Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek

Trip Overview

Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek lays in the remote and unspoiled far eastern region of Nepal, which is the homeland of Mt Kanchenjunga 8,596m above the sea-level, the third highest peak of the world; which provides an incredible variety of scenery and cultural diversity. Starting from the low valleys of eastern Nepal, the route passes trough cultivated farmland and villages and leads along rivers drained by Tamur River that meets Arun below Mulghat and through picturesque landscape. Higher up, Tibetan villages with wooden houses, prayer flags and mani stone are encountered. On the way, there are stunning views of Jannu. Then Pangpema, the base camp of Kanchenjunga, is reached, surrounded by an incredible array of high peaks. The formidable north face of Kanchenjunga is revealed, and walks up the glacier offer fascinating close-up views. This is one of the most beautiful treks in the Himalaya. Mt. Kanchenjunga 8,596m; the massive peak dominates the southern range of the Himalayas. Kanchenjunga Trek Nepal has only been open to trekking since 1988, which explains its richness of traditional culture. Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek is one of the longer treks we offer and has many possibilities for extra days to explore different areas that are surrounded by many great mountains of eastern Nepal. The Kanchangunga area has a profusion of high summits of which three are above 8,000 meters and 11 above 7,000 meters. Numerous glaciers feed the river. The glaciers north of the main peak are clockwise Nupchu, Lhonak, Chichima, Gimsung, Pyramid, Kanchenjunga and Ramtang. West and South of the main peak are Kumbhakarna (Jannu), Yamatari and Yalung glaciers. Kangbachenga (4038) in Ghunsa valley and Walungchung (3,200m) in Tamur valley are the highest settlements in the area. The latter was an important trading centre between the towns of Darjeeling and Tipta La in Tibet. The only access to the Kanchenjunga area is a road link to Basantapur and a direct air link to the town of Taplejung bazar.

Trip Itinerary

Day 01: Arrival at Kathmandu (1300m).

At the airport; you will be meet by representative of our company and transferred to the Hotel, where you will meet us. A pre-trek briefing will be held at approx. 6:00pm to 7:00pm in the evening and is a great opportunity to get acquainted with your fellow group members before heading out to dinner. Welcome dinner at the authentic and typical Nepalese cusine with culutural dance.

Day 02: Full day Guidede Tour in Kathmandu Valley with City Tour Guide

Today you explore Kathmandu valley with a local city Guide:

SWOYAMBHUNATH, also known as the monkey temple, is climbed by a long set of steps and has great views of Kathmandu.
BOUDHANATH STUPA has many traditional Gompas hung with strings of multi-coloured prayer flags; it attracts many Sherpas and Tibetans for the circumambulations of the stupa (koras).
PASHUPATINATH is a Hindu temple with burning Ghats on the banks of the Bagmati River.
KATHMANDU DURBAR SQUARE, which is one of the old capitals of the Kathmandu valley, has a blend of Hindu and Buddhist temples

Day 03: Kathmandu to Illam (1,200m)

Today we fly Kathmandu to Bhadrapur, Jhapa of Eastern most Nepal, about 700 kilometers from Kathmandu. The flight from Kathmandu to Bhadrapur takes for about 45 minutes. From Bhadrapur Airport, it's about 75 kilometers to Illam, a 3 hour's drive into the mountains. For the Westerners living in the megacities, the landscape of the Nepal Terai might looks like coming straight out of The Jungle Book. Within a journey of 75km, we drive from flatland of Bhadrapur to the hills of Illam. Illam is also known as the Queen of Hills for it is fully covered by hills with temperate climate, low green hills and fertile lands

Day 04: Illam to Mitlung (890m)

Drive to Taplejung will give a view of the lush tea and cardamom plantations. The hills and passes play peekaboo with the Mount Kanchenjunga and Mount Jannu. After a brief recess, the trek starts with a sharp descent to the Tamor River, finally reaching the Mitlung village. This is where you can start putting your trekking poles to use and the roads further will be slippery and tricky.

