Mt. Everest, Rongbuk and Base camp


A long day on the bus (380kms) took us on paved highways over several high passses - Khamba La (4996m) with views of Yamdrok Tso (4400m), one of 4 holy lakes in Tibet.


Lunch in Nangartse and then over the Karo La pass (5193m), Simi La (4611m) and a stop in Gyantse (3980m) to see the Kumbum (a 32m high chortan under renovation), Pelkor Chode monastery and the Gyantse fortress.

Arrived in Shigatse, Tibet's second largest town (3900m) at 8:30pm, got a quick shower and off to bed! Up early the next day to drive to Shegar (Xegar) at 4408m. It was a good, paved road from Shigatse and driving out to see Sakya monastery, however road construction closures prevented us from continuing.

Disappointed, however, this gave us an opportunity to visit the Tonggar Chode Monastery, a much smaller, but beautiful new building completed in 2009. We had a Chinese lunch in Lhatse and then over Gyatso La (5205m) and the first views of Mt. Everest. Arrived in Xegar 5:30pm - the sun was warm but the rooms were barely tolerable. The cheap Chinese heaters could not warm the rooms to a comfortable temperature.


Up early the next morning 5:30am to eat a quick breakfast and on the bus in the dark to head to Rongbuk and Everest Base Camp.

We stopped on Gyola (5198m) and got the first views of Mt. Everest, Cho Oyu and Shishapangma across the horizon to the south. Breathtaking!

Rongbuk Monastery - highest in the world


We stopped at the Rongbuk Monastery, took a few photos and enjoyed a cup of butter tea with the monks. Then off the 4kms to Everest Base Camp and as close as we could to the big mountain.

Everest Base Camp, Tibet

The temperature was minus 10C and we were feeling cold. Back to Xegar for a pizza lunch and warm ginger tea with lemon! Then another long drive to Shigatse.




Mt Everest at 8848metres




Guide, Samdup and Thubten, our driver

Comments

  1. HanryApril 26, 2019 at 2:44 AM

    I really appreciate the work you have done, you explained everything in such an amazing and simple way.
    Trekking Backpack

    ReplyDelete

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