Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek

You will be met by one of our representatives and then be transferred to your 3-star hotel to enjoy a meal (by your arrangement) and an evening of rest from your flight. If you have the desire, after dinner you can roam the Thamel neighborhood close to your hotel to take in the local atmosphere.

Remember to update us of your travel details, especially if changes do occur, so we can arrange the pick-up to meet your schedule.

Accommodation: Hotel.

Meals:Breakfast at your hotel is included. All other meals are by your own arrangements.

Elevation:   1,345m/ 4412ft.

This is your free day to get acquainted with your new setting. First we will organize your trekking permits. We require to view your insurance and original passport. Then it is time to tour the city and do any last minute shopping. Overnight at your Hotel. Meals are by your arrangement.

Highlights of the Area:Pashupatinath, Boudhanath Stupa, Swaymbhunath and Patan Durbar Square, cultural and historical sights of the Kathmandu Valley.

Accommodation:Hotel

Meals: Breakfast at your hotel is included. All other meals are by your own arrangements

Enjoy a morning flight to Bhadrepur and then a jeep ride to Taplejung. Spend another relaxing night at a lodge. Meals are by your arrangement. You will may prefer to relax after a day of traveling, but there are some sites in town that may interest you.

Local Sites: Fikkal Bazar, Ilam Tea Garden.

Accommodation: Lodge.

Meals:Breakfast at your hotel is included. All other meals are by your own arrangements.

Today you will begin with a steep decent to the Tamur River to arrive at the village of Mittlung. Along the river, you can expect a wet, muddy and yes, slippery track so this would be the perfect place to use your trekking poles. Overnight in a teahouse.

Difficulty of Walk: Moderate.

Elevation Reached: Mitlung, 921m./ 3054 ft.

Terrain: Steep descent, muddy, slippery track.

Views: Mount Kanchenjunga and Mount Jannu.

Highlights: The tea and cardamom plantations.

What to See: Distant peaks of your destination, Mount Kanchenjunga, and Mount Jannu.

Accommodation: Teahouse.

Meals: Provided by the Teahouse.

After breakfast, you will begin to walk following the trail while passing several villages to end up at the Tamur River. Farming is the mainstay in this fertile area, on either side of the trail you will see crops of rice, millet, potatoes and other local vegetables. Ask your guide for more details about the people and industry of the area. After crossing the wooden bridge of the Thiwa Khola, the terrain changes to many ups and downs until you near the village of Chiruwa. Here you will find a bazaar, some lodges, teahouses, and shops.

Difficulty of Walk: Moderate, use one trekking pole to distribute your weight on the ups and downs.

Elevation Reached: 1,270m/ 4166 ft.

Terrain:Open farm fields, mixed with hilly terrain and river edges.

Views: Terraced farming, hill ridges, beautiful village of Chiruwa.

Highlights:At the end of the journey, you will be able to take a leisurely stroll around the village.

What to See:Shops in the village of Chiruwa.

Accommodation: Teahouse.

Meals: Provided by the Teahouse.

aTrek to Chiruwa- 4 to 5-hour walk

This morning there is a pleasant walk along the Tamur river valley floor until you reach Taplechok at 1,380 m. Here your trekking permit is checked at the national park gate. Once you cross the suspension bridge, you continue along the west bank of the river. Here you can see the cardamom spice growing among the trees. You may even meet yak men and their beasts carrying this valuable commodity down the path to market.

Lunch is at a lodge in Phenbu. Following lunch, the trail changes as it rises to Lelep at 1,750 m. You will cross a second suspension bridge over the Tamur river to travel through the steeper GhunsaKholaValley into the Tibetan village of Sekhathum. The landscape is gradually changing from river valley taking on some of the characteristics of the high Himalaya. If it is a clear day, you can distinguish Mount Jannu beyond the Ghunsa Valley.