Day 05: Mitlung to Chirwa (1,185m)

Today is quite challenging as we follow rough paths high above the river. The trail passes the settlements of Sinwa, Tawa and Porke and as the valley narrows passes over old landslide debris and boulder-strewn river deposits. There is a descent to a wooden bridge crossing the Thiwa Khola, then some more ups and downs before arriving at Chirwa. The village of Chirwa has a bazaar, a few bhattis and a couple of shops- it is set among huge boulders and most of the houses are made from bamboo.

Day 06: Chirwa to Sekathum (1,650m)

The trail follows the Tamur River and climbs a spur before descending to the Simbua Khola, this river comes from the Yalung Glacier on the south of Kanchenjunga. After another ridge we join the steep and narrow Ghunsa Khola Valley and on to Sekathum. This is a Tibetan village and it is from here you get the first views of the high Himalaya, Jannu Himal is visible on a clear day up the Ghunsa valley.

Day 07: Sekathum to Amjilasa (2,498m)

Today is going to be a rather tough day. Cross the river and ascend the steep trail. Then descend again and cross the river again. Another climb from the gorge bottom crossing by Solima descends again to the river level. The trail passes along the gorge, hence be careful while walking. Then following the uphill and downhill tricky trial, we conclude our today's hectic journey at Amjilosa.

Day 08: Amjilasa to Gyabla (2,725m)

From Gybala there is a short ascent through lush bamboo, oak and Rhododendron forests and at one point in the trail the south western flank of Kanchenjunga becomes visible. The trail makes several short climbs and descents before passing a large waterfall and a final steep climb to Gyabla.

Day 09: Gyabla to Ghunsa (3,415m)

From Gyabla, the trail continues to Kyapra and then makes an easy climb up the right bank of the river. The trail crosses a broad meadow past a village and climbs a gentle hill before descending to cross the river into the village of Ghunsa. Ghunsa is a picturesque Tibetan village with wooden houses with colorful prayer flags. There are several lodges and shops in the village and a small Kanchenjunga Conservation Area office along with a couple of gompas.

Day 10: Acclimatization day

Today we will organize a morning walk or you can spend the time relaxing and exploring the village. Having two nights at Ghunsa is required for acclimatization.

Day 11: Ghunsa to Khambachen (4,145m)

From Ghunsa the trail makes a gradual ascent through beautiful pine and rhododendron forests along the south bank of the Ghunsa Khola passing several mani walls and chortens along the way. There are several scree slopes and moraine the cross before dropping to Khambachen. Khambachen is a Tibetan settlement with about a dozen houses nestled in a grassy plain with mountains all around and a very impressive view of the huge north face of Jannu.

Day 12: Khambachen to Lhonak (4,792m)

The trail climbs through open rocky fields to Ramtang (4,370m) and then crosses moraines North West of the Kanchenjunga Glacier to Lhonak. The campsite at Lhonak is near some large stone huts and has incredible views- Wedge Peak (6,750m), Mera (6,344m), Nepal Peak (6,910m), Twins (7,351m) among others.

Day 13: Hike to Pangpema (North Kanchenjunga BC) 5,140m

You cannot see the main peak of Kanchenjunga from Lhonak- for this view you have to walk to the Kanchenjunga north side Base Camp at Pangpema. The trip to Pangpema has views of Tent Peak, Nepal Peak, Cross Peak, the Twins and of course finally Kanchenjunga.

Day 14: Lhonak to Ghunsa (3,415m)

We follow the trail back to Ghunsa village.

Day 15: Ghunsa to Selele La (4,200m)

From Ghunsa we following a steep rocky trail through forest that finally emerges to the High Camp before the Mirgin La pass through the dense forest of moss, Rhododendron and juniper.

Day 16: Cross Mirgin La Pass (4,645m). Trek to Tseram (3,868m)

The route actually crosses five passes, first Tamo La (3,900m), an unnamed pass (4,115m), Mirgin La (4,663m), Sinion La (4,660m) and finally another unnamed pass (4,724m). From the last pass there is a 1,000m descent to Tseram which is a small settlement above the Simbua Khola

Day 17: Tseram to Ramche (4,580m)

Today we walk up to Ramche for lunch where we pass the snout of the Yalung glacier into an ablation valley. All the peaks to the east straddle the India-Nepal border- Koktang (6,147m), Rathong (6,679m) and some of the Kabrus which are all over 7,000m. There is a lake and a meadow along with two stone houses at Ramche and often blue sheep can often be seen on the grassy slopes above.

