Cho Oyu Expedition

At Kathmandu international airport received by View Nepal staff for transfer to your hotel in the hub of Kathmandu city, with the briefing of Kathmandu and our of Lhasa to with Cho-Oyu Expeditions, includes welcome dinner in authentic Nepalese restaurant with cultural / folk programs.

Morning our city guide will pick you for half day tour around Kathmandu places of interest, as Kathmandu valley steeped with historical monuments with world heritage sites with afternoon free preparation for Lhasa and Cho-Oyu Expeditions.

Today you will be fully engrossed with Cho-Oyu Expeditions and Tibet programs and activities with final briefing and orientation for the trek and climb and knowing each member of the team including guides and other staff. We have reserved a day more to provide enough time for packing and buying extra gears or shopping for the expeditions. View Nepal office and field staff along with leader of the team will use this day to obtain permits and necessary documentation for Tibet and Mt. Cho-Oyu expeditions.

Morning as per the flight to Lhasa transfer to Kathmandu international airport, during an hour airborne mind-blowing views of world’s highest mountains with Mount Everest at its closest, this super flight touches down at Gongar Airport which is just an hour drive to Lhasa city. At Gongor airport well received by our Tibetan guide and drivers for pleasant drive into heart of Lhasa city. Afternoon relax at this high altitude of 3,650 m and take a short walk around Barkhor market square where hotels are located.

In Lhasa busy with interesting tour of Drefung Monastery one of the largest in Tibet, as well important old monastery of Tibet actually a collage and a university for Tibetan Buddhism in earlier days. After Drefung, tour of Jorkhang Temple which is another important and interesting site to visit as it boasts historic importance and tales of old days. Our guide will take you on tour to famous and magnificent Potala Palace, originally built during 640 AD. Potala Palace the landmark of Lhasa and Tibet dominates the Kyuchi or Lhasa valley. The 13 storied palaces with 1,000 room stands at 117.19m high include 1000 rooms. Afternoon tour of another interesting and important Shera monastery and watch young monks in debates one of the high light of the visit.

From Lhasa drive to Shigatse city via Gyantse a scenic drive to leads over Khamba-la 4,800m with great views of Tibetan landscapes, then towards Yamdrok Tshso “The Torquoise Lake” and drive over Karo-La at 5,050m with views of Nazong-Khangtsa peak, after a great drive of five hours reaching at Gyantse tour of Phalkor Monastery, Kumbum Stupa (time permitting). From Gyantse a short drive of few hours to Tibet’s 2nd biggest city Shigatse after Lhasa. The hotel in Shigtase is quite large and comfortable.

In Shigatse tour of Tashilumpo monastery, a traditional seat of Panchen Lama (2nd high order after Dalai Lama) this monastery contains a 27m high gold plated Buddha known as Mytria (the future Buddha), afternoon visit the local market.

After wonderful stop in Shigatse, our morning drive leads outside of the city area heading South towards Old Tingri via Shegar, driving on Kathmandu / Lhasa highway the road has been well maintained last few years the ride leads to Larze town, located on the road to Mt. Kailash from Larze drive climbs on zig-zag road reaching highest pass at Gyatsho-la of 5,220m high and then downhill to Shegar / New Tingri from here another hour of good drive leads to windswept town at Old Tingri for overnight stop with first views of Cho-Oyu and Everest towards East direction.

From this windy and isolated town, our route leads away from main highway towards South East at Cho-Oyu base camp, as the drive leads on wide windswept valley with super panorama of world highest peaks including Mt. Everest and Cho-Oyu with other adjoining peaks. From the village of Old Tingri our expedition’s trucks leads off the tarmac road and bumping up around grassy plain leading up to near Nangpa La. Here have a couple of options for base camp but normally place it on flat moraine at the foot of the Gyabrag glacier. A good path leads in about two days to Advanced Base Camp. Staying here throughout the trip and do not plan to descend till expeditions completes. Our Land Cruiser and jeep will be permanently at disposal or on stand - by at the Base Camp for emergency.

Today after gathering all climbing gears from the trucks busy sorting out the equipments and planning with few practices before the final event to the top of world 6th highest peak.

Taking two days trek to Advance Base Camp at the foot of Nangpa La Pass. All the expedition equipment will be carried on yaks. One overnight or interim camp is needed on route to Advance Base. Advance Base Camp (ABC) at near 5,700 meters grand views of surrounding peaks and towards Nangpa La (which leads to Nepal Khumbu / Everest area), for centuries a major trading route between Nepal and Tibet. Since past few years many platforms has been set and cut into moraine of Advance Base Camp. Our expeditions will have large kitchen and mess tents with member’s tents which will be pitched close by.

