KANCHENJUNGA BASE CAMP

KANCHENJUNGA BASE CAMP

The less traveled far eastern Nepal has a huge attraction: Kanchenjunga, the third highest mountain in the world. Three weeks in this remarkable wilderness where few trekkers go; a land of rhododendrons, endangered species and home to the Limbu and Sherpa people, is where you want to be!

The Kanchenjunga region

The giant of eastern Nepal, Kanchenjunga (8,586 m), the third-highest mountain in the world, is the dominant force in a high-mountain region that is less traveled but rivals the beauty of the Annapurna. Head east to explore the unique lifestyle and culture of diverse ethnic groups like the Limbus, the Sherpas and the Tibetans. Bordering Tibet in the North and Sikkim in the East, the Kanchenjunga region is home to rhododendron forests that burst into color in the spring (34 species are recorded in the region). During the three weeks, we hike and bivouac in the magical silence of this remarkable wilderness in high altitude. From all sides, the peaks majestically rise to the sky: Kanchenjunga, Jannu (7,710 m), Sobithongie (6,670 m), Phole Peak (6,645 m), Khabur (6,332 m) and many more! A thrilling trek in the remote far eastern Nepal!

HIGHLIGHTS
- North Base Camp of Kanchenjunga and view of the imposing North Face of Jannu (Kumbhakarna).
- Discovery of a little-known, wild region.
- Discovery of villages and culture of the Limbu ethnic group.

We can customize the trip as per your requirement.
Price according to the size of the group.
We can help you to fit in your budget.

Please contact us for further information
info@basecamptrek.com

Gallery

Itinerary

Level of Trek: Very Difficult
Best Period: September - October
Duration: 26 Days
Number of walking days: 18
Highest Altitude: 5100 Meters
Flights: Kathmandu - Bhadrapur / Biratnagar - Kathmandu
Accomodation: Hotel in Kathmandu & Lodge/Homestay during trek

For your next trek with us in the Himalayas, travel light and aware: Base Camp offers you a biodegradable soap made in Nepal, to leave no trace ...

Day

1ARRIVAL IN KATHMANDU

Arrival in Kathmandu, welcome and transfer to the hotel.
- Accommodation: Holy Himalaya Hotel

2KATHMANDU

Free day in Kathmandu to get all the trekking permits.
- Stay in the same hotel

3KATHMANDU – ILAM

Departure from the hotel to domestic airport to take flight Kathmandu to Bhradapur.
By local shared jeep and we go up through the tea plantations of the Ilam district.
- Accommodation: Lodge

4ILAM – TAPLEJUNG (1442M)

5/6h drive to reach Taplejung and preparation of the trek by the local team.
- Accommodation: Lodge
- Full board

5TAPLEJUNG - MITLUNG (945 M)

Trek to Mitlung, a village of Sherpa, Limbu, Tamang, and Newar ethnic groups with about 10 houses and a Shiva temple.
- Ascent: +50 meters
- Descent: - 950 meters
- Number of hours of walking: 4h30
- Accommodation: basic homestay
- Full board

6MITLUNG - CHHIRWA (1300 M)

Starting in the morning, it’s a 2 hr. 15min ascent and descent along the Tamor river to Sinuwa (Siwa), a village of mixed ethnicity. We have lunch on the riverside. In the afternoon, we walk for 3 hours on level ground and then ascend to Chhirwa, a small Limbu village consisting of just ten houses or so.
- Ascent: + 700 meters
- Descent: - 350 meters
- Duration of hike: 6hr
- Accommodation: Basic Homestay

7CHHIRWA - SEKATHUM (1550 M)

We start the day with a 2hr 45min hike on level ground through a forest along the river to Thamewa (Thaktewa). We pass traditional Limbu tombs enclosing the ashes of the deceased. Then, between Tapetok and Thamewa, we stop for lunch along the river. In the afternoon, the trail alternatively goes up and down, after which we cross two suspension bridges to enter two different valleys. We follow the trail taken by the Dalai Lama when he fled from Tibet in 1959.
- Ascent: + 530 meters
- Descent: - 260 meters
- Hours of walking: 5hr
- Accommodation: Basic Homestay

8SEKATHUM - AMJILOSA (2350 M)

We walk along the right bank of the river, and in less than 2 hours of climbing uphill, we reach Jhyangin (1,800m), after which we go downhill to a wooden bridge. After 1 hour of steep climbing and about 20 min of descent, we arrive at Lamatar (1,855m) where we rest on the left bank of the river and have lunch. After lunch, we continue hiking on a level track and cross the river, climb up and reach Amjilosa, a Sherpa hamlet of four houses.
- Ascent: + 1050 meters
- Descent: - 240 meters
- Duration of hike: 6hr
- Accommodation: Basic Homestay