Day 18: Hike to South Kanchenjunga BC. Back to Tseram

We follow the ablation valley to Oktang, the whole cirque is above 7,500m and the three main summits all over 8,400m can be seen. The climbing route to the summit of Kanchenjunga, first climbed by Joe Brown and George Band in 1953 can be seen from Oktang. Back to Tseram

Day 19: Tseram to Lamite Bhanjyang (3,310m)

The trail descends through Rhododendron forest to Torontan then climbs through mossy forest to the pass at Lamite Bhanjyang.

Day 20: Lamite Bhanjyang to Yamphudin (1,692m)

The trail drops steeply to the Imja Khola then crosses the Dubi Pass and descend into Yamphudin. The village has a mixed community of Sherpas, Rais, Limbus and Gurungs and there is also the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area office.

Day 21: Yamphudin to Ponphe (1,900m)

Descend to the Kabeli Khola, cross on its log bridge and then descend to Mamankhe. From here the trail enters a side canyon and crosses a stream on a long suspension bridge before climbing steeply to Ponphe village.

Day 22: Ponphe to Khunjari (1,928m)

The trail climbs to the two tea shops on the ridge above then begins a traverse through a series of valleys past several villages. The trail continues through Bhanjyang and traverses a ridge to descend to the Limbu village of Khunjari.

Day 23: Khunjari to Taplejung (2,300m)

The trail descends to the Pha Khola and climbs steeply through Pokhara and Shimu villages to Thenbewa. It then continues through forest to Lali Kharka and on to a ridge from where it descends gradually to the airfield at Suketar- we have now completed an amazing journey around the Nepalese side of Kanchenjunga! We came here in preparation for the flight in tomorrow morning.

Day 24: Drive to Bhadrapur

We need to make an early start today as the drive takes approximately 9 hours and is a challenging and tiring drive. The roads are very bumpy with many twists and turns. The only option to drive out of Bhadrapur is by local jeep. On arrival in Bhadrapur, we have time to relax and celebrate the completion of our trek.

Day 25: Bhadrapur to Kathmandu and Transfer to Hotel

If the weather is clear, we have the opportunity to view some of the most impressive peaks of the Himalayan range as we take our flight back to Kathmandu. The afternoon is at leisure. Overnight hotel.

Day 26: Free day for self shopping and other activities

Day 27: Transfer to Kathmandu International airport for departure

Cost Include

Airport pick up and drop on private vehicle
Welcome dinner at typical and authentic Nepalese Kitchen
4 nights Hotel accommodation in Kathmandu at twin sharing room on BB plan
One day full day sightseeing in Kathmandu as per the above mentioned in the itinerary with English speaking guide.
Transfer: Bhadrapur to Taplejung and Taplejung to Bhadrapur on private jeep/Bus
One night hotel accommodation in Pokhara at twin sharing room on BB plan
Domestic flight: Kathmandu to Bhadrapur and Bhadrapur to Kathmandu
Completely camping trekking with full board i.e. breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Twin sharing tented accommodation and camping equipments and Kitchen equipments
Mattress, Toilet tent, shower, Dinning tent, dinning tables, chairs etc.
Special permit of Kanchenjunga
Kanchenjunga National Park entrance fees
First aid and medical kits
English Speaking Trekking Guide, Assistant Guide, Cook, assistant cook and Porters
Accidental, medical and Helicopter Insurance of Nepalese staffs
All government taxes and official charges.

Cost Non-Includes

Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu
Rescue/ emergence and insurance cost
Beverage and hard drinks and alcohol
Nepal entry visa fee and airport tax during the departure.
Personal Trekking and climbing equipments and personal expenses.
In case of natural calamities i.e. political unrest, cancellation of flight due to weather, landslides etc the extra charge should be born by themselves.

Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek

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