Trip Highlights:
- Explore the glorious Kanchenjunga Conservation Area and its bio-diversity
- Enjoy the off-beat trail within the natural reserve
- Relish the views of the mountains in the Kanchenjunga, Kambachen, and Makalu ranges
- Experience the Kirant culture and traditions on the trek
Overview
To most, Mt. Kanchenjunga (8,586 m) is just the third highest mountain in the world, but to the people of Eastern Nepal, it is the abode of gods who stow peace and prosperity upon their lands. Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek is a long trip around Mt. Kanchenjunga and offers unspoiled wilderness with fascinating natural and cultural diversity. The trek is one of those rare ones that can awe you with new experiences in every turn of the trail. From the beauty of Kumbakarna Glacier to the biodiversity of the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area, there is plenty to rejoice on this trek.
Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek starts with your arrival in Kathmandu. After a short stay in the valley, the trip begins. From Kathmandu, you fly to Bhadrapur and travel on the road till Mitlung from where the trek begins. Passing Gyabla and Amjilosa, the trek follows the Ghunsa River to Ghunsa. Next, you continue along the Kambachen Glacier and reach Pangpema, the northern base camp of Mt. Kanchenjunga. For the second part of the trek, you retrace your steps to Ghunsa and cross the Selele La Pass. Crossing another pass by the name of Mirgin La Pass, you trek to the southern base camp of Mt. Kanchenjunga. Later, the trail heads west via Tseram and Yamphudin to reach Taplejung.
The trail takes you through the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area, which is home to diverse species of birds and wildlife like musk deer, red panda, snow leopard, Himalayan blackbuck, and many others. The trek package not just provides an opportunity to view the mighty snow-capped mountains like the Everest (8,848m), Mt. Kanchenjunga (8,586 m), Mt. Makalu (8,463m), Mt. Januu (7,710 m) and many other peaks but also allows to observe the Limbu way of life. This trek is categorized as a challenging trek because of its lengthy walking hours and high altitude. The best times to do this trek are from April-May & September-November.
At Brown Bear Trails, you’ll travel with like-minded groups and finish the trek at an exact time. We’ll provide you the right guidance and skilled guides for the trek. Trek without any stress of planning, accommodations, permits, flights, or logistics and enjoy your best time.
The trip begins with your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA). Our company representative will receive you at the airport and take you to your hotel. You can stroll around the Hotel areas for the rest of the day. Overnight stay at a hotel in Kathmandu.
You meet your tour guide and provide all the necessary documents needed to process your permits for the trek. After that, you will head to explore the Kathmandu valley. The city is home to seven world heritage sites, and several of them will be included on tour today. You will visit Pashupatinath Temple, Swayambhunath Stupa, Boudhanath Stupa, and Kathmandu Durbar Square. These sites are the symbols of the culture and religious beliefs of the people in the city. Overnight stay at a hotel in Kathmandu.
Today, you fly to Bhadrapur, which is about 700 km away from Kathmandu. From Bhadrapur, you drive into the mountains while enjoying the views of green hills and fertile lands and reach Ilam. Ilam is famous for tea production, and you can stroll in the tea-gardens before the trek. Overnight stay at Ilam.
In the morning, you leave Ilam and drive to Taplejung. During this drive, you can see the views of lush tea and cardamom gardens along with the glimpses of Mt. Kanchenjunga (8,586 m). After a short break in Taplejung, you start the trek with a steep descent to Tamor River and make your way to Gadidanda. Overnight stay at Gadidanda.
The trail to Chirwa consists of some ascents as well as descents. You continue descending until Tawa and then ascend to the suspension bridge in Thiwa. The trek follows the Tamor River for the most part. Admiring the views of the Kanchenjunga Mountain range, you continue the trek and arrive at the Limbu village of Chirwa. Overnight stay at Chirwa.
You trek uphill for some time and then descend to the lush green vegetation below. Continue the trek along Tamor River until you arrive at Olangchungola, which is the entry point of the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area. Finally, you cross Simbuwa Khola and Ghunsa Khola to reach the Tibetan village of Sekathum. Overnight stay at Sekathum.
This is going to be a tough day of trekking as the trail is steep and quite tricky. First, you cross a river and climb a steep trail, then descend and cross the river again. The trail also skirts around the Lungchung village before you continue across the off-beat tracks. The trail passes along a gorge and then follows an uphill and downhill path before ending at Amjilosa. Overnight stay at Amjilosa.
You begin today's trek through the river bank and pass through dense rhododendron and bamboo forests. Pass through a waterfall that lies ahead and follow the uphill trail until you reach Gyabla. On the trek today, you will not find any villages on the way, and the trail is isolated from any human presence beside some occasional porters. Overnight stay at Gyabla.
The trail continues to Kyapra and then does an easy climb up the right bank of the river. Cross a broad meadow past a village and do a gentle climb before descending to Ghunsa. Ghunsa is a beautiful Tibetan village with wooden houses, colorful prayer flags, and a couple of monasteries. Overnight stay at Ghunsa.
