Welcome to the country of the Himalayas; our representative will receive you at the airport terminal. You will be transferred to your respective hotels and assisted with the check-in procedures. If you arrive early, you could rest for a bit and stroll around the capital, checking out some of the tourist highlights.
In the evening, your guide will meet you and provide a short briefing about the upcoming adventure. Overnight stay at the hotel.
The second day of your Kanchenjunga trekking expedition will be a sightseeing day that will explore the religious and cultural sites of the valley, including some major tourist attractions. The UNESCO World Heritage Sites, 7 out of 10 in the country, which are in the Kathmandu valley, will be highlights of today’s excursion.
It will also be the day to get the necessary permits for the upcoming exploration; if you haven’t shopped or rented the necessary trekking equipment, these two days will be suitable for buying and renting them in Kathmandu. You will meet your guide and expedition leader in the evening for further discussion and equipment inspection.
Today, we will fly from Kathmandu (TIA) to Bhadrapur (Chandragadhi Airport on a domestic flight of about 45 to 50 minutes. We will take a local jeep and drive through Kanyam. We drive via Mechi Highway from Kanyam viewing the tea cultivations on the way toward Taplejung or Illam from where the trek to Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek begins.
We will have our breakfast and catch the local jeep and begin our second-day ride to reach our destination for the day, Sekathum. Usually, trekkers prefer to walk up to Sekathum from Taplejung but by making our itinerary short and utilizing the available services in the region, we reach Sekathum two days before other trekkers. The drive will take us through Mitlung, Chirwa, Thapethok, Lelep, and several other villages along the Tamor Nadi. There is the Kanchenjunga National Park entry point on our way, where our permits are checked and allowed to move forward to Sekathum.
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Trek time: 5 to 6 hours
Accommodation: Tea House
Today we start our trek proper! It’s a long day of mainly downhill but we have a chance to catch our breath at the village of Sinwa on the banks of the Tamor River before continuing on.
After two days of the drive, we will start our hike with breakfast at Sekathum. The Himalayas’ adventurous journey begins with an ascent along the Ghunsa Khola and walking over many bridges along the way, exploring through verdant trees, the little settlements of Jonggim, and Ghaiyabari reaching Amjilosa.
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Trek time: 6 to 7 hours
Accommodation: Tea House
This is another long day of 7 hours hiking. But as we pass through Tapethok we enter the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area. Here we have our permits checked before heading across a suspension bridge and ascending to Lelep.
We move forward to Gyabla which is also known as Kyapra from Amjilosa after having breakfast. We continue to move in our path through a dense forest and trail without a Human settlement. Today, we can spot Red Pandas during our hike on the Kanchenjunga Trail, if we got lucky. After the uphill climb, we get to view the magnificent sceneries of the mountains and several waterfalls on the way. We slowly make our way and reach Gyabla village.
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Trek time: 5 hours
Accommodation: Tea House
Waterfalls and suspension bridges are part of today’s trail. Plus we come to the first Sherpa village on our trek where we stay overnight. The village of Amjilosa is mainly used during the time when the yaks and sheep are in the pastures so very few families live here full time.
The walk through the woodlands with a wide range of flora and fauna leads us to the Phale village. Continuing the trek at a pace, we will reach Ghunsa village. Many trekkers stop at Ghunsa for acclimatization, but we have our acclimation day at Khambachen.
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Trek time: 4 to 5 hours
Accommodation: Tea House
After breakfast, we head off through different forests of pine, bamboo, rhododendron and oak. We notice the villages and people are becoming more Tibetan like.
We also see yaks, sheep and goats on the trail, not to mention a good variety of birdlife. After lunch the trail takes us up through dense forest cover and over a wooden bridge on to Gyabla where we spend the night.
We will have our breakfast and begin the gradual ascent through an open pine forest and also have the chance to spot blue sheep and snow leopards. The trail passes through landslide-prone areas. We see the spectacular view of Mt. Jannu, encounter the green glacier valleys, and finally reach Khambachen village.
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Trek time: 3 to 4 hours
Accommodation: Tea House
Today the trail continues on through forests and passed Phale Village which was a Tibetan refugee camp started decades ago when Tibetans started fleeing from the communist regime in China.
Today it is a winter settlement village. We have time to visit the village where there are some handicrafts for sale. We head to Ghunsa, the largest village in the area and one with a police station, health post and a Kanchenjunga Conservation Office. Telephone and internet services are available here.
