Kanchenjunga Trek - 25 Days

After breakfast, you’ll go for a half day sightseeing tour around Kathmandu valley. You’ll visit Pashupatinath Temple on the bank of the Bagmati river. In addition, you can also visit Swayambhunath Temple, a famous Monkey Temple, and Boudhanath. On the way back to your hotel, you’ll also visit Kathmandu Durbar Square, a place that holds the history of the valley. In the evening, you’ll get plenty of time for trek preparations. If you’ve missed anything, then you can do short shopping at Thamel or Durbar Marg. Overnight stay at Kathmandu. will help you process the trekking permits. You need Conservation area permits and the special permits.

You will take a domestic flight from Kathmandu to Bhadrapur. The Bhadrapur airport is about 621 km on road from Kathmandu. The flight will be yet another bird eye view of rural and urban habitation of Nepal, whilst you are enjoying the view from sky you will reach Bhadrapur in time between 40 to 45 minutes. “Chandragadhi Airport” is another name for Bhadrapur Airport.

On this day you will drive till Taplejung (1,820m) through Mechi Highway which will take you through the temperate climate and low green hills of Illam commonly called “Queen of Hills.” You will just get mesmerized by the natural beauty of Illam and Phidim. The low hill tea cultivation over Illam will steal your heart, it will look like nature has its own kind of expensive carpet over a vast area of land and is beyond comparison of any man made carpets in any part of the world. You will gradually ascend and finally reach Suketar (Taplejung) which actually happens to be your actual trekking start point.

You will set off for the trek on foot from today where trek is actually downhill till Mitlung. The trail proceeds through small villages and pastures on and off the east bank of Tamur River. Mitlung is subjugated by the Limbu community who are extremely courteous and seen smiling most of the time. Further you will trek through Sinwa ascending and descending till you reach Tawa from where the trail ascends till Chirwa.

Today will be a long day trek as you will proceed to the north of the village by the bank of Tamur River will lead you to a Chettri village (1320 m) which happens to be the Kanchenjunga National Park Check Point. You will have your permits checked stamped and continue the trail crossing the Simbuwa River. This is the very river where Yalung Glacier starts at. When you ascend the trail you will come across many small villages like Sakathum, Amjilossa, Ghaiyabari, Solima.

After the long trek, you will be happy and relaxed today as it will be an easy trek today. You will gradually ascend through the Ghunsa Valley. The trail is away from human settlement so will not pass through any villages today. Most of the day your trail will pass through the dense forest feeling like you actually belong there with the beautiful and stunning forest of Bamboo, Gnarled Oaks and Nepal’s National flower Rhododendrons. You will then walk through a flat ridge from where you will be able to have the captivating views of mountains. Enjoying the view and gradually ascending to terraced hill you will reach a small Gyabla where you will halt for the night.

Today, we will cross the 3000m elevation threshold. The day begins with a steep descent into a gorge. After the descent, we will walk through the forests of Rhododendrons and Firs. The walk becomes easier now. Following the riverbank, we trek to the beautiful Yak pastures in Pholey, 3210m. Pholey is a Tibetan village with beautiful potato cultivations. After crossing the bridge over the Ghunsa Khola, we will enter Ghunsa village. An overnight stay at Ghunsa inside a tent.

We have been traveling for 9 days already. It’s now time for us to take rest. Today is our acclimatization day in Ghunsa village. During high altitude treks, we must get our body adapted to the changing atmosphere. The amount of oxygen in the air reduces as we trek to the higher elevations. So, we are prone to acute mountain sickness. So, we schedule an acclimatization

The trail from Ghunsa all the way to Kambachen is prone to landslides. The trail passes through the off beaten trails of Kanchenjunga North. Heading north from Ghunsa, we will trek through the spectacular terrain. The trail makes a gradual climb through a forest of larch and juniper. We will walk along the east bank of the river. We will also encounter some beautiful meadows along the trail.

We will walk over the sandy, the boulder-strewn riverbank path. We will cross a wood and stone bridge over a river to reach Rambuk Kharka, 3720m. Right after Rampuk Kharka, the trail passes through a waterfall and landslide section.

The trail now enters a deserted landscape. We will make our way above the terrains carved with icy blades of the high altitude glaciers. There are no villages or houses on the trail. The trail climbs gradually through moraine debris. Be careful! Your feet may slip over the iced stones. We will reach the beautiful meadow area in Ramtang, 4350m. The Kanchenjunga glacier starts around Ramtangat. We will come across the beautiful Ramtang Monastery. The Monastery sits next to the bridge after a waterfall. The vista is amazing.

After a while, we will see the settlement of Lhonak. Lhonak is a tiny completion with only three or four small stone teahouses. After walking further, we will arrive at our campsite at Lhonak. Lhonak sits beside a wide and open sandy plain. We may see the blue sheep, mountain goats or smaller animals in the rocks like hyrax and marmots. We will also see the eagle, kites, and falcons.

Pang Pema is the local given name of the Kanchenjunga north base camp. Today, we will visit the north base camp of Mt. Kanchenjunga. Hiking to the base camp is the best experience. We will climb gradually through the trail. We will follow the row of the moraine. There are some portions on the trail that are smooth to landslide. Be careful while walking. Using the trekking poles will make the walk easier. After all the rocky sections are the flat grassy plain basin of Kanchenjunga North Base Camp. Enjoy the views of the towering peak of Kanchenjunga.

