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Our standard Kanchenjunga Base Camp trek program visits both the North and South Kanchenjunga Base Camps allowing participants to get up-close-and-personal with the third highest mountain and the largest massif in the world. A shorter program would be to only visit the North Kanchenjunga Base Camp at Pangpema.
In the world of adventure, before there was Everest – there was KANCHENJUNGA! Clear and spectacular views of the Kangchenjunga range from the summer retreat town of Darjeeling (in India) raised the curiosity of early British explorers. Moreover, easy access to eastern Nepal from bordering Sikkim also made adventures to the area possible as early as 1848 (while the rest of Nepal was closed to foreign visitors for another 100 years until the 1950s). In fact, for some time, Kangchenjunga was even considered the highest mountain in the world – i.e. until 1856, when Peak XV was announced as the highest point on Earth and named ‘Mount Everest’.
Kangchenjunga literally translates to “Five Great Treasures in the Snow.” There are five peaks within the Kangchenjunga range, and local people believe that each of the five peaks is a repository of different treasures: gold, silver, gems, grains and sacred texts. Kangchenjunga is a sacred mountain. In due reverence, the first summiteers stopped a few meters short of the summit in 1955. (This practice is no longer followed by today’s climbers!). Kangchenjunga is situated in the Beyul Demazong [beyuls are sacred valleys that were hidden by Padmasambhava, a much revered Indian saint who introduced Buddhism to Tibet in the eighth century]. The purpose of beyuls was to provide sanctuaries for people seeking refuge from social and religious persecution. During our trip, Beyul Demazong will also allow us to experience its purpose as we seek refuge from the daily grind of our hectic social lives.
We begin the journey with an hour long flight to eastern Nepal. This is followed by a jeep/bus ride for around 9 hours to Taplejung where our trek begins. Ascend steadily through the Ghunsa river valley to the Kanchenjunga North Base Camp. Descend back to Ghunsa and cross over Sinion La to the Kabeli river valley. We then hike up to the Kanchenjunga South Base Camp and begin our descent to Yamphudin from where we drive back to Bhadrapur for our flight back to Kathmandu.
The Kanchenjunga region is also where 3 Summits for Nepal, our giving arm, has built four primary schools and is building a fifth one in 2020. On this Kanchenjunga Base Camp trek, we will have the opportunity to visit one of the school in Yamphudin.
| Day | Description | Overnight | Altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrival in Kathmandu | Kathmandu | 1,340m/4,300ft |
| Day 2 | Exploring Kathmandu | Kathmandu | 1,340m/4,300ft |
| Day 3 | Kathmandu to Ilam | Ilam | |
| Day 4 | Ilam to Taplejung | Taplejung | 1,441m/4,730ft |
| Day 5 | Taplejung to Sekathum |
Sekathum | 1,600m/5,400ft |
| Day 6 | Sekathum to Amjilosa | Amjilosa | 2,300m/7,570ft |
| Day 7 | Amjilosa to Gyabla |
Gyabla | 2,730m/8,950ft |
| Day 8 | Gyabla to Ghunsa |
Ghunsa | 3,475m/11,200ft |
| Day 9 | Ghunsa acclimatization day |
Ghunsa | 3,475m/11,200ft |
| Day 10 | Ghunsa to Khangbachen |
Khangbachen | 4,040m/13,600ft |
| Day 11 | Hike to Jannu Base Camp |
Khangbachen | 4,040m/13,600ft |
| Day 12 | Hike to Lhonak |
Lhonak | 4,790m/15,700ft |
| Day 13 | Lhonak to Pangpema (5,140m/16,900ft) to Lhonak |
Lhonak | 4,790m/15,700ft |
| Day 14 | Descend to Ghunsa | Ghunsa | 3,475m/11,200ft |
| Day 15 | Trek to Selela | Selela | 4,480m/15,300ft |
| Day 16 | Trek to Tseram | Tseram | 3,870m/12,700 ft. |
| Day 17 | Trek to Ramche | Ramche | 4,580m/15,100ft |
| Day 18 | Trek to Oktang |
Oktang | 4,730m/15,500ft |
| Day 19 | Explore South Kanchenjunga Base Camp and return |
Ramche | 4,580m/15,100ft |
| Day 20 | Descend to Torontan | Torontan | 3,010m/9,900ft |
| Day 21 | Trek to Lamite Bhanjyang | Lamite Bhanjyang | 3,100m/10,200ft |
| Day 22 | Lamite Bhanjyang to Yamphudin | Yamphudin | 2,080m/6,900ft |
| Day 23 | Yamphudin to Khebang |
Khebang | |
| Day 24 | Drive to Ilam. |
Ilam | |
| Day 25 | Drive to Bhadrapur. Fly to Kathmandu. |
Kathmandu | 1,340m/4,300ft |
| Day 26 | Kathmandu Sightseeing | Kathmandu | 1,340m/4,300ft |
| Day 27 | Final Departure |
Arrive Kathmandu. You will be met on arrival at the Tribhuwan International Airport. Transfer to Hotel Tibet or similar. Day Free. Enjoy welcome dinner. Briefing during dinner. Overnight Hotel Tibet or similar. (Dinner)
Visit Pashupatinath, Nepal’s most sacred Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva, with its two-tiered golden roof and silver door. Here, you’ll probably witness a Hindu cremation along the banks of the Bagmati River.
