Shishapangma

Overview

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One of the most straightforward and accessible of the 8,000m peaks

Introduction

Before the Chinese opened Tibet to western mountaineers in 1978, little was known about Shishapangma. Enterprising individuals sought mere glimpses of it during the period that other 8,000m peaks were receiving their first ascents. It is the only 8,000m peak to lie entirely in Tibet, was the last of the 8,000m peaks to be climbed and is the lowest of them. The ascent by the North-West Ridge is regarded as one of the most straightforward 8,000m climbs.

Join us on Shishapangma

• We have a "One Team" ethos - that is, one team on the mountain with one leader and one aim - to get all members to the summit
• We do not direct or manage multiple teams at one time from base camp, nor are we simply supplying logistics or expedition management
• Each team led from base camp to the summit by leaders with a depth of experience of climbing above 8,000m
• We have planned and led 5 expeditions to Shishapangma

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Tailor-made option

We can organise this expedition on a ‘tailor-made’ private basis for groups of friends, families, clubs, charities or any other group. Depending on your mountaineering experience, you may want a Jagged Globe leader or go ‘self-led’ with the assistance of local guides. The cost of going private can be surprisingly reasonable, particularly if you take the self-led option. Please contact us to discuss the itinerary and your preferred dates. We will then send you a quote, with no obligation.

Experience Required

To join our Shishapangma expedition you need to be fully conversant with mountaineering techniques, having completed Alpine climbs equivalent to AD and have prior altitude experience of around 6,000m. To read the full experience requirements for this expedition...

Additional Information

If you wish to discuss any aspect of the expedition or your suitability for it, please phone +44 (0)114 276 3322 or contact us.

Know Before You Go

Jagged Globe supports the British Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) ‘Know Before You Go’ campaign. We recommend that you read the FCO Travel Advice for China on the FCO Website.

What the price includes

• Economy class return airfares from the UK (unless Land Only).
• UK airline taxes.
• Hotel/airport transfers.
• 4 nights' bed and breakfast accommodation at the Summit Hotel in Kathmandu on a twin-sharing basis.
• 7 nights' full-board accommodation in local hotels to/from Shishapangma Base Camp on a twin-sharing basis.
• 31 nights' full board accommodation in tents on a twin-sharing basis.
• Oxygen (2 bottles + use of Summit Oxygen mask)
• All road transport by private vehicles.
• All costs for yaks to move the team's equipment to Shishapangma base camp.
• All costs for leaders, guides and Sherpas.
• Jagged Globe kitbag or fleece.

What the price does not include

• Visa fees.
• Overseas airports taxes not paid in advance through the international airline ticket.
• Any costs associated with you leaving the expedition early.
• Any costs associated with arriving back in Kathmandu early, for example, having climbed the mountain ahead of schedule.
• Bar bills and laundry.
• Travel insurance.
• Lunch and evening meals in Kathmandu.
• Optional trips and sightseeing tours.
• Tips.

Insurance

You will need a travel insurance policy that caters for the activities you will undertake on your trip with Jagged Globe. It is a requirement of our booking conditions that you have such a policy. For a list of insurers who specialise in mountaineering, trekking and skiing, please see our Travel Insurance page »

Itinerary

Here is an outline itinerary for this trip. A more detailed day-to-day itinerary is available as a downloadable PDF »

Outline Itinerary

Day 1 - 2:	Fly to Kathmandu.
Day 3:	At leisure in Kathmandu. We are based at the Summit Hotel - a welcome oasis.
Day 4 - 5:	Drive to the Tibet.
Day 6 - 7:	Acclimatisation days at Nyalam. Walks to 4,700m.
Day 8 - 9:	Drive to Xegar. Cross the Thang La (5,200m) and drive to Xegar (4,300m). Acclimatisation walk to 4,600m.
Day 10:	Drive to Shishapangma base camp (5,000m) Cross the Thang La (5,200m) then turn off the Lhasa highway and head west along the road to Mount Kailash for a further 25 km. Base camp is situated close to the Yambughangala River, which drains the north side of Shishapangma. Overnight camp.
Day 11-12:	Base camp preparation
Day 13:	Move to Advanced Base Camp Load up yaks for the 20 kilometre trek to advance base camp (ABC). Overnight camp.
Day 14 - 40:	The Climb Above ABC you place two or three camps, depending on conditions. The climb starts with a long traverse leading to a large camping area at 6,400m. From here you traverse further, gaining a lot of height, to reach the shoulder of the mountain and camp 2 (7,000m). All of the climbing is on scree or snow and presents little difficulty. The North-West Ridge is easily reached from camp 2, although it may involve snow and ice climbing up to 50° steep. Fixed ropes are placed on all steep/crevassed sections. If a high camp is required, it is placed according to the prevailing conditions. The summit ridge is very long and it is usual to take a rising diagonal line across the snow slope below it to reach the ridge as close to the summit as possible. The West Summit (8,008m) of Shishapangma is quicker and easier to reach than the main summit (8,018m).
Day 41:	Return to base camp
Day 42 - 43:	Drive into Nepal Arrive back at the Summit Hotel, Kathmandu.
Day 44:	Homebound flight departures

PLEASE NOTE: The above itinerary is not a fixed programme but is intended to give an indication of the likely events during the expedition. Please note that because of the nature of mountaineering on 8,000m peaks, it will be necessary to have a flexible plan in order to take the best advantage of situations as they present themselves. Any changes to the itinerary will be made with a view to maximising the benefit to the team members and of ensuring their eventual success on the mountain.

Photos & Videos

No photos or videos available for this trip.

Reports & Reviews

First Expedition: Sep 1994
Total: 5 trips

Have you been on this trip? If you'd like to contribute a trip report then we'll post it up on the site.

Team Member Reviews

• “Thoroughly well organised. Good to be part of an 8,000m expedition.” CQ, 2000
• “The expedition was great. Well organised and with excellent guidance. It was a pleasure to travel with Jagged Globe and Steve Bell.” AB, 2002

Leader Reports

• Shishapangma 2004
  “A total of ten members of the 2004 Jagged Globe Shishapangma expedition reached the summit of this 8,012m peak in Tibet on two dates in early October. The main group arrived in Base Camp on 22 September, after a slow journey from...”
  report added 25/Oct/04
• Shishapangma - 24 August to 6 October 2002
  “Despite a great start, a strong team and a great Sherpa team, we didn't get the result we wanted - or indeed expected. While it is disappointing to not reach the summit, I am intensely relieved that we got down safely. Here's...”
  report added 23/Dec/02