glacier, where we can reach a height of
around 5500m. At this point, we get to capture stunning
views of Mera La and Mera Peak.
Day 12 Trek up to campsite
by lower part of Hinku Nup glacier
We follow the trail leading to Mera La. We continue
transversing as far as the lowest part of the Hinku
Nup Glacier. At this point, we get captivated by the
exotic beauty of snow-slope and the panorama of Himalayan
peaks.
Day 13 Rest day
This day has been specially set aside for giving us
time to acclimatize completely and to have good rest.
After relaxation, we get a further boost to lift up
our adventure spirit.
Day 14 The ascent [6476m]
Early in the morning at around 2am after breakfast,
we advance towards the summit. By sunrise we can reach
up to 6000m. With Incessant attempts, we finally scale
the summit. From the summit, we can embrace the most
spectacular view of at least five of the world's fourteen
8000m peaks. Most of this spectacular panorama can be
seen from the site of the high camp and all of it is
visible from 6000m. After the climb, we descend to the
campsite on the Hongu side of the pass.
Day 15 - 18 Return back to Lukla
Day 19 Flight to Kathmandu
From Lukla, we take an early morning flight to Kathmandu.
Day 20 Depart Kathmandu
Our The Nepalese support team will take you to the airport
for your flight home. (Or stay longer for short tours
such as game drive at National parks, rafting, Tibet
tours, mountain biking etc).
Contact us at enquiry@explorehimalaya.com for more information
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