Cho Oyu Expedition (8201 Meter)

Trip Overview

Trip Facts

Country: China
Trip grade: Strenuous
Destination: Cho Oyu
Activities: Driving and Climbing
Accommodation: Hotel, Guesthouse & Camping
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Maximum altitude: 8201
Group size: 5+
Best Season: Spring and Autumn

Mt. Cho Oyu dominates the skyline at 8201m above sea level and is the sixth highest mountain in the world. It is not only an 8000-meter mountain but also a magnificently beautiful mountain. Cho Oyu Expedition brings an adventure opportunity to climb to the top of this beautiful mountain in the Himalayas.

In the Tibetan language, Cho Oyu translates to “Turquoise Goddess”. The mountain lies in the center of the Tibetan and Nepalese Himalayas. Mt. Cho Oyu radiates its beauty in such a way that it undermines other towering Himalayan Peaks like Everest, Ama Dablam, and others that neighbor it. Every year this mesmerizing energy calls forward thousands of adventurers and mountaineers from all around the globe.

Mt Cho Oyu was first summited in 1954 by Herbert Tichy, Sepp Jocher, and Pasang Dawa Sherpa Lama. Among all the fourteen highest peaks that tower over 8000m, Cho Oyu is one of the easiest peaks to climb. Cho Oyu is ideal for novice climbers who are keen to learn the art of mountain climbing. It can also be an ideal preparation expedition for your future expeditions like Everest Expedition.

The summit though physically demanding is not technically challenging due to the presence of fixed lines. It offers one of the easiest and safest climbing experiences in the Himalayas with the highest chance of summit. This straight forward climbing experience is also suitable for experienced climbers looking for a quick adventure.

The months between March to May during Spring are the best months for this climbing expedition as it allows enough time for proper acclimatization, several returns to base camp as well as rest days for the perfect ascent.

Reasons Cho Oyu Expedition becomes an Experience

Nepal Climbing Adventure always strives to offer an adventure traveling experience that you can cherish. While the Cho Oyu Expedition is beautiful in its all essence, your experience of trekking there becomes even more beautiful with us.

By the time we take you to the base camp and bring you back, we take one step ahead to offer you a beautiful experience. We keep your safety and happiness is our top priority and you will experience the same during the trip.

Going on the Cho Oyu Expedition with us is traveling in safe hands.

Detail Itinerary

Day 01: Arrival at the Kathmandu Airport

A designated individual will welcome you upon arrival in the Tribhuvan International Airport. You will be escorted to your hotel and will meet your travelling companions and a welcome dinner will be organized in the evening where you will be served with original Nepali cuisine and introduced to Nepali culture.

Accommodation: Hotel

Day 02 - 03: Sightseeing and necessary preparations in Kathmandu

Today we spend our day sightseeing and exploring in Kathmandu. The sightseeing involves UNESCO world heritage sites such as Swayambhunath Temple, Pashupatinath Temple, Kathmandu Durbar Square and many more. Back at the hotel you will be briefed on the set itinerary to make necessary trip preparations along with Chinese Visas and paper works.

Accommodation: Hotel

Meal: Breakfast

Day 04: Flight to Lhasa

Today we will be taking an early flight to Lhasa of Tibet. The flight is filled with soothing views of the Himalayan peaks such as Everest, Kangchenjunga and Makalu. Upon your arrival in Lhasa you will be introduced to trek guides and porters. You will be escorted to your hotel in Lhasa for overnight stay.

Accommodation: Hotel

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 05 - 06: Lhasa Sightseeing and Acclimatisation

This is an important phase of this trip where we acclimatize ourselves to the weather and the high altitude. To further acclimatization we explore and discover various landmarks of Lhasa such as the Dalai Lama’s Potala Palace.

Accommodation: Hotel

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 07: Drive to Shigatse

Today we drive to Shigatse, Tibet’s second largest city. We drive along the banks of the Tsang Po river. The trail drives up-stream further to the southwest through barren desert-like valleys. We reach Shigatse where we spend overnight at a local hotel.