Then drive to Bhaktapur, the City of Devotees, for lunch and a tour of the royal palace square. Bhaktapur is a medieval city in the Kathmandu valley and is least disturbed by modern life. Here, you can absorb the architectural splendor of the five-storied Nyatapola temple, or the sculptural delight of the Peacock Window.
In the afternoon, make final preparations for your Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek.
Overnight Hotel Tibet or similar. (Breakfast and Lunch)
Fly about 50 minutes east of Kathmandu to Bhadrapur. It’s best to sit on the left side of the plane because on a clear day Everest, Makalu and Kanchenjunga are visible. After exiting the Bhadrapur airport, board a chartered vehicle for a 5 hour drive to Ilam. The drive first starts in the plains of Nepal slowly ascending the winding roads through rice terraces and large tea plantations to Ilam. At Ilam, we will stay at a small but quaint Gurung home.
Overnight local lodge (All meals)
We start early as it is another long drive to Taplejung (7 hours). At first, we ascend steadily to Rake from where the Kanchenjunga massif comes into view. We continue ascending to a little over 8,000 feet to Ranipauwa and then to Phidim, the district headquarters of Panchthar district. We then descend to the valley floor to almost 2,000 feet to cross the Khebang khola and then make another ascent to Gopetar at around 7,000 feet only to descend again to Hewa Khola from where we make our final ascent to Taplejung.
Overnight lodge. (All meals)
It used to be a 5 day trek to Amjilosa from Taplejung. Now, a very rough jeep track has been built. We board a jeep for a bumpy four hour ride to Ranipul (just below Lelep). The drive is through relatively low altitude (between 3,000 and 4,000 ft.) Limbu villages of Mitlung, Sinuwa and Chirwa. The forests are lush and all along there are cardamom plantations which are watered by sprinklers as cardamom grows in a damp environment. Cardamom is one of the most profitable cash crop in Nepal. In between Tapethok and Hellok, at Margem, is one of the schools we’ve helped build. We stop at Ranipul to begin our short trek to Sekhathum. Cross a suspension bridge and make a short ascent to the small village of Sekhathum (basically only 4-5 houses).
The next day we cross several suspension bridges making short ascents and descents to arrive at the first Sherpa village of Amjilosa. Enroute, we cross the Rai village of Solima where we’ve helped build another small school.
Overnight Camp. (All meals)
A little past Amjilosa, the landscape starts to change – from lush green low-land to alpine country with shorter pine and rhododendron trees. The inhabitants of this region are Sherpas and Bhotes who continue trade with Tibet which is about a two days hike. The traders take yak and locally grown herbs to sell in Tibet. You reach Ghunsa which is the largest Sherpa village on this trek. A rest and acclimatization day is planned here.
Overnight Camp. (All meals)
The trail today is along the Ghunsa river with pastures and forests of rhododendron trees and juniper. Past the bridge over the Ghunsa river, it is a steep climb past a landslide. This section experiences a landslide every year and the trail is quite sketchy. Descend to Khangbachen. The next day is another acclimatization day with optional hike to Jannu Base Camp.
Overnight Camp. (All meals)
Today you hike to Lhonak. The trail climbs gradually through open rocky fields along the Kanchenjunga moraine. Look out for blue sheep along the trail from Khangbachen to Pangpema. Blue sheep are the primary prey of snow-leopards. Lhonak is a BEYUL (blessed land) and one of the most beautiful places in Nepal. Lhonak is near a dry lake bed on an open, sandy plain.
Overnight Camp. (All meals)
Today you hike to Pangpema (Kanchenjunga Base Camp) along the Kanchenjunga moraine. Kanchenjunga is hidden by other peaks and becomes visible only when you almost reach Pangpema. The hike can take around 4 hours. Return to Lhonak for the night. If all members of the group are doing well, you may camp at Pangpema. The guide will make this decision depending on the weather conditions and the health of the participants and the staff. Overnight Camp. (All meals)
Descend to Khambachen and then to Ghunsa.
