Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek
Kanchenjunga (8,586 m), the third-highest mountain in the world is very attractive. It also forms Nepal’s eastern border with India’s Sikkim. In Tibetan, the name Kanchenjunga indicates ‘five great treasures of snow’.
Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek is an ideal trek. It is suitable for those who have the desire to travel to remote regions of Nepal. Kanchenjunga is a majestic mountain in eastern Nepal. The route for trekking was opened in 1988 AD. This trek also provides a chance to visit the Pathibhara Temple, an important religious site for many Indian and Nepali pilgrims. The trail goes northwards to Ghumsa where it climbs to the Kanchenjunga Base Camp (5143 m) going through a fantastic high alpine landscape. It then proceeds to the east via 2 passes and continues to the Yalung Base Camp (4500 m). Then the trail goes back south to Taplejung; the starting and ending point of the Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek.
Day 01: Arrival Kathmandu
Day 02: Kathmandu Sightseeing
Day 03: Flight to Biratnagar (100m); drive to Basantpur (2200m), 120km/6h
Day 04: Trek to Chauki (2700m) 15km/900m/7h.
Day 05: Trek to Gupha Pokhari (2900m) 11km/300m/-100m/4h
Day 06: Trek To Dobhan(660m) 17km/-2200m/7h.
Day 07: Trek to Mitlung (890m) 14km/200m/6h.
Day 08: Trek to Chirwa (1185m) 14km/340m/6h.
Day 09: Trek to Sekathum (1640m) 11km/500m/5h.
Day 10: Trek to Amjilasha (2490m) 6km/900m/5h.
Day 11 : Trek to Gyabla (2730m) 7km/250m/4h.
Day 12 : Trek to Ghunsa (3430m) 10km/700m/5h
Day 13 : Rest day in Ghunsa
Day 14: Trek to Kambachen (4040m) 10km/600m/6h.
Day 15 : Trek to Lhonak (4790m) 9km/650m/6h.
Day 16: Explore Pangpema Base camp (5140m) 9km/390m/6h.
Day 17: Return to Ghunsa (3430m) 18km/-1250m/7h.
Day 18: Trek to Sele Lapass (4500m) 8km/1100m/6h.
Day 19: Trek to Tseram (3870m)& cross Mirgin La (4480m) 7km/400m/-1000m/8h.
Day 20: Trek to Ramche (4620m) 7km/650m, Octangand Yalung Glacier, walk 7h.
Day 21: Trek to Tortong (2995m) 15km/-1500m/7hr
Day 22: Trek to Yamphudim(2070m) 12km/600m/-2000m/7h
Day 23: Trek to Khebang (1740m) 9km/900m/-1200m/7h.
Day 24: Trek to Phakholing (800m) 14km/ 300/m/-1000m/7 hr
Day 25: Trek to Tharpu/ (1600m) 6km/1200m/-300/4
Day 26: Drive to Bhadrapur, 190km/9h
Day 27: Fly to Kathmandu (1330m)
Day 28: Final Departure
Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu (1,300m/4,264ft)
Arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport. You will be welcomed outside the arrival terminal gate by our airport representative and will be transferred to your respective hotel. Stay overnight in Kathmandu.
Day 2: Kathmandu Sightseeing (4 -6hr)
Day tour of Kathmandu city, after breakfast in the morning our driver will pick you up from your hotel and take you to Pashupatinath Temple, Boudhanath Stupa, Patan Durbar Square, and Swayambhunath Stupa. Swayambhunath is a Buddhist Stupa said to be more than 2000 years old, is perched on a hillock 77 meters above the valley floor, and offers a bird’s eye view of Kathmandu City. Tour of Patan, also known as Lalitpur or the “city of beauty” is the oldest city in the valley.
Included Meals: Breakfast.
Day 3: Flight to Biratnagar (100m); drive to Basantapur (2200m), 120km/6h.
The spectacular views of the Mountains from Kanchanjunga to Lantang on 45 minutes flight to Biratnagar is impressive. We will drive to Basantapur situated on the edge above Tanmaya Khola passing through stunning hills, Hille town, and winding roads beside the Arun River.
Included Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 4: Trek to Chauki (2700m) 15km/900m/7h.
First 3km until Tunde will be on a major trek servicing Arun and Tamor valleys with lots of locals traveling along to Chainpur, a major trading town in the area. We pass a few villages along the way Dhoor Pani, Tinjure Danda, and Tinjure Phedi with stunning views of Kangchenjunga and the Makalu ranges and traveling through Rhododendron forest.
