KANCHENJUNGA BASE CAMP TREK
The Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek visits both the North and South Kanchenjunga Base Camps. While trekking to Kanchenjunga, experience one of Nepal’s most beautiful region and get up-close with the third highest mountain in the world. A shorter program would be to only visit the North Kanchenjunga Base Camp at Pangpema.
Kangchenjunga is a sacred mountain and the word Kanchenjunga literally translates to “Five Great Treasures in the Snow.” There are five peaks within the Kangchenjunga range. And each peak is believed to be a repository of different treasures: gold, silver, gems, grains and sacred texts. Consequently, in due reverence, the first summiteers stopped a few meters short of the summit in 1955. However, today’s climbers no longer follow this practice. On the Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek, we will be trekking through a Beyul. The purpose of beyuls is to provide sanctuaries for people seeking refuge from social and religious persecution.
THE TREK
Our journey begins with an hour-long flight to eastern Nepal. Board a jeep/bus for a 9 hour drive (over two days) to Yamphudin where the trek begins. Ascend steadily through the Kabeli river valley to the South Base Camp. Cross over Sinion La pass to the Ghunsa river valley and trek to the North Base Camp. We finish the trek crossing the Nango La pass to Olangchungola. Drive back to Bhadrapur via Taplejung for flight back to Kathmandu.
ACCOMMODATION AND MEALS
The Kanchenjunga Base Camp trek is a hybrid trek where we use both lodges and tents. So it is both a CAMPING trek and a Lodge Trek. This means you will sleep in tents and at local lodges but will eat meals prepared by our kitchen crew. We use Mountain Hardwear (Trango) and North Face (VE 25) 4-season tents which are quite spacious and effective against the elements. We also provide sleeping pads. Meals prepared by our trek are also quite varied with many options including rice with locally available vegetables, spaghetti, dumplings, noodles, local breads etc.
BEST SEASON
The best seasons for the trekking in the Kanchenjunga region are Spring (March-May) and Autumn (October-November). It is also possible to do this trek in December. While it will obviously be very cold (upto -20 C/, -4 F), it will be less crowded and there aren’t as many trekkers in the area.
TREK RATING
The Kanchenjunga Base Camp trek is rated “CHALLENGING”. It is rated 5 on a rating scale from 1 (easy) to 5 (challenging). The highest overnight altitude reached is at Lhonak (4,790 m/15,700ft) and the highest elevation reached is at Pangpema (5,140m/16,900ft). There are two acclimatization days to allow for proper acclimatization. Trekking to Kanchenjunga Base Camp involves average daily hiking of around 6 hours with a few longer days of around 7-8 hours. Also, this is a relatively long trek in a remote area. Regardless of the rating, it is important to prepare for any trek in Nepal. Read our advice on training for treks.
WHY TREK WITH US?
The Kanchenjunga Trek is a private trek for a minimum of two participants. We do NOT nickel-and-dime on services – inclusions and exclusions are clearly listed in cost details. Some companies will advertise trips for very low prices but they have a lot of exclusions that is usually not clear. With over 30 years of experience, most of our trekkers are either repeat clients or referrals. We employ the most professional and friendly staff. We are also proud to give back to our community through our giving arm – 3 Summits For Nepal – managed by Crystal Mountain Treks staff. In the Kanchenjunga region, we have built four schools and two girls hostels. On this Kanchenjunga Base Camp trek, we will have the opportunity to visit one of the school in Yamphudin. Contact us to learn more…