Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek

Duration: 27 Days

Overview

Difficulty LevelStrenuous Plus
Trip ModeTea House
Best TimeOct / Nov / Mar / April
Max Altitude5,400m

Trekking through the Tranquil, Picturesque Mountain Wilderness of Kanchenjunga

Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek is an ideal trekking route for those with time and desire to venture into some of the remote regions of Nepal. Mt. Kanchenjunga is the third highest mountain in the world at 8586 meters striding the border between Nepal and India. Also known as a natural paradise with a remote mountain area and eleven peaks which are higher than 7000 m.

Natural Diversity and Ethic Traditional Culture

Kanchenjunga base camp trek explores the less trodden and unspoiled region. Where we encounter the ethnic group having their own unique culture and tradition. Here you can experience the tropical to the subtropical forest of rhododendron, oak, and chestnut. Furthermore to the high Alpine zone is dominated by enchanting views of snow-capped Himalayas. Which is being fascinated with glacial plateau and beautiful landscape. Additionally the traditional village settlements of Rai, Limbu, Gurung, and Sherpa with their solitary culture and lifestyle. Kanchenjunga region is also well known as the home of the Red Panda, snow leopard, and other snow animals, birds, and plants. This area is protected and controlled by (KCAP) Kanchenjunga Conservation Area Project established in 1997. There are two North and South Base Camp of this huge, massive Mountain situated right on the border of Sikkim in the east and Tibet in the north of Nepal.

Kanchenjunga Base Camp- Remote Trekking in the Himalaya

Kanchenjunga base camp trek begins along the Tamur River through Pipal trees and villages. Where traditional life is little touched by the modern world. This includes those of the Limbu people, famous for inventing Tongba (the highland concoction made from fermented millet). They are the mainstays in the British Gorkha Regiments. Passing through some of the country's most pristine oak and rhododendron forests brings you to harsher high terrain. Crossing the Mirgin-La pass at 4725 meters gives you views of Makalu, Chamlang, and Everest. Next, you will pass the glacier, and finally, you are rewarded with an incredible, close-up view of the Kanchenjunga peak as you approach the Kanchenjunga base camp at Pang Pema. Whilst exploring the surrounding area you will also see a panorama of Wedge Peak, The Twins, Pyramid Peak, and Tent Peak in our Kanchenjunga base camp trek.

Itinerary

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Kanchenjunga Trekking Itinerary:

Details and daily Trek itinerary of Kanchenjunga base camp in the Himalaya.

