21 Days Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek

After having breakfast in your hotel, you will prepare for a flight to Bhadrapur. Your trekking guide will be there to meet and greet you at your hotel. You will then head out to the domestic airport in Kathmandu. You will then board a plane for a 25-minute flight to Bhadrapur. After landing in Bhadrapur, you will head out for a drive to Ilam. Ilam is the largest tea plantation area in Nepal. It is also a major tourist area for internal tourists. 

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: Teahouse / Lodge
• Altitude: 1677m

Today you will drive to Taplejung in a means of private transport from Ilam. The drive takes along the beautiful countryside of eastern Nepal. As you pass the village of Phidim along the way, you will reach the Limbu village of Taplejung. The ride to Taplejung is 6-7 hours long. 

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: Teahouse / Lodge
• Altitude: 1442m

You will trek through lush mid hills and traditional villages today. These villages have traditional mud-brick houses. Along the way, you will also encounter various rice paddies, terraced farm fields, and cardamom farms. You will continue to trek along the bank of Tamor River to reach Mitlung, where you will spend your night. The trek from Taplejung to Mitlung (921 meters) is 5-6 hours long. 

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: Teahouse / Lodge
• Altitude: 921m

Along the way to Chirwa, you will trek through various Limbu and Tamang villages like Sinwa, Tawa, and Porke. You will also trek over old landslide debris and boulder. As you trek through river deposits, you will trek downhill to Thiwa Khola. You will cross Thiwa Khola on a wooden bridge and then reach Chirwa (1270 meters). The duration of today’s trek is 5-6 hours.

Chirwa is a beautiful Limbu settlement. This beautiful village is home to a few tea houses and lodges. You can also find some tea shops, which serve as retail stores for the local people. People in Chirwa and higher in altitudes show wonderful hospitality to all trekkers. 

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: Teahouse / Lodge
• Altitude: 1270m

After trekking along a few uphills for some time initially, you will descend toward Tamor River. After crossing the river, you will trek through lush green fields as well as forested areas. As you will only gain an altitude of 300 meters today, you won’t encounter a lot of uphills along the way. However, there are some small ups and downs on your way from Chirwa to Sekathum.

Besides, terraced Cardamom farm fields, you will also trek through oak forests along the way. You will then descend to Ghunsa River. After crossing the river, the trek up to Sekathum (1660 meters) is quite gentle. Today’s trek is 5-6 hours long. 

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: Teahouse / Lodge
• Altitude: 1660m

The trail from Sekathum to Amjilosa is quite challenging as you will gain almost 900 meters in altitude during today’s trek. Initially, you will cross a suspension bridge as you walk past Sekathum. After crossing the bridge, you will trek into a dense forest. The trail along the way is quite steep before you trek down to another river. After crossing the river on a bridge, you will again trek uphill all the way to Solima Village. You will then descend again to the river on the other side of Solima.

After trekking through a series of uphills and downhills along the way from Solima village, you will get to the village of Amjilosa (2530 meters). The total duration of the trek from Sekathum to Amjilosa is 5-6 hours. Amjilosa lies on the border ridge of the upper and the lower part of Kanchenjunga Region. From Amjilosa, you can feel a change in the climate, people, architecture, etc. along the way. 

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: Teahouse / Lodge
• Altitude: 2530m

The duration of today’s trek from Amjilosa to Gybala (2730 meters) is the same as that of yesterday. The trek takes about 5-6 hours. The trek from Amjilosa initially takes you through riverbank as you pass through dense bamboo, fir and rhododendron forests. After arriving at a small stone house next to the river, you will trek uphill. You will also encounter a series of cascading waterfalls flowing from the high mountains above.

Finally, after crossing a small uphill, you will reach the village of Gybala. Gybala is also referred to as a Tibetan refugee settlement. This is because Tibetans have been living here as refugees on a camp of Gyabla for a long time. Gybala has some excellent Tibetan Handmade goods like beads, carpet, etc. You can buy a souvenir here if you want to. 

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: Teahouse / Lodge
• Altitude: 2730m

From Gyabla, the trekking trail descends downhill to a river. After trekking past the river, the valley starts to open up as you head towards Phale. Phale is another beautiful Tibetan settlement. You can purchase some handicraft here if you want to. The trail from Phale to Ghunsa consists of a wide terrain with a mixture of forests of conifer and pine along the way. After trekking for 5-6 hours from Gybala, you will reach Gunsa (3595 meters).

