Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek - 24 Days

Before you even land at the airport, Kathmandu welcomes you with the breathtaking sight of snow-capped mountain peaks spread down below if the weather is clear. This indicates the beginning of a memorable experience that's going to stay with you for a long time.

Upon your arrival, our office staff will meet you at the airport exit gate and take you to your designated hotel in Thamel. At the hotel, you will be briefed about your daily activities, and you will spend your first night in the ancient valley of Kathmandu, with the most temples in the world. After the trek briefing, your schedule is free so you can roam around the lively streets of Thamel, take a walk to Kathmandu Durbar Square, or just relax at your hotel.

The Kanchenjunga Circuit Trip starts with a morning flight to Bhadrapur Airport in the southeast part of Nepal. You will wake up early in the morning, have breakfast at the hotel, pack your backpack, and get ready for the adventure. Our trekking guide will pick you up from your hotel and drive you to the domestic terminal of Kathmandu International Airport to board a flight to Bhadrapur. From Bhadrapur, we will hop on a jeep that takes us all the way from south to north, Taplejung. Taplejung is the starting point of the Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek. We have dinner and spend the night at a hotel or a lodge at Taplejung.

Today is the day we start the actual trek. After breakfast and a morning tea, we leave Taplejung and begin the hike. We'll begin by descending to the terraced farmlands before continuing along the Tamor River. Be careful while walking and use trekking poles for support as the trails can be slippery. You walk past the remote villages of Tamang and Limbu communities before you reach Sinuwa, where you'll stay the night in a lodge. Today’s trail travels through picturesque settings with lovely terrain. 

After having breakfast at the lodge in Sinuwa, we start our trek to Tapethok. Our trek proceeds through this fluctuating path, going uphill and downhill while also enjoying the grand, unfolding vistas that seem to change with the elevations. The lovely walk leads you through a forested area where you can see the varied local flora and fauna. You can see Cardamom plants all along as it is one of the main crops original to the area. Tapethok is where we enter the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area. We’ll move towards our lodge after our permits are checked. We then spend our night in Tapethok.

We begin our trek after having breakfast at the lodge. Today will be particularly challenging as we have to ascend and descend a steep trail and cross rivers several times. We keep moving uphill and downhill again before crossing the Ghunsa Khola. After crossing the suspension bridge, and another half an hour's walk, we reach Sekathum.

The trail passes alongside the gorge, which requires us to be careful while walking. For the first one and a half hours, we trek through normal flatland. Then, our trail goes steeply ascending up to Amjilosa. Finally, after following a pretty tricky uphill and downhill path, we come to the end of our hectic day's journey at Amjilosa. Amjilosa is a small village with few houses and, yak herds & local shops where you find minimal supplies to meet the needs of the locals. These shops are also called Bhattis.

Today is another long hiking day. After breakfast, we hike upward by a river bank and pass through the dense forest of mainly bamboo, fir, and rhododendrons, eventually reaching a small stone house by the river. We then ascend again, crossing a few small bridges. You will find that the river drops steeply, forming many waterfalls and pools. Another short uphill walk brings us to the Tibetan settlement of Gyabla. Gyabla is where you have lunch and rest for a while.

We resume our trek with a descent down the river. The valley slowly opens up before we arrive at Phole. In several hours we will reach the famous Sherpa village of Ghunsa, which has a hydroelectric plant. As the trail passes through the jungle with dense foliage, we see Gunsa River down the track. We walk past a few human settlements with a lifestyle and culture inherited from Tibet. We move through terraced fields of potato, wheat, barley, & millet. The local traders here are involved in the export-import business in Tibet. The traders go to India for trading during the winter season. We spend the night at Ghunsa.

Today, we spend a relaxing day in Ghunsa to acclimatize. Acclimatization is a proven way of letting your body adjust to the increasing altitude. Being idle doesn't help, though. Veteran trekkers & climbing experts say we should move around & explore instead of doing nothing.

Therefore, we go for an excursion in and around the Ghunsa area. There are numerous places to acclimate in the village of Ghunsa. A short hike takes you to the ridges with a breathtaking view of the Kumbhakarna Peak (7,711m). Or, you can go hiking at Lapsang La, passing by the Yamtari Khola. You can wander around a pond that is close to the glacier.

Ghunsa is a relatively larger town that gives us a lot of insights into the lifestyles of the mountain residents. Mainly Tibetan people inhabit Ghunsa, and most women folk here are involved in the carpet weaving profession. Along the walk, you can see rustic ways of living that will charm you. The practices of Tibetan Buddhism are reflected in gompas, mani walls, chortens, and prayer flags. You can also sample Tongba, a native millet wine, there.