We rest at Khambachen after several days of walking. For the adjustment of the body to the altitude, we will have a short hike to nearby glaciers, viewpoints, and lakes. We can meet numerous trekkers in Khambachen returning from and traveling to Kanchenjunga North Base Camp.
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Trek time: 5 hours
Accommodation: Tea House
This is a crucial day for acclimating to a higher altitude since you must give your body time to adjust to the higher elevations in order to prevent altitude sickness. You have the option of ascending the glacier by foot at Ghunsa Ree or Selele La Pass’s Chherpuk Kharka. Along the route to Lobsang La Pass, you may also climb up to a vantage point that is above the monastery. Amazing views of Phale, Ghunsa, Selele La, Ghunsa Peak, and a number of other unidentified peaks can be had from the summit of Lobsang La Pass.
We move ahead to the trail of the Kanchenjunga glacier. We can meet the trekkers in the main trekking season walking toward and returning from the Kanchenjunga North Base Camp on this track. We move through the Ramdang and come across the Ramdang Monastery. We are on the difficult trail, now at the junction of the Lhonak and Kanchenjunga glaciers. Walking forward, we reach the tiny settlement of Lhonak with a few teahouses.
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Trek time: 3 to 4 hours
Accommodation: Tea House
On the eastern side of the Ghunsa River, the trail gradually ascends past meadows filled with wildflowers and lovely pine and rhododendron woods. As you continue further, you will come to Rampuk Kharka, a grassy area with one teahouse where you may rest for a bit. The route continues up and then flattens out after passing the waterfall and a bridge, however you must traverse an active landslide region with extreme caution. You will be able to see Mt. Jannu (Kumbhakarna) in all of its splendour once you have passed over the landslide region. You will soon descend to Khambachen, a tranquil Tibetan town resting in a grassy plain region surrounded by magnificent mountain backgrounds, as the route winds around the slope. Here we may be lucky to spot blue sheep and snow leopards. The trail continues on past a waterfall to a landslide-prone area where we take particular care.
Today, we will hike to the north base camp of Mt. Kanchenjunga, which is also known as Pang Pema. We will climb gradually following the moraines through the trail and reach Kanchenjunga Base Camp. The prayer flags around and the mesmerizing towering third-highest mount Kanchenjunga is the reward after multiple days of trekking. We will return to Lhonak for an overnight stay.
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Trek time: 3 to 4 hours
Accommodation: Tea House
It’s a difficult day today since you have to negotiate massive steep rocks and perilous pathways on a mountainside before you cross a waterfall and reach Ramtang, where there is a camp for temporary yak herders. You will be able to see Yalung Kang and the Kangbachen Himal along the route. You will reach Ramtang monastery after crossing a bridge, and then you will have to pass a landslide region where you must be extremely cautious of the falling rocks. You will now descend to the river and continue walking until you reach Lhonak.
Rejoicing the views of the Himalayas and leaving behind the Kanchenjunga Base Camp, retracing the track, we arrive at Ghunsa. The Kanchenjunga trail gives us memories of walking passing the stone huts, soaring mountain peaks, rocky fields nearby the trails, rock-falling zones, etc.
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Trek time: 8 hours
Accommodation: Tea House
This is the big day that you have been waiting for; you will finally ascend to the foothills of the glorious Himalayas, right below the third-highest snow-clad peak in the world. On this day’s big adventure, you will follow the glacial moraines and the ridges of the Kanchenjunga Glacier, ascending towards the Kanchenjunga Base Camp (5,140 meters).
From this vantage point, besides the massive Mt. Kanchenjunga, you will be able to immerse in the beauty of other glorious adjacent peaks in the region, like Mera Peak, Tent Peak, Cross Peak, and Twin Peak. After soaking in the tranquility and magnificence of the Himalayas, you will trek back to Lhonak, which will be your resting destination tonight.
We arrive at Sele Le, leaving the trail to Gyabla. There is a chance to see the snow leopards as we pass through the dense forest. There are isolated human settlements with few teahouses which are open only in the main trekking season. When there is heavy snowfall there is no other way connecting the pathway to reach South Base Camp until Sekathum. If the teahouses are closed and still we can cross the passes then, we can even reach Tseram in a day cutting a day off from our planned itinerary.
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Trek time: 7 hours
Accommodation: Tea House
After wrapping up the adventure at the Kanchenjunga Base camp, it is time to move to the next part of the expedition. On your Kanchenjunga trekking expedition, you will retrace your steps back to the beautiful high-altitude civilization influenced by Buddhist culture.