Included Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 5: Trek to Gupha Pokhari (2900m) 11km/300m/-100m/4h
We will trek to lovely Gupha Pokhari (natural pond) passing through ascending and descending trails. During the season, you will witness the blossoming red-colored Rhododendrons and walk through this forest. The beautiful scenic views of Chamlang, Makalu, Mera, and Kanchenjunga peak from the top point of the trail.
Included Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 6: Trek To Dobhan (660m) 17km/-2200m(5-7hr)
It is a long day today but it is all downhill to the riverside village of Durban located at the junction of two rivers (literal meaning in Nepali) the MaihwaKhola and the Tamor Koshi. We will stop for lunch at Gurja Sherpa village.
Included Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 7: Trek to Mitlung (890m) 14km/200m (4-6hr).
For the next 3 days, we trek in the Tamor River valley starting at a low point of 660m and reaching 1650m in Sekathum. The deep valley and heavy monsoon rainfalls make the trail wet and muddy until we reach an elevation of 1000m after Mitlung. The chirping sounds of birds walking through the rainforest and crossing along the river will make this section interesting.
Included Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 8: Trek to Chirwa (1185m) 14km/340m (4-6hr).
This is an amazingly spectacular section in the deep Himalayan river gorge with spectacular cliffs and the thundering sound of mighty torrents amplified by the gorge geometry. We will stroll sections of the dense subtropical forest through the narrow valley. When the valley opens we will go through villages inhabited by traditional owners of Limbu ethnicity, subsistence growing crops such as rice, millet, barley, wheat, and corn for 2000 years. The fields are productive throughout the year due to the sub-tropical climate.
Included Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 9: Trek to Sekathum (1640m) 11km/500m (3-5hr).
We continue our trek through the TamorNadi valley, which turns into Ghunsariver past SimbuwaKhola just before Sekathum, a tributary originating from the Yalung glacier. The transformative scenery as we will gradually proceed further into the valley.
Included Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 10: Trek to Amjilasha (2490m) 6km/900m (3-5hr).
We will have a shorter trek to Amjilasha today. As we will trail upwards, the trail narrows to reach the Ghunsa River. We will discover Sherpa and Tibetan ethnic folks as we climb upward to higher elevations.
Included Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 11: Trek to Gyabla (2730m) 7km/250m (3-4hr).
Easy day through an isolated section of the trail with no villages and walking through a dense forest. Overnight in Gyabla.
Included Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 12: Trek to Ghunsa (3430m) 10km/700m (3-5hr)
We cross the 3000m/10000ft elevation threshold and will maintain a comfortable pace to avoid Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). Halfway between Gyabla and Ghunsa, there is a Tibetan village of Phole where we stop for a relaxing lunch. A beautiful place to visit the monastery and witness Tibetan Buddhist culture.
Included Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 13: Rest day in Ghunsa
The Sherpa village Ghunsa is the best place to rest and relax after such strenuous long trekking. Ghunsa is the last permanent settlement on the way to the base camp.
Included Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 14: Trek to Kambachen (4040m) 10km/600m (4-6hr).
Over the next 3 days, we explore one of the most magnificent glacial valleys in Nepal if not in the entire Himalayas. We will walk on the glacial moraine from Lhonak. We will camp today at the bottom of Jannu Glacier with a direct view of Kanchenjunga massif and Jannu, a truly awe-inspiring experience. This is a very remote area and not unusual to see some wildlife such as blue sheep, ibex, and mountain goats, or smaller animals among the rocks such as hyrax, and birds like eagles, hawks, and kites.
Included Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 15: Trek to Lhonak (4790m) 9km/650m (4-6hr).
We will pass through isolated terrain at high-altitude glaciers with no villages or houses. The trail climbs gradually through moraine debris and the elevation makes the hike slower. The glacier begins around Ramtangat (4240m) and the trail continues. The stunning view of mountains from all directions at the junction of Lhonak and Kanchenjunga glaciers.
Included Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 16: Explore Pangpema Base camp (5140m) 9km/390m (4-6hr).
This will be our day to explore the Kanchenjunga north base camp area. The base camp is called Pang Pema. The area is visited by a few trekkers and climbers so there is not enough traffic to create the path. We will explore the glacier area as much as possible.
