Overview
A nine-day Himalayan expedition into the wild Kama Valley to stand beneath the rarely seen eastern face of Everest, Lhotse and Makalu.
About This Tour
Ranked among the world's ten great treks, the Kama Valley delivers the single most spectacular vantage point on the planet: a high camp where three of Earth's five highest peaks, Everest (8,848m), Lhotse (8,516m) and Makalu (8,485m), rise together above a wall of ice. Far from the crowded Base Camp on the north side, this is true Himalayan wilderness, a glacier-carved valley sealed off by border regulations and accessible only on foot. You cross high passes such as Langma La (5,330m) and Shao La (5,000m+), descend through rhododendron and birch forest where the dry plateau gives way to lush Tibetan jungle, and camp beside the Kangshung Glacier within touching distance of Everest's sheer eastern wall. Yaks carry the gear; you carry only a daypack. This is a remote, high-altitude camping expedition for fit, experienced trekkers who want raw scale, deep silence and scenery no road can reach. Best attempted late April to May and September to October. This is a private tour, priced per person, with full permit support and a dedicated mountain crew. Itinerary may adjust based on weather, road and border-area regulations. Good to know: • Best season: late April to May and September to October; the valley is impassable and bitterly cold in winter. • Fitness level: high. Expect 5-7 hour trekking days carrying a daypack, on rough trails over passes above 5,000m. • Altitude: this is a serious high-altitude trek with passes up to 5,330m and camps near 4,900m; acclimatization days are built in and supplementary oxygen is carried, but prior multi-day high-altitude experience is strongly advised. • Permits: foreign travelers cannot enter Tibet independently. We arrange your Tibet Travel Permit plus the Alien's Travel Permit required for this border-restricted area; a guide must accompany the group at all times. Send passport and valid China visa scans at least 25 days before departure. • Camping: nights on the trek are in tents at altitude; temperatures fall well below freezing. A four-season sleeping bag rated to -15C or colder is essential. • Bring sturdy broken-in boots, trekking poles, sun protection, a warm down jacket and any personal high-altitude medication (e.g. acetazolamide) after consulting your doctor.
Itinerary
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Day 1: Lhasa｜Arrival and Acclimatization
Arrive in Lhasa (3,650m), the heart of the Tibetan plateau, where your guide meets you and transfers you to your hotel. The rest of the day is deliberately quiet to begin acclimatization: rest, hydrate, and take a gentle stroll around the old town and the lively Barkhor pilgrim circuit encircling the Jokhang Temple. Your guide runs a full trip briefing, checks gear and passports, and confirms permit paperwork. Avoid alcohol and exertion; drink at least three litres of water. Overnight at a comfortable 3-4 star hotel in Lhasa. No meals included today beyond breakfast on arrival packages; dinner is at leisure to suit your flight schedule. Acclimatizing properly here is the single biggest factor in a safe, enjoyable trek.
2
Day 2: Lhasa｜Cultural Acclimatization Day
A full day in Lhasa to continue acclimatizing while exploring its iconic monuments. Visit the towering Potala Palace, former winter seat of the Dalai Lamas, and the spiritual Jokhang Temple, Tibet's holiest shrine, watching pilgrims prostrate themselves in the forecourt. The walking is light and the pace easy, allowing your body to keep adapting to 3,650m before you head higher. Your guide explains Tibetan Buddhist culture, monastery etiquette and the journey ahead. Keep hydrating and eating well. Overnight at the same hotel in Lhasa. Breakfast and lunch included. This second night at altitude markedly reduces the risk of acute mountain sickness once you ascend toward the Himalaya.
3
Day 3: Lhasa to Shigatse｜Drive Across the Plateau
Leave Lhasa and drive roughly 350km (6-7 hours) southwest toward Shigatse, Tibet's second city. The route crosses the Gampa La pass (4,790m) to the turquoise sweep of Yamdrok Lake, one of Tibet's three sacred lakes, then climbs over the Karo La (5,010m) beside a hanging glacier before descending past Gyantse and its famous Kumbum stupa. The constantly changing high-plateau scenery, barley fields, nomad tents and snow peaks, makes the long drive pass quickly. Overnight in a hotel in Shigatse (3,840m). Breakfast and lunch included. Today's gentle altitude gains continue your acclimatization while you cover ground toward Everest country.
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Day 4: Shigatse to Kharta｜Gateway to the Kama Valley
Drive southwest about 280km (7-8 hours) toward the Everest region, then branch off the main highway onto rougher tracks descending to Kharta (around 3,700m), the trailhead village for the eastern approach. The road winds over high passes with first distant glimpses of the Himalayan giants before dropping into Kharta's green river valley. Here you meet your yak herders and full mountain crew, who load the pack animals for the days ahead. Settle into a basic local guesthouse, do a final gear sort, and acclimatize at this lower elevation. Overnight in Kharta guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. The trek proper begins tomorrow.
