Kanchenjunga Camping Trek

At 8 586 meter, Kangchenjunga is the third highest peak of the world. Surrounded by lush forests, dramatic mountain vistas and villages that abound in folklore it’s a paradise for trekking of the beaten trek. Kangchenjunga straddles the Nepal/Sikkim border. Its name is Sikkimese and refers to the five principal summits of the massif, roughly translated to “The five treasures of the great snow.”

The foot of Kangchenjunga is the least-visited among 16 protected areas in Nepal. Its location on the far north-eastern corner of the country makes it the area with the highest annual rainfall in the country and hence its richest biodiversity. The pristine coniferous forests, high meadows and wetlands are the most biologically rich areas of Nepal inhabited by many amphibians, birds, plants and animals found nowhere else. Many of the mammals found here are endangered like the snow leopard, the red panda and the musk deer. The Kangchenjunga Conservation Area has at least 69 varieties of orchid, 30 types of rhododendron and 15 out of 28 endemic plants of Nepal. Besides rainfall, it is the dramatic altitude variation from deep subtropical gorges to glacial valleys that makes this nature reserve such an attractive destination for trekkers.

Seen from afar the Kanchenjunga resembles a massive jumble of rock escarpments and fluted ice ridges with the mountain itself sticking up like a bear’s tooth. Not many people live here. Barely you will distinguish the scattering of little stone houses that comprise the lonely Sherpa, Rai and Limbu hamlets. The mountain is worshipped as a sacred place by both Buddhist and Hindus, the inhabitants of this unique region are extremely diverse and will be curious and eager to meet you. The objective of our trek is to attain Northern base camp at Pangpema. Standing in the shadow of Kanchenjunga becomes the realization of one’s long repressed secret ambition.

The trek to the Kanchenjunga Base camp takes about 19-days. The trek is non-technical and suitable for anyone in good shape who likes to hike on mountain trails and enjoys camping out for extended periods. This is not a backpack trip and porters will be used to carry your gear and camp staff will prepare all meals. The trek starts with a sweeping scenic flight from Kathmandu to Biratnagar covering the mountain ranges of Langtang, Everest and Kanchenjunga and the south Gangetic plain in Eastern Nepal. From Biratnagar we board a short flight to Suketar situated at the foot hills of Mount Kanchenjunga. From here we start trekking through villages untouched by the modern world enclosed by pristine rhododendron, oak and pine forests. Our route leads to the North Base Camp and the south side of Kanchenjunga offering you the best panoramas. The hiking can get quite strenuous sometimes while crossing the passes, but for every hard effort you make you will be rewarded with brilliant scenery as we will head higher towards the windswept rugged terrains with awesome views of the towering peaks of the Kanchenjunga massif under a clear wide blue sky.

Your journey in Nepal starts in Kathmandu, the bustling capital which is situated at 1 340 m. This vibrant place with friendly hospitable inhabitants has been called a big museum with colorful bazaars and more shrines and temples per square mile than anywhere else in the world. It’s a wonderful place to hang out and it’s highly recommended to plan some extra days here in case of delays in flight or trekking.

Day 01 – Arrival in Kathmandu
Day 02 – Sightseeing in Kathmandu
Day 03 – Trek preparation day
Day 04 – Fly to Biratnagar & Fly to Suketar (2 420 m) – Trek to Phurumbu (1 800 m)
Day 05 – Trek Chiruwa (1 150 m)
Day 06 – Trek Sekhathum (1 270 m)
Day 07 – Trek Amjilossa (2 498 m)
Day 08 – Trek Gyabla (2 730 m)
Day 09 – Trek Ghunsa (3 595 m)
Day 10 – Rest day Ghunsa (3 595 m)
Day 11 – Trek Khangpachen (4 050 m)
Day 12 – Trek Lhonak (4 780 m)
Day 13 – Trek Pang Pema & Kanchenjunga Base Camp (5 141 m)
Day 14 – Trek Khambachen (4 050 m)
Day 15 – Trek Ghunsa (3 430 m)
Day 16 – Trek Pangbo Kharka (4 310 m)
Day 17 – Trek Phedi (3 390 m)
Day 18 – Trek Amji Khola (2 340 m)
Day 19 – Trek Yamphudin (1 670 m)
Day 20 – Trek Keshwa (1 960 m)
Day 21 – Trek Lali Kharka (2 266 m)
Day 22 – Trek Suketar (2 420 m)
Day 23 – Fly back to Biratnagar & fly back to Kathmandu
Day 24 – Extra day in Suketar incase flight delay
Day 25 – Extra day in Biratnagar incase flight delay
Day 26 – Extra day in Kathmandu
Day 27 – Extra day in Kathmandu
Day 28 – Fly back home

The trip starts in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, at an elevation of 1 340 m. A melting pot of Hindu and Buddhist cultures, Kathmandu is a treasure house of temples, shrines and medieval pagodas.