Included Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 17: Return to Ghunsa (3430m) 18km/-1250m (5-7hr).
Returning to Ghunsa allows retracing our previous days with a different perspective of the trail and the scenery around it.
Included Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 18: Trek to Sele Lapass (4500m) 8km/1100m (5-6hr).
From Ghunsa, we will ascent along the trail used by local people walking through a thick forest of birch, pine, and rhododendron possibly covered by snow.
Included Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 19: Trek to Tseram (3870m) & cross Mirgin La (4480m) 7km/400m/-1000m (6-8hr)
An adventurous and challenging trek today with a steep 400m climb to Mirgin La Pass with a wonderful view of Jannu Himal, Makalu, Kabru, and the Himalayan ranges along the Sikkim border followed by the walk along ridges with a final descent to Tseram.
Included Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 20: Trek to Ramche (4620m) 7km/650m, Octangand Yalung Glacier, 7h
Today we explore the Yalung glacier, we start early to reach Ramche where we will set up our overnight camp. After lunch, we trek towards Octang, 7km away with an elevation gain of 300m, the viewpoint of Kangchenjunga, and a stunningly beautiful amphitheater of impressive peaks Rothang and Kabru on the Nepal/Sikkim border.
Included Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 21: Trek to Tortong (2995m) 15km/-1500m (5-7hr)
We will walk through diverse pine and rhododendron forests on the way to Simbua Khola, descending to Tortoni.
Included Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 22: Trek to Yamphudim (2070m) 12km/600m/-2000m (5-7hr)
This is a tough section of our trek; it is prone to landslides making it difficult to hike. To reach Lamite Pass (3500m), we will climb to 600m elevation.
Included Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 23: Trek to Khebang (1740m) 9km/900m/-1200m (5-7hr)
We will cross 2 passes through the attractive village residing Chhetri and Brahmin ethics. Overnight in Khebang.
Included Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 24: Trek to Phakholing (800m) 14km/ 300/m/-1000m (5-7hr)
This is a long day with a 1000m drop over 6km to Dobhan for our lunch stop and another 8km of undulating but straightforward village path to the village.
Included Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 25: Trek to Tharpu/ (1600m) 6km/1200m/-300(3-4hr)
The last day of trekking finished with a 1200m climb to the village of Tharpu. We will take it easy and enjoy the last glimpses of the Kanchenjunga range and final mountain sunsets from the vantage point of the village to complete this incredibly exhilarating trek.
Included Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 26: Drive to Bhadrapur, 190km (7-9hr)
The distance is only 190km to the airport at Bhadrapur but the road cuts through 7 narrow ranges with over 100 hairpin turns and endless windings so will take 9hr to arrive at Bhadrapur. Despite being tiring it is a rewarding trip.
Included Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 27: Fly to Kathmandu (1330m)
The fabulous views of Mountain peaks and greenery hills from the flight back to Kathmandu in clear weather are impressive.
Included Meal: Breakfast
Day 28: Final Departure.
We drop you at the Tribhuvan International Airport 3 hours earlier for your final departure with the hope of seeing you again.
Included Meal: Breakfast
What is Included
- Pick up and Drop
- Three-star category hotel in Kathmandu including Breakfast.
- Tea house/lodge including Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.
- Sightseeing in Kathmandu Valley.
- Standard twin-sharing accommodation in a guesthouse in Biratnagar including breakfast
- City tour in Kathmandu by private vehicle
- Domestic flights (Kathmandu – Suketar – Kathmandu)
- English-speaking, trained, and experienced local tour guide
- English-speaking guide and porter ( 1 for 2 Trekker )
- Staff costs including their salary, insurance, equipment, domestic airfare, food, and accommodation
- Himalayan Sanctuary Adventure Duffel Bag
- Medical kit (carried by your trek leader)
- All necessary paperwork and trekking permits
- Cultural program with farewell dinner
- All government and local taxes
What is Excluded
- Nepalese visa fee
- International airfare to and from Kathmandu
- Excess baggage charges
- Travel and rescue insurance
- Lunch and evening meals in Kathmandu (and also in the case of early return from the mountain than the scheduled itinerary)
- Personal expenses (phone calls, laundry, Tea, Coffee, Wi-Fi, hot and Cold drinks, bar bills, battery recharge, hot shower, extra porters, etc.)