Accommodation: Hotel

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 08: Drive to Xegar

We drive along the Tibetan highway filled with the panoramic views of Himalayan Massifs including Everest. Once in Xegar we will pay visit downtown of Xegar as well as monastery at the hilltop. We stay overnight at a hotel outside of Xegar.

Accommodation: Hotel

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 09: At Xegar for acclimatisation

Today is acclimatization day in Xegar. In order to adapt ourselves to the height of Chinese Base Camp we visit the main town of Xegar. We will also be hiking up the hilltop monastery to further accustom ourselves to the cold environment.

Accommodation: Hotel

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 10: Arrival at Chinese Base Camp

The trip includes further drive up to the Chinese Base Camp. The trail drives further south involving a bumpy track before descending down to Cho Oyu

Accommodation: Camping

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 11: At Chinese Base Camp for acclimatisation

Today we make further preparations in the Chinese Base Camp. In the afternoon we load our equipment and gears on the yaks. The next day the yaks will carry our loads to the Cho Oyu base camp.

Accommodation: Camping

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 12 - 15: Trek to Cho Oyu Advance Base Camp

The trek resumes along the long valley up to the Cho Oyu Advance Base camp. The next 3 days we will spend it as acclimatization days in camps at 5200 and 5450 meters before reaching the base camp. In the afternoon we will be organizing our climbing gears and perform climbing practices.

Accommodation: Camping

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 16 - 40: Climbing Period. Ascent of Cho Oyu (8201 meter)

On the first day we will try to ascent the lower part of the mountain. The climb will be further dictated by the weather conditions of the mountain before returning back to the base camp. We will further climb higher with proper acclimatization. The climb will occur from the north-west face of Cho Oyu. We reach Camp 1 (6400m) which is 6-8 hours away from Gyabrag Glacier. A snow ridge from Camp 1 follows a steep climb to reach Camp 2 at 7000m. From Camp 2 the climb is easy enough to reach Camp 3 at 7400m. These camps will act as resting stops before the summit. At the summit we reward ourselves with the glorious view that surrounds us. After spend quality time we descend back to the Base Camp by day 40 following the same path.

Accommodation: Camping

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 41: Return trek to road-head and drive to Gyirong

We will return trek to the road-head with the yaks carrying our loads. The trek involves drive along the Tibetan Highway to Gyirong.

Accommodation: Guesthouse

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 42: Drive to Kathmandu (Nepal)

Leaving Gyirong we cross the border into Nepal. The drive to Kathmandu is further full day from here passing Syabrubensi. Once back in Kathmandu you will be escorted to your hotel.

Accommodation: Hotel

Meal: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 43: Kathmandu

Today we will celebrate our achievement of our expedition during dinner and treat ourselves with much needed rest. You can spend the rest of the day exploring and sightseeing in various parts of the valley. You can also spend day by shopping to remember and reflect upon your visit to Nepal.

Accommodation: Hotel

Meal: Breakfast

Day 44: Departure

On this day you are free to do as you please until departure. The day can be spent by sightseeing or by taking the day off to rest. A designated individual will drop you at Tribhuvan International Airport as per your flight schedule. Farewell.

Meal: Breakfast

Cost Details

What is included?

All types of organizational requirements
All trekking and climbing paper works and permits
All airport and hotel transfers
Welcome and farewell dinner
Flight to Lhasa and back
Accommodation and meals during the whole of the expedition
Government and local taxes
Reference notes to plan your trip
An experienced English speaking climbing guide, assistant climbing guide, Sherpa porters including their salary, insurance, food, lodging and all equipments
A comprehensive medical kit
Facilities of Email and satellite phones in base camp
Necessary oxygen bottles
Written and photo internet dispatches to send your progress to your family

What is not included?