We will stay in a hotel in Kathmandu including private bath with hot water shower. We will have time to explore the three major cities within the valley: Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur.You may visit Durbar Square and the Temple of the Living Goddess in Kathmandu, the five-storied Nyatapola Temple and exquisite wood carvings like the Peacock Window in medieval Bhaktapur; the Monkey Temple (Swayambhunath) on a hill over looking Kathmandu; Boudhanath containing one of the largest Buddhist Stupas in the world; Pashupatinath Temple on the river Bagmati complete with burning ghats for Hindu cremations; the Tibetan refugee camp with its rug factory; and the remarkable temples of Patan.

After two days sightseeing and preparations for the trek, we will fly to Birantnagar in the Terai where we catch the next flight to Suketa. Here our porters and guides will come to help us with duffel bags, food, kitchen equipment and tents, and our trek will begin.

For the first time two days we descend to Phurumbu (1 800 m) – Chiruwa (1 250 m) and we will pass confluence of the Maiwa Khola and the Tamur Khola which is the major rivers draining the snows of the high country to the north.

For the next three days we pass through many villages as we ascend the Tamur Khola to Hellock. Shortly after Hellock we reach the Gunsa Khola which we ascend for the next week. The next day or two is spent in the wild, steep lower Gunsa Khola Valley, usually high up on its side, on a surprisingly narrow and exposed trail. There are few inhabitants. Numerous delightful waterfalls are to be seen. The exposed and potentially dangerous parts of the trail are over when we reach Amjilessa (2 498 m).

Vegetation changes to bamboo, oak forest and higher up some rhododendrons. Impressive waterfalls are frequent. Two days from Amjilassa we come to Gunsa (3 430 m) a typical Bhotia settlement of sturdy wooden houses surrounded by potato fields and magnificent larch, juniper and rhododendron forests. These Tibetan type people have been little affected by tourism. They own large yak herds which we will find pastured all the way to Pangpema. Depending on how the group is acclimatizing we will take two to three days to reach Lhonak (4 780 m). Along the way we will see views of the northwest face of Jannu (7 711 m). From Lhonak we will hike about 3 to 4 hours to the shelf of Pangpema (5 100 m ) our highest camp. From here Kangchenjunga’s north face is immense. Several rest days have been scheduled to aid in acclimatization.

We return to Gunsa and cross passes named Sinelapche La, Tama La and Mirgin La until we descend to Whata on the Simbua Khola which drains the Yalung Glacier on the south side of Kangchenjunga. The maximum altitude reached in crossing these three passes is 4 663 m. A bonus on this route is a view of Jannu from the southwest as well as panoramic views of the south face o Kangchenjunga as we descend to Whata.

Our return to civilization first involves descending the Simbua Khola to about 2 970 m then climbing out of the main valley to the ridge-top pasture of Lassi (3 415 m) where we get a panoramic view of Jannu and the south side of Kangchenjunga. We then descend to Yamphudin (1 670 m), the first permanent settlement since we left Gunsa. The trail now travels through farmland as we first descend to the Kabeli Khola valley. From here it is about two to three days trekking to the airfield at Suketar where we fly back to Kathmandu (via a change of planes at Biratnagar in the Terai).

• Twin sharing accommodation in 3 *** (Superior Deluxe room at Potala Guest House Chhetrapati), hotel in Kathmandu.
• Welcome dinner at Nepali Chulo (Authentic Newari food and cultural dance party)
• Private car transportation during sightseeing in Kathmandu with experience cultural english speaking guide, all world heritate sites entry fees and all airport transfers.
• Return flight ticket Kathmandu – Biratnagar & Biratnagar – Suketar
• All the camping accommodation and foods.
• Necessary staffs, their salaries and travelling insurance
• Especial trekking permit for Kanchenjunga. TIMS Card (Trekking Information Management System), domestic airport tax, all ground transportations and governmental taxes.

• World Heritage entry fees in Kathmandu while sightseeing, Personal expenses like laundry, Communication, Personal shopping
• Meals in Kathmandu except welcome dinner
• Tips for guides and porters or staffs
• International Flights
• Travel Insurance (required)