9AMJILOSA - PHOLE (3200 M)

We climb up a hillside gradually for one hour and then make a small descent to arrive at Thangyan, a Sherpa hamlet at 2,350 m. It takes us about 1 ½ hr of walking (including 30 min of steps) through bamboo and rhododendron forest to get to Gyabla, a Sherpa village where we stop for lunch.
In the afternoon, a gradual climb through a mixed forest leads us to the village of Phole where about 30 Tibetan refugees live. There is also a carpet factory, a school funded by Americans, and several monasteries. We also visit the monasteries of Gelug and Nyingma.
- Ascent: + 1400 meters
- descent: - 580 meters
- Duration of hike: 8-9hr
- Accommodation: Lodge

10PHOLE - GUNSA (3400 M) - ACCLIMATIZATION DAY

Today’s hike goes through rhododendron and juniper forests, and after an hour’s gradual ascent, we reach Gunsa, a Sherpa village of about 40 houses. During the 3 months of winter when there’s heavy snow here, the inhabitants descend to Phole. In the morning, visit the Tibetan Monastery of Gunsa. We have lunch in the village where we camp. After lunch, we acclimatize: 2 hours of climbing, Enjoy views of Gunsadhar (6,027 m) and Khabur.
- Ascent: + 250 meters
- Descent: - 50 meters
- Duration of hike: 2 ½ hr
- Accommodation: Lodge

11GUNSA - KAMBACHEN (4090 M)

This morning’s hike takes us through a forest of thorny shrubs, juniper and birch trees; we walk across a wooden bridge to cross the river and come across a few tricky spots where there have been landslides. Stop for lunch at the camp near some yak pens. Good views of Sarphu and Jannu: Jannu (7,710 m), Sobithongie (6,670 m), Phole Peak (,6645 m), and Khabur 6,332 m). If weather permits, we take an excursion near the Jannu moraine glacier (for acclimatization). The sound of yak bells soothes us to sleep at night.
- Ascent: + 1000 meters
- Descent: - 350 meters
- Duration of hike: 6hr
- Accommodation: Lodge

12KAMBACHEN - LHONAK (4770 M)

We start up a gradual climb, come across some difficult passages through landslides, to reach the dry lake of Lhonak. We then hike a further two hours and stop for lunch at the Ramthang pastures. Along the way, we get many views of mountains over 6000 meters: Mera (6,344 m), Ramthang (6,700 m), etc. We set up camp in the pastures, overlooking Sarphu, Mera, Tinjung (6,097 m), Pandra (6,850 m), Kirant Chuli (7,366 m), Nepal Peak (6,910 m) and many more nameless peaks. Tibet is 15 km by air. From the camp, we can see Blue sheep and partridges.
- Ascent: + 700 meters
- Duration of hike: 5 ½ hr
- Accommodation: Homestay

13LHONAK

Day in Lhonak for improvised hikes.
Night at the same homestay in full board.

14LHONAK – PANGPEMA – LHONAK – KAMBACHEN

Gradual climb along (right bank) the Kanchenjunga moraine glacier to Pangpema. We cannot go further than Pengpema because the path is no longer traced. Panoramic view of KirantChuli, NepalPeak, Kanchenjunga, Yalung, Twins, Kambachem, Chang Himal, etc... Return by the same way to the Camp. The weather changes very quickly, we leave very early in the morning and will take a picnic. Lunch at Lhonak. You continue your day of walking to the village of Kambachen.
- Ascent: +350 meters
- Descent: -1050 meters
- Number of hours of walking: 10h
- Accommodation: Lodge
- Full board

15KAMBACHEN - GUNSA (3400 M)

Return by the same path to Gunsa.
- Ascent: +650 meters
- Number of hours of walking: 4 hours
- Accommodation: lodge
- Full board

16GUNSA - SELELE (4200 M)

We walk for almost 2 hours steeply uphill in a forest of rhododendrons to the small pass of Tamo La (3940 m), a beautiful view of the Gunsa valley (villages of Phole and Gyabla). Then gradual climb to the camp via the Selele pass (4180 m). Nice view of Sarphu III (5865m), Khabur, Bokton (6143m), etc.
- Ascent: +900 meters
- Descent: -100 meters
- Number of hours of walking: 5h
- Accommodation: Lodge
- Full board

17SELELE - TSERAM (3900 M)