It's a tough day on the route to Kambachen today. The trail makes a gradual ascent along the south bank of the Ghunsa Khola/River and then crosses a boulder-strewn flood plain and crosses back to Rambuk Kharka on the north side of the river. Once on the opposite side, the trail passes a waterfall & then makes a short, steep ascent to a very uneven slope. It's a passage across the landslide in the area, featuring a loose footing, a steep fall to the river, and lots of tumbling football-sized rocks.

We must proceed carefully in this hazardous area, as a wrong foot on a loose boulder can be fatal. The trail then drops to the single-locked hut at Lakep and traverses to Kambachen, where we get our first views of Mt. Jannu. Kambachen is a Tibetan settlement of about a dozen houses at 4145 meters above sea level. We spend the night at a lodge in Kambachen.

After breakfast at the lodge, we set out on our trek again. Today's route gradually ascends through wide-open rocky fields to Ramtang at 4240m. You will be spiritually enchanted by the lovely trip to the Ramtang Monastery, here. The trail, then, crosses moraines to the northwest of the Kanchenjunga Glacier. Lhonak, at 4790m, is located close to a dried-up lake bed on a wide, open plain; water is scarce here. Before reaching Lhonak, where our trek ends for the day, we must cross a few more minor landslides and descend to a riverbank. Lhonak is the last human settlement before the Kanchenjunga North Base Camp.

Like every other day, we start the hike after breakfast at our lodge. But it’s a special day today as we’ll reach the north base camp of Mt. Kanchenjunga. The hiking trail from Lhonak ascends gradually across the plain and then gets steeper as it follows the moraine. You will travel through stunning alpine treelines. 

We shall descend the moraine and follow the valley floor to get around the steeper part. It is safer to walk on the grassy routes rather than the rockier ones that are prone to landslides. The views down here are breathtaking, but we will only see the north face of Kangchenjunga or Wedge Peak once we are close to Pangpema.

The spectacular peak of Kanchenjunga and a whole landscape of other peaks that make up one of the enormous mountain masses in the world towers over Pangpema. This is where you stay the night. You’ll be spending the night in a tent as there are no lodges or tea houses available.

Pangpema is a flat, grassy base camp with a couple of porter huts. For better views of the vast bulk of Kanchenjunga North Face, we can walk up a little higher above base camp to a viewpoint. We will enjoy the majestic vistas of snowcapped mountains and the Kangchenjunga glacier here. There are gorges and mountain glaciers from where water flows all the time. During mid-day, the scene of falling avalanches captivates your imagination completely. 

Today we trace back our steps to Kambachen from Pangpema following the same route that we used to hike up. We spend the night at a tea house in Kambachen.

From Kambachen, we trek back to Ghunsa, from where we'd head to Mirgin La and ultimately to the South Base Camp of Kanchenjunga. We walk on a descending path, hiking through the jungle along the river. The vegetation and fauna along the picturesque vertical trail are significantly more varied. There are also lovely yak pastures that you can see on the way. At one point, we have to cross a wooden bridge. After several hours of walking, we arrive at Ghunsa, rest, eat, and sleep.

Today, we begin to ascend uphill again. We pass through a jungle with less foliage & almost bare. While trekking on this path, we get to see the Mani walls and prayer flags hanging over the trees. We also enjoy the view of various beautiful mountains on the way, which makes this challenging hike somehow enjoyable and satisfying.

On today's hike, you will pass by numerous rivers and cascades as you traverse through rhododendron forests. By the end of today's hike, we reach Sele La Kharka, which is where we enjoy a fulfilling Nepali dinner and let the body rest. The small village of Sele Le offers stunning views of the Kanchenjunga range.

After early breakfast at the lodge, we start our long and demanding trekking day, but also a day with immense returns for all the grittiness on the trek with mesmerizing mountain views. Walking over the blissful yet taxing three high passes of the Kanchenjunga region is a memory to cherish for a lifetime.

We slowly climb up to the first pass, the Sinion La, at 4480 m. From here, the views of the south side of Jannu and the east face of Makalu are simply breathtaking. Cho Oyu can also be seen in the distance. We then go through an arc of two quarries, crossing the Mirgin La (4646 m) and then dropping down before walking on rocky paths to cross the Sinelapche La (4724 m). If it is clear, the views from here into Sikkim and towards Ratong (6675 m) are just fantastic.

The 850 m descent to Tseram is a test of the limbs with the knees, being very steep and loose and rough underfoot. The trail drops down to a small lake, then descends extremely steeply to Tseram. We trek through an almost desert-like area and stony trails. You will see Lapsang La Glacier, Mirgin La Glacier, and other snow-capped mountains on the path. There are very few stone roof houses and yak huts at Tseram, where we’ll spend the night.