Today, we will explore the Kanchenjunga base camp area. We will hike to the nearby ridge to see the beautiful Himalayan views. We will see the best of Mt. Jannu, the North Face of Kanchenjunga, and the Chang Himal. The area is less visited. So, you can enjoy the serene and tranquil atmosphere. Explore the jaw-dropping vista of the glaciers.

It’s now time to say goodbye to the north Kanchenjunga Base Camp. repeating our previous days, we will trek to Ghunsa. On the way, we will celebrate the splendid Himalayan panorama. Enjoy the amazing scenery around, we will trek back. Leaving behind the impressive views of Mt. Jannu, we will trek back. From Pang Pema, we will trek down to Lhonak, Kambachen, and to Ghunsa

From Ghunsa, we divert towards the right-hand side leaving the trail to Gyabla. The trail is a steep uphill trek to Sele Le. This section is also isolated from human settlements. Most of the trail passes through the dense forest of Rhododendron and Juniper. At Sele Le, there are only one or two small teahouses made up of stones. Lots of travelers claim that they see snow leopards in this section. Do not go far from teahouses at night. Stay warm, stay safe.

The views are often crunchy and clear in the early morning. We will hike up the ridge north of Pangpema. Enjoy the panorama of the enchanting Himalayas. You will experience an exciting trek today! We will climb 400m to the Mirgin La Pass. During the climb, we can see the magnificent view of Mt. Jannu along with Makalu, Baruntse, Chamlang, Kangchenjunga, and Kabru. We will also see the Himalayan range along the Sikkim border.

We will then trek to the Mirgin La pass and Lapsang La pass, 5160m. By doing so, we will join our trek to the Kanchenjunga south treks. These passes are the high altitude passes. The weather conditions may bring several difficulties here. Rejoice the surrounding views. They will enhance you for further trekking.

Today, we will walk around the Yalung glacier and the Oktang Base Camp. We will gain an elevation of 300m. Enjoying the beautiful glimpse of snow-white mountains and ridges, we will trek elevated. The perspective of Kangchenjunga is amazing. We will see stunning views of Mt. Rothang and Kabru on the Nepal – Sikkim border. We will walk through a sequence of ablation valleys. We will see magnificent views of the Kanchenjunga south face. Also, beautiful views of the frozen lakes and crystal clear streams appear on our way while we trek. The views of Kokthan, Rathong, and Kabru are today’s highlights.

Starting from Tseram, we will perceive the impressive view of towering peaks Kabru and Rathong. Today, we will descend downhill to the lower altitudes. Enjoy the glimpses of the snow-capped enormous mountains ahead of you. We will see the imposing view of the Yalung Glacier. We follow the effortless trail along the Simbua Khola. Walking through the jungles of Pine and Rhododendrons, we will make our way to Torangden.

Today is a tough day. The trek comprises hard sections. We will trek through the landslide-prone sections. Along the way, there is a 600m climb to Lamite pass, 3500m. This climb is also tough. After a steep climb we will reach the valley of the Simbua Khola. We persist ascending the steep and exposed slopes on the way. We will walk into the forest of Pines and Rhododendrons. Walking across Lamite Bhanjyang and Amji Khola, we climb again. There we came across a pass at Dhupi Bhanjyang, 2540m. Furthermore, the path contours down through the cultivable fields. People are seen growing Corn and Barley there. We will cross a ridge and reach Yamphudin. Yamphudin is a assorted community of Sherpas, Limbus, Rais, and Gurungs

The trek passes through the rural community of Chhetri and Brahmins. Walking into the human settlements after an isolated trek is a wonderful experience. Walking through the gorgeous trail, we will witness the breathtaking landscapes. We will walk into diverse villages of different ethnicities. We can see their varying lifestyles and cultures. Walking ups and downs through the splendid trail, we will trek to Khebang..

Today is a long day trek. Opening from Khebang, we will drop 1000 meters in about 6 kilometers. Dobhan is 6 kilometers from Khebang. Dobhan is a beautiful place. After a substantial lunch there, we will set off towards Khandembe. From Dobhan, it is another 8 kilometers trek to Khandembe. Taking minute water breaks at some places, we will trek constantly. Following the straight village path, we will finally arrive at Khandembe.

Today is our last day of actual trekking. On this day, we will climb 1200 meters up to Tharpu Village. You will miss all these memories someday. Recalling the reminiscences of the entire trek, we will reach the Tharpu village. Tharpu is a beautiful village. We will stay here overnight. Enjoy the last outlook of the Kanchenjunga range. You won’t be seeing the mountain sunsets for a long time from now. There is a perfect vantage point at the Tharpu village. Spend a cheerful evening at the village.

Bhadrapur airport is 190 kilometers from Tharpu. But the road cuts through many twists and turns. The endless windings are frequent. It takes almost 9 hours to reach Bhadrapur. The ride is tiring, yet rewarding. We will stay at Bhadrapur in a hotel. Prepare for your flight tomorrow.

Today is our last day on this journey. We will fly from Bhadrapur to Kathmandu. The flight is a scenic flight. In clear weather, we will see the airborne views of some snowy peaks. The views are impressive. We will land at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. We will transfer you to your hotel. You can meander around some popular streets in the afternoon.

Time for goodbye! This is your final day with us. Depending on your flight scheduled time, our representative will see you off to the airport. We wish you a safe journey and hope to see you soon!