Nepal and China Visa fee(bring small denomination cash USD and passport sized photographs)
International airfare
Excess baggage charges
Extra night accommodation apart from the schedule due to any reasons
Lunch and evening meals in case of early return than the scheduled itinerary
Travel and rescue insurance
Charges of Email and satellite phones
Charge for extra Sherpa porter (if required)
Personal expenses
Tips for climbing guide and Sherpa

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions - Trekking & Climbing in Nepal

Are you a licensed adventure company?

Yes, we are a licensed company to operate adventure tours in Nepal. We have been organizing tours, Treks, and Expeditions for our valued clients for over two decades. Our long journey and experience in the field have made us pioneer in the industry.

Do the guides speak English and have first aid training?

All of our guides are experienced experts in their job and speak fluent English. Most of them are born in the areas they guide trekkers to and have several years of experience as trekking guides in the mountains. It's mandatory that they are trained in first aid and also carry a first aid kit with them during the trek.

How big are the groups?

We always do our best to team up a small group of like-minded people to give them a memorable and insightful adventure travel experience, coupled with an invaluable opportunity to interact with each other in the true spirit that comes with adventure. Our trek groups generally comprise of maximum 12 members. We need a minimum of 2 participants to run our fixed departure dates. For private trips, no minimum or maximum numbers apply.

Are permits included in the price of the adventure?

Yes. All of the necessary permits for your trekking, climbing, and expedition are included in the price and will be arranged for you prior to your trek. For certain restricted regions (like Manaslu and Makalu), you'll need to have a full day in Kathmandu prior to your trek as your trek operator will need your passport for the permit registration.

Do you arrange private adventures?

Yes, we do. If you would like to travel independently, or with your friends, families & colleagues you are invited to choose any of the trips at a timeframe that best suits you for any number of people (minimum 1 & maximum 100 at a time). The costs for private trips are generally fixed on the basis of group size, trek area, duration, and trek style, and is negotiable. We also arrange TREKS FOR A SINGLE WOMAN. If by any chance, none of our fixed group departure dates work for you and you do not have anyone to accompany you, you can still be able to make your preferred trip with us. There is absolutely nothing to worry about if you want to go solo. We assign local guides, porters, etc who you can trust your life with.

Do you provide any equipment while trekking?

On all our Camping treks, we provide all the tents, sometimes dome tents, sometimes sturdy A-frames, and normally people share one tent between two; a foam mattress each; all the cutlery and utensils, cooking pots, stoves; candles/kerosene lantern, tables, and stools, kitchen tent, dining tent and toilet tent; all the main meals while trekking but not snacks. On Tea house treks there isn’t really a necessity to provide any equipment.

But you are provided a duffel bag if you don’t have one and a down jacket if you haven’t flown in with your own. This is loaned to you and must be returned when the trek is done.

How difficult are the treks?

Classifying the difficulty of a trek is like walking a thin red-line, as it depends on your fitness and experience hiking in the mountains. In the Himalayas, a trek's difficulty depends on the steepness of the trail, the general altitude, and the duration of the trek. Generally, the higher you go the more difficult the trek becomes. For most treks in the lower foothills (Ghorepani, Poonhill, Ghandruk, and Pikey Peak), it's fairly moderate trekking, although some days will be more challenging than others. For higher-altitude treks (i.e. Everest Base Camp, Gokyo, Annapurna Circuit, and Nar Phu), the treks become more challenging as you get going over 5,000m passes with longer days. If you’re an avid walker and enjoy hiking, then there’s no better adventure than trekking.

How long do we walk each day?

Much of our trekking ventures are classified into THREE different categories according to the level of difficulty. Soft Adventure treks are only about a week to 10 days in duration. They generally don't go above 4000 meters and each day, you can expect to be walking for around 4 – 5 hours. While moderate to fairly challenging treks are longer treks that go right into high mountain country. Physically quite tiring, these involve approx 6-8 hours trekking along rocky ridges of high Himalayan peaks. Arduous treks are longer treks that go far beyond the normal haunts of trekkers and tourists. Physically challenging, these may involve 7-9 hours trekking and likely to include unfavorable weather conditions and activities that are not only physically challenging but also tax the mind. These trips are not for greenhorns.

