Cho Oyu Climb - 8,201m Expedition

Preparation for your travel to Nepal.

Latest arrival, airport pickup, drive to accommodation in a comfortable hotel, introduction, and passport collection for permit process.

Group meeting, organization of the permit, gear check, leisure, and relaxation. 

Early start towards the Tibetan border. We travel through the Langtang Mountains via Dhunche and Syapru Besi to the Tibetan border.

Today we continue by bus to cross the border. After a short distance we reach Gyrikong (2,700 m / 8,850 ft) and are accommodated at a comfortable hotel.

For acclimatization, we can do a hike up to an altitude of about 4,500 m (14,500 ft).

We continue along the Gyrikong Zangbo River, then east over a 5000m pass to the plateau around Tingri (4340m) with views of Mount Everest and Cho Oyu. We stay overnight in a simple but comfortable hotel.

Another day in Tingri. Rest or hike for acclimatization.

The Chinese Base Camp (approx. 4,900 m / 16,076 ft) at the end of the Gyabrag glacier is reached.

A hike at 5500m altitude is initially planned here for better acclimatization.

For further acclimatization, we take our time to reach the actual base camp spending a night along the way camping.

The actual base camp named after Tichy, the leader of the first ascent expedition, is situated at an altitude of 5,780 m /  18,960 ft.

Very important for acclimatization. We are already at almost 6000 meters (20,000 feet) altitude.

Along the Gyabrag glacier, we hike along moraines into a basin opposite the Jasamba (7352m). The final ascent of about 400 meters / 1,300 feet of altitude difference follows over a flank of scree and gravel, which is called "killer slope" because of the effort of walking this kind of terrain at altitude. It will become easier with better acclimatization but never pleasant. 

Rest day.

We follow a ridge with some small ups and downs. On our first ascent to fix and prepare the route, it makes sense to set up an intermediate camp either before or after a striking steep climb (from 6650m to 6700m, in places 70° or steeper).

After a plateau, an ascent through a glacier break follows to reach another plateau. Here we set up the 2nd high camp, stay overnight if necessary, or descend directly to the 1st high camp (6300m).

We descend back to base camp.

We rest at base camp.

We rest at base camp.

Ascent.

Ascent.

Our attempt to reach the summit usually starts from the 2nd high camp. We follow a flank where at 7500m a 3rd high camp can be used if necessary to reach the yellow band at 7700m. Further slopes, rocky in the pre-monsoon, snowy in the post-monsoon, and a wide ridge lead to the eternally long summit plateau. At the end of this, with a bit of weather luck, the Mount Everest massif and the mountains of the Khumbu appear. After the summit, we descent back to the 2nd high camp follows.

Back to base camp (5800m)

A full 10 days are available for reserve. The described schedule is idealistic. Very likely the weather (storm, high winds, precipitation) and conditions (snow, avalanches) will put a damper on our plans. We need to reach 7000m+ as safety prerequisite for climbing without artificial oxygen and often we descend to the road (acclimatized 2-3 hours hike) to rest after a 1-hour drive in Tingri before the summit push.
36th day - Back to Tingri: Early in the morning we start: With yaks first in a train directly back to the Chinese base camp and in the same afternoon even further into civilization to Tingri.

Early in the morning we start: With yaks first in a train directly back to the Chinese base camp and in the same afternoon even further into civilization to Tingri, or further to Gyrikong.

With jeeps and trucks, we travel further back via Gyrikong on the Tibetan-Nepalese, cross the border and change vehicles, to continue onwards to Kathmandu.

Free time in Kathmandu or reserve.

In the evening or early the next morning (depending on flight connection, flight wish) we transfer you to Kathmandu Tribhuvan International airport.

Return flight and arrival at the destination (Europe, other destinations on request)