Difficulty of Walk: Easy in the morning, moderate in the afternoon

Elevation Reached:1,660 m/ 5446 ft

Terrain: More rugged as you transition from river valley to Himalaya landscape

Views: Mountain Jannu, on a clear day

Highlights:Yak farms, at these lower levels the animals are a cross between the yak and a domestic cow

What to See:Keep an eye out for the red panda which frequents the bamboo areas

Accommodation: Teahouse

Meals: Provided by the Teahouse

This morning, you will cross over another suspension bridge over the Ghunsa River near Sekathum. The path enters a dense forest where the trail can be steep and narrow. But the scenery is worth it. This gorge is breathtaking.  Lunch is at a lodge in Solima. In the afternoon you will follow the switchback trail to a high elevation at AmjiLapsa.

Difficulty of Walk: Moderate, some steep areas

Elevation Reached:2,500 m/ 8235 ft

Terrain:River gorge, beginning of mountainous terrain

Views:Stunning river gorge

What to See: Changing foliage into that of the Himalayan alpine region

Accommodation: Teahouse

Meals: Provided by the Teahouse

This morning the walk is through the rich bamboo, oak and rhododendron forests and then on to a small ridge.  In the place known as Thyanyani, there are some intriguing stone shelters.  From there, the trail has several short climbs and descents before passing a large waterfall. There is a last steep section before reaching Gyabla.

Difficulty of Walk: Moderate, but steep at the end of the day.

Elevation Reached:2,730m/ 7874 ft.

Terrain: Forests in the morning, more rugged in the afternoon.

Views: Large waterfalls.

Highlights: Lush forests.

What to See: Stone homes in Thyanyani.

Accommodation: Teahouse.

Meals: Provided by the Teahouse.

This morning the path is along an open valley, most of the way to Phole. The weather is constantly getting cooler as the tour moves higher. As the weather cools there is a distinct change in the vegetation. You will see more rhododendrons and azaleas. In Phole is a monastery that you will want to tour. You can also watch the local women weaving traditional carpets. After your brief stop at Phole, you will walk another one and a half hours to your destination of Ghunsa. This Tibetan village is known for its wooden homes that are covered in beautiful prayer flags. You will have the time to visit the shops, including the Kanchenjunga conservation office, and gompas, a meditation room in a Buddhist temple.

Difficulty of Walk: Moderate.

Elevation Reached:3,600 m/ 11,794 ft

Terrain: Moderate

Views: Rhododendrons and azaleas.

Highlights: Women weaving traditional carpets

What to See: Shops, Kanchenjunga conservation office, and gompas, a meditation room in a Buddhist temple.

Accommodation: Teahouse.

Meals: Provided by the Teahouse.

As you climb higher, it is essential to give your body time to adjust to the differing conditions.  The acclimatization walk at Ghunsa follows the mantra of “climb up but backtrack to sleep low” as you walk along the trail to the height of 4,000 m in about a three hour walk. Then you return to Ghunsa to sleep at a lower elevation. This pause is essential for the rigors of the next three days of your trek to the north side Kanchenjunga Base Camp.

Difficulty of Walk: Moderate.

Elevation Reached:3,595m/ 11,794ft

Terrain: Level valley among the mountain peaks.

Views:Sherpa village.

Highlights: Pride of the village is the new school that is finally heated.

What to See: Subsistence farming and yak grazing.

Accommodation: Teahouse.

Meals: Provided by the Teahouse.

This morning you will follow the trail as it gently rises higher through the pine and rhododendron forests along the bank of the Ghunsa Khola. Here you will be introduced to the mani walls. These are walls made of intricately carved stone tablets that are inscribed with a mantra or prayer of the Tibetan religion. Another interesting feature you will see are chortens or stupas. These are simple structures that have been erected in places of spirituality. To the foreigner, they resemble part of a temple. They can be covered with prayer flags.Three hours into the walk, you will cross a bridge over the Ghunsa Khola and enjoy spectacular views from a large grassy meadow called Rampuk Kharka. Now you climb higher and higher you will be amazed by the mountain scenery. As you approach the landslide area, the view of Mount Jannu becomes visible. You will take great care in this area as there is a risk of rockfalls. The trail hugs the incline and then descends to Kambachen. Here you will enjoy your evening meal in the village with a dozen or so houses surrounded completely by mountains.

Difficulty of Walk: Moderate.

Elevation Reached:4,100 m/ 13,287 ft

Terrain: Rugged.

Views: Mount Jannu.

Highlights:Tibetan artifacts that line the trail.

What to See:Mani walls and chortens.

