Baruntse Expedition - Nepal Experience

Baruntse - expedition itinerary

• Day 1: Flight to Nepal
• Day 2: Kathmandu, Nepal: Latest Arrival in Kathmandu, transfer to hotel. Material check and last purchases, otherwise the day is at leisure. We meet for dinner with the entire international expedition team. Hotel near Thamel ÜN/F.
• Day 3: Kathmandu, Nepal: Orientation day in Kathmandu and expedition briefing (further procedure). Hotel ÜN/F.
• Day 4: Salleri, Nepal: Drive to Salleri, 65 km south-southwest of Mount Everest, where the district administration for the Solokhumbu is located. The small town (with just under 10'000 inhabitants) is located in the Sunkoshi river valley and in the surrounding hills we can stretch our legs and acclimatize well. We stay overnight in a hotel with full board, sleeping height: 2600m.
• Day 5: Bung, Nepal: Drive to the larger village of Bung, where we enter the Barun Makalu National Park. Here we are deeper in the valley, but further into the Himalayas, 54km from Mount Everest. Overnight stay in hotel / VP, sleeping height: 1800m.
• Day 6: Trek to Khiraule: Hike through subtropical vegetation up to Khiraule, visit Chambalin Monastery. Overnight stay in simple lodge or camp at Khiraule, 2460m.
• Day 7: Trek to Cholemkharka: The surrounding mountains steepen and we reach the alpine vegetation zone. The beautiful farms and yak meadows around Cholemkharka is our destination, overnight in simple lodge or camp, 3580m.
• Day 8: Acclimatization: Rest day at Cholemkharka, acclimatization hike to 4000m, and overnight back to Cholemkarka.
• Day 9: Trek to Khola Kharka: Today we hike past the famous Panch Pokhari, the "five lakes". The lake in Janai Purnima is a popular destination for Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims. The lakes form one of the highest wetlands in the world at an altitude of over 4000 meters. We spend the night in Khola Kharka, 4250m.
• Day 10: Trek to Tangnag: We follow the valley up and down. Soon after a forest border, the alluvial plain of Tangnag is reached. The break of a moraine lake has taken everything with it years ago. Campground at a nice lodge in Tangnag (4356m), tent ÜN/VP.
• Day 11: Trek to Khare: The trail continues uphill. A short daily stage leads to Khare (4870 m), the last inhabited place before the Mera La just below the Mera glacier. Mera Peak and Kusum Kanguru line the view, tent ÜN/VP.
   
• Day 12-15: Climb Mera Peak
  Whole 4 days are at our disposal for the ascent of Mera Peak:
  - In Khare, we prepare the ascent, check the material, and plan the further ascent.
  - A technically less difficult ascent leads over the partly glaciated Mera La (5415 m) to a protected plateau (5850m), both places are well suited for a high camp.
  - From the high camp follows the Mera Peak (6500m) ascent.
  - At sunrise, then already over 6000m, our view extends over the Mount Everest massif, the Makalu, the Baruntse, to name only a few of the mountains of the central Himalayas.
   
• Day 17: This stage leads to Baruntse Base Camp (5350m) at a sandy hollow near a small lake, tent ÜN/VP.
• Day 18: The Puga, the ceremony of the Sherpas, a tribute to the mountain, and our planned ascent, is held. Baruntse base camp: ÜN/VP.
   
• Day 19-24: Climb Baruntse
  We have 7 days to climb the peak:
  - We climb to the high camp at 6140 m.a.s.l. (Camp I) at the West Col
  - If necessary, we establish intermediate camp at 6420 m.a.s.l. (Camp II). 
  - The final southwest ridge is exposed but is secured with fixed ropes.
  - Via the break-off into the west face, the slope is longer passages 45° steep and is covered to the east.
   
• Day 25: Dismantling of the base camp. Trekking direction Amphu Laptsa pass, tent ÜN/VP.
• Day 26: For the round back through the Khumbu Valley, the technically demanding crossing of the 5850 m high Amphu Laptsa Pass and the descent to Chukkum (Chukkung) follows. We will ensure some places with fixed ropes. A wild and impressive trail with a view of the Lhotse south face ends at a beautiful campground called Chutanga (1 hour before Chitunga), tent ÜN/HP.
• Day 27: Waderung via Chukung (4900m) to Pangboche (3750m) at the foot of the Ama Dablam, tent or teahouse to Namche Bazar (3450m), tent or teahouse
• Day 28: Hike to Namche Bazar (3450m), camp, or overnight in lodge.
• Day 29: Hike to Lukla, overnight stay in Teahouse / Lodge.
• Day 30: Flight from Lukla to Kathmandu
• Day 31: Reserve day at leisure in Katmandu.
• Day 32: Kathmandu - return flight with arrival in Europe late in the evening or the next morning.
• Day 33: At the latest arrival in the home country

Baruntse - Participation

Requirements: The ascents to the summit of Meru Peak and Baruntse are carried out in independent, self-responsible rope teams under the supervision of the expedition leader. There is no guided tour, but we offer every participant on Mera Peak a refresher course in climbing glaciers and fixed ropes, so this expedition is a good introduction to high-altitude mountaineering. In addition to a very good physical condition and psychological strength, this expedition also takes into account the effects of altitude on the body. Experience in high-altitude mountaineering is required.

Technical requirements: All exposed and steep parts of the ascent on the Baruntse are secured with fixed ropes by the expedition leader and the Sherpas. Nevertheless, absolutely safe walking is required even on the frontal peaks in shorter passages steeper than 50°. The use of self-belay and independent abseiling should be mastered.

Physical requirements: The constant strain of trekking (with average stages of about 4-6 hours) should not be underestimated. The endurance for 800 meters (2,700 feet) of ascent is required on our summit days. On the summit day and during the Amphu-Laptsa crossing, the endurance for 10-12 hours of a day tour must be available.

Note - Mera Peak: the ascent is technically easy, a high glacier trekking, and ideal for less ambitious friends and family who want to travel with us.

Danger note: this expedition is associated with subjective and objective dangers. Even though we try to make the tour as safe as possible due to our many years of experience, a high degree of personal responsibility and a healthy risk awareness is necessary. The ascent is at your own responsibility and risk.

Travel to Nepal & Rules 2023

Flight: to/from Kathmandu

Visa on Arrival: Under the prevailing law, almost all* foreign nationals with a certificate of complete vaccination against covid-19 or a negative certificate of the Covid-19 test will be able to obtain an on-arrival visa from Immigration Offices at the entry points. Your passport should be valid for min. 6 months at the time of entry.

*exemptions: citizens of Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Cameroon, Somalia, Liberia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan, Syria, and passengers traveling with travel documents must bring visas from the Nepali embassy or missions abroad.

Before traveling, you need to fill following government form: CCMC form - Nepal