Everest North Col Expedition

At Kathmandu international airport you will be well received by View Nepal staff and then transfer you to your hotel in the hub of Kathmandu city, with the briefing of Kathmandu and adventure from Lhasa to Kathmandu with Everest expeditions, includes welcome dinner in an 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 Everest Expeditions.

Today you will be fully engrossed with Everest Expeditions 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 the leader of the team will use this day to obtain permits and necessary documentation for Tibet and Mt. Everest North Col 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 a pleasant drive into the heart of Lhasa city. Afternoon relaxes at this high altitude of 3,650 m and takes a short walk around the 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 Mytaria (the future Buddha), afternoon visit the local market.

After breakfast, morning walk downhill into lovely rhododendron and pines forest, a nice trek and then over a bridge above Imja Khola. From here a gradual uphill to Pangboche village, last permanent village before Everest Base Camp and Island Peak climb. From here walking up at exposed area with views of Mt. Amadablam and then last up and downhill to Pheriche for the overnight stop.

From this windy and isolated town, our route leads away from main highway towards North Everest base camp and Rongbuk area, as the drive leads on top Pang-la pass with super panorama of world highest peaks including Mt. Everest, Makalu, Cho-Oyu and adjoining peaks, from here descend to Tashi Dzong village to reach Rongbuk Monastery and its many smaller hermitage caves. This holy and remote spot was first introduced to the world in 1920's by 1st British expedition teams of George and Irving Mallory and well-known novel Lost Horizon by James Hilton.
At present most of the retreat cells are abandoned with only a few small shrines scattered at end of the valley. According to Rimpoche (high priest and saint) of this area, the monastery was first established as a religious site around 250 to 350 years ago. From Rongbuk, a short drive of 20-30 minutes to Everest North Base Camp, here meet our camping staff and guides and retire into a spacious cozy tent with dinner served by our camping Nepali chef.

Today after gathering all climbing gears from the trucks busy sorting out the equipment and planning with few practices before the final event to the top of world number one peak.

After packing loads for the yaks head to advance base camp, which is 22 km up the valley, requiring two days to reach. There are easy walks to do back to the Monastery and towards the mountain, but rest is the key to acclimatization at this point.

On the walks fabulous view of Everest North Face and then later in the day before reaching intermediate camp, setting camp by the river at the halfway point, then set off early in the morning with the yaks on the second day to allow plenty time in the afternoon to set up a temporary of rudimentary camp at Advance Base Camp the highest camp on walks at 6,550 m.

From this high Advance camp preparation for the final climb to the summit encountering great technical effort through ice-rocks and snow an incredible experience. Our North Col climbing route will be taken care by our climbing guides and staff in keeping the route safe with necessary secure measure taken, from here needs positive attitude with physical and mental effort to attempts this climbing adventure. 20 days for climb from ABC as the climb follows moraine towards North Col and over glacier at about 300 meters of fairly deep snow climbing leads to the Col at 7,066 m. The Col a fairly wide ridge which has enough space for tents, this will be Camp I. To the south, the Col rises to become the North Ridge. This is straight-forward snow climbing, eventually steeping into rocky shelves and short buttresses.
A second camp will be placed at around 7,700 m. The route to the North East Ridge leading from the top of the North Ridge to the summit will depend on conditions favorable climate conditions. From the camp following North Ridge to the crest of the North-North-East Ridge or make a rising traverse to the right to reach the ridge at a higher point. Last camp will be placed at around 8,300 m. The final section of the climb takes in first and second steps, a short but abrupt rises on the North-East Ridge, which will provide climbing at extreme altitude! It was on 2nd step that Mallory and Irvine were last seen before they disappeared in 1924. The final climb leads to cross last section on steep step to reach the top summit. As per favorable weather conditions follow our lead guide and leaders to the summit on top of the world at 8,848m (29,028 ft.). Some have measured as 8,850 m high but not yet confirmed. After a mind-blowing experience of life time adventure feeling high on top of the world descend back safely towards Advance camp using few camps on route downhill.

All loads must be carried down at this time this includes garbage picking and clearing the litters along the route downhill.

This day all climbing party and the member including guide and staff should have reached at base camp on this day, to assist packing equipment and checking each member health condition after the great classic climb and to organize departure from Everest base camp to Kathmandu.

Start packing the climbing gears and disposing of 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 Everest, morning a long drive to reach Zangmu a border town, from Rongbuk after few hour drive joining the main road 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. Everest North Col 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.