Kanchenjunga Trek

Our travel agents will meet you at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu and take you to the hotel. Following refreshments, our guide or tour leader will give you a brief overview of your tour.

Today we do preparation for the trip. We take our trekking permits and we do sightseeing in the valley and enjoy the day.

Our tour will pick you up from your hotel after breakfast and take you to the airport. The quick flight to Bhadrapur passes across some of Nepal’s most iconic mountains as well as the Kathmandu Valley and surrounding hills. A complimentary mountain flight! We will go by car to Fikkal/Kanyam, the center of the nation’s tea plantation region, after arriving in Bhadrapur. Then we drive to Taplejung.

The trail follows Ghunsa Khola upstream after descending from Taplejung to the Tamor River Valley. There are stone steps, severe descents, and a few little ascents along the path. It passes through rural communities with farmed terraces of corn and millet as well as subtropical woodlands. Villagers from Limbu and Rai are observed farming or transporting goods in bamboo baskets.

Additionally, you enter the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area on this day; hiking permits are required in this protected area. This stretch is relatively difficult yet beautiful, with trekkers walking along rivers and cliffs and crossing multiple suspension bridges. Particularly in the spring or after rain, there may be a lot of humidity and muddy areas of the trail.

Following Ghunsa Khola, the trail ascends through dense rhododendron and bamboo forests. Numerous suspension bridges and tight cliffside sections on the walk necessitate cautious foot placement. Particularly for novice hikers or those with larger packs, this is one of the more physically taxing days.

This woodland zone is home to animals including Himalayan monals, red pandas, and langurs, but sightings are few. There aren’t many human settlements, although you can come across Tibetan yak herders or makeshift houses used for grazing. Trekking at higher elevations begins at this point, and early symptoms of altitude sickness, such as exhaustion and dyspnea, may manifest.

Following breakfast, we go through various pine, bamboo, rhododendron, and oak forests. We see that the people and communities are starting to resemble Tibet.

Along with a wide variety of birds, we also observe yaks, sheep, and goats on the walk. Following lunch, the trail ascends through thick forest and across a wooden bridge to reach Gyabla, where we spend the night.

The road now passes through woodlands and Phale Village, a settlement for Tibetan refugees established decades ago when Tibetans began escaping China’s communist government.

It’s a winter settlement village now. We have time to go to the village and buy some handicrafts. We travel to Ghunsa, the biggest village in the region, which has a Kanchenjunga Conservation Office, a police station, and a health post. This location offers internet and phone services.

Today, the skyline is dominated by views of the Jannu Himal. We reach a verdant glacier valley after taking a leisurely ascending route. We might be fortunate enough to see snow leopards and blue sheep here. We exercise extra caution in a landslide-prone location where the trail goes past a waterfall.

Once more, we seize the opportunity to prepare for our excursion to the North Base Camp and to acclimate our bodies to the altitude. Today, we can ascend a different ridge that offers breathtaking views of Kanchenjunga.

Today, the trail mostly crosses the Kanchenjunga Glacier’s moraine. There are breathtaking views on both sides of us as we walk uphill over big boulders. We also keep a look out for this uncommon animal because we are deep in Snow Leopard country! Although there are no towns along the road, there are summer yak farms in this area as well.

Today, the trail mostly crosses the Kanchenjunga Glacier’s moraine. There are breathtaking views on both sides of us as we walk uphill over big boulders. We also keep a look out for this uncommon animal because we are deep in Snow Leopard country! Although there are no towns along the road, there are summer yak farms in this area as well. Trekkers typically stay in Lhonak and hike to the base camp as a day trip because Pangpema lacks tea houses due to its remote and untamed position. The location is surrounded by striking glaciers and ice walls, creating a stark yet breathtaking scene. Due to the high altitudes reached on this climb, physical fitness and appropriate acclimatization are crucial.