As you have gained high altitude in a short period, you do not trek further and take some rest. Meanwhile, you can explore the beautiful village of Ghunsa and interact with the villagers. We will organize morning walks and short hikes, which will help you in acclimatization. The pasture lands to the east, and the viewpoints to the west are some of the ideal destinations for the exploration on this day. Overnight stay at Ghunsa.
Following the riverbank, you head north and then walk past the high land vegetation and forest. Cross several bridges and waterfalls that lie ahead and continue on the trek. You also pass through pasture lands to finally reach Kambachen. From Kambachen, you can see a great view of the north face of Mt. Januu (7,710m). Overnight stay at Kambachen.
The trail climbs through the rocky fields of Ramtang and then crosses moraines north-west of the Kanchenjunga glacier to Lhonak. From your campsite in Lhonak, you can see the views of Twins (7,351m), Nepal Peak (6,910m), Wedge Peak (6,750m), and other mountains in the Kanchenjunga massif. The trek will be strenuous. However, the views along the way add zeal to continue the trek ahead. Overnight stay at Lhonak.
The first section of the trail makes a gradual uphill climb and heads to a boulder. Continue the walk between grassy slopes and glacier path towards Pangpema, which is the northern Kanchenjunga Base Camp. From here, the sights of the Kanchenjunga, Nepal Himal, and Kambachen ranges are quite sublime. You might see some blue sheep and mountain antelopes on the way. After exploring the northern base camp, you head back to Lhonak. Overnight stay at Lhonak.
Today you leave Lhonak and retrace your steps back to Ghunsa. On the route back to Ghunsa, you will be accompanied by the spectacular views of Kanchenjunga, Sikhar, and Kirat Chuli mountain ranges. From Lhonak, following the Kanchenjunga Glacier, you reach Ramtang and further ahead lies Ghunsa. The entire trail descends for most parts of the journey. Overnight stay at Ghunsa.
From Ghunsa, you follow the steep path and climb uphill through the dense rhododendron, moss and juniper forest to reach Selele La Pass. The trail to the pass heads south across the eastern parts of the Ghunsa River towards the pass. The top of the pass offers one of the most awe-inspiring views on the whole trip. Next, you descend from the pass and set up a campsite for the night. Overnight stay at Selele La pass.
You start today’s trek with an uphill climb and cross Sinion La Pass, Mirgin La Pass, and Sinelapche La Pass. From the top of the passes, you can see mesmerizing views of Mt Kanchenjunga (8,586 m), Mt. Makalu (8,463m), and other mountain peaks. Then, you descend and follow the trail to Tseram. Overnight stay at Tseram.
The trail takes you to Ramche for lunch, where you pass the snout of Yalung glacier into an ablation valley. The peaks to your east like Kokthang (6,147m) and Rathong (6,679m) straddle Nepal–India border. On the route to Ramche, you might see the blue sheep as it is often seen on the grassy slopes. After having lunch at Ramche, you will head to Oktang. Enjoy the magnificent view of the south-west face of Kanchenjunga. You will then return to Ramche. Overnight stay at Ramche.
Today, you slowly descend towards Tortong. The trail is easy today. You walk along the Simbuwa River for a while. Then, you enter a rhododendron forest. We also pass by settlements like Anda Phedi. It will take around six hours to reach Tortong. Overnight stay at Tortong.
The trail descends to Yamphudin, a beautiful Sherpa village. You will walk through some landslide-prone areas today. So, you need to be careful. The trail includes steep climbing for about 3 hours. Then, you descend for about 4 hours to reach Yamphudin. Besides Sherpa people, you will also find settlements of Rai and Limbu people in this village. Overnight stay at Yamphudin.
Today, you descend to Khebang. The trail from Yamphudin to Khebang is a new route, so you will not find meet many trekkers today. You will trek past small settlements and villages of Brahmins and Chhetri. You will pass Ekchana Bhanjyang and Ghatichhinne Bhanjyang. After walking for about 7 hours, you will reach Khebang. Overnight stay at Khebang.
Today is the last day of the trek. We walk past terraced farmlands, lush green forests, and a few settlements. As today will be the last day of the trek, enjoy it as much as you can. Taking brief rests at different stops, we reach Khangdime after about 6 hours of trekking. Overnight stay at Khangdime.
Today, we will head to Birtamod early in the morning via bus. We head to the bus park after breakfast. Enjoy the scenic views of small settlements, lush green hills, and the mountains, you head towards Birtamod. Upon reaching the bustling town, you can head to the hotel to relax. You can head to explore the local market in the evening. Overnight stay at Birtamod.
From Birtamod, you will drive to Bhadrapur. Bhadrapur lies on the flatlands of Terai and such a short distance from those gargantuan peaks, which displays the geographical diversity of the country. You will drive to the airport and catch your flight back to Kathmandu. The flight to Kathmandu is filled with scenic views of the Himalayas and fascinating landscapes. Our company van will receive you at the airport and take you to the hotel. Overnight stay at a hotel in Kathmandu.
Today is your free day in Kathmandu. You can do some sightseeing, some souvenir shopping or just relax in your hotel room. You can tour some of the places that you might have missed earlier. In the evening, you join other group members for a farewell dinner organized by the company. Overnight stay at a hotel in Kathmandu.
