Day 1 - Day 2: Flight to Chongqing
Scheduled flight to Chongqing (if possible, we fly to
Chengdu).
We arrive at Chongqing in the early morning hours. Chongqing, as
well as Chengdu, belong to the largest cities of China (over 10
million inhabitants) and they are important centres in Western- and
South-Western China. We spend the night in a hotel.
Day 3: Chongqing - Lhasa (3,600 m)
Short domestic flight to Lhasa and arrival at the Gonggar
airport, which is about one hour of driving away from Lhasa. In
Lhasa we check in to a snazzy hotel and we intentionally take some
time to relax. Especially at the beginning of an expedition it is
important to take it slowly, afterall, it takes time for the body
to acclimatise. We spend the night in the hotel.
Day 4: Lhasa (3,600 m)
We take our time to explore the famous city in the valley of the
Kyi Chu, one of the tributaries of the Tsangpo (Brahmaputra). The
city, that stretches to the east for about 10 kilometres, is
located at the northern shore of the Tsangpo. The history of Lhasa,
in Tibetan „Place of the Gods“, dates back to the 7th century. Both
the Jokhang Temple, which to this day is the religious centre of
the historic distric of Lhasa, as well as the Potala Palace were
built during the 7th century. During the 15th century the Gelug
school of Buddhism established three monasteries in the vicinity of
Lhasa. During the 17th century the Potala Palace was rebuilt on the
„Red Hill“ under the leadership of Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso, the
fifth Dalai Lama. At the same time, the Jokhang temple was
enlarged. We spend the night in a hotel.
Day 5: Lhasa - Gyantse (3,950 m)
We begin our drive over the passes Kampala La (4,990 m) and Karo
La (5,010 m) (La = mountain pass). From Kampala La one has an
amazing view on the turquoise lake Yamdrok Tso and on the Ninchin
Kangsa. After the Karo La our journey continues down to Gyantse
(3,950 m).
Here and there we will take some time to make short breaks in
order to take photographs of the sometimes seemingly unnatural
scenery or to just stretch our legs. The city Gyantse also has a
lot to offer, like, for example, the absolutely unique Stupa as
well as the fortress surrounding the monastery. Gyantse is located
along one of the most significant trade routes between Sikkim
(India) and Tibet. This trade route was already used by George
Mallory in 1921 during the first expedition on the Mt. Everest. We
spend the night in a hotel.
Day 6: Gyantse - Xigatse (3,977 m)
We drive to the second most important city of Tibet, Xigatse. In
Xigatse we visit the Tashilhunpo Temple and we have the opportunity
to also pay a visit to the seat of the Panchen Lama, one of the
most important authorities of the Tibetan Buddhism. The Panchen
Lama used to reside in the fortress Samzhuzê, which was built in
1363 and it is the oldest building of Xigatse. In 1950 the fortress
was destroyed, but it was rebuilt later on and nowadays it is used
as a museum of the antique culture of the city. The Panchen Lama
resides in the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery since 1446. The Tashi Lhunpo
Monastery is the most important monastery of the Gelug school of
Buddhism in western Tibet.
The administrative district of Xigatse in the Tibet Autonomous
Region of the People’s Republic of China covers a surface area of
3,859 km2 and it has about 60,000 inhabitants (data from 2003). Its
administrative centre is the municipality of Gyantse, the third
largest city of Tibet right after Lhasa. Xigatse is located at
about 3,977 metres above sea level along the „Friendship Highway“,
which connects Kathmandu in Nepal with Lhasa, the capital of Tibet.
We spend the night in a hotel.
Day 7: Xigatse (3,977 m) - Xegar (4,300 m)
Today we drive through the typical Tibetan landscape, which is
alternating between desert-like areas and agricultural areas. We
pass over the 5,520 metres high Lhakpa La, here we enjoy the
amazing view on the Himalayan giants, such as the Mt. Everest and
the Makalu for the first time. In the course of the afternoon we
arrive in Tingri. We spend the night in a hotel.
