Tintin and Snowy must recover the lost scepter of King Ottokar before the rightful King is forced to abdicate by greedy forces.

Tintin, Snowy, Captain Haddock and Professor Calculus are taking it easy on a vacation. Tintin receives a letter from Chang saying that he will be going to Kathmandu to visit his foster-uncle, and the next day, Tintin reads about a 'plane crash; the 'plane he is sure Chang boarded. He and Captain Haddock immediately leave for Tibet via India, for the crash site. The sherpas escorting them abandon the party out of fear for the Abominable Snowman, the Yeti, all except Tharkey. The search takes them to a monastery and to the cave of the Yeti from where they finally rescue Chang.