Difficult day with the passage of 3 passes Sirion La (4450 m), Mirgin La (4455 m), and SirelapcheBhanjyang (4530 m). During the day, view Sarphu, Jannu, Phole, Khabur, Bokton, and Lashar. Be careful, in the morning the sky can be blue and in the morning cover and snow. It is absolutely necessary that the guide provides food for the day, or even for the night if we have to bivouac in the mountains if the weather and visibility do not allow us to descend. It is, therefore, necessary to provide a tent.
From the last pass, the descent is steep (3h) passing by JorPokhari Lake and crossing a juniper forest. View of the Kabrus and the Yalung Glacier.
- Ascent: +650 meters
- Descent: -1000 meters
- Number of hours of walking: 8h
- Accommodation: lodge
- Full board

18TSERAM – OKTANG - TSERAM (4740 M)

A long day of walking awaits you. During these many hours, admire the Yalung glacier, and with a little luck, you will come across blue sheep on the way. After admiring the southern facade of Kanchenjunga, you return to Tseram. Night in lodge.
- Descent: -1000 meters
- Number of hours of walking: 4 hours
- Accommodation: lodge
- Full board

19TSERAM – TORTONG (2980 M)

Nice gradual descent in a forest of rhododendrons and junipers along the Simbuwa River to go to lunch in Tortong.
- Descent: -1000 meters
- Number of hours of walking: 4 hours
- Accommodation: lodge
- Full board

20TORTONG – YAMPHUDIN (1692M)

We go up in a mixed forest until Tangsadang then until Lamite (Lasya) Bhanjyang (3360 m); we descend about 2 hours to OmjeKhola. 1-hour climb in the mixed forest to Dhupi Bhanjyang then 1-hour descent to Yamphudhin village, a village in which we see a church.
- Descent: -1300 meters
- Number of hours of walking: 7h
- Accommodation: lodge
- Full board

21YAMPHUDIN - MAMAMKHE (1920 M) – PHUMPE (1800 M)

2h30 uphill and flat on the hillside to Mamamkhe which houses a Raï - Limbu museum and cultural center (1920 m) (Unfortunately, my guide did not know about it and we did not visit it). View of some peaks at 5000 m and Kothang. We begin the cultural trek in Limbu country to Phumpe after crossing a small pass. A short descent in the fields allows us to reach the Khaksewa river. We then tackle a steep climb to Phumphe Danda (1,890 m), a Chhetri village of about 6 houses.
- Ascent: +100 meters
- Number of hours of walking: 6h
- Accommodation: basic lodge
- Full board

22PHUMPE - KHESEWA – KANDE BHANJYANG – SIMBU (1846)

We move on a relatively flat trail to our lunch spot, Phunphun Danda, then to the Nagdewa River passing 2 waterfalls. A steep climb takes us to the village of Khande Bhanjayng and finally Kesewa (Limbu village). Beginning of the trek to Khande Bhanjyang, a mixed village of Gurung, Chettris, and Sherpas. You will have lunch at Kande Bhanjyan - Passing a small pass at 2250 m before descending for about 1.5 hours via Kunjari to the Phawa River then 1 hour of climbing up the stairs to Upper Simbu.
- Elevation plus: 50 meters
- Number of hours of walking: 7h
- Accommodation: Homestay
- Full board

23SIMBU - LALIKHARKA - SUKETAR – TAPLEJUNG (2420 M)

You take the road again by jeep to Taplejung. This is the end of your trek in this remote region.
- Ascent: +420 meters
- Descent: -2600 meters
- Number of hours of walking: 3h
- Accommodation: Lodge
- Full board

24DRIVE TO BHADRAPUR

A long day of driving by local bus to the Terai
- Accommodation: Lodge

25FLIGHT BHADRAPUR - KATHMANDU

Flight to Kathmandu. Transfer to the hotel. Free day
- Accommodation: Holy Himalaya Hotel

NOTES

- In Kathmandu, we use hotels of good category *** well located in the center of Kathmandu.
- The stay in Kathmandu is always done in B&B to give you your choice of restaurants that offer you traditional and continental cuisine according to your choices.
- During the trek, you will be in full board and accommodation according to the itinerary.

What's included

- All hotel airport transfers in private vehicle
- Jeep 4x4 local reserved (and shared on day 05) Bhadrapur - Taplejung and Taplejung - Bhadrapur
- 3 nights at Holy Himalaya hotel in BB in Kathmandu
- Trek full board in Lodge / Homestay
- English speaking guide for the trek and his/her flight
- Trekking team: porters and assistant guide according to the group size during the whole trek
- Carrying luggage up to 13 kg/person during the trek
- KCAP & TIMS trekking license
- special permit Kanchenjunga 2 weeks
- Staff Insurance
- Domestic airport taxes.
- Flights Kathmandu - Bhadrapur - Kathmandu

What's not included

- Visit and meals in Kathmandu
- Nepal visas to get at the airport ($50 + photos)
- International flight
- Compulsory repatriation insurance
- PCR test
- Tips, personal expenses, and equipment, drinks, sleeping bag, hot shower during the trek ...