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.
2010 Day-to-day Itinerary (Updated)
Aug 28: Depart home country
Aug 29: Transit.
Aug 30: Arrive Kathmandu
Aug 31: Overnight KTM for Visa
Sept 1: Overnight KTM for Visa
Sept 2: Travel overland to border town of Kodari*
Sept 3: Cross border to Zhangmu – travel to Nylam
Sept 4: Acclimatization day Nylam
Sept 5: Drive to Tingri
Sept 6: Acclimization Tingri ( 14,400 feet)
Sept 7: Drive to Base Camp (15,500’).
Sept 8: Short acclimatization hikes, gear organization and rest.
Sept 9: Organize loads to be transported to Advance Base Camp.
Sept 10: Travel to an intermediate Camp (17,000’) accompanied by our yaks.
Sept 11: Move to Advanced Base Camp (ABC) (18,500’).
Sept 12: Organize and set up camp.
Sept 13: Rest and short hikes.
Sept 14: Carry to Camp I (21,000’) and return to ABC.
Sept 15: Rest days.
Sept 16: Rest days.
Sept 17: Carry and sleep at Camp I.
Sept 18: Hike to Ice Cliff Return to ABC
Sept 19: Climb to Camp I and spend night.
Sept 20: Spend another night Camp I for further acclimatization.
Sept 21: Carry to Camp II (23,100’). Overnight.
Sept 22: Return to ABC.
Sept 23: Rest Day.
Sept 24: Rest at ABC and prepare for summit push.
Sept 25: Move to Camp I.
Sept 26: Move to Camp II.
Sept 27: Move to Camp III.
Sept 28: Summit Attempt.
Sept 29– Oct 4: Extra days
Oct 5: Return to ABC.
Oct 6: Organize loads for trek out.
Oct 7: Yaks arrive to carry our gear and we return to Base Camp drive to Tingri
Oct 8: Tingri to Zhangmu
Oct 9: Zhangmu to Kathmandu
Oct 10: Overnight Kathmandu
Oct 11: Depart Kathmandu for Home Country
Oct 12: 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.