We begin our trip through the moraines after having breakfast at the lodge. We are already acclimated, so it won’t be difficult for us to ascend higher. The steady ascent track will initially traverse the region's difficult terrain. The hike from here to the Kangchenjunga South Base Camp will take us above treeline, across alpine meadows, alongside a flowing stream, until we reach Ramchaur. You will travel via the tranquil nature trails to get to the village community. You may get some great views of the entire area from this alpine village. Ramchaur is where we spend the night.

Today's hike is challenging and arduous as we must traverse moraines and rugged rocky terrain. We also walk alongside a glacier and explore the South Base Camp of Kanchenjunga. You will follow the path along a glacier moraine before passing past some gorgeous alpine trees. Mountain goats and yaks can be found roaming freely, and the breathtaking views of Kangchenjunga, Mount Jannu, and other peaks move us to tears. A few areas of the region share borders with India, which is a neighboring country.

From the base camp, the mountains appear majestically covered in snow. After doing some exploring and clicking incredible pictures, you will start your slightly descending trail to the hamlet town of Ramchaur again. We’ll spend the night here. 

Following breakfast at the lodge, we begin our hike from Ranchaur to Tortong while taking in the amazing views of Jannu Peak. Part of the trail involves walking through a juniper jungle, which is rather loose and rocky, so we must move slowly and carefully. You'll cross several rivers and travel through a lot of forests today. Finally, we arrive in Tortong, where we get to observe Mani walls and prayer flags swaying in the breeze over the trees.

Post breakfast at the lodge in Tortong, we depart on our trek. Today's first leg of the journey follows the Simba Khola's left bank as we make our way through the gorge before ascending above the valley through the forests to Sherpagaun. The trail then leads you along the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area's level terrain. The walk leading to Yamphudin is lined with several wildflower blooms, including rhododendrons, orchids, etc. We spend the night at Yamphudin, which is a beautiful village to wake up to.

Today's hike from Yamphudin to Phungphung Danda entails traversing a grassy cliff for a considerable distance over an exposed narrow trail. We depart on our journey after a delicious breakfast at the lodge in Yamphudin. Now that we are back at a lower height, walking is simpler. Along the way, we pass through various charming villages and terraced farms, including Mamanke, before arriving at Phungphung Dada, which is the place for dinner and sleep tonight.

Like previous days, we wake up early at our overnight lodge and set off on our trek after breakfast. It will take us about 5 hours to get to Simbu from Phunhphung Danda. Today is a lovely day, cool in the shade with dense forests, plenty of waterfalls, and an excellent view of Jannu. You will pass through a number of towns on the way, where you can converse with the locals and discover more about their customs and way of life. We spend our night at a lodge in Simbu.

Today is the last hiking day. Descending through some Rai and Limbu villages, we descend from Simbu to Taplejung on the 21st day of the Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek. Your body would hate you right now, but your content heart would make up for all the pain. Descending through the comfortable downward path and interacting with the locals, we reach Taplejung in 4 hours. Taplejung is a beautiful Himalayan town, where we’ll rest for the night.

Early in the morning, we get on a jeep that takes us all the way down to Birtamod. You’ll either have breakfast in Taplejung before the road trip begins or on the way during rest stops. Birtamod is a popular town in the eastern Nepal. It can be too hot during or around summer so keep hydrating your body. After 10 hours of driving, you finally reach Birtamod. Once you check in to your hotel in Birtamod, you can have dinner and rest for the night. 

On our second last day of the Kanchenjunga Circuit Trip, we get back to Kathmandu. Following breakfast at the hotel in Birtamod, we take a 30-minute taxi ride to get to Bhadrapur Airport. Here, we board a flight to Kathmandu. Once you arrive in Kathmandu, you’ll again be taken back to your hotel in Thamel. The rest of the day is for you to spend according to your liking. You can go souvenir shopping for your family and friends back home or enjoy a spa. Don’t forget to join us for your farewell dinner in the evening. 

Your 24-day trek to Kanchenjunga Circuit finally comes to an end today. We will transfer you to Kathmandu International Airport for you to board your return flight. We hope you had an amazing time trekking in the Eastern Himalayas with us.

Your itinerary has been planned meticulously, taking all considerations into factor. This includes 'on-the-job' training for trekking crew members, including guides & porters, on navigating hazardous trail routes, especially in areas that have gone through landslides, choosing the right acclimatizing spots & drills in the event of unpredictable calamities that may result in injuries, etc.

OUTFITTER NEPAL has spent a little fortune to make sure you enjoy your Kangchenjunga trip without any hindrances, ensuring your safety first & foremost throughout your odyssey. We hope you have a memorable trek. Don’t forget to remember us for your next trip to Nepal.