Accommodation: Teahouse.

Meals:Provided by the Teahouse.

This morning the trail winds its way once more through azalea and rhododendrons forests. Slowly this terrain changes into moraine. Close to Ramtang, there is a seasonal yak herder’s camp. Now you will find the trail to be much rockier and there is another landslide area to pass with care. It is advisable that in the landslide area, you continue to watch for rock falls but maintain a steady pace.

Later in the day, you will encounter rocky fields and pass over the moraines of the North West of the Kanchenjunga Glacier to end up at Lhonak. Here is a campsite with several stone huts. Many mountain peaks are visible at this point: Wedge Peak, Mera, Nepal Peak, and Twins. Their heights range from 6,344 to 7,351 m high. You must wait until the next day to see the main peak of Kanchenjunga. Your excitement mounts in anticipation of the moment.

Difficulty of Walk: Moderate, rocky.

Elevation Reached: 4,785 m/ 15699 ft.

Terrain: Rocky, glaciers, landslide.

Highlights: Many mountain peaks.

Accommodation: Teahouse.

Meals: Provided by the Teahouse.

Once again today you will climb high but sleep low to help you acclimatize to the challenging conditions. In the morning you will leave Lhonak, climbing the trail on the lateral moraine from Kanchenjunga Glacier for a couple of hours. Again passing through loose rock and landslide areas. You will find that the trail is slightly less steep as your journey takes you to the stone huts at Pangpema after about two hours. You will experience the first view of the north face of Kanchenjunga around lunchtime. After lunch, you will return to Lhonak to sleep low.

Difficulty of Walk: Challenging.

Elevation Reached:5,143 m/ 16873 ft

Terrain: Rocky, glacial, landslides.

Highlights: First view of the north face of Kanchenjunga.

What to See: Stone huts, panoramic views.

Accommodation: Teahouse.

Meals: Provided by the Teahouse.

Today we retrace our steps to reach Ghunsa village.

Difficulty of Walk: Moderate.

Elevation Reached: 3,595 m/ 11,794 ft.

Terrain: Level valley among the mountain peaks.

Views: Sherpa village.

Highlights: Pride of the village is the new school that is finally heated.

What to See: Subsistence farming and yak grazing.

Accommodation: Teahouse.

Meals: Provided by the Teahouse.

Just outside Ghunsa you will pass through rhododendron, birch and pine forests.  Partway through the walk is a steep section, on the journey you will reach a chorten, a Buddhist shrine, made colorful by prayer flags.

Difficulty of Walk: Moderate.

Elevation Reached:4,100m/ 1,3451ft

Terrain: Some steep sections.

Highlights: Rhododendron, birch and pine forests.

What to See: Chorten, a Buddhist shrine.

Accommodation: Teahouse.

Meals: Provided by the Teahouse.

Right after breakfast you will start your journey. You will traverse four passes today. Sele La pass, Sinion La Pass, Mirgin La pass and Sinelapche Bhanjyang. In the morning, the trail runs through a forest, along a ridge to the Sele La pass at 4,290 m. From here you will marvel in the views. In a steeper section there are prayer flags across the trail. Today as you cross each pass you will have amazing views.

Difficulty of Walk: Moderate.

Elevation Reached: 3,870m/ 14,074  ft

Terrain: Rocky, steep.

Views: Mountain peaks.

Accommodation: Teahouse.

Meals: Provided by the Teahouse.

Today you will once again climb high but sleep low. You will follow the trail to the height point of the climb at Oktang, 4,730 m. In doing so, you cross the top of the Yalung glacier. From here it is possible to see all of the peaks that border India and Nepal: Koktang, 6,147, Rathong, 6,679, and some of Kabrus whose peaks are all over 7000 m. As you approach Ramche you will be enchanted by the lake, meadow, two stone houses and possibly some blue sheep grazing in the wild. In the afternoon you will trek further up to Oktang. Along the trail, you will see three main summits all over 8,400 m. Now the route to the summit of Kanchenjunga is visible. You will pay homage to Joe Brown and George Band. These heroes were the first to break trail to the summit in 1955.

Difficulty of Walk: Challenging.