1 Day
Arrive in Kathmandu / Welcome dinner / Hotel accommodation.
- Hotel
- Welcome Dinner
- 1340 m
- car
- Airport pick up
- On your arrival at Kathmandu airport, your trek leader or MMA staff will be there to receive you with the MMA board.
- You will be transferred to the hotel by a private car at Thame. You will be on a B/B basis in the hotel.
- You will have a welcome dinner with a Typical Nepalese Dish with a Nepalese cultural program.
2 Day
World Heritage Cultural tour in Kathmandu / Trip Preparation.
- Hotel
- Tour @ 9 am
- Breakfast
- 1340 m
- Hiace
- Tour and Trek Briefing
- After breakfast, you will go for a half-day sightseeing tour in the City.
- You will go to visit two main historical and architectural World Heritage sites.
- First, go to visit Pashupatinath Temple which is a very famous Hindu Temple in the World and 2nd is Boudhanath Stupa at Boudha which is the largest Buddhist Stupa in the World.
- Afternoon there will be a trek briefing and trek pack. Your trek leader will brief you about your trek and distribute the trekking equipment supplied by the Mountain Monarch Adventure.
- Last minute shopping for the trek.
3-4 Day
Fly to Bradraputr and drive to Taplejung to start walking to Kanchenjunga base camp
- Tea House
- B, L, D, Tea, Coffee & water
- 1820 m
- Plane and Jeep
- Flight, Drive & Trek
- It will take almost 45 minutes flight from Kathmandu to Bhadrapur offers astonishing views of the entire trek of the Kanchenjunga region.
- Drive from Bhadrapur to Taplejung is 359 km is interesting through the different hillside, villages, tea gardens with spectacular views and eye-catching landscape takes us eventually to the District Head Quarter- Taplejung. We stay at the hotel at Taplejung. (8-9 hrs).
- Subsequently, we trek for 3 days in the Tamur River Valley starting at a low point of 921m and reaching at 1650m in Sekathum.
- We will be walking along the river and rain forest with affluent bird life.
- The Valley is incredible with a deep Tamur gorge with its wonderful cliffs, waterfalls, and gosling sound of glacial water flow.
- Our walk begins from the subtropical forest through the narrow valley and the local villages. As the valley opens we go through villages of traditional Limbu people, who survived growing crops such as rice, millet, barley, wheat, and corn for 2000 years.
5-10 Day
Hike to Ghunsa via Sakethun and Kyapra and acclimatization rest day.
- Tea house
- B, L, D, Tea, Coffee & Drinking water
- 3595 m
- Trekking
- Our trek follows through the Tamur river valley and later turns into Ghunsa River Valley. We cross Simbuwa Khola just before Sekathum which originates from the Yalung glacier.
- The narrow trail follows the Ghunsa River Valley and starts climbing towards Amjilosha. As we ascend higher elevations go through the traditional Sherpa cum Tibetan Settlement.
- There are some easy days through the remote area walking through a dense forest.
- As we cross 3,000 m elevation we keep our pace slow keeping enough time taking comfortable pace and avoid Acute Mountain Sickness(AMS).
- When we walk from Gyabla to Ghunsa, after a long climb through a dense forest of pine, fir, and rhododendron trees, we arrive in a Traditional Tibetan village called Phole. We have a rest and take lunch here and visit an old Buddhist monastery in the village.
- After 6 days hike, we arrive in Ghunsa village(3,400 m) which is the last permanent settlement on the way to North Kanchanjunga Base Camp.
11-13 Day
Hike to Lhonak and exploration Climb to Pangpema.
- Tea house
- B, L, D, Tea, Coffee & Drinking water
- 4785 m
- Trek & Exploration hike
- We will be exploring Kanchenjunga North Base Camp from Ghunsa. It is a magnificent glacial valley, walk through the moraine with the stunning view of massif Kanchenjunga.
- This is a very isolated high altitude glacial terrain with no villages of houses. Our trail climbs gradually through the moraine debris so we have a good opportunity to see wildlife such as blue sheep, mountain goats,s or smaller animals like Pikka, marmots, and birds of prey like falcon, kite and eagle
- The glacier starts from around Ramtangat 4,240 m and trail continues on its north side with Lhonak located at the junction of Lhonak and Kanchenjunga glaciers and surrounded by stunning mountains flourishing in all directions.
- Eventually, we explore Kanchenjunga's north base camp which is called Pang Pema also and we will explore the glacier as much as possible and enjoy the views of magnificent Kanchenjunga and other snow peak mountains.
14-15 Day
Climb to Sele Le Base camp.
- Tea house
- B, L, D, Tea, Coffee & Drinking water
- 4130 m
- Trekking
- We return to Ghunsa after exploring the Kanchenjunga North Base Camp and get prepared to go further up to Selele Base Camp and cross all three passes.
- We start ascending from Ghunsa along with the trail used by local people walking through a thick forest of the birch tree, pine and rhododendron.
- We spend the night at the Selele base camp or called Selele Kharka as well. There is a basic lodge for us and we spend one night here.
16-17 Day
Hiking to Ramze after crossing the Sele Le (4,600 m) and Sinion pass.
- Tea house
- B, L, D, Tea, Coffee & Drinking water
- 4580 m
- Cross the Sele le pass @ 4600 m
- It is going to be a Challenging trek today with a steep 400 m climb to Mirgin La Pass with a tremendous view of Jannu Himal as well as Makalu, Baruntse, Chamlang, Kanchenjunga, Kyabru and the Himalayan range along with the Sikkim border.
- We follow the walk along the ridges and do the final descent to Tseram. We halt the night at a tea house at Tseram 4,730 m.
18 Day
Exploration hike to Oktang south Kanchenjunga base camp.
- Tea house
- B, L, D, Tea, Coffee & Drinking water
- 4580 m
- Explore Yalung base camp @4500 m
- Today we start early in the morning from Ramche to reach Oktang(4,730 m) 7km and
- Enjoy the stunning view of Kanchenjunga Himal. There are five different peaks of Kanchenjunga which are called 5 Jewels of Kanchenjunga also. There are other impressive peaks of Rothang and Kyabru on the Nepal-Sikkim border that all breathtaking. After enjoying all the beauty of Kanchenjunga Himal, Yalung glacier, and all the other beautiful peaks and hills we return to Ramche and walk down to Tserum and halt the night here.
19-23 Day
Descend to Tharpu via Khebank and drive to Bhadraput and stay at hotel.
- Tea house
- B, L, D, Tea, Coffee & Drinking water
- 300 m
- Trek and Drive
- We follow an easy trail along with Simbua Khola through varieties of pine and rhododendron forest descending all the way to Yamphuding.
- This is a tough section of this trek as it is difficult to hike due to the landslides and also to climb 600 m to the Lamite pass(3,500 m).
- We walk through the beautiful villages of Chhetri and Brahmins and cross 2 passes.
- Last day we hike around 1200 m climb up to Tharpu Village and enjoy the last glimpses of Kanchenjunga Himalayan range with the sunset view from the village and we complete this wonderful trek here.
- You will enjoy driving through the different scenic landscapes and picturesque valleys up to Bhadrapur.
24-26 Day
Fly to Kathmandu from Bhadraput and exploration day in Kathmandu.
- Hotel
- Breakfast
- 1340 m
- Plan
- Flight and rest days
- While flying to Kathmandu you’ll enjoy the beautiful view of the most impressive Himalayan ranges. As you arrived in Kathmandu, the afternoon is free to explore the Thamel – a famous tourist hub in Kathmandu and do your last-minute shopping.
27 Day
Kanchenjunga base camp trekking ends / Airport transfer.
- Breakfast
- car
- Airport transfer
- After having breakfast at the hotel, you will be transferred to the Airport by a private Vehicle. Your trek leader will be there to assist you and you will fly back home with all good memories of Mountains, people and places.