Your downhill descent will be relatively easier as you enter the region below 4,000 meters. Passing the Khambachen Village, you will walk back on the trails of Rampuk Kharka and re-enter the Ghunsa region. You will rest here tonight, enjoying the modernity the village has to offer and preparing for the adventure tomorrow.
Leaving Sele Le Pass, we will hike up to the high-altitude passes, Sinion La (4440m.|2758ft.), then Mirgin La (4480m.|2783ft.) and Sinelapche Bhanjyang (4645m.|2886ft.). We will see the spectacular panoramic view of Mt. Jannu, Everest, Makalu, Baruntse, Chamlang, and Kanchenjunga during our ascent. We descend to Tseram and stay overnight over there.
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Trek time: 5 hours
Accommodation: Tea House
The track to Gyabla will be left behind as you reach Sele La. As you move through the deep forest, there is a possibility that you may spot snow leopards. There are sparsely populated, remote human communities that only have teahouses open during the peak hiking season. There is no alternative method to link the route to South Base Camp during periods of high snowfall until Sekathum. If the teahouses are closed but you can still get through the passes, you might even be able to go to Tseram in a single day, eliminating one day from your original schedule.
Today, after early morning breakfast, we head forward through the Yalung glacier getting higher and close to the vistas. Passing by the Yalung which provides views of Rathong (6682m) and Kabru (7412m), we will stop for lunch at Ramche. We will hike to Oktang/ Okhordung the viewpoint of Yalung Base Camp or Kanchenjunga South Base Camp. Enjoying the closer view of three summits of Mt. Kanchenjunga 8420m, 8586m, and 8474m, and other towering peaks, exploring this untouched, unexplored by many trekkers, Kanchenjunga Base Camp, we will return to Tseram.
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Trek time: 7 to 8 hours
Accommodation: Tea House
You will have to overcome three passes on the path today before you reach Cheram, making it a long and difficult day. After breakfast, you will leave Sele La and hike uphill while enjoying stunning southern views of Mt. Jannu and Mt. Makalu. The distance skirting the mountainside and brief hard climb to the Mirgin La Pass follow the ascent to the first pass, Sinion La.
The route then descends briefly before turning about and ascending steeply one last time to the summit of Sinelapche La Pass. Amazing views of the Himalayan peaks may be seen at the summit of the three passes. After passing through the passes, you will come to a region with yak kharka and roof huts after descending a steep route through a tiny lake. The lovely Cheram village is a little community above the Simbua River.
The elevated snow-capped mountains behind us and the walk through the rhododendron forests give us tranquility. Our trek starts downhill and ends at Tortong passing through Simbuwa Khola with enchanting views of the Himalayas en route. We will stay overnight at Tortong.
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Trek time: 6 hours
Accommodation: Tea House
Today we trek to Ramche where we stop for lunch before walking on for around 40 minutes to reach Kanchenjunga South Base Camp. The Base Camp is right on the edge of the glacier, and surrounded by Tibetan prayer flags. We return the way we came to overnight at Cheram.
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It takes around one and a half hours of moderate ascent to reach Yalung Glacier, also known as Kanchenjunga South Glacier. The second half of the route takes you through grassy meadows till you reach Ramche village, passing through Simbua River and Lapsang Village as well. A lake, a meadow, two stone homes, and yaks and blue sheep occasionally seen grazing on the grassy hills above may all be found in this settlement. The views of Mts. Kokthan, Rathong, and Kabru as you pass pristine streams and a frozen lake are sure to add to your excitement for the hike today.
From Tortong, we persist to descend to the Amji Khola passing through Lasiya/Lamite Bhanjyang (3415m) and Dhupi Bhanjyang (2665m). Walking past the steep slope area, we reach Yamphudin village. There is the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area checkpost in Yamphudin, where our permits are checked if we had begun our trek with Kanchenjunga South Base Camp first.
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Trek time: 4 hours
Accommodation: Tea House
Today the trail is mostly downhill through a gorge. But the final section is a steep uphill over an area prone to landslides and through forests. There are no settlements until we reach Torongding, where there are a few teahouses.
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On this day, the Kanchenjunga Circuit trek will pass by the stunning Oktang Base Camp. You will go across the valley’s natural landscapes. You will traverse a number of lateral moraines in this segment as you follow the Yalung Glacier. You arrive at Oktang Base Camp after a strenuous journey. You may explore the base camp area there and get amazing photos. You will spend the night at the teahouse in Ramche after visiting the area.