Elevation Reached:4,740m/ 15518 ft and then Ramche 4,580 m / 15,026 ft

Terrain: Rugged.

Highlights:Reaching the Southern Base Camp.

What to See: Views that seem to stretch to the heavens, blue sheep.

Accommodation: Teahouse.

Meals: Provided by the Teahouse.

After an early start, you will descend down the trail, passing by Tseram down to Tortongdin.

Difficulty of Walk: Difficult descent.

Elevation Reached:2,980m / 9843 ft

Terrain: River valley.

What to See: Rhododendron forests

Accommodation: Teahouse.

Meals: Provided by the Teahouse.

It takes about three hours to descend 1000 m. After that, the trail climbs through a forested area and past a recent landslide that happened in 2013 at Lamite Bhanjang, where you will have lunch. Following lunch, the trail continues to descend for about two hours. The trail then hugs the hill all the way down to Yamphudin. In the village is a mixed community of Sherpas, Rais, Limbus and Gurgungs. The village is sometimes referred to as Sherpagon. Here is a permit check post.

Difficulty of Walk: Easy to moderate.

Elevation Reached:1,690 m / 6824 ft

Terrain:Old forest and river valleys, zigzag trail.

Highlights:Kanchenjunga Conservation office in Yamphudin.

Accommodation: Teahouse

Meals: Provided by the Teahouse.

This morning you will depart from the village of Yamphudin through a cardamom plantation. Then you will travel along a winding trail high along the Mamankhe river’s edge and arrive at the village of Phumphe Dada.

Difficulty of Walk: Some treacherous spots.

Elevation Reached:1,860m / 6,102 ft

Terrain: Narrow valleys and waterfalls.

What to See: Waterfalls.

Accommodation: Teahouse.

Meals: Provided by the Teahouse.

You leave Phumphe Dada by following the trail passing some tea shops and travel through several valleys and villages. After 6 hours you will arrive at Sinchewa Bhanjyang.

Difficulty of Walk: Easy.

Elevation Reached:2,190 m / 7,185 ft

Terrain: Densely forested areas.

What to See: Terraced hillsides.

Accommodation: Teahouse.

Meals: Provided by the Teahouse.

This is a delightful walk following the ridge line past the villages of Limbu and then to the PhaKhola. After walking through a forested area, you will arrive at LaliKharka. You will enjoy the warm welcome of the local people.

Difficulty of Walk: Easy

Elevation Reached:2,265 m/ 7431 ft

Terrain: Forested river valleys.

What to See: Indigenous people.

Accommodation: Teahouse.

Meals: Provided by the Teahouse.

This is the final day of the trek. Enjoy the leisurely stroll as the trail winds through the countryside following PhaKhola, through Pokhara and Shimu villages to Thenbewa, to Suketar finally arriving at Taplejung.

You have now completed your once in a lifetime journey around the Nepalese side of Kanchenjunga!

Difficulty of Walk: Easy.

Terrain: Forest river valleys.

Highlights: Villages.

Accommodation: Teahouse.

Meals: Provided by the Teahouse.

Collect contact information from the friends you made on your trek, share photos and your experiences on the drive back.

Accommodation: Lodge.

Meals: Provided by your accommodation.

In the morning you fly to Kathmandu and are transferred back to your Thamel Hotel. In the afternoon, you can rest, pack for going home, visit the souvenir shops, and enjoy your last day in Nepal at your own leisure.

Accommodation:Hotel

Meals:Breakfast at your Lodge is included. All other meals are by your own arrangements.

Today is built in as a spare or buffer day. This allows a spare day for any illness or unforeseen events on your trek which may delay your scheduled arrival back in Kathmandu. If an extra day is not required on the trek it is now yours to tour, shop, celebrate or just rest for the flight home.

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals:Breakfast at your hotel is included. All other meals are by your own arrangements.

As you fly, you will rejoice in the details of this fantastic experience on your phone and other devices. Don’t forget to make use of the contact information from the friends you made along the trek. Post your photos and the experiences on social media, too.

We appreciate any photos and comments you want to share with us.

We make every effort to follow this itinerary, but there may be changes due to local conditions. All of the leaders are experienced in making changes so that the schedule can be maintained and will work through any inconveniences to your satisfaction.