Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek

01 / THE EXPERIENCE

Discover the journey

Kanchenjunga Trek takes you to the base camp of the world's third highest peak Mt. Kanchenjunga (8586m/28,169ft). The trail goes through the eastern part of Nepal that offers breathtaking views of Himalayas. The trek begins in the tiny town of Taplejung and takes you through varieties of lush green forests, landscapes to high altitude. The culture and lifestyles of locals is also unique and you can learn a lot about Nepalese traditions especially Rai and Limbu communities. Kanchenjunga trek is a challenging trek that requires a high level of physical and mental fitness and endurance as well. The trek also takes you through Kanchenjunga Conservation Area, which conserves diversities of floras and faunas. Overall, It is a great option for experienced trekkers looking for off the beaten path adventure in the Himalayas.

03 / YOUR ROUTE

Journey at a glance

Day Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu (1,350 meters/4,429 feet) — Upon arrival at Kathmandu airport, you will be welcomed by our representative and transferred to your hotel. You will receive a briefing of the trip after refreshing and prepare for the trek by issuing special permits. You can visit a temple or historical site depending on your time of arrival. Day Day 2: Fly from Kathmandu to Bhadrapur and drive to Ilam (1,400 meters/4,593 feet) and then, to Taplejung (1,820 meters/5,971 feet) — Take an early flight from Kathmandu to Bhadrapur which takes about 45 minutes and drive to Ilam which is one and half hours. You will have lunch in IIlam and then head to Taplejung which is a 4-5 hours drive from Ilam. Driving distance: 244 km/152 mi Driving time: 6-7 hrs Day Day 3: Trek from Taplejung to Mitlung (921 meters/3,021 feet) — Taplejung - Handewa - Mitlung This is the starting point of the trek and the trail begins down to the Tamur River and then follow it upstream, stopping for lunch at Handewa. You will be following the Great Himalaya Trail Cultural Route, a spectacular and interesting route through some of Nepal’s most remote villages. Trekking distance: 22 km/13.67 mi Trekking time: 5-6 hrs Total Ascend: 0 m Total Descend: 429 m/ 1,572 ft Day Day 4: Trek from Mitlung to Chirwa (1,270 meters/4,166 feet) — Mitlung - Sinwa - Tawa - Porke - Chirwa This day is particularly difficult as we go along unpaved roads above the river. The trail travels through the Limbu and Tamang settlements of Sinwa, Tawa, and Porke. After a final segment of up and down, the trail descends across the Thiwa Khola River on a wooden bridge and follows a few more ups and downs before arriving at Chirwa. Trekking distance: 14.4 km/8.95 mi Trekking time: 6-7 hrs Total Ascend: 349 m/ 1,145 ft Total Descend: 91 m/ 299 ft Day Day 5: Trek from Chirwa to Sekathum (1,576 meters/5,171 feet) — Chirwa - Gunsa Khola Valley - Sekathum The trail continues along the Tamur river. The steep climb and descend to Simbua Khola which originates from Yalung Glacier on the south of Kanchenjunga. The trail crosses the ridge and reach to narrow Gunsa Khola Valley as well as to the Sekathum. The views of himalayas including Jannu is incredible from here. Trekking distance: 9 km/5.59 km Trekking time: 4-5 hr Total Ascend: 306 m/ 1,003 ft Total Descend: 99 m/ 299 ft Day Day 6: Trek from Sekathum to Amjilosa (2,308 meters/7,572 feet) — Sekathum - Jaubari - Amjilosa From Sukethum you trek northeast along the Ghunsa Khola and steep uphill after our lunch stop at Jaubari, bringing us to the Tibetan village of Amjilossa where we will camp for the night. Trekking distance: 12 km/6.21 mi Trekking time: 6-7 hr Total Ascend: 732 m/ Total Descend: 0 m/ft Day Day 7: Trek from Amjilosa to Gyabla (2,730 meters/8,957 feet) — Amjilosa - Gyabla Today you will walk through oak, rhododendron and bamboo forests. The route makes numerous steep climbs and short descents and passes a beautiful large waterfall before the final steep climb up to Gybala. Trekking distance: 10 km/6.21 mi Trekking time: 6-7 hr Total Ascend: 600 m/ 1,969 ft Total Descend: 40 m/131 ft Day Day 8: Trek from Gyabla to Ghunsa (3,595 meters/11,794 feet) — Gyabla - Ghunsa You head for the largest village in the valley, Ghunsa. Ghunsa is a picturesque Tibetan village with wooden houses, a micro hydropower plant, school, and a health post. There is also a small Kanchenjunga Conservation Area office, plus a couple of gompas. Trekking distance: 7 km/4.35 mi Trekking time: 5-6 hr Total Ascend: 865 m/2,838 ft Total Descend: 0 m/0 ft Day Day 9: Trek from Ghunsa to Kambachen (4,150 meters/13,615 feet) — Ghunsa - Kambachen The route climbs gradually along the south bank of the Ghunsa Khola, through beautiful rhododendron and pine forests, passing many mani walls, prayer flags and chortens along the way. You will have to cross several scree slopes and some glacial moraine before we drop down to Khambachen, our home for the night. Trekking distance: 10 km/6.21 mi Trekking time: 4-5 hr Total Ascend: 555 m/1,821 ft Total Descend: 0 m/0 ft Day Day 10: Rest day in Kambachen for acclimatization — A day of rest and relaxation after a week of trekking. Khambachen is a Tibetan