| historical places such as the Potala and Norbulingka Palaces, Jokhang temple, Barkhor Bazaar and the monasteries of Drepung and Sera. The next few days will be spent driving to Kharta via Gyantse, Shigatse and Shegar. The actual walking begins from Kharta, where Yaks can be organized if required. Apart from the few arid ridges of the Dzakar Chu Valley, this region is fairly green due to rainfall received from Nepal's monsoon.
Forests of scrub, juniper, dwarf rhododendron, and birch cover the higher ridges, and dense thickets of willows edge the creeks in the lower valleys. The most frequented route used by climbing expedition teams to reach the Kangshung face Base Camp takes 4 to 5 days over Langma La Pass at 5240m. This spectacular pass, if weather permits, reveals some of the grandest Himalayan scenery found in the entire range. A longer alternative trek to the Base Camp passes over the Shao La Pass (4790m), a lower pass to the southeast of Langma La that approaches the Base Camp via the Karma Tsangpo Valley. Once you have reached the Base Camp and the exhilaration of doing so has died down you will make your way back to Kharta. From Kharta you will end the trek by driving back to Kathmandu via Nyalam and Zhangmu. |