Starting from ABC for the final assault of the summit after much preparation, where our expedition leader will control the daily routine of the expedition, normally establish camp I, at 6,400 meters and camp II, at 7,100 m before returning to Advance Base Camp for rest. Our climbing Sherpa team will establish camp III, at 7,500 meters with members sleeping only one night at this top camp before heading to the summit top. From Advance Base Camp walk and climb at about 07 k.m distance to the start the main climbing adventure. A vague path leads through moraine covered glacier. Camp I is at 6,400 meters. If there’s no snow a steep path leads up to an interminable scree slope which will be much support for the climb. The camp is located on a broad snow field at the foot of the ridge leading up to a serac barrier which is the only real technical section on the route. At about 6,900 meters the ridge is blocked by a line of ice cliffs here fixing a new rope. Normally we will have one rope for the ascent and another for descent on this pitch, which is about 40 meters high. This is the hardest part of the mountain but is not a difficult. High above the serac climb out onto a plateau cut by huge crevasses, a winding path between to pitch Camp II at about 7,100 meters. Above Camp II broad snow slopes lead more easily to Camp III at 7,500 meters.
This is the highest camp and make the summit bid from here. Summit day as always involves an early start. Depending on snow conditions might encounter some easy scrambling as the climb gets in progress making way up and across the low angled west face. The top of the summit a large plateau with highest point of the peak is a long way back. In fine weather views are marvelous of Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Chamlang, Ama Dablam and other peaks of the Khumbu with Mt. Menlung-tse and Gaurishankar massifs. Normally it is possible to descend from the summit all the way to advance base camp on the same day. This will depend on snow conditions and members fitness. 20 days for climb from ABC as the climb follows moraine towards the summit of Mt. Cho-Oyu at 8,201 m. After a mind-blowing experience adventure and feeling high on top of the world descend back safely towards Base Camp using few camps on long descend.

This day all climbing party and member including guide and staff should have reached at base camp, to assist packing equipments and checking each member health condition after the great classic climb and to organize departure from Cho-Oyu base camp to Kathmandu. Everything will be packed into the blue plastic expedition drums for the return journey to Kathmandu. If the road is in good condition it is sometimes possible to go to Kathmandu in one day from the Base Camp. More likely though, we will want to enjoy the journey back across Tibetan plains to the green areas of Nepal.

Start packing the climbing gears and disposing garbage in proper sites, where CPPC (China / Chomolungma Pollution Control) will check the camp and depositing the litter to take away from the base camp to disposal sites or back to Kathmandu. Prepare everything for an early departure the next morning.

After exciting time with super adventure on top of Cho-Oyu, morning a long drive to reach Zangmu a border town, from base camp a few hour drive leads back on the main Lhasa / Kathmandu highway at Old Tingri. After a short stop continue drive heading over scenic Laylung pass at 5,050 m, with views of snowcapped peaks that borders Nepal and Tibet. After enjoying the views downhill to Nylam town and into forested area on leaving high and Tibetan dry plateau, drive leads through green forested area with views of beautiful waterfalls, after few hour drive from Nylam reaching Zhangmu town for last overnight stop in Tibet.

Morning as per China Beijing Standard Time (of 2:15 minutes ahead than Nepal standard time) after passport and visa formalities, a short drive leads at Friendship Bridge separating Tibet / China with Nepal territory. At the bridge bidding farewell to our Tibetan guides and driver, then walk into Nepal soil for the drive to Kathmandu, on reaching Kathmandu transfer to your hotels with afternoon free for individual activities and shopping.

A spare day in Kathmandu in case of bad road conditions on drive due to landslide which might occur, as the Himalayan roads can be unpredictable sometimes if all goes well have a free day or sightseeing tour of Kathmandu-Patan and Bhaktapur. We have allowed two days after Tibet as reserve day and as well to submit expeditions report to concern department regarding the climb and activities of the expeditions.

Today, your last day in amazing Nepal with great experience and fond memories of Mt. Cho-Oyu Expeditions, as per your time for international flight, View Nepal staff transfer you to airport for your final departure homeward bound or to your next destinations.

Morning starts with super views of mountains and heading up at Thulo Kharka also called Australian Camp a beautiful place with large meadows overlooking magnificent views of the Himalayan range of mountains, from here trek concludes with an hour downhill to Kande village on the road connecting Baglung-Pokhara highway, from here an hour drive back to Pokhara after a wonderful time up in the high mountains.