Ghunsa is a settlement that has a majority of Sherpa people. Ghunsa also has its own local hydroelectricity plant. The accommodation in Ghunsa is also fantastic. The food and other room services are fantastic. Ghunsa is the first place along the trek with an altitude of more than 3000 meters. So you will spend the next day acclimatizing here. So you can do some laundry if you want to. 

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: Teahouse / Lodge
• Altitude: 3595m

Although you will spend this day getting used to the low level of air pressure and oxygen today, the day won’t be an idle one. You will go for short strolls around Ghunsa. One of the major highlights today is the trek to Lepasan La Monastery. On the way to this monastery, you will pass through the lush green forest area. The monastery lies at the top of a ridge. After spending some time on monastery ridgelines we will descend back to Ghunsa and spend an afternoon on cozy lodges.

You can also go for a day hike up the Yamatari Khola. The trail to this river takes you along the Lapsang La trail. You will finally get to a lake, which lies at the terminal moraine of the Yamatari glacier. You might also get to see animals like Bharal grazing above the village. 

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: Teahouse / Lodge
• Altitude: 3595m

As you trek forwards from Ghunsa, you will have wonderful views of the mountains of the Kanchenjunga region. You will head out north as you follow the riverbank. Along the way, you will encounter beautiful meadows with rhododendron and pine forests as well as wildflowers. You will also have to be careful trekking today especially when you encounter the landslide-prone areas. After trekking for a few hours, you will reach Rampuk Kharka. The trail then passes through some waterfalls.

After trekking past the landslide-prone areas, you will get to trails that offer you delightful views of Mt. Jannu. You will also get past the Khumbakarna (Jannu) Glacier on the opposite side of the valley before another descent. After trekking for 5-6 hours from Ghunsa, you will get to Khambachen (4100 meters). 

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: Teahouse / Lodge
• Altitude: 4100m

Today’s trek from Kambachen to Lhonak (4758 meters) is 5-6 hours long. As the weather in the mountains can change abruptly in the evening time, you will set out for your trek early in the morning. Unlike the previous days of treks which took you through terraced fields and dense forests, the trail today passes through rocky fields and boulders. You will also cross the wonderful Khumbakarna (Jannu) Glacier, which lies on the opposite side of the valley. As you cross a bridge along the way, you will reach Ramtang Monastery in Ramtang Valley.

You will take a small break here and prepare yourself for the tricky portion of the landslide in front. After a tricky trek in the area affected by the landslide, you will descend towards the riverside. After trekking for a little while, you will get to Lhonak (4785 meters). Lhonak is home to merely a handful of teahouses. The settlement of Lhonak is a summer settlement of shepherds. 

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: Teahouse / Lodge
• Altitude: 4785m

Today, you will head out to Kanchenjunga North Base Camp. Local people also call this place as Pangpema. Firstly, you will head towards Kanchenjunga Glacier. The trekking trail today is similar to that of yesterday. Some patches along the route are landslide prone as well as rocky, So it is quite tricky to trek in such areas. Trekking poles will come in really handy while trekking in these areas. After trekking past the rocky area, you will get to Kanchenjunga North Base Camp. The Kanchenjunga Base Camp is flat and grassy.

From the Base Camp, you will hike up to a ridge. The ridge offers dramatic views of Mt. Jannu, North Face of Kanchenjunga and Chang Himal. You might also encounter people on an expedition or going for a peak climbing trek. After an exploration of the Kanchenjunga Base Camp, you will return to Lhonak for your overnight stay. 

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: Teahouse / Lodge
• Distance: 7-8 hrs
• Altitude: 4785m

Today, you will start your trek back to Ghunsa. After trekking for a few hours you will get to Khambachen. Along the way, you can see various mountains like Kanchenjunga, Taple Shikhar, Gimmigela and Mera Peak. You will arrive at Kambachen in the late afternoon. After having lunch in Kambhachen, you will make your descent to Ghunsa. You will trek past large meadows, rocky boulders, and dense forests along the way to Ghunsa (3595 meters).

