Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek

Your guide will meet you at your hotel in the morning to begin your city tour of Kathmandu. You will visit the Boudhanath temple, the largest Buddhist stupa in Nepal, Pashupatinath, a Hindu pilgrimage site, and possibly view cremation ceremonies along the banks of the Bagmati River. Continue on to Patan Durbar Square to take in ancient Nepalese architecture and end your tour with a lunch. After that you will view ancient Nepalese art in the Patan museum. Overnight in Kathmandu

Taplejung is the focal point for this trek. Upon Arrival at Taplejung, we start the trek with little ascent. We arrive in Lalikharka around 3 pm. We stay in a camp in a meadow beyond the village.

The trail passes through rocky fields and climbs over a ridge and then it crosses Thiwa Khola on a bamboo bridge making some ups and downs. Finally reach Chirwa which is a pleasant village with a few bhattis and shops. Overnight at tented camp

Today we continue along the Tamur River across big boulders, passing below Tapethok village (1320m). Beyond Tapethok there a suspension bridge which we cross and traverse to the Sherpa settlements of Lepsung & Lelep. The route up the Tamur Kosi to Walunchung Gola is listed as restricted areas. There, you will enter the Kancherjunga Conservation Area. The trail makes ups and downs, traverses a land slide, then crosses the Tamur Khola or a suspension bridge below the Limbu Village of Helok. A short climb over over another ridge brings you into the steep and narrow Ghunsa Valley. We cross the Ghunsa Khola on a bamboo bridge and camp by the banks of the river near the Tibetan village of Sakathum.Overnight at tented camp

Today we hike along a steep, narrow trail up the north bank of the Ghunsa Khola. We climb steeply for 100m, then drop back to the river and follow its bed for about 1 km. Then, we climb gently, following an exhilarating exposed and difficult trail along steep and exposed grass slopes to a crest at 2530m,then we descend again to the Tibetan village of Amjilosa. Overnight at tented camp

We ascend for 100m then level off and round a bend of the river into lust bamboo, oak and rhododendron forests, with views of the south western part of the Kanchanjunga massif. The trail makes many short climbs and descents and passes several waterfalls and pastures. After a large water fall in the Ghunsa Khola we make a steep climb to Kyapra (also called Gyabla) by the local Tibetan inhabitants. Overnight at tented camp

We descend steeply into a side ravine then follow along the river through a fir and rhododendron forest. It takes all morning to trek past Killa and onto the Yak pastures and potato fields of Phale (3210m). The valley widens as we trek through fields and larch forests to a bridge across the Ghunsa village from the south side of the river at 3410m. The high route to the south Kanchanjunga base camp via Lapsang La begins here. Here, we can get assistance in case of emergency from a small Kanchanjunga Conservation Area office. Overnight at tented camp

The trek is now getting into high country, since you have been on the trip for almost a week. So, you need to acclimatize to high altitude. You can make an excursion to Tashi Choding gompa or a small lake at the foot of the Yamatri Glacier. Overnight at tented camp

The trail makes a gradual ascent through a forest of larch and juniper along the south bank of the Ghunsa River, then crosses a boulder strewn flood plain and crosses back to Rambuk Kharka on the north side of the river. Then the trail passes a water fall making a short, steep ascent to a very unstable scree slope. The trail drops to the single locked hut at Lyakep, and traverses to Kham bachen a Tibetan settlement of about a dozen houses next to the Nupchu Khola. Overnight at tented camp

We stop and acclimatize in Khambchen. You can enjoy viewing the high peaks near Kanchenjunga and Jannu. We will climb a ridge above the village for more views or take a day excursion to the Junnu base Camp. You will sometimes see blue sheep grazing in the valley or high on the hill side between here and Pang Pema.

The trail climbs gradually through open rocky fields to Ramtang (4350m) then across moraines northwest of the Kanchanjunga glacier. Lhonok is situated near a dry lake bed to an open sandy plain, water is scarce here. You will find a few stone huts and the camp will be set up between the large boulders to get out of the wind. You can see magnificent mountain views around in all directions in a clear weather. Overnight at tented camp

Today we trek up a ridge, north of Pang Pema. A climb of 200 or 300 meters provides a great vantage point with views of Kanchenjunga, Wedge Peak, the Twins and Tent Peak. As usual the descent goes faster and you can reach Kanchanjunga Base Camp. Overnight at tented camp

We make more descents through magnificent sections of forest. From Ghunsa we pass through Phole, a village in two parts. The upper section houses Tibetan refugees who are well established, the second is the winter village of Ghunsa. Further down is Yangswa, a great and warm camp. Overnight at tented camp

Initially we pass through beautiful forest opening out to steep, grassy hillsides where Amjilosa is perched. Overnight at tented camp

After a short climb we begin the steep descent that will take most of the day. We reach the joining of the Tamur and Ghunsa Kholas. Overnight at tented camp

We cross the Simbu Khola, which originates from Kanchenjunga’s south base camp, the Khola that we followed up from Torontan. It is pleasantly warm at these low altitudes and cardamom grows freely in the moist shaded forest. Crossing numerous small tributary streams we reach Chhirwa, a village set among large boulders. We camp in a field out of the village. This is an easier day. Overnight at tented camp

Traversing in an out of minor valleys, we pass thru a succession of picturesque villages on our way to Suketar, reaching around late afternoon. Overnight at tented camp

Enjoy your last glimpse of the mountains you have recently visited & then we catch the 35 minute Scenic flight back to Kathmandu. Overnight at hotel