Overnight Camp. (All meals)
Ascend steeply to Selela. The hike is around 4 hours and begins with hiking through a thick forest of fir and rhododendrons . The pass from Ghunsa to Tseram involves crossing five passes – Tamo La (3,900m), second pass (4,115m), Mirgin La (4,663m), Sinion La (4,660m) and the final pass (4,724m).
Overnight Camp. (All meals)
Begin the day with a steady climb towards Mirgin La Pass. Makalu (8,481m) is also visible towards the west. In the distance you will also see Baruntse and Chamlang. Follow the ridge for the final descent to Tseram which is in a large flat meadow.
Overnight Camp. (All meals)
Today is a short half day of easy hiking (around 3 – 4 hours). From Tseram, ascend steeply crossing several temporary shepherd huts to a vast pasture with azaleas which are used as incense by the locals. There is a direct but more difficult pass (Lapsang La) which can be crossed from Ghunsa to arrive at this point. Tseram is another pasture with two huts and is near the lateral moraine of the Yalung glacier.
Overnight Camp. (All meals)
Again, Kanchenjunga isn’t visible until you get very close to Base Camp. Explore the South Kanchenjunga Base Camp. Descend to Tseram.
Overnight Camp. (All meals)
Descend steadily along the river to Torontan where there is a single hut. The trail is beautiful through forests of Rhododendrons and Oak.
Overnight Camp. (All meals)
From Torontan, hike steeply along switch-backs to Lamite Bhanjyang. Today is a short day of hiking (3 hours). The jungle around this area is teeming with wildlife. Pheasants, red panda, wild dogs etc. Just before arriving at Lamite, there is a section that involves crossing a huge landslide. The old route has been washed away but an alternative trail has since been built that ascends to the top of the ridge over the landslide. Lamite Bhanyang is a misty pasture along the ridge surrounded by thick forests of douglas fir and oak. Enjoy your final close-up views of Kanchenjunga and Jannu.
Overnight Camp. (All meals)
Overnight local home. (All meals)
Continue descent from Yamphudin to Khebang where we camp for the last night. The next morning we board a chartered bus to Ilam. The road until Gopetar is bumpy on jeep track. Then we rejoin the main highway that we took to Taplejung.
Overnight local home. (All meals)
Overnight Hotel Tibet. (Breakfast and Lunch)
Full day of sightseeing in Kathmandu: visit Swayambhunath, the monkey temple. Then drive to Bhaktapur, the city of Devotees, for lunch and a tour of the royal palace square.
A farewell dinner is planned for the evening.
Overnight Hotel Tibet. (All meals)
Transfer to the airport for flight home. (Breakfast)
Per person price (valid until 31 Dec, 2020)
2 persons: $ 5,400 USD per person
3 – 4 persons: $ 4,860 USD per person
5 or more persons: $ 4,590 USD per person
Single Supplement: $300
We understand that not everyone has 29 days. There are many other shorter circuit treks that can be arranged. During the course of building three schools in this region, our staff are very familiar with this area and we can arrange a trek that will best suit your time. Some shorter options include:
On the other hand, if you have more time, we can organize a longer circuit trek visiting both Kanchenjunga base camps and then crossing the Lumba Sumba pass into the Makalu region.
We are happy to customize a trek for two or more participants. Please do write to us!
The trek was the most adventurous of any I’ve taken in Nepal. The earthquake damage certainly contributed to that but not entirely. These statements are not meant to be negative instead I have a very positive feeling about the trek as a whole. As far as physically demanding this trek is on a par with Dolpo/Shey Gompa. I always have preferred camping treks for the camaraderie of being with the staff and this trek lived up to my expectations especially with the outstanding leadership provided by Manju. One aspect of this trek that pleasantly surprised me was the dramatic difference between the east and west portions of the trek. It amounted to being on two totally different treks which I found very enjoyable and certainly very interesting. I’ll see to it that you get a copy of the video travelogue when I finish it.
I am definitely recommending Crystal Mountain Treks. You do an outstanding job. Here are a few quotes/testimonials from me: Crystal Mountain Treks’ leadership helped me network with other trekkers. I gained valuable insights and practical advice from conversations with people like me. The experience of the Crystal Mountain Treks staff and our senior guide’s leadership were evident every hour of the 3 weeks. Safety from injury or illness was priority. There was respect and support for all individuals. I’ll remember the hard work, teamwork, and laughter. Unfortunately, we saw examples on the trail and heard stories from other trekkers that were not as positive. They increased our appreciation for Crystal Mountain Treks’ ability to provide quality adventure beyond the ordinary. Thanks again and Namaste
