Ganchempo Peak (6387m) with Soren Kruse Ledet

On arrival you will be met by a representative of World Expeditions and transferred to your hotel. You will meet your group leader and a trip briefing will be given in the late afternoon at the hotel. There are numerous preparations required before we embark on our expedition including a clothing and equipment check of all members by your guide, and distribution of gear (sleeping bag, down jacket and kitbag) and climbing packs (ice axe, crampons and harness). This evening we will head out for dinner, this is a great opportunity to get acquainted with your fellow group members.

Meals:  Nil

This morning a group meeting with gear check will be held and at this time any necessary items will be hired or purchased. The remainder of the day is free for you to explore Kathmandu’s bustling streets and significant landmarks. You may wish to start by exploring the city’s two most important World Heritage Listed spiritual sites: Pashupatinath, Nepal’s most sacred Hindu temple and an important cremation site; and Boudhanath, the largest Buddhist stupa in Nepal and the most sacred Tibetan Buddhist shrine outside of Tibet. Alternatively you could wander through the markets and shops of the busy Thamel precinct or explore some more of the city’s significant sites such as Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple) or the World Heritage Listed plazas of Patan, Bhaktapur or Durbar Square.

Meals:  B

After breakfast at the Radisson hotel, we will set out on our drive to the trailhead at Syabru Besi. The long journey will be punctuated by a few stops on the way, with the road crossing the Bhote Kosi. This region offers a wilderness experience with beautiful landscapes of alpine terrain, flat meadows and rhododendron forests. There are still bears, leopards, red panda and musk deer to be found in this area, though they tend to prove elusive.

Meals:  B,L,D

We'll set out this morning towards the village of Lama hotel, a trek which will take around 6 - 7 hours. The trail winds through the forest with the river flowing beside us at times.The shady pines on the southern bank of the river give way to sparser and drier forest consisting mainly of scrub oaks and nettles on the northern bank. The ascent to Lama hotel is a steep one and by the time we arrive we will have gained over 1000m.

Meals:  B,L,D

We continue to follow the Langtang Khola climbing steeply through hemlocks, oaks, maples and rhododendron forest to the national park checkpoint at Ghora Tabela (2970m). Beautiful views of Langtang Lirung (7225m) can be seen from here. The trail ascends gradually, as the valley becomes wider and we pass many mani stones, water-driven prayer wheels and scattered Tamang villages before arriving in Langtang village.

Meals:  B,L,D

Leaving the village of Langtang we climb gradually past yak pastures and the small villages of Mumdu and Sindum. After crossing a wooden cantilever bridge over Langtang Khola, we reach a wider valley scattered with large boulders to a moraine. Here we gain the first views of Kyanjin Gompa and the dramatic icefall flowing from Langtang Lirung (7227m) and Langtang Kinshung (6781m) to the north. Our route weaves through large boulders before a short descent to Kyanjin Gompa. We will stay here for two nights, with the opportunity for an optional day hike to Kyanjin Danda that offers spectacular views of Langtang Himal, Yala Peak and Dorje Lakpa. Our campsite is dominated by the beautiful fluted north-west face of Ganchempo.

Meals:  B,L,D

We make our way to the base camp of our objective, Ganchempo Peak (6387m), enjoying the majesty of our surroundings and looking forward to the summit ahead. The views from here are spectacular and a taste of things to come from the higher elevations. Myth and legend abound in this valley, with herdsmen in the mid 1940's claiming multiple sightings of the yeti, as reported by early trekker WH Tilman. Whether this is prime yeti territory or not, the setting of our campsite could not be more striking. We will send a few days at base camp to rest and prepare. Here we are able to pull out all our climbing gear; sort and check it, and rehearse and revise techniques we will use on the climb. Your guide will coordinate these activities to ensure everyone is completely conversant in procedures and correctly equipped. It will only be necessary to take personal gear for the climb with you. Any group gear, such as food, fuel and group climbing equipment/ropes etc will be carried up by some of our porters and staff. The remainder of gear will be stored at base camp where some of our staff will also stay until our return. Our incredibly experienced climbing sherpas and leader will work together to fix and prepare the route for you, with several camps on the peak to smooth your ascent.

Meals:  B,L,D

We will begin our ascent of the peak in the company of our expert climbing sherpas, with one for every three climbers ensuring a good level of support, encouragement and safety. Our itinerary is totally flexible and it may be influenced by many factors such as weather, glacier and snow conditions, and the progress of the group and crew/porters. Your leader will have complete control of setting the schedule in order to maintain safety for all members of the expedition and to achieve the trip objectives in the smoothest and most efficient manner. The contingency days may be used anywhere on the trip to best effect. We aim to be at high camp by day 17 of our trip, in striking distance of the summit, well acclimatised and prepared.

Meals:  B,L,D

An early start to ensure the best conditions for your summit attempt, arising prepared to put the skills, fitness and solid preparations you have worked hard to hone to full use. The summit bid will commence early in the morning (anywhere from 2 to 5am) from our high camp. Whilst the distance may not look far, it is always further than it looks. Expect hard work - all your preparations and a positive, tempered attitude will pay off here. The route is technical, with the need for us to move efficiently and to work well as a team to meet our objective. Some pitches will be fixed and the route determined as the conditions dictate. A stunning array of peaks and the vast expanse of the Tibetan plateau stretches out before us from the summit, a just reward for our efforts.

Meals:  B,L,D

Feeling tired and exhilarated by our adventure, we descend to our base camp for a well earned rest. The following day, we will retrace our route along the Langtang Khola, which flows east to west and is a tributary of the Trisuli Ganga, to Langtang village in the valley.

Meals:  B,L,D

The trail is for the most part downhill, through the blue pine, oak and birch forests, descending to Lama Hotel and our camp for the night.

Meals:  B,L,D

The route winds downwards to Syrabru Besi, through the oaks and beneath shady pines. We plan to camp close to the trailhead in preparation for our return journey to Kathmandu. The last night is always memorable, we will share an end of trip celebration with all the crew and porters we've shared our expedition with.

Meals:  B,L,D

Today we will join our bus for the drive to Kathmandu and the Radisson Hotel, to enjoy a well earned shower. The afternoon is free to take in the sights and sounds of Kathmandu once more. The group will normally plan a celebratory dinner tonight at one of the many restaurants that dot the city, to farewell friends made and relish accomplishments shared.

Meals:  B

The trip concludes in Kathmandu after breakfast with a transfer to the airport.

Meals:  B