- Services not mentioned in the ‘What Is Included’ section
- Tips for guides and porters
- Extra night accommodation in Kathmandu because of early arrival, late departure, or early return from the mountain (due to any reason) than the scheduled itinerary
1. Duffel bag / Rucksack
Remember you may also need to leave some excess clothing or belongings back in Kathmandu (most hotels provide short-term storage for free) and a suitable, lockable suitcase is best.
2. Day bag pack
Remember that your porter will most likely not travel at the same pace as you. So while Trekking in Kanchenjunga a small day bag pack is recommended for the comfortable pack to carry your valuables like passport, money, medicine, sunscreen, etc.
3. Down jacket
Down jackets are invaluable while traveling in high alpine areas. Make sure that the jacket will keep you warm down to minus 10-15 degrees Celsius.
4. Sleeping bag
Especially during peak season, there is a shortage of blankets so a good sleeping bag is a wise decision. A good down bag rated to minus 15-20 degrees Celsius is a wise decision during your Kanchenjunga Trek.
5. Head
- Sun hat,
- Warm fleece hat,
- Sunscreen,
- Sunglasses
6. Hand
- Light gloves,
- Thick warm gloves,
- Waterproof outer gloves.
7. Feet
The most vital part of the body you need to take care of when trekking is your feet. Unless you are mountaineering, heavy, double, plastic boots are not necessary. Comfort and lightweight, with good ankle support, are best. Make sure you bring a pair of camp shoes as well to wear around camp and in teahouses. With socks try and bring lightweight inner socks and thicker woolen outer socks. Don’t forget to bring extra laces as well.
8. The upper part of the body from hip
- A couple of T-shirts
- Lightweight thermals
- Fleece jacket
- Wind-stopper jacket
- Down jacket
- Waterproof jacket
9. The lower part of the body from hip
- Hiking shorts
- Fleece or woolen thermal pants
- Waterproof shell pants
- Undergarments and inner thermal lightweight one
- Lightweight hiking pants
10. Toiletries
- Toilet paper
- A toothbrush as well as a paste
- Small towel
- Multipurpose soap for both body and clothes
- Nail scissors, small mirror, and shaving equipment
11. Personal hygiene
- Wet wipes
- Normal dry tissue roll
- Anti-bacterial handwash
12. Extra/Luxury
For Camping Trekking, During the spare time around the camp at night, or in tea houses, and on acclimatization days some extra luxury items are worthwhile.
- Binoculars
- Novels & other books (Kindle)
- Trail map and Guide Book
- Indoor games like a deck of cards, chess, or others
- Diary and pen
- Laptop/Tablets/I-pad
Apart from the basic checklist above
- Headlamp with extra batteries
- Small combination lock for bag-pack
- Basic first aid kit
- Trekking poles (get ones with anti-shock)
- Water bottle or camel pouch as convenient
- Can I obtain a visa for Nepal on arrival at the airport?
Yes, you can obtain the visa easily upon your arrival at Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu (Tourist Visa with Multiple Entries for 15 days can be obtained by paying USD 30 or equivalent foreign currency. Similarly, a Tourist Visa with Multiple Entries for 30 days and 90 days can be obtained by paying USD 50 and 125 respectively. Please bring 2 copies of passport-size photos.)
- What immunizations will I need?
No vaccinations are compulsory in the Himalayas, but we do recommend you are covered for diphtheria TB, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, Malaria, typhoid, polio, and tetanus. We also recommend:
A dental check-up before traveling.
That you know your blood group in case of emergency. If you have any pre-existing medical conditions which might affect you on tour, you make these known to your tour leader
- What type of shape do I need to be in, is this trip for me?
This is a strenuous trek in the Himalayas. You need good stamina for a long day effort while crossing the high passes in this trek. Any person suffering from a pre-existing medical condition or disease must seek medical advice before considering any trek. Whilst on the trek, it is common to experience some discomfort before being fully acclimatized.
To prepare for a strenuous trek you should begin training at least three to four months before your departure. As a guideline, an hour of aerobic exercise three to four times per week would be considered a minimum requirement. The best preparation is bush-walking involving relatively steep ascents and descents. If you can manage a couple of valley floor to ridge-line ascents per comfortable and able to enjoy the trek to the fullest. They are physically strong, sharp-witted, and have an incredibly positive attitude toward a life that we would consider extremely tough.
- Will somebody come to pick me up at the airport upon my arrival ?
Yes, our airport representative will be there to greet you at the airport. They will be displaying your name outside the international airport terminal. Upon arrival, you will then be transferred to your hotel overnight.
