ibet's countryside immerses you in
wide-open spaces drenched in dazzling light. You may encounter nomads who wander Tibet's
highland valleys with their herds of sheep and yaks, a living link to the old ways. 
Small farming villages surrounded by barley fields provide a counterpoint
to this way of life, and remote regions still harbor herds of kyang (wild asses),
gazelles, blue sheep, and in a few isolated high valleys, the giant wild yak.
Our Tibet treks are run Nepal-style, with comfortable tents and tasty food, along with an
experienced Sherpa staff to handle arrangements and pack animals (generally yaks) to carry
luggage and gear. 
You carry only a light day-pack with
water, camera and jacket. Each day's schedule includes plenty of time to explore or relax
on your own, with an average of five or six hours walking.
Rongbuk Monastery
and Everest Base Camp
idden behind a series of mountain ranges in a high,
isolated valley in southern Tibet is Rongbuk Monastery, at 5,032 meters perhaps the
highest monastery in the world. 
The monastery and its
surroundings are dominated by Mt. Everest looming up at the end of the valley less than 20
kilometers distant. Local Tibetans know the mountain as Chomolungma, "Mother Goddess
of the Earth". Views of its North Face are even more stunning than from the Nepal
side.
We will follow in the footsteps of early British expeditions, staying two days at Rongbuk,
then trekking up to Everest Base Camp, where a mountaineering expedition might be
established. Depending on conditions, we may explore the Rongbuk Glacier all the way up
Camp 1, the 6,000-meter foot of Everest.
KHARTA VALLEY:
The Remote East Face of Everest
eneath the East (Kangshung) Face of Everest is the
secluded, hidden Kharta Valley, a little-known and practically untouched region. The trail
to here is lined with mountain vistas of Everest and Makalu, and unexpectedly lush with
forests and wildflowers.
From Shekar Dzong we travel south to Kharta, where we meet our yak drivers. 
Trekking through a blend of subtropical and alpine terrain, we cross a
4900-metre pass and enter the Kharta Valley. Everest rises to the north, rimmed by
gigantic cliffs draped with hanging glaciers. We spend several days in a spectacular
high-altitude meadow, exploring, relaxing and photographing. Returning, we loop back over
the Langma La, which offers more views or Everest, Lhotse and Makalu.
Throughout this trek, as with any Arniko trek in Tibet, our Sherpa guides will prepare
delicious meals and take us safely through these great mountains.
