Of Everest’s three faces, the east—or Kangshung—
is unquestionably the most beautiful
and least visited (this catalog’s lucky writer
has led seven treks to the Kangshung
and only
once saw another trekking party, far in the distance).
Most experts consider the Kangshung
trek one of the two or three finest treks on
earth.
Our signature trip to the Kangshung takes us along the magnificent Lhasa–Kathmandu road to Gyantse, Shigatse, and Shekar, where we meet our Nepalese Sherpas. (We employ Sherpas, as well as Tibetans, up there, bringing the full amenities of Nepalese trekking to Tibet.) From Shekar we drive to Kharta and begin trekking in alpine desert, our gear carried by laconic yaks. Soon we’re reveling in that surprisingly uncommon Himalayan commodity: true wilderness, headed to what we think of as Our Own Private Everest. Crossing a 16,000-foot pass, we suddenly enter a delicate subtropical forest, gazing up at the ice citadels of Makalu and Chomolonzo. This salmagundi of alpine sceneries, from typically Tibetan dryness to lush forest, all of it topped off with towering ice peaks, is one of the Kangshung trek’s great attractions.
A few days later we enter the Kangshung Valley and the aura of Everest. We spend a couple of days hiking and catching rays of mountain beauty at Pethang Ringmo, a high pasture closely flanked by looming peaks, including Everest itself, front and center. You will search the world in vain for a more heart-stoppingly gorgeous spot.
We loop back to Kharta and the Tibetan rainshadow (after having been out of sight of human habitation for 10 or 12 days) and drive to a night by the fabled Rongbuk Monastery, set exquisitely beneath Everest’s North Face, and another night at Tingri, which Galen Rowell called “the Tibetan camp of our dreams” on the trip that got GeoEx started. And then we spiral down from Central to South Asia and the comforts of Kathmandu.
About the trip leader, Vassi Koutsaftis:
It has truly been said that Vassi is “a mountain polymath and the one guy you’d pick to sip tea and swap tales in the mess tent with on a brilliantly cold alpine evening.” Vassi is not only the most popular leader that Geographic Expeditions has (we have often said we wished we could clone him) but also one of the most experienced. Vassi has been leading trips and treks since 1986 and has been traveling in Asia for over 30 years. Before joining Geographic Expeditions, Vassi owned and managed Far Corners, an importer of Asian art, and served as Second Officer for several luxury cruise liners throughout the world. He holds a commercial pilot’s license and his special interests include history, photography, oceanography, and aeronautics.
Our signature trip to the Kangshung takes us along the magnificent Lhasa–Kathmandu road to Gyantse, Shigatse, and Shekar, where we meet our Nepalese Sherpas. (We employ Sherpas, as well as Tibetans, up there, bringing the full amenities of Nepalese trekking to Tibet.) From Shekar we drive to Kharta and begin trekking in alpine desert, our gear carried by laconic yaks. Soon we’re reveling in that surprisingly uncommon Himalayan commodity: true wilderness, headed to what we think of as Our Own Private Everest. Crossing a 16,000-foot pass, we suddenly enter a delicate subtropical forest, gazing up at the ice citadels of Makalu and Chomolonzo. This salmagundi of alpine sceneries, from typically Tibetan dryness to lush forest, all of it topped off with towering ice peaks, is one of the Kangshung trek’s great attractions.
A few days later we enter the Kangshung Valley and the aura of Everest. We spend a couple of days hiking and catching rays of mountain beauty at Pethang Ringmo, a high pasture closely flanked by looming peaks, including Everest itself, front and center. You will search the world in vain for a more heart-stoppingly gorgeous spot.
We loop back to Kharta and the Tibetan rainshadow (after having been out of sight of human habitation for 10 or 12 days) and drive to a night by the fabled Rongbuk Monastery, set exquisitely beneath Everest’s North Face, and another night at Tingri, which Galen Rowell called “the Tibetan camp of our dreams” on the trip that got GeoEx started. And then we spiral down from Central to South Asia and the comforts of Kathmandu.
About the trip leader, Vassi Koutsaftis:
It has truly been said that Vassi is “a mountain polymath and the one guy you’d pick to sip tea and swap tales in the mess tent with on a brilliantly cold alpine evening.” Vassi is not only the most popular leader that Geographic Expeditions has (we have often said we wished we could clone him) but also one of the most experienced. Vassi has been leading trips and treks since 1986 and has been traveling in Asia for over 30 years. Before joining Geographic Expeditions, Vassi owned and managed Far Corners, an importer of Asian art, and served as Second Officer for several luxury cruise liners throughout the world. He holds a commercial pilot’s license and his special interests include history, photography, oceanography, and aeronautics.
Day 1: arrive in Beijing • Day 2: fly to Lhasa • Days 3 & 4: Lhasa • Day 5: Lhasa to Shigatse via Gyantse • Day 6: Shigatse • Day 7: Shigatse to Shekar • Day 8: Shekar to Kharta • Days 9–19: on trek • Day 20: camp at Rongbuk • Day 21: Rongbuk to Zhangmu • Day 22: cross border, drive to Kathmandu • Day 23: Kathmandu • Day 24: depart Kathmandu.
Kangshung Face of Everest Trek
Trip Details
2011 Departures:
24 Days
Activity Type:
Trekking
Trip Price:From $7250
Leader: Vassi Koutsaftis
- September 19 - October 12
24 DaysActivity Type:
Trekking
Trip Price:
From $7250Leader: Vassi Koutsaftis
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