Changtse Mountains

Changtse is a mountain peak on the northern side of the Mount Everest massif in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. It forms the northern summit area of the Everest massif and is part of the Mahalangur Himalaya.

The peak and its slopes are primarily of interest to mountaineers, high-altitude scientists and expedition teams operating from the Tibetan side of Everest; the area is glaciated and austere, with views across the northern approaches to Everest. There are no developed tourist facilities on the mountain itself.

Changtse has been mapped and described during the course of Everest exploration and surveying; its ridges and faces have been traversed in connection with mountaineering and scientific work on the Everest massif. It is treated as a secondary summit relative to Everest’s main summit.

Located immediately north of Mount Everest on the Tibetan Plateau, Changtse sits within Tibet’s high mountain terrain and is accessed by expeditions operating from the north side of the Everest region.

• Part of the Everest massif: A subsidiary summit of the Mount Everest massif located on the Tibetan (northern) side of Everest, forming part of the Mahalangur Himalaya.

Access to Changtse is via the Everest region. Most expeditions stage from Lhasa (Tibet side) or Lukla (Nepal side) depending on the route; permits are required from authorities in Tibet/China for northern approaches. Travel requires coordination with licensed expedition operators.

• Changtse is a technical high-altitude objective; climbers should acclimatize thoroughly on Everest or nearby peaks before attempting any ascent.
• Permits and coordination with Nepal/Tibet authorities (depending on route) are mandatory; use a registered expedition operator.
• High-altitude weather changes rapidly; only experienced mountaineers with appropriate gear should consider attempts.