After having breakfast in Yamphudin, we start exploring beautiful landscapes through the trails, and trekking alongside the pathway of Kabeli Khola. Leaving the mountain villages, we will take a drive to Kanyam, a beautiful place surrounded by tea gardens. Along the way to Kanyam, we can see the cardamom and tea cultivation through our windows. Keeping the bittersweet memories of the trek at the high altitudes, we are now at the lowlands. You can encounter many local tourists as Kanyam is a popular destination with tea gardens.
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Trek time: 7 to 8 hours
Accommodation: Tea House
After breakfast, we head off downhill and then it turns to a steep and long uphill hike. We pass over a landslide-prone area leading to Lasiya Bhanjyang where there is one teashop where we can stop for lunch. Then the trail takes as steep downhill through more forests until we reach the big village of Yamphuding.
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The journey for the day starts with a steady descent through shady juniper and rhododendron trees while taking in the stunning vistas of Jannu Himal. You must walk carefully since the route is perilously rocky in some places and has loose dirt in others. You will pass a number of Mani walls and vibrant prayer flags flying in the woods. You will reach Tortong to call it a day after traveling down the Simbua River across the woodland regions.
We will have our breakfast and explore the green tea cultivation area for a while. Then, we will have a 2-3 hour drive to Bhadrapur. We will have a 45 to 50 minutes flight from Bhadrapur to Kathmandu in the late afternoon. We will escort you to your hotel and invite you to a farewell dinner with our management team in the evening.
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Trek time: 4 hours
Accommodation: Tea House
The walking is easier now we are back at a lower altitude. We find interesting villages and terraced fields on our route. We continue on to Khebang where we stay the night.
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After breakfast today, you will set off on your trip from Tortang toward Sekathum. Peaks like Semethulung Dand and Chanjalung Danda will keep you company as you follow Simbuwa Khola throughout your hiking path. After reaching Hellok, you will continue your journey by passing multiple suspension bridges as you descend toward Sekathum. Sekathum will be your overnight lodging.
Concluding your 20-Days Kanchenjunga expedition, it is time to bid farewell. You will be dropped off at the TIA as per your flight schedules, make sure to prepare to reach the airport 3 hours prior to your flight schedules.
Thank you for choosing us as your venture partner. Have a safe journey back home!
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Trek time: 4 hours
Accommodation: Tea House
This is the final day of our hiking for tomorrow we take a vehicle to the airport.
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Your trekking phase of the Kanchenjunga Trek comes to a close at Sekathum. If you prefer Illam or Taplejung, you can take a jeep from Sekathum to go there, depending on the distance or other factors. You will pass through a number of towns along the way, including Lelep, Temewa, Chiruwa, Sinwa, Mitlung, and lastly Taplejung. Where you can stop for the night or continue traveling toward Illam after staying there sometimes.
Drive time: 10 hours
Accommodation: Tea House
Today we have a long drive in front of us. Time to reflect on the wonderful sights we have seen and rest our tired legs! When we reach Bhadrapur in the evening we can enjoy a hearty dinner with perhaps some beer and relax in a comfortable hotel for the night!
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The adventure to complete the Kanchenjunga Trek ends today. You will take a local aircraft from Illam to Bhadrapur and then from Bhadrapur to Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. You will have ample time in Kathmandu to see the Ason and Thamel markets and other unexplored areas. You may buy gifts for your loved ones in your hometown. To commemorate your successful completion of this incredible trek, you will join the Friendship World Trek team for a farewell supper in the evening.
Flight time: 50 minutes
Accommodation: 3 star hotel in Thamel
Now, the time to conclude this beautiful remote exploration of the Himalayas from the Kanchenjunga’s prospects has come forth. Saying bye to the slopped tea gardens of Illam, you will drive towards Bhadrapur. You will board your plane according to the flight schedules and head for the capital valley leaving the alluring mountain region behind.
Enjoying the scenic cross-valley flight that passes over lush hills, soaring rivers, and beautiful civilizations, you will finally land at Kathmandu. After your arrival, you will be transferred to your respective hotel, after resting for a bit, you could use this day to explore the bustling capital and collect souvenirs to remember your journey.
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Three hours before the flight’s planned departure time, a drop-off in a private tourist car is provided from the hotel to the airport. You can extend your stay by selecting a different package from Friendship World Trek.
Concluding your 23-Days Kanchenjunga Trek, it is time to bid farewell. You will be dropped off at the TIA as per your flight schedules, make sure to prepare to reach the airport 3 hours prior to your flight schedules.
Thank you for choosing us as your venture partner. Have a safe journey back home!