- What sort of accommodation can I expect in Kathmandu and trekking ?
We use standard rooms at two or three-star hotels in Kathmandu including breakfast. We will offer guesthouse accommodation in Biratnagar.
Along the trekking routes, we provide the best possible camping service complete with comfortable two-person tents with good mattresses. A kitchen, dining, shower, toilet tents, and chairs with tables are also provided. Refer to the equipment list for items you will need to bring. We usually camp in or near a village, which allows you to buy sweets and drinks, which we do not carry with us. You will also get a small bucket of hot water each morning in your tent for a quick scrub-up.
- What sort of food can I expect in trekking ?
There are a whole lot of good restaurants in Kathmandu where you can find any delight of your choice. During your stay in Kathmandu, please note that this package doesn’t include any meals.
During the camping, our expert camping cook can prepare normal and special meals upon request. There is a wider variety of food available, including Western-style food, and you may request to eat at any point of the day. The camping price includes an all-you-can-eat food service.
- What mode of transportation do you use ?
Himalayan Sanctuary Adventure is all about providing you with local insights, lifestyle as well as adventure. Depending on the nature of the travel, the transportation to and from the destination varies from domestic flights to vehicular transportation to even piggyback rides on mules and yaks. We provide you only with those options. We use private tourist vehicles for sightseeing, city tours, and pickups.
- What is the best season for this trekking ?
Our trekking season extends from mid-September to May. From early September the monsoonal rains decrease. By the end of September to December, the weather is usually stable with mild to warm days, and cold nights. March, April, May, October, and November are the best time to do this trek.
- What is the weather & temperature like in trekking ?
One of the most unpredictable elements of the Kanchenjunga region is the weather. If you’re not properly prepared for the twists, turns, and volatility of the conditions that can occur in this breathtaking region, you might find yourself in an uncomfortable and unpleasant situation. During the day, the thermometer could reach temps as high as 25 degrees C (77 Degrees F), only to dip down as low as -20 degrees C (-4 Degrees F) in less than 24 hours. While there’s no way to know exactly what each day in the mountains will bring, the weather and temperature ranges tend to be somewhat predictable based on the month and season.
- Spring – March / April / May / June
Spring happens to be one of the best times of the year to visit the Kanchenjunga region, although because of this, it can become somewhat crowded. The beautiful clear blue sky can be seen and the many different species of flowers are visible at the lower altitude. During springtime, the average temperature is 20 degrees C (68 Degrees F), with a maximum of 25 degrees C (77 Degrees F), during sunny days and a minimum of -15 degrees C (5 Degrees F), in the morning and at night for areas above 4000 meters.
- July / August Through Mid-September is Monsoon Season
This season is not recommended to travel as it rains in the lower altitudes, below 3500 meters. In areas above 4000 meters, it rains sometimes and although it is also sometimes dry, very few people travel during this season. There are positive sides to trekking during the monsoon months as the excess rainfall can provide ample chance to see spectacular views of the waterfall and it’s also the best season to avoid crowds. During springtime, the average temperature is 22 degrees C (71.6 Degrees F), with a maximum of 30 degrees C (86 Degrees F), during sunny days and a minimum of -5 degrees C (23 Degrees F), in the morning and at night for areas above 4000 meters.
- Autumn – End of September / October / November
Similar to springtime, autumn in the Kanchenjunga region is also a crowded season, but it’s one of the best times to trek. The average temperature during the fall is 17 degrees C (62.6 Degrees F), with a maximum temp of 20 degrees C (68 Degrees F), during sunny days and a minimum of -15 degrees C (5 Degrees F), in the morning and night, for areas above 4000 meters altitude.
- Winter- December/ January/ February
Winter starts from mid-December till mid-February. The average temperature during the winter is 10 degrees C (50 Degrees F), with a maximum temp of 17 degrees C (62.6 Degrees F), during sunny days and a minimum of -20 degrees C (-4 Degrees F), in the morning and night, for areas above 4000 meters altitude.
Start Date | End Date | Price in USD | Availability | Booking | Note |
---|
Avabillity Options
OPEN: This date is available and open for bookings. Go for it!
GUARANTEED: Guaranteed departure. Seat Available.
LIMITED: Guaranteed departure, Limited seat. You can send booking request for availability.
FULL:This date is currently unavailable. Please contact us if you are interested in traveling on this date.