settlement with about a dozen houses nestled in a grassy plain, surrounded by mountains and a very impressive view of the huge north face of Jannu. There is an optional day walk to the high ridge behind the village for impressive views of the surrounding Himalayas. Day Day 11: Trek from Kambachen to Lhonak (4,780 meters/15,682 feet) — Khambachen - Lhonak You'll hike up a high plateau beyond the intersecting Lhonak Glacier to our left to reach the high, flat campsite at Lhonak in order to approach the source of the Ghunsa Khola while staying on the left (north) side of the Kanchenjunga Glacier. The views are incredible as you will be surrounded by some of the highest snow-peaks in the world, including Twins (7,351m), Wedge Peak (6,750m), Mera Peak (6344m), and Nepal Peak (6910m). Trekking distance: 8.5 km/5.28 mi Trekking time: 4-5 hr Total Ascend: 630 m/2,067 ft Total Descend: 0 m/0 ft Day Day 12: Trek from Lhonak to Pangpema/Kanchenjunga Base Camp (5,388 meters/17,673 feet) — Lhonak - Pangpema An early start for the trek to Kanchenjunga north side base camp at Pangpema (5143m), for majestic views of Tent Peak, Nepal Peak, Cross Peak, the Twins and the impressive Kanchenjunga. Trekking distance: 6.5 km/4.04 mi Trekking time: 3-4 hr Total Ascend: 608 m/1,995 ft Total Descend: 0 m/0 ft Day Day 13: Exploration day at Kanchenjunga Base Camp — A rest day in Kanchenjunga Base Camp. You can hike around the area and enjoy the majestic view of Tent Peak, Nepal Peak, Cross Peak, Twins and Kanchenjunga. Day Day 14: Trek from Pangpema to Ghunsa (3,595 meters/11,794 feet) — Pangpema - Ghunsa The trek retraces your footsteps back to Ghunsa where you will stay for the night. Trekking distance: 14.5 km/9.01 mi Trekking time: 7-8 hr Total Ascend: 0m/ ft Total Descend: 1,199 m/745.02 ft Day Day 15: Trek from Ghunsa to Tseram (3,870 meters/12,696 feet) — Ghunsa - Tseram The walk starts from Tseram crossing various passes including Sele La (4,480m) and Sinion La (4,660m). The total descent to Tseram is almost 1000m. Dinner and overnight stay at Tseram. Trekking distance: 9.5 km/5.90 mi Trekking time: 5-6 hr Total Ascend: 749 m/465.4 ft Total Descend: 0 m/0 ft Day Day 16: Trek from Tseram to Ramche (4,580 meters/15,026 feet) — Tseram - Ramche The trail ascends to Ramche crossing snout of Yalung glacier. In the eastern side of the region, Koktang (6147m), Rathong (6679m) and many more above 7000m are situated along Nepal-India border. Trekking distance: 6 km/3.73 mi Trekking time: 3-4 hr Total Ascend: 710 m/441.17 ft Total Descend: 0 m/ ft Day Day 17: 17: Trek from Ramche to Cheram (3,870 meters/12,696 feet) — Ramche - Cheram The trek continues towards Cheram from Ramche. The views of the surrounding mountains are very magnificent and spectacular. Dinner and overnight stay at Cheram. Trekking distance: 3 km/1.86 mi Trekking time: 3-4 hr Total Ascend: 0 m/ ft Total Descend: 710 m/441.17 ft Day Day 18: Trek from Cheram to Tortong (2,995 meters/9,826 feet) — Cheram - Tortong The trek continues from Cheram to Tortong through rhododendron forests enjoying the splendid views of the mountains and rivers. Trekking distance: 10.5 km/6.52 mi Trekking time: 5-6 hr Total Ascend: 0 m/ ft Total Descend: 875 m/544 ft Day Day 19: Trek from Tortong to Yamphudin (2,080 meters/6,824 feet) — Tortong - Yamphudin Following a difficult descent to the Imja Khola, the trail traverses the Dubi Pass and continues to descend into Yamphudin where communities like Rais, Gurungs and Sherpas reside. Trekking distance: 17.5 km/10.87 mi Trekking time: 5-6 hr Total Ascend: 0 m/ ft Total Descend: 915 m/569 ft Day Day 20: Trek from Yamphudin to Khebang (1,910 meters/6,266 feet) — Yamphudin - Khebang The trek begins on the sloppy mountains to Khebang and the path often goes on newly constructed roads with short ascend and continues level path to the village. The natives do cardamom plantation for their living and income. Dinner and overnight stay. Trekking distance: 16 km/9094 mi Trekking time: 5-6 hr Total Ascend: 0m Total Descend: 170 m/105.6 ft Day Day 21: Drive from Khebang to Bhadrapur — Khebang - Bhadrapur The trek ends here and you drive back to Bhadrapur by road early in the morning, which is 200 km far and takes approximately 8- 10 hours. Driving distance: 200 km/124.27 mi Driving time: 8-10 hrs Day Day 22: Fly from Bhadrapur to Kathmandu — This day you fly to Kathmandu from Bhadrapur Airport which takes 45 minutes and do sightseeing or leisure activities in Kathmandu Day Day 23: Departure from Kathmandu — If your flight is in the evening, we will take you for sightseeing in one of the Buddhist stupa; Boudhanath/Swayambhunath which is also listed in UNESCO World Heritage Site. Then, Our representative will receive you from hotel and drop you at the airport for your return journey back home.

YOUR DAY-BY-DAY ROUTE

Day-by-day itinerary

Day 1Arrival in Kathmandu (1,350 meters/4,429 feet) — Upon arrival at Kathmandu airport, you will be welcomed by our representative and transferred to your hotel. You will receive a briefing of the trip after refreshing and prepare for the trek by issuing special permits. You can visit a temple or historical site depending on your time of arrival. +