Kharta Valley & Everest Khangshung Face Trek

• Grade: Moderate
• Duration: 24 Days
• Destination: Tibet
• Activities:
• Best Seasons: March to may and September to December is finest.

Kharta Valley is a region in Tibet lying to the east of Mount Everest and centered on the Kharta Valley & Everest Khangshung Face Trek. The Kama valley 40-kilometre (25 mi) Kharta valley starts at the col at Lhakpa La at the head of the Kharta Glacier from which the Kharta Chu River flows east to join the Phung Chu just beyond Khata village. Nearby to the south, the Kama valley starts at the Kangshung Glacier at the foot of Everest’s Kangshung Face, and the Kama Chu flows southeast to the Phung Chu. The 1921 British Mount Everest reconnaissance expedition discovered Kharta when reconnoitering ways to climb Mount Everest and managed to reach the North Col via the Lhakpa La. Since that time Kharta has not been used as a way to approach the summit of Everest but the two valleys have become a popular area for trekking.

The Kharta and Kama valleys are within the Qomolangma National Nature Preserve and provide a quieter area for trekking than Everest Base Camp in the Rongbuk valley. The Kama valley and the Kangshung Face tend to be the focus of the treks but the approach is from the Kharta valley which is returned to after a round tour. Many organizations offer trekking holidays and these are often part bookings on a larger organized expedition. A track passable by four-wheeled drives leaves the Friendship Highway at Tingri from where tickets are available for the guarded Nature Preserve. The track leads to the village of Kharta. The trek may either be by backpacking or after hiring yaks at the village.  A route typically taken (see map) goes up the valley via Yuluk and Yulba and then heads south over Shao La and descends to Kama Chu. The trail ascends the Kama valley with Chomolonzo and Makalu to the south and eventually reaching the Kangshung Glacier to see the Kangshung Face – the glacier has retreated considerably since the 1921 expedition. The return is made over Langma La back to Kharta Chu and then, passing through Lhundrubling, heads eastwards to the start. A local guide is essential (required by the authorities except for organized tours) and the journey on foot or yak takes about 10 days.

Outline Itinerary

• Day 01: Arrival Delhi-Transfer Hotel.
• Day 02: Delhi – Jaipur
• Day 03: Jaipur
• Day 04: Jaipur – Agra
• Day 05: Agra
• Day 06: Agra – Delhi
• Day 07: Delhi – Departure