What is exactly 'teahouse' trekking?

Teahouse trekking refers to staying at a small local lodge or mountain hut each night of your trek. The lodges are basic but pretty cozy; enough to shelter you from the bitter mountain winds. They consist of 5-10 rooms with a common area used for eating and hanging out. Most treks in Nepal are teahouse treks where the lodges are run by members of the local community. Bunking out at these teahouses in some of the harshest territories on earth will give you a true sense of what life is in the wild.

What do we mean by FOT trek?

On FOT or a ‘Fully Organized Trek’, all meals and sleeping arrangements will be fully organized by the support crew. FOTs are also known as CAMPING TREKS. On camping treks, you will be sleeping in tents. A trekking crew consists of one sirdar, one cook, and kitchen crew, Sherpa assistants, and porters depending on the size of the group. Under the leadership of the Sirdar (local trek leader), the crew consists of several Sherpa assistants who will ensure you don't take the wrong path, a cook and kitchen crew to keep you well-fed with delicious and nutritious meals, and the porters to transport all the gear from camp to camp.

Our main aim is to make the trek as hassle-free and enjoyable as possible. The ratio of both Sherpa guides and kitchen crew to group members is generally 1:4 and the ratio of porters to group members is around 3:1 at the beginning of the trek, but this decreases as food is eaten and loads become smaller. For bathroom facilities, we carry a toilet tent. Your camping staff dig a deep hole in the ground for excrement and cover the hole with soil after nature’s call is done. Camping treks are more expensive than teahouse treks. These treks are generally operated in remote restricted alpine zones that go above the tree-lines. Camping treks can also be used as options for teahouse treks throughout the Himalayas to enjoy the true spirit of adventure!

What is security like during trekking?

Security for our clients is always a foremost priority for us. All our guides and other support crew are carefully chosen for your trips. Our guides hold licenses issued by the Nepal Government. They are very honest and reliable. But we would also advise you to take care of your own personal belongings. If you are on ‘camping treks’ please do not leave your bags unattended at any time for your own safety. Take your main bag inside the tent once you reach the campsite. At night, all bags and belongings are kept in the middle of the tent. Your guide assigns a Sherpa on a rotation basis to guard the campsite throughout the night. If you are on a ‘Tea house or GAP trek’ arrangement, you will be sleeping in local teahouses. You need to take sensible precautions yourself at all times. Never leave your baggage unattended and keep your lodge room locked when you go out.

What happens if I fall ill during the trek?

If by chance you fall ill during your trek, the first course of action depends on what's wrong with you. If it's altitude sickness, moving to lower altitudes and taking altitude medication will solve most cases; if it's quite severe, your guide will arrange for emergency evacuation by helicopter (be sure that emergency helicopter rescue is covered in your travel insurance). If you have a stomach sickness, bug, or any other types of food or water-related illnesses, your guide will have medication on hand for the most common illnesses.

What type of food is served during a trek?

On CAMPING TREKs we provide three delicious, plentiful and nutritious meals daily with a tasty mix of local and western dishes. Your day starts with a king-size breakfast consisting of a choice of porridge, muesli, and cereals followed by omelet, fried, or scrambled eggs with ‘chapattis’ [rounded bread made from wheat] or multigrain-bread. Also included are seasonal fresh fruits. Lunch is generally a selection of organic salad, cooked vegetable dishes, pasta, and traditional bread. Dinner is a truly hearty 3-course meal - soup, followed by a variety of vegetables, meat, and rice and pasta dishes and completed with a simple dessert [which may include a finger-licking crusty apple pie].

Ironically, some of the best apple pies in the country are found on these mountains and not in Thamel, Asia’s hub for backpackers; as many tourists would assume. Tea and coffee are also provided at all meals. We use as much fresh organic produce as possible available at some of the villages we hike through and special diets are regularly catered for. The trek leaders maintain very tight controls on health and hygiene in the kitchen with respect to general cleanliness and food preparation and also within the group with respect to personal hygiene.

