Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek

Your journey begins with a 45-min flight from Kathmandu to Bhadrapur, a Nepalese lowland town. It continues with picturesque beauty car drive to Ilam, the tea land of Nepal. Progressively, increasingly up the hill rise, level plains are drawn out over rolling tea gardens hills. Ilam is famous for fresh air, quiet atmosphere, and panorama of enormous size. Travel within town, observe tea garden and enjoy sunset on the hill. Overnight stay in home-like lodge and prepare for the trek ahead.

Drive on mountain roads in the morning after breakfast to Taplejung, the starting point of the Kanchenjunga trek. The trek begins there by descending into the Tamor River valley. The trail passes through terraced rice fields, villages, and cardamom shrub-clad green forests. You may hear the river sound and see birds like the Himalayan bulbul. Reach Mitlung, a village on the side of a little river, and spend the night at a teahouse.

The today’s trek is through the rhododendron, oak, and bamboo forests across the Tamor River. There are ascents and descents, suspension bridges to cross, and small streams to walk through. Trek over Limbu villages like Sinwa and Tawa, where yaks graze and ploughs are turned. Spot langur monkeys and multi-hued butterflies. Arrive at Chirwa, a picturesque village with wooden houses and fielded plains. Enjoy a full meal and unwind at a teahouse.

Leave Chirwa and hike in dense forest alongside the Tamor River. Cross cardamom plantations and wooden bridges. Enter the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area, where views are more mountainous with gorges and cliff faces. Have a stopover at Tapethok, which is a permit post. Nearing Sukathum, the valley becomes narrower, and the Ghunsa River joins the Tamor. Overnight in a teahouse along the river.

Day trek is tougher if you hike up through pine and bamboo groves. Ground is bouldery and steep but with beautiful waterfall views. You will spot red pandas, Himalayan black bears, and birds like the tragopan pheasant. Trek a difficult climb to reach Amjilosa, little hillside town of Tibet. Take in the view, get hot food, and rest in a teahouse.

The trek makes its way through pine and rhododendron cover. You can see snow-covered peaks in the distance, yak grazing grounds, and tiny waterfalls. Gyabla is a beautiful village of stone houses and seeded terraced fields. It becomes chilly as you climb higher, and the terrain starts to have the appearance of the upper Himalayas. At Gyabla, you can meet the people who are Tibetans by descent and know about their way of life.

Gyabla trail is downhill and up to Ghunsa. Alpine scenery is less wooded and rocky. The landscape changes, but it is also breathtakingly beautiful with prayer flags, mani walls, and wooden houses making up Ghunsa. It is an important acclimatization site for altitude. The monastery can be toured, one can sit and have a chat with locals, and obtain stunning views of mountains.

Today is a rest day acclimatizing your body to the altitude. Explore the area around Ghunsa, climb to the old monastery, or hike a short way to Lpasan La for views of Jannu and other peaks. Watch the people live off the land with yak herding and trade. The mountain air, prayer flags, and beautiful scenery make this a wonderful place to take it easy before climbing higher.

The trek from Ghunsa goes slowly upwards higher up amidst juniper and larch forests along the Ghunsa River. The higher you go, the tougher is the terrain, and you will see glaciers at a distance. You will be walking on yak grazing grounds and wooden bridges on frozen streams. Jannu’s north face is lovely to behold. Kambachen is a tiny village amidst massive mountains. Overnight in a teahouse, hot meal, and enjoy the landscape.

The trek to Lhonak is tough but rewarding. The high altitude makes walking harder. The trail goes over rocky moraines, glacial rivers, and landslide areas. Near Lhonak, the landscape turns rugged and barren, with very few plants here and there. You get to view massive giants such as Kanchenjunga, Wedge Peak, and Mera Peak. Lhonak is a secluded area with simple teahouses, in a high-altitude cold desert. This is your last stop before reaching the north base camp.

A challenging but rewarding day, the trek to Pangpema follows a gradual rise along the Kanchenjunga Glacier lateral moraine. At the base camp, before you stand the sheer splendor of Kanchenjunga (8,586m), the third-highest peak on earth. Panoramic views include great ice walls, suspended glaciers, and seemingly boundless ridges. After enjoying the beautiful scenery and taking photographs for the lifelong memory, you return back to Lhonak and overnight in Lhonak.

You walk downhill from Kambachen to Ghunsa. The downhill walk is easier. Look back and see the mountains and valleys you crossed before. Spot blue sheep on the slopes and golden eagles overhead. Ghunsa is a picturesque Tibetan village with prayer flags, mani walls, and wooden hundred-year-old houses. It’s pleasant to rest here, take some hot meals, and enjoy the peaceful mountain environment after a day’s trek. Overnight at Ghunsa.

From Ghunsa, you take a different trail to Sele La Pass. The trail is steep with thick rhododendron and pine forest. Higher up, the trees thin out, and you will have open ridges in sight. Sele La is a small camping site with beautiful mountain views. Camp here overnight under the stars.

This is among the most scenic days. You ascend high passes, like Mirgin La. Steep climb as it is, but one well worth making for the view of Everest, Makalu, and Kanchenjunga. And then you come down to the Simbua Khola Valley, going through snow-white rivers and stone ridges. Arrive at Cheram and overnight there.

A quick morning trek in the early morning brings you to Ramche and there are glacial meadows and grazing grounds of yaks along the route as well. From here proceed to Kanchenjunga South Base Camp. The exposure of Yalung Glacier and south face of Kanchenjunga is stunning. It is raw and unspoilt base camp. After seeing it, return to Ramche to overnight.

You descend through thick juniper and rhododendron woods. The landscape is altered from boulder-strewn alpine terrain to green woods. As you descend, the air is more breathable. Overnight at a cozy teahouse at Torongding, regaining your strength as the high altitudes are left behind.

The trek goes through thick forests and remote villages. You will walk on suspension bridges and along waterfalls. You will cross Lasiya Bhanjyang and Dhupi Bhanjyang, where terraced fields and Limbu traditional houses can be seen. Yamphudin is a lively village with a mix of Limbu, Sherpa, and Rai cultures. It has friendly and welcoming residents, who make it a perfect place to stop and rest.

The downhill walk today is through subtropical forests. You hear birds and get to walk through cardamom plantations. River crossings and walking over rice terraces lead you to the small village of Khebang with thatched roof houses. Friendly villagers and peaceful landscape provide you with a glimpse of rural Nepal’s life.

This is the last day of your trekking. You will trek to Happu Khola, crossing rivers, jungles and rice fields. You will have a jeep ride from Happu Khola to Birtamod, a lowland town. You will notice that the temperature is increasing and becoming humid. Overnight at a hotel with all the modern facilities.

Take a short drive to Bhadrapur Airport. Fly back from there to Kathmandu. While in the air, you will probably get a final glimpse of the Himalayas. After you arrive in Kathmandu, relax at a hotel, see the city, or party with a farewell dinner.

Your day-long great trekking experience ends. If the time allows you, you may visit the bazaars close to your resort to search for souvenirs or just explore Kathmandu for the very last time. You will depart Nepal with positive memories of your Kanchenjunga trek, stunning beauty, and generous people you meet during your whole journey.