Kharta Valley Photography Expedition

The world’s highest Mountains, Makalu, Lhotse and Everest | Fall Colours | Glacier Lakes

Give us 20 days, in return have the journey of a lifetime… …

19th Sep – 9th Oct 2025 | USD$8600 per person

Please filling in the provisional application form below if you are interested to join me on this trek. Due to many aspects of challenge on this expedition, I will give you a final update on the likelihood of going ahead with current schedule based on the number of bookings to be confirmed by August 2024.

Kharta is an unusually vibrant region lying to the east of Mount Everest, and starts at the Kangshung Glacier at the foot of Everest’s Kangshung Face. the valleys and ridges below the snowlike are covered with thick vegetation that turns golden in the autumn, and rhododendron flowers blossom in late May for 2-3 weeks, the whole region embellished by alpine lakes and meadows, all making an unique picturesque setting for such a high altitude terrain.

Having lived in Tibet for 7 years and made pilgrimages to some of its holiest peaks over the years, I feel a sense of heavenly bliss in front of these sacred mountains. That the region’s people find these astonishing places spiritual is long known, what is not known is how you will feel. The towering and majestic rock, its gorgeous greys you can lose yourself in, its snowy peaks where spirits reside and where clouds flow below the summits and a remarkable blue, as well wondrous lakes which at night take in the whole immense sky, all combine to make this a profound and unforgettable experience where you can capture what you’ve seen and, perhaps, felt. 

You will be travelling with someone well experienced in high altitude mountain and valley photography, who has detailed cultural and practical and linguistic skills for this region, and will be taken through this challenging terrain with support of a specialised local crew to make this heady expedition a safe and enriching experience. Having been on 2 Himalaya treks on the Nepalese side and many more on the Tibetan side, I’ve found the Tibet side of the Himalayas much drier, making it more likely to have clear vista views and a more relaxed experience.

 

Other Details:

Organising a trip like this requires a guide who has high altitude expedition experience, and able to work with last minute changes (due to government and local authority policies e.g. getting Tibet entry permits), weather conditions, and assessing the client’s health progress on the trip. I have been on this trek 3 times, twice on my own and the other was a collaboration with Alister Benn and Marc Adamus for a group of 8 people. I have lived and travelled in the Tibet Region extensively since 2012, with deep knowledge of and experience in it and Nepal, and led trekking expeditions to Mt. Kalaish. This expedition is the only one I know that focuses on photography that caters to international trekkers; furthermore, co-lead with Andrea Pozzi, who has extensive experience in running photography tours to some of the most challenging terrains, we will be able to maximise the opportunity each day presents to us by having two professional photographers on board, having quite different perspectives and approaches.

To sign up to a trip like this means you need to prepare for last minute changes to the itinerary or, in extreme cases, a full cancellation. In terms of an itinerary change you can choose to have your payment (deducting bank charges) partially refunded if you wish to end your trip, or you may decide to continue your journey with an alternative schedule. I know this region like palm of my hand, it’s easy for me to come up with an excellent alternative plan within hours of a no-go scenario.

Who can join us? You must be in good physical and mental health. Risks is high for pre-existing medical conditions: Heart and Cardiovascular disease, Bronchitis, uncontrolled Diabetes, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Very High Blood Pressure, Bypass Surgery or Angioplasty, Coronary Artery Disease, or other major illnesses or conditions. Please check with your doctor if you are not sure of your own medical conditions

What about altitude? This trip has been planned specifically for acclimatisation.

What about fitness level? You need to have a healthy diet and start some fitness training at least 3–6 months prior to the trip. Walking around hilly monasteries and other hikes at high altitude will require more energy than usual, and hiking at 4500m is far more strenuous than steep hikes at sea level. This route is a fairly easy trek, most moderate fitness levels can finish this route without too much hardship, but the fitter you are the more you can spare your energy for photography.

Itinerary:

Day 1 – Arrive Chengdu (meeting point) | Day 2 – Fly to Lhasa ( 3600m ) | Day 3 – 4 Lhasa – We will take day trips to nearby monasteries to help us to acclimatise. Day 5 – Lhasa to Shigatse @3950m | Day 6 – Shigatse to Qudang @3650m | Day 7 Camp 1 Xiao Wu Tso Meadow above the Dambuk Chu @ 4650m – 5 to 6 hours trek, ascending 750m |  Day 8 Camp 2 @ 4740m – 3 to 4 hours trek, ascending 250m, descending 160m with best view of Makalu (8475m) | Day 9  Camp 3 Zhuo Xiang @ 3900m – 5 to 6 hours trek, descending 840m, with mesmerizing views of Everest (8848m), Makalu (8475m), and Lhotse (8501m) | Day 10 Camp 4 Tangxiang @ 4550m – 6 to 8 hours trek | Day 11 Camp 5 Er Ga with close view of Jomolonzo @ 4650m – 6 to 7 hours trek, descending 200m  ascending 320m | Day 12 – Stay Camp 5 Er Ga – One hour hike to Sunrise Location Bai Dang with amazing view of Lhotse Shar (8383m) | Day 13 Camp 6 LangMuTso @ 4770 – 1 to 2 hours trek Ascending 120m | Day 14 Stay Camp 6 | Day 15 Cam 7 Re Ga @ 4200m –  4 to 5 hours trek| | Day 16 Stay Camp 7 Re Ga @4200 | Day 17 Camp 8 Tso Xue Reng Ma @ 5000m, 5 to 6 hours trek – Ascending 800m | Day 18 Trek out via Langma La Pass (5320m) with spectacular view of Everest, Lhotse, and Makalu, 8 to 10 hours trek – Ascending 400m, descending 1150m | One extra day | Day 20 – Quangang to Shigatse | Day 21 – Shigatse to connect flight out of either Shigatse or Lhasa Airport 

Included: Accommodation | All meals | Vehicle Transport | Park Entry/Tibet Permit Fee | Single/double tent for each participant |Flight from Chengdu to Lhasa

Excluded: Chinese Visa Application cost | Travel/Medical/evaculation Insurance (required) |  Flight out of Lhasa/Shigatse | you need to bring all expedition equipments such as suitable clothing, sleeping bags, waterproof backpacks for your own use according to our packing list near the time

Photography Skill Level: All levels, non-photographers welcome. However, please come with good knowledge of and capability with your equipment, we will share our approach and discuss techniques/concepts at each photography sessions.

Booking Process – due to nature of this expedition needs to be flexible, it has different booking process from other trips. 

Submit your application form – even if you book for shared occupancy as a couple, separate application forms need to be submitted | Confirm your place has been reserved | Deposit of USD$2000 payment to confirm your place after receiving the invoice | Chinese Visa Application process should be done as early as possible, which is 90 days prior to your trip, you need to have your international flight booked (we will help you with supporting documents) to start your visa application | The balance is due no later than 90 days prior to the trip | Fitness preparation is essential this trip |Meeting at Chengdu Airport and off we go!

I will send a PDF with clothing and equipment recommendation | Tibet Entry Permits Application will be submitted as for the group 35 days before our trip, therefore you need to have your Chinese Visa and Passport scanned to us no later than 45 days before the trip. I will ask you for this at the right time. | Updates on our permits will be given upon the final stage.

 

Provisional Application Form

Please complete details of any existing Medical

 

 

Dinner on Kharta Valley Trek