All foods are well cooked and vegetables are treated by potassium permanganate or iodine. We only serve Boiled water for drinking. Antiseptic soaps and potassium or iodine treated water are provided for washing. Special dietary requirements can always be catered for. On Tea House treks we provide standard breakfast, lunch, and three-course dinner, tea or coffee is also included with each meal. Your guide will help with menu selection and ensure that you get the best value meals possible. Although the food is usually plentiful and delicious, you should be aware that the menu is not normally extensive. Most teahouses offer a variety of rice and soupy noodle dishes, as well as soup and seasonal vegetables. A variety of cereals, bread, and egg dishes are generally available for breakfast. There will also be plenty of snacks available such as biscuits, chocolate, and soft drinks and in some areas, you will find fresh fruit in season. You can buy packaged water (bottled mineral water) from local lodges and shop en route or you can also ask your guide to fill your water bottle with boiled water and treat it with water purification pills. Although it's held that gluttony is a sin, nevertheless, we ensure our trekking guests are well fed in as much as they can digest to cope with the arduous trails and the tough elevations.

Do I need to carry my own gear?

You'll carry your daily essentials (sunblock, water, hat, light jacket, and camera) but your porter will carry the bulk of your gear, such as extra clothing and overnight basics. Porters are especially helpful for longer treks where you'll be carrying more gear. For shorter treks (2-3 days), you may opt just to have a guide if you're comfortable carrying your own gear, but hiring a porter is a great way to support the local economy and is quite affordable. It's also the safest thing to do when you’re hiking on the biggest and most rugged mountains on planet earth.

How much could porters carry?

Porters typically carry up to 30 kgs max. (To ensure they're not overloaded). For fragile items, such as cameras, it's still best to carry these items yourself. If you have more than 15 kg., please carry the extra weight in your day pack. In the commercial trade, when transporting goods and supplies up into the high mountains, some porters carry up to 100 kgs and get paid less than a fair wage provided by some so-called responsible trekking companies. However, doing things like this weighs on the conscience and we totally avoid such unfair situations.

We know the risk that comes with neglecting our porters and follow all mandatory guidelines as stipulated by the IPPG international porters association.

What is the overnight accommodation like?

In cities like Kathmandu or Lhasa, accommodation will be in hotels of your preference. We have a pool of hotels that ranges from luxury deluxe to budget hotels. While on a trek accommodation will depend on the trek style. If you are taking a camping trip then you will be sleeping in tents. Whilst we endeavor to stay in the best possible accommodation along the way, you should be aware that most teahouses, particularly in the smaller villages, are pretty basic but cozy enough to protect you from the harsh elements. The bedrooms are usually very small, the shared bathroom facilities are often outside and meals are served in a communal dining hall. Although simple, the teahouses do provide shelter and warmth and are normally run by friendly local families. Tea house treks are less expensive than Camping treks and are largely suitable for small groups. Usually, during busy seasons if private rooms in smaller villages are fully occupied you might have to bunk out in a dormitory. But then this is what adventure is all about.

Can we change the itinerary?

Depending on the prevailing situation, you can modify it to some extent after consulting with your senior guide. However, the date of trek completion should always coincide with the original itinerary. You should keep in mind that this is an adventure trip into some of the most remote regions in the world, where many unforeseen circumstances may contribute to the need for a change in itinerary. In such cases, we or your guide will suggest the best alternative similar to your original itinerary.

Is tipping included and if not, how much should I budget?

Tips are always appreciated by your support team after the trip. The amount depends on your budget and appreciation of their work. Guiding on some of the riskiest trails on earth is a tough job and your crew always makes sure they lead from the front. Some trekkers give 10% of the total tour cost as tips. The hat is passed around and the whole group contributes. Most trekkers happily provide tips with big hearts. The choice is yours if you feel they’ve been worth it.