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Day 5: Kharta to Langma La Base｜Into the High Country
The trek begins. Today covers roughly 12-14km over 5-6 hours, climbing steadily from Kharta through alpine meadows and scattered nomad summer pastures with around 700-800m of ascent. As you gain height the air thins and views open onto serrated ridgelines. You aim for a camp around 4,900m below the Langma La pass, beside grazing yak herds and clear streams. This first day eases you onto the trail at a measured pace, letting the crew set the camping rhythm. Pitch tents at the high camp; the crew prepares a hot dinner as the temperature drops sharply after sunset. Camping overnight at approximately 4,900m. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
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Day 6: Langma La to Kama Valley｜Crossing the High Pass
The biggest pass day. Climb early to crest the Langma La (5,330m), the gateway separating the dry Kharta watershed from the lush Kama Valley, covering around 13-15km in 6-8 hours. From the prayer-flag-strewn pass the panorama explodes: Makalu, Lhotse and the great pyramids of the eastern Himalaya line the horizon. A long descent then drops you over 1,000m into a different world of rhododendron, birch and rushing meltwater streams, the so-called Tibetan jungle. Walk steadily; the altitude and the descent both tax the legs. Camp in the upper Kama Valley around 4,000-4,300m beside the forest. Camping overnight. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Tonight the temperature is noticeably milder than the exposed plateau.
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Day 7: Kama Valley to Kangshung｜The Everest East Face Camp
Trek up the Kama Valley toward the head of the Kangshung Glacier, around 10-13km over 5-6 hours with gradual ascent back to roughly 4,800-4,900m. The forest gives way to moraine and ice as you round a final rise and the prize appears: the sheer 3,000m eastern wall of Everest, flanked by Lhotse and, behind, Makalu, three of the five highest mountains on Earth framed in a single view. Establish your high camp on grassy moraine facing the Kangshung Face. The afternoon is free to soak in the scenery and photograph the alpenglow that sets the wall ablaze at sunset. Camping overnight at approximately 4,900m. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. This is the heart of the journey.
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Day 8: Exploration Day｜Beneath the Himalayan Giants
A full day to explore the Kangshung amphitheater with only a daypack. Hike out onto the glacier moraine and ridges for ever-closer views of the Everest, Lhotse and Makalu massif, with the chance to ascend a viewpoint knoll above camp (modest extra height) for a 360-degree Himalayan panorama. Your guide times the day to catch the clearest light, typically early morning and late afternoon. There is no better place on Earth to stand quietly among 8,000m peaks far from any road or crowd. Total walking is flexible, around 3-5 hours at your pace. Return to the same high camp for a second night. Camping overnight. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
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Day 9: Trek Out and Drive to Shigatse｜Departure
On the final day, retrace the lower valley and drive out from the trailhead. Depending on conditions the crew uses an alternative lower exit such as the Shao La approach or the Kharta valley track; expect around 12-16km of trekking in 5-7 hours followed by the vehicle pickup. Bid farewell to the yak herders and mountain crew, then drive toward Shigatse for a hot shower, a proper bed and a celebratory dinner. Overnight in a hotel in Shigatse, or continue toward Lhasa per your onward plan. Breakfast and lunch included on trek; dinner at leisure. Your guide assists with onward arrangements. A fitting close to one of the world's truly great Himalayan treks.
What's Included
✓ Included
English-speaking professional trekking guide Tibet Travel Permit and Alien's Travel Permit (border permit) arrangement Private vehicle and all listed transfers Hotels in Lhasa and Tibetan guesthouses en route Full camping setup on trek (tents, dining tent, kitchen, mats) Yaks, yak herders and trekking support crew All meals as specified (B/L/D on trek) Listed park and conservation-area fees First-aid kit, pulse oximeter and supplementary oxygen
✕ Not included
International and domestic flights China visa Travel insurance (must cover trekking above 5,000m and evacuation) Personal trekking gear and sleeping bag Tips and gratuities for guide and crew Meals not specified Personal expenses Single supplement
Cancellation Policy
Free cancellation is available on most tours up to 24 hours before the start time. The exact cancellation terms for this tour are shown during booking.
Traveler Reviews
4.8★★★★★Based on 147 reviews
Priya V.🇧🇷 Brazil★★★★★2024-07
Honestly, I had seen plenty of photos of the trail. Being there was quieter and more absorbing than I expected, and I stopped checking my phone for a while. My only advice is not to shorten the time at the trail.
Leila K.🇩🇪 Germany★★★★★2025-12
The guide checked the pace before the steeper section rather than after someone fell behind. That made the trail feel supportive without becoming fussy. With 9 days to work with, the balance felt sensible.
Isabel Z.🇮🇳 India★★★★☆2025-09
A practical note: this is not technical hiking, but it isn't a city stroll either. Starting early gave us a cooler, quieter stretch on the trail. For 9 days around Everest, the pace felt about right.