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: Teahouse / Lodge
• Altitude: 3595m

You will head out to the right-hand side along the trail as you leave Ghunsa behind. The trekking trail to Sele Le is quite steep as you gain an altitude of 600 meters. Sele Le is another part of the trail that doesn’t have a settlement of the locals of the Kanchenjunga region. You will also cross Mirgin La pass on your way to Selele (4100 meters). The trail to Sele Le passes through dense rhododendron and juniper forests. Many trekkers also claim to spot snow leopards in the trail of today’s trek. 

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: Teahouse / Lodge
• Altitude: 4100m

Today’s trek will be long as well as challenging. First, you will embark upon a steep uphill trek to the top of Sele Le Pass. Sele Le Pass is a wonderful point to see the views of the northern face of Kanchenjunga, Mt. Makalu and Mt. Jannu. From the Sele Le Pass, you will descend down as you head out to Ramche (Kanchenjunga South Base Camp). Ramche lies at an altitude of 4580 meters. It is also the highest point in today’s trek. The hike up to Ramche is the only uphill trek along the way.

The rest of the day’s trek is quite pleasant. Cheram is only a couple of hours of a downhill trek from the top of Sele Le Pass. You will also see many boulders along the way. After trekking for 6-7 hours, you will get to the first village at Kanchenjunga South- Cheram (3870 m). 

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: Teahouse / Lodge
• Altitude: 3870m

Today’s trek from Cheram to Tortong is quite easy as you will mostly descend. As you start trekking downhill from Cheram, you will find that the trail splits into two directions. The right one leads you to Tortong while the trail on the left leads you back to Sele Le Pass. As you trek further, you will get to Simbuwa Khola before entering a rhododendron forest. The trekking trails today are well-defined and you won't encounter a loose rocky section along the way. After trekking for 5-6 hours and losing around 900 meters in altitude, you will get to Tortong (3000 meters). 

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: Teahouse / Lodge
• Altitude: 3000m

Today is another downhill trek from Tortong to Yamphuding ass you lose an altitude of 1000 meters in today’s trek. You will trek for 4-5 hours today as you descend to Yamphuding(2080 meters). Some portion of the trekking trail between Tortong to Yamphuding is prone to landslide. As a result, the trails are not marked distinctly. The monsoon changes the trail every year. However, in the spring and the autumn season, the trekking trails are good. Yamphusing is the biggest village in the southern part of Kanchenjunga. The head office of Kanchenjunga National Park lies in Yamphuding.

The main inhabitants of Yamphuding are Sherpa, Limbu, and Rai. Yamphuding also has a school and a post office. There teahouses and lodges and lodges here are also really good. The inhabitants of the higher altitude regions also trek down to Yamphudin in the off-season. 

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: Teahouse / Lodge
• Altitude: 2080m

Today, you will leave the village of Yamphudim behind. You will descend towards Khebang. You will trek through valleys, waterfalls, and forest area on your way to Khebang. You will also cross various suspension bridges to cross streams along the way. After trekking past settlements alongside Kabeli Khola, you will arrive in Khebang, where you will spend your night. Today’s trek is 5-6 hours long. 

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: Teahouse / Lodge
• Altitude: 1915m

As you walk past Khebang, you will get wonderful views of Kanchenjunga (8586m) and Kumbakaran/Jannu (7710m) in the background. You will walk through lushly forested trail stumbling across several waterfalls on the way to Khanidingbe. 

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: Teahouse / Lodge
• Altitude: 1200m

Today, you will take a long drive from Khanidingbe to Birtamod. You will also enjoy splendid views of lush hills, snow-capped mountains, and rivers on your way to Birtamod. You can catch some daily activities of the locals along the way as you drive past various settlements. The drive will bring you from the mountainous part of Khanidingbe to the flatlands at Birtamod. 

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: Hotel / Lodge
• Altitude: 300m

Today will be another morning drive as you head out to Bhadrapur to take a flight to Kathmandu. The flight to Kathmandu is short and delightful as you catch the wonderful views of the mountains. The flight is 35 minutes long. After landing, you will head out to your hotel. You can also take a stroll around the various small towns of Kathmandu. You can also shop around areas like Thamel for collecting some souvenir. 

• Altitude: 1320m