Mount Baruntse Expedtion

On arrival at Kathmandu international airport you will be well received by View Nepal Treks guides and staff for the transfer to your hotels in Kathmandu, after getting freshen from jet-lag a briefing program by our expert guide regarding Mt. Baruntse expeditions and Hongu valley trek with other related information and welcome dinner.

View Nepal Treks reserves as free day preparation for the adventure to Mt. Baruntse Expeditions, where you can do last day shopping hiring and buying necessary gear required for the trip, with time one can book for half day sightseeing tour around Kathmandu-Bhaktapur and Patan city at places of interest.

To start this adventure to Mera Peak, morning short and scenic flight of 35 minutes to Lukla, an interesting town full of restaurants, shops and stores with many nice hotels and lodge, after getting refreshed in Lukla and getting organized for half day walk towards Chutanga for overnight stop, Chutanga a nice spot of cattle herders with wide pasture field surrounded by beautiful coniferous forest of pines and rhododendron tree lines where our camp is set.

Our real adventure begins with a climb over Kalo Himal Ridge or Nau Lekh a rocky mountain that separates Khumbu area and Hinku Valley.

First pass leads to a steep climb to reach a ridge top festooned with Buddhist prayer flags at 4,450 m high, the pass called Zatrwa-Og, and then traversing over boulder slope, and climb across Zatrwa-La at 4,600 m, offering grand views of Dudh Kosi river valley with Karyolung and Lumding Himal.

After enjoying the view an hour downhill leads at Tuli-Kharka for overnight camp.

Today a short walk with views of Peak 43 and Kusum Kanguru peaks, then walk leads at Hinku valley area, with first views of Mera Peak the trail leads into rhododendron and pine forest to our overnight stop at Mosum Kharka near Hinku Drangka River.

Morning walk follows a route leading north on leaving forested area behind, after a nice walk reaching a wide open valley with summer grazing area with some Sheppard’s huts, and then continue to cross a small bridge to reach at Gondishung, near Thagnag area.

Gondishung has 200 year old small Gompa (monastery / shrine), from here an hour walk to reach our overnight stop at Thagnag, a small yak herder’s place with temporary settlement. As this route is slowly getting popular with few small lodges and teahouses has been established since last past decade.

A necessary rest day at Thagnag, a perfect spot at an altitude of 4,360 m for proper acclimatization, before heading higher altitude to Mera-la and Baruntse Base Camp with optional hike for best views of Peak 43 and adjoining peaks around Hinku valley.

After Thagnag with pleasant rest day, morning walk leads on moderate trail for few hours and then climb over moraine, damming Charpatti Tal (lake), that leads to a high area lined with rocks and cairns and small glacial lake, from here climb for a while and down downhill walk to Dig Kharka, and over boulder strewn hillside to Khare.

After leaving the tree-lines and Mera area our walk leads to cross over Mera-la at 5,493 m high pass to reach the other side of Hongu Valley, with superb views of Chamling, Makalu and Baruntse. From the pass descend for two hours to a nice spot for lunch beside the Hongu Drangka, under the west face of Chamlang.

After a short stop walk below Chamlang, and then gradual climb into Upper Hongu Valley the walk dominated with views of Lhotse and Everest, after two hours of good and tough trek reaching our campsite near moraine hills.

Trek follows a gradual climb, then with steep climb on moraine and rocky glacier, leading towards old and more recent moraine deposits, to reach at Hongu Pokhari also called Panch Pokharai for overnight camp near to glacial pond.

Another rest day which allows a good break to pull back the strength back for the final adventure and challenge to the summit of Mt. Baruntse, either relax or climb smaller hills behind the camp for best views of the Hinku Glacier and the Mingbo-la.

From this scenic campsite, morning walk follows towards east on faint path, past Hongu glacier and moraine with views of surrounding mountains, including south east face of Ama-Dablam, Hongu and Amphu peaks. Walk leads to climb to reach at Baruntse Base Camp taking at least 5 hours of tough walk with lunch break in between. The overnight camp is made close to Baruntse Glacier.

A necessary rest day for acclimatization and preparations to reach the summit of Mt. Baruntse, here our guide and leader will provide final briefing regarding the climb and technique skill required for the climb to the summit of Baruntse.

Enjoy the free day for acclimatization and optional hike around unexplored area of this region with final preparations.

Reserved 15 days for this adventurous climb to the summit of Mt. Baruntse, several days needed to set required higher camps from advance to 3rd camps to reach summit on required itinerary days, View Nepal expert Sherpa guides and high altitude porters will ferry necessary gear to high camps and for the climb, and fixing ropes where required and making possible routes for the ascent to the top of Baruntse.

During 2 weeks time climb leads at the foot of Barun Glacier, from where our climbing route starts. Baruntse lies hidden behind Peak 4 and in between the East and West Col. of Makalu.

Baruntse peak with ridges forms an icy wall between Barun Valley, Hinko Valley and the Imjatse valley of the Khumbu area. After a tough hard climb using maximum of 3 camps after base camp to reach the technical summit top.

With 15 days for the climb from Base Cam following moraine towards the summit of Mt. Baruntse at 7,129 meter.

After an incredible adventure and overwhelming experience descend back safely towards Base Camp using few camps on this long descend.

After an adventurous and technical challenge climb return back to Base Camp.

On this day all climbing party and member including guide and staff should have reached at base camp, to assist packing equipments and checking each member health condition after the great classic climb and to organize departure from base camp to Lukla and Kathmandu. Here at base camp clean up the rubbish, picking up everything that has been brought leaving nothing except your foot prints behind.

The walk back will be more or less on the same path most of the way to Hongu Pokhari or beyond depending upon the time, availability of water and camping site.

The route back involves a climb over the Mere-la and slowly descending towards to the overnight camp at Khare.

Journey follows the same way back to Kothe and beyond till Lukla, on completing our goal and highlights of this marvelous adventure Mt. Baruntse climb, feeling much stronger after the climb, head back to Lukla with longer camps to cover but with pleasant walk to Kothey past Thagnag for overnight stop.

Retrace the journey back to Tuli Kharka and good to be back to the tree lines and greenery. After Kothe morning trek leads back into forested area of blue Himalayan pines and rhododendrons trees, past grazing area with climb and views of Mera Peak reaching at Thuli Kharka for last overnight stop before Lukla.

Today will be a long and hard day walk, starting very early with climb over Naulekh or Kalo Himal ridges traversing Zatrwa-Og and Zatrwa-La. After the climb a long descend into green vegetation and tree lines to reach at Lukla for last overnight halt.

Overnight in the comfort of nice lodge and celebrate farewell dinner among members and guides including our cheerful strong porters.

From Lukla taking an early morning flight back to Kathmandu with views of mountains, at Kathmandu domestic airport our staff transfers you back to respective hotels with rest of the day free at leisure.

A spare and extra days in Kathmandu, in case of flight delay and cancellation due to unfavorable bad weather which might occur, as the Himalayan weather can be unpredictable sometimes if all goes well have a free day or sightseeing tour of Kathmandu-Patan and Bhaktapur.
We have allowed two days after Lukla for reserve day and as well to submit expeditions report to concern Nepal Government Department regarding the climb and activities of the expeditions.

Today, your last day in amazing Nepal with great experience and fond memories of Mt. Baruntse Expeditions, as per your time for international flight, View Nepal staff transfer you to airport for your final departure homeward bound or to your next destinations.