The 25-day trip comes to an end. A company representative will escort you to the airport for the scheduled flight to your next destination.
Cost Includes
- All arrival and departure from the airport to hotel and back on private cars, coach or buses as per the group size.
- Accommodation in tourist standard or 2-3 star class hotels on bed and breakfast basis as well in twin sharing basis rooms. (For single supplement at extra cost)
- Tour and sightseeing around Kathmandu as per the itinerary chosen with city guides includes all entrance fees at places of interest.
- Domestic air flights as per the itinerary chosen, some with overland drive to reach at the start of treks and on the end, where chartered bus-cars or coach included as per group size.
- Full board on trekking with breakfast-lunch-afternoon refreshment with dinner includes twin sharing rooms in lodge on route treks and long tours.
- Applicable Trekking Information Management Systems permits (TIMS) with Conservation or National Park permits.
- All tour and treks accompanied by guides-staff and porters (either human or pack animals like yaks or mules), all wages, meals, accommodation, transportation facilities with Insurance against medical and accidents.
- In some high altitude treks we provide sleeping bags and down jackets also with comprehensive medical kits carried by our guides and staff.Sleeping bags, and down jackets might include depending upon trip cost.
- First Aid and Comprehensive Medical Kit carried by our guides on all treks and climb.
- Special Permits on Restricted Areas Treks.
Cost Excludes
- International air-fare, Personal medical / travel insurance and Nepal visa fees.
- Expenses of individual nature drinks, laundry, telephone bills, gratitude and meals in city areas Kathmandu and Pokhara as per the itinerary chosen.
- On treks, laundry, recharge of electronic items and hot-showers.
- Personal Trekking-Climbing gear and equipment’s including down jackets-sleeping bags . if not provided by the company as per the trip cost.
- Single Supplement on hotel rooms as well on trek in lodge where clients should inform ahead on booking with extra charge on booking single private rooms where available.
- Emergency evacuation by any means of transportations including immediate Helicopter services if required on accidents, sickness and personal problems.
- Early return from the tour or treks will not be entertainment with refund, where client should borne all the expenses incurred including accompany guide-porters services.
- Gratitude / Tipping at the end of treks and climbs.
FAQ’S (Frequently Asked Questions):
One of the longest duration treks of more than 3 weeks, involves flight both ways
with an exciting drive to the start of trekking. As well as at the end trek at Suketar or
Japanther villages. The trek is the least ventured by a few groups of trekkers at the best time
of the season. An enjoyable walk through nice farm villages and within dense
forest reaching a higher altitude of arctic zone filled with ice and glaciers.
The only trek that takes you to both South and North base camp of the same
mountains.
The best time for Kanchenjunga Trek are spring from March to May, and autumn /
fall begins from September to early November. These are the best times for
pleasant walks and views but could get snowfall sometimes. Much colder
morning and evening, nighttime, but with clear sunny most of the days.
Walking ups and down with few flat sections, walk into lovely woods of
rhododendron and pines. The trek leads to several nice villages adorned with
ancient culture and the heritage of Buddhism. Encountering friendly and cheerful
villagers, cold morning and night time but with sunny clear days for excellent
views of snow-capped peaks. Most village trail is well defined, but in the
settlement and villages, the path is narrow, walking on cattle herder trails.
Some sections on the trek can be rough with rocky ground, but enjoyable
overlooking grand views of snow peaks.
The trek starts from low as 1,400 m and high above 5,250 m at Kanchenjunga
North Face is the highest point at Pang Pema.
Accommodation in local lodges is simple but nice, clean and cozy but smaller
rooms. But more or less using tented camping, Brown Bear Trails will carry all
camping equipment and foods with an expert chef, and kitchen staff.
The foods are nice on everyday treks, the camping cook will serve from
Continental, Chinese, Indian, and Tibetan to Nepal meals. Sometimes our cook will
provide fresh bakery items also. The main preferred meal is Nepali Dal Bhat
(boiled rice and lentil soup with seasonal vegetables and homemade hot sauce or
mild pickle. The meals are set for all members from breakfast, lunch, and dinner
well cooked in kerosene or LPG cooking gas. As we are committed to Eco-Trekking
and Responsible Tourism, saving the green environment, and not using firewood
for cooking.
Every village has hydroelectricity power, some smaller settlements have solar
power. But for some days on leaving the villages, there will be no electricity or
facilities for hot showers.
Only in main villages like Sukhetar or Sherpa Gaon and Gunsa might have internet
services, but quite disturbing around deep valleys and gorges. But on the way back
to Sukhetar, most villages do have internet and Wi-Fi services.
As Kanchenjunga is a remote area trekking adventure around far eastern Nepal.
Minimum of 2-3 people for this trek. Requires to book with “Brown Bear Trails”
at least one month or earlier is the best. Sending your passport details, and advance
payment with a photocopy of Travel / Medical Insurance. The rest of the trip balance
to be paid on arrival in Kathmandu before trek departures.
