EVEREST ADVANCE BASE CAMP TREK

OUTLINE ITINERARY

Day 01 - Arrive Lhasa (3660m)
Day 2-3 - Sightseeing in Lhasa (3660m)
Day 04 - Free in Lhasa (3660m)
Day 05 - Drive Lhasa – Gyantse (3950m)
Day 06 - Drive to Shigatse (3900m)
Day 07 - Sightseeing & drive to Shegar (4050m)
Day 08 - Drive Shegar - Rongbuk (5000m)
Day 09-10 - At Everest Base Camp (5200m)
Day 11 - Trek to Camp 1 (5460m)
Day 12 - Trek to Interim Camp (5760m)
Day 13 - Rest day at Interim Camp (5760m)
Day 14 - Trek to Camp 2 (5970m)
Day 15 - Trek to Everest Advance Base camp (camp 3, 6400m) and return to Camp 2
Day 16 - Return to Base Camp
Day 17 - Drive Base Camp to Nyalam (215km)
Day 18 - Drive Nyalam (3750m) to Kathmandu

DETAILED ITINERARY

After you enjoy exploring Gyantse, taking a 90 km drive, you will arrive at Shigatse, the second largest city of Tibet that lies at an altitude of 3900 meter. You can first explore the local market and then make a detailed visit to the Tashilhunpo Monastery, being one of the largest functioning monasteries in Tibet is the major attraction of Shigatse. Our overnight accommodation will be either at Shigatse Hotel or Shandong Mansion.

Day 7: Sightseeing & Drive Shigatse - Shegar (New Tingri: 4050m)
Today we continue along the Friendship Highway, marvelling once more at the barren yet spectacular landscape of Tibet. Beyond the small town of Lhatse we cross the highest pass on our journey, the Gyamtso La (5220m). From here we descend to the plains, passing along lonely monasteries and the camps of nomadic herders, en route to Shegar.

Day 8: Drive Shegar - Rongbuk (5000m)
Shortly after leaving Shegar, turning away from the Friendship Highway, we head south over the Pang La (5150m) towards the main Himalayan range. The sight from the top is incredible with uninterrupted views stretching from Makalu to Shishapangma. Below the pass, initially Everest is hidden from view, but as we turn to the corner into the Rongbuk Valley it reappears, more impressive than ever. We 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)
Trekking the surreally sculpted Rongbuk Glacier you walk away from Everest Base Camp to Camp I for two and half hours or more. Camp I lies amidst moraine hills under picturesque yellow-orange granite cliffs. In the beginning the trekking route skirts the east side of the Rongbuk Glacier and opens into a flat area at 5270m. On the Southwest, Pumori at 7145 m nestled next to Kala Pattar comes into picture. After arriving at Camp I, you may wish to explore snout of the East Rongbuk Glacier lying just 20 minutes away from the camp. 

Day 12 Trek to Interim Camp (5760m)
The trail overlooks glacier-topped mountain as it roll from gravel mounds, mud plain to rocky moraine. Lying directly across from Far East Rongbuk glacier, Interim Camp can prove very beneficial for further acclimatization and supper vantage point prior to trekking up to Camp II. 

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)
It is about three and half hours or more to ascend from Interim Camp to Camp II. 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. Along the trail to Camp II you get to capture huge seracs rising up to 50 feet above the surface of the glacier and endless array of mountain scenery. 

Day 15 Trek to Camp III (6340m) and return to Camp II
As you march towards Camp III, you trek along moraine following the glacier to the right around the eastern flank of Changtse. Further ahead, you ascend a succession of hills as the glacier softens into smooth snowy ice fields carpeting the approaching ridges. En route you may spot several tent sites and discarded oxygen bottles. 1480 meter straight up from Camp III lies the Pinnacles challenging trekkers to explore its mystiques.

Its complexity has kept the northeast Ridge unclimbed for a long time. North Col lies at 7066 meter in the West connecting Everest’s Northeast Ridge and Changste. Through binocular you can see spectacular sight of striated rock summit of Everest extending above the Pinnacles to the southeast little more than 8000 feet (2400 m) higher than Camp III.  Beyond Camp III there are gravel hills beside the glacier and you may trek along this trail for one hour provided that you are fully acclimatized. Finally, you conclude your trek by journeying back to Camp II from Camp III for 2 hours or you can stay the night at Everest Advance Base camp.   

Day 16 Return to Base Camp
From Camp II you continue trekking back to Base Camp, a long day trek down to comfortable lower altitude.

Day 17: Drive Base Camp to Nyalam (215 km)
You have to take a 215 km drive from Base Camp to Nyalam along Friendship Highway traversing past Pang La pass. On the way, you can halt at Tingri for lunch. Further away amidst the stunning view of Everest, Cho Oyu and other mountain peaks, you accelerate past Lalung La pass at 5124m and Shung La pass at 5200m. The trail further commands far-reaching views of enchanting Shishapangma, Menlungtse and Gauri Shankar, as you leave behind arid Tibetan Plateau. The route then progresses towards the pristine and fortified town of Nyalam, where you can find a suitable accommodation at a hotel. 

Day 18: Drive Nyalam (3750m) to Kathmandu
Heading away from Nyalam, drive for one hour to the lush and verdant vegetation of Zhangmu at 2300 meter. Few kilometers drive follows Friendship Bridge along Bhote Koshi River to Immigration Control in Kodari where you part with your Tibetan guide and handle the re-entry formalities to return to Kathmandu. After a 5 hours drive of 123 km, you finally arrive in Kathmandu.