Private arrival and departure transfers on both domestic and international flights.
Standard Hotel Accommodation in Kathmandu on a twin share bed- and- breakfast basis as per the itinerary.
Welcome dinner as listed in the itinerary.
Half-day guided city tour with world heritage entrance fees as listed in the itinerary.
All domestic flights and airport tax as listed in the itinerary.
Private transportation to and from the starting and ending points of the trek as applicable.
Full board meals, tea, coffee, and drinking water on the whole trip prepared by the tea house cook
Accommodation in local tea house while on Kanchenjunga trekking.
Mountain Monarch Trip Gears - sleeping bag, fleece liner, down jacket, rain poncho etc for use on a trip.
Professional and experienced Trek Leader / Guide trained in Wilderness First Aid.
Supplementary Oxygen or Gamow Bag (A life-saving device in case of Acute Mountain Sickness) along with the comprehensive First Aid Kit as a trek safety back up
Professional and experienced Trek Leader / Guide trained in Wilderness First Aid along with his trek crew including porters with proper insurance and required trek gear.
Complementary trek Duffle bag Mountain Monarch T-shirts and trek map
Kanchenjunga special trekking permit and all government taxes.
TIMS / Trekking permit, National park / Conservation entry fees.

Nepal entry Visa fees, Your travel insurance of any kind
International Airfare and Airport Tax
All Drinks and main meals in cities.
Tips and Items of personal expenses like a hot shower, battery charge, telephone, beverage drinks