Day 8: Xegar (4,350 m) - Everest Base Camp (5,200 m)
We follow the connecting road, which was newly established in
2007, between Lhasa and Kathmandu and we cross an about 5,100
metres high pass. Then we drive in to the Dzakar Valley. Shortly
afterwards we take a turn to the south and make our way to
Rongbuck. From the famous monastery in Rongbuck one has a fantastic
view on the Mount Everest as well as the North Col next to it. From
here on our journey continues, depending on the weather conditions,
either by foot or in a horse-drawn carriage to the Base Camp
closeby. We finally meet our Nepalese crew, by whom we will be
spoiled with culinary treats and other help in the coming few days.
We spend the night in tents for the first time.
Day 9 - Day 13: Acclimatization Hikes and Ascents in the
Surrounding of the Base Camp
In order to recover from the outward journey and mainly to
acclimatise to the height, we take a 5 days long break. For the
acclimatization everybody will require their own time. From the
Base Camp we go on hikes or ascents in the surrounding valleys and
on the surrounding mountains. The summits are completely unknown
but all have one thing in common, a fantastic view on the Tibetan
plateau on the one side and the giants of the Himalayas that tower
above us on the other side. The technical difficulties are in the
easy to medium range and they are ideal for the
acclimatization.
Day 14 - Day 15: Everest Base Camp - Intermediate Camp -
Advanced Base Camp (ABC; 6,400 m)
We take two days in order to ascend to the Advanced Base Camp at
6,400 m. The Advanced Base Camp is the actual starting point for
the North Col ascent. The distance between the Base Camp and the
ABC amounts to about 25 km and one should not underestimate this
trip.
While the yaks are still being loaded with our luggage, we
already start the trip to the Intermediate Camp. The Intermediate
Camp is located at 5,800 m on the orographically righthand edge of
the Rongbuk Glacier in a breathtaking high Alpine landscape.
On the second day we continue our trip, at first via the Rongbuk
Glacier and then via the East Rongbuk Glacier, through a seemingly
endless morraine to the ABC (6,400 m). This march through the
impressive mountain world of Tibet is surely one of the most
spectacular ways to get to the Advanced Base Camp (ABC) at the foot
of the Everest. In the ABC we can expect to encounter a very
special world: Mountaineers from all over the world, equipped with
the newest devices and communication tools, are waiting for the big
day on which they try to ascend the highest mountain on earth.
Day 16 - Day 20: Ascent of the North Col (7,000 m)
We take five entire days to ascend the actual target, the
exactly 7,000 m high North Col. We surely also undertake one or the
other hike to further our acclimatization even more before the
actual ascent. The actual ascent takes us from the ABC via the
route that is secured with fixed ropes. At first the route follows
simple terrain over the Dong Rongpu Glacier, on the foot of the
ramp that leads up to the North Col. Depending on the circumstances
the approximately 20 m high ramp varies in steepness from 35° to
50°. After overcoming this challenge the route continues somewhat
easier, but still secured with fixed ropes, further until shortly
underneath the North Col, where the last ramp of about 35°
steepness follows. After a few metres we reach the North Col, where
the probably most impressive camp of the Mount Everest Northern
Route is located.
The panoramic scenery from there makes one forget the thin air.
Nepal on the one side, Tibet on the other side and above us towers
the summit of the Mount Everest!
The descent back to the ABC follows the ascent route. Once
returned to the ABC we enjoy the view up to the North Col and thus
we can revel in our accomplishment.
Day 21: Advanced Base Camp (ABC, 6,400 m) - Intermediate Camp -
Base Camp
Today we leave the ABC and descent via the familiar route to the
Base Camp. We spend one last night in tents.
Day 22 - Day 23: Base Camp - Lhasa
We don’t only say goodbye to the Base Camp, but also from the
expedition leader and part of our Nepalese crew. The return journey
to Lhasa follows the familiar route. In Lhasa we check in to our
hotel and enjoy all the advantages of civilisation.
Day 24: Flight Lhasa - Home
Depending on the flight schedule we enjoy one last visit to the
centre of Lhasa in the morning and we have time to go sightseeing
in the bazaars and the temples. Or the male participants visit a
barber shop in order to reign in their beards and make themselves
presentable for civilised company. Afterwards, flight home.
Day 25: Arrival Back Home.