Today, we retrace our tracks over breathtaking alpine terrain as we descend from Lhonak (5,065 meters/16,617 feet) to Ghunsa (3,475 meters/11,401 feet). The trail continues to show the north face of Kanchenjunga as it passes Ramtang and Kambachen. Even while the descent lessens the strain on your lungs, there are still rocky areas that call for cautious footing. The experience is enhanced by the frequent sighting of wildlife in this isolated valley, including blue sheep and traces of snow leopards. The scenery softens into verdant forest as we descend about 1,600 meters (more than 5,200 feet) in altitude. We reach Ghunsa, a friendly Sherpa community with wooden homes, prayer flags, and a peaceful monastery, by late afternoon.

Today, the trail passes through a forest and along a grassy ridge where we can see Mt. Makalu in the distance along with the settlements of Ghunsa and Phole.

This morning, we set out early in the direction of the Kanchenjunga South Base Camp. The trail leads us up a ridge to Sinelapche La Pass (4,830m) after crossing the Sinion La Pass (4,450m).  The views of Mount Kanchenjunga and its valley are breathtaking from this location. The only settlement on this road is Cheram, which we reach by descending along a narrow track. Here, we spend the night.

Today is one of the highlight days of the entire Kanchenjunga South trek. You leave Tseram early, departing along a gradual ascent through the glacial valley. The trail opens up and is scenic, with amazing views of Kabru Range, Rathong Peak, and the Yalung glacier.

After about 2 hours you arrive at Ramche (4,580 m), an incredibly scenic yak pasture surrounded by high peaks. At Ramche the trail turns into rougher terrain as you continue to follow the lateral moraines toward Oktang, or Yalung South base camp viewpoint.

When you reach Oktang (4,740 m) you are rewarded with some of the best close up views of the south face of Kanchenjunga, brutal, not overlooked by Kabru Dome, Kabru south, Kabru North and the massive Yalung glacier. This is as close as you will get to Kanchenjunga from the southern approach.

Take in the stunning panoramic views and take lots of photos, then you turn around and head back the way they came to Tseram.

Overnight in Tseram.

You begin after breakfast with a long descent from an alpine environment down into dense forest. The trek re-traces the path they followed via the Simbuwa Khola valley as you begin to descend gradually then more steeply when you enter dense rhododendron and pine forest.

The path is quite peaceful and quiet as you can hear the river running beside you. On route you’ll pass a number of small rest points before you reach Tortong (2,980 m) a small but scenic settlement nestled in the gorgeous forest. Once you descend below 3,500 m you will notice it is warmer, and the air thicker.

Overnight in Tortong.

Today, we continue further down into the lower hills via the trail, which takes a steep descent towards the valley floor and moves in a comparison of descents and ascents through a thick forest. 

You will cross a few suspension bridges, waterfalls and terraced fields as you approach more populated areas of human settlements. The trail opens out ultimately to the big, traditional village of Yamphudin, where most ethnic backgrounds of Sherpa, Limbu, Rai, and Gurung live. 

Yamphudin is one of the mostly populated villages on the Kanchenjunga trail, presenting a comfortable place to stay with food and company after many days of remoteness. 

Overnight will be in Yamphudin.

After breakfast, you get in a jeep and drive all day, from the mountains to the lowlands. The rough mountain road will become smoother as you make your way down through terraced fields, forests, and busy little hill-top areas. 

You will pass through Taplejung and numerous tea-producing regions before arriving at Kanyam, one of the most beautiful and scenic tea-garden areas in eastern Nepal. The green, rolling hills of tea plantations will be a refreshing change from the high mountain landscape you were previously at. 

Evening walk around the tea gardens, if you are able to.

Following breakfast, you will drive from Kanyam to Bhadrapur Airport (approx. 1.5-2 hrs) through the fertile plains and warm weather of the Terai region. 

You board a short flight from Bhadrapur back to Kathmandu, enjoying the aerial views of eastern Nepal’s hills and plains. After you arrive in Kathmandu you will be transferred to your hotel.

This ends your trek to the Kanchenjunga South Base Camp.