Alpine Ascents Cho-Oyu Expedition Itinerary
Itinerary Overview
Our expedition begins in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. After touring Kathmandu and securing our Tibetan visas we travel overland to the border Town of Kodari. Here we meet our Tibetan staff and journey west in Land Cruisers on the way to Base Camp (16,400’) we visit monasteries and ancient towns of Tibet, giving us a great introduction to the hearty people and harsh landscape of the high plateau. En route to Base Camp we stop and overnight at Tingri to help acclimatize. Once in Base Camp, we meet our Tibetan yak drivers and their animals. Yaks carry our loads to Advance Base Camp (18,500’) at the foot of the famous Nangpa-La Pass.
The next three-four days are spent establishing Advanced Base Camp and making short acclimatization forays to the lower reaches of the West Ridge. With the assistance of our Sherpa team, we place Camp I (21,000’) atop the West Ridge. Over the next ten days we establish Camp II (23,100’) and Camp III (24,500’). We repeatedly move up and down the mountain to enhance strong acclimatization and overall fitness. Once our last camp is set and the team has rested for a few days at Advanced Base Camp, we begin the summit climb. Prior to our summit attempt, team members will spend the night at Camp III sleeping on supplemental oxygen, strengthening and abetting the body’s circulation systems.
Our summit attempt begins between midnight and 1:00am. We will climb with supplemental oxygen on summit day. From High Camp we ascend the West Face through a rock band and up snow slopes of 25-40º to reach the West Ridge proper. This gentle ridge leads to the large summit plateau at approximately 26,000'. From here we spend the next hour traveling across this plateau to reach the true summit and a spectacular 360º view which includes Everest, Lhotse, Ama Dablam and an array of Himalayan peaks. To the north lies the Tibetan plateau (the highest in the world) and to the south stand hundreds of Nepalese peaks.
After reaching the summit, our team descends to Camp II. It takes approximately five days to clear the mountain and move equipment back to Base Camp. Once we have arrived at Base Camp and said farewell to our Tibetan yak-drivers, we begin our return to Kathmandu. After arriving in Kathmandu, we sort equipment and celebrate in the fascinating capital city before our international departures.
2012 Day-to-day Itinerary (Updated)
Day 1: Depart home country
Day 2: Transit.
Day 3: Arrive Kathmandu
Day 4: Overnight KTM for Visa
Day 5: Overnight KTM for Visa
Day 6: Travel overland to border town of Kodari*
Day 7: Cross border to Zhangmu – travel to Nylam
Day 8: Acclimatization day Nylam
Day 9: Drive to Tingri
Day 10: Acclimization Tingri ( 14,400 feet)
Day 11: Drive to Base Camp (15,500’).
Day 12: Short acclimatization hikes, gear organization and rest.
Day 13: Organize loads to be transported to Advance Base Camp.
Day 14: Travel to an intermediate Camp (17,000’) accompanied by our yaks.
Day 15: Move to Advanced Base Camp (ABC) (18,500’).
Day 16: Organize and set up camp.
Day 17: Rest and short hikes.
Day 18: Carry to Camp I (21,000’) and return to ABC.
Day 19: Rest days.
Day 20: Rest days.
Day 21: Carry and sleep at Camp I.
Day 22: Hike to Ice Cliff Return to ABC
Day 23: Climb to Camp I and spend night.
Day 24: Spend another night Camp I for further acclimatization.
Day 25: Carry to Camp II (23,100’). Overnight.
Day 26: Return to ABC.
Day 27: Rest Day.
Day 28: Rest at ABC and prepare for summit push.
Day 29: Move to Camp I.
Day 30: Move to Camp II.
Day 31: Move to Camp III.
Day 32: Summit Attempt.
Days 33 – 38: Extra days
Day 39: Return to ABC.
Day 40: Organize loads for trek out.
Day 41: Yaks arrive to carry our gear and we return to Base Camp drive to Tingri
Day 42: Tingri to Zhangmu
Day 43: Zhangmu to Kathmandu
Day 44: Extra night to be used during expedition.
Day 45: Depart Kathmandu for Home Country
Day 46: Arrive home country
Note: Teams must travel with guides and Sherpa as a group, thus flying to Tibet is currently not an option.
Please ensure that this departure date is flexible. Do not plan any important business for two weeks following the expedition and ensure that your plane ticket is changeable.