Kanchenjunga Circuit Trekking-
Discover the Kanchenjunga Circuit Trekking, an incredible adventure that will take you to both North and South Base Camps of Kanchenjunga, the third highest mountain in the world. Located in the far eastern part of the Nepal Himalayas, this trek is known for its sheer isolation, unspoiled biodiversity, and magnificent sceneries. It’s an excellent opportunity to experience complete wilderness and explore the remote mountain villages with age-old culture and tradition.
To start your Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek, arrive in Kathmandu, and fly to Biratnagar. From there, you’ll drive to Basantapur, where the trek begins in the tropical lowlands with an intriguing mix of geography and culture. As you ascend into the alpine wilderness, you’ll visit traditional villages like Chiruwa, Gyabla, and Ghunsa, among others. You’ll cross high passes like Selele Pass (4480m) and Sinon La (4645m) and trek to the Kanchenjunga North Base Camp before crossing through high passes to reach the South Base Camp of Mt Kanchenjunga (8586m). Along the way, you may also spot wild animals the mountain goat, red panda, and snow leopard.
The trek package not only allows an opportunity to see the magnificent snow-capped mountains like Mt Jannu (7711m), Okthang (6148 m), and Rathong (6682m) but also allows you to observe the Rai and Limbu ways of life.
The best time to visit is from September to November and March to May, and it’s essential to be physically fit and have past trekking experience.
At our company, we’ve been arranging Kanchenjunga Circuit Treks for many years, taking care of your accommodation, transportation, permits, and all other necessities.
The trip begins with your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA). Our company representative will welcome you at the airport and then you will be transferred to the hotel for your overnight stay.
While we prepare the necessary permits required for this trek, you can do some sightseeing inside the valley. Our company van will take you to some of the UNESCO world heritage sites in Kathmandu and will make stops at authentic Nepali eateries for lunch and dinner. Overnight at the hotel in Kathmandu.
From Kathmandu, you fly to Biratnagar in eastern Nepal and then drive to Basantapur. On the way to Basantapur, you pass through the beautiful town of Hille. Upon arrival, you can take some rest and later explore the local market of the hilly town of Basantapur. Overnight in Basantapur.
The Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek begins today. Trekking in the Arun and Tamor valleys, you head to Chainpur which is a major trading town. Before reaching Chauki, you pass through several villages such as Dhoorpani, Tinjure Danda, and Tinjure Phedi. Making your way through the settlements and verdant forests, you reach the small village of Chauki. Overnight in Chauki.
You follow an undulating trail that passes through the ridges of Milky Danda and leads to Gupha Pokhari. En route, you pass through the rhododendron forests enjoying the distant views of Makalu (8463m) and Kanchenjunga (8586m). Many small settlements and streams are crossed during the trek which provides you with a calming experience. Overnight in Gupha Pokhari.
The path skirts around the ridge before taking the pass to the right. You climb up and down the verdant hills until you reach a small pass. From the pass, you descend on the rocky trail to reach Dobhan. During this course, you pass through the tall stands of bamboo and make your way to Dovan, where you meet the gorgeous Tamor River. Overnight in Dobhan.
The trail continues up along the Tamor River through the paddy fields. You cross two suspension bridges over Tamor River in Thumba and Hangdewa. From Mitlung, the trail moves along the Tamor River through the rock gorges and Buddhist villages and takes you to the Limbu village of Chiruwa. Overnight in Chiruwa
Today’s trail passes through many Limbu and Rai villages as it heads ahead to the village of Sukethum. You follow the Tamor River upstream and climb a spur before descending to Simbuwa Khola. After crossing a ridge and passing through the narrow Ghunsa valley, you arrive in Sukethum, from where you can get amazing views of the Kabru Himal range. Overnight in Sukethum.
Initially, the trek will be easy as you move through the flat land. Then you start making a steep uphill climb alongside Ghunsa Khola to reach Amjilosa. Amjilosa is a beautiful Tibetan village with not many inhabitants, but you will get local teashops, where you can stay for the night.
You follow the trail through the rhododendron and bamboo forests after leaving Amjilosa for Gyabla. En route, you can see beautiful waterfalls on the side of Ghunsa Khola. With a final ascent, you reach Gyabla, where you can observe the Buddhist culture. Beautiful views of Jannu Himal (7711m) and Kanchenjunga (8586m) start to appear in the skyline as you reach Gyabla. Overnight in Gyabla.
From Gyabla, you cross a large meadow and climb a gentle hill before reaching Ghunsa. Ghunsa is the largest village of the valley. Here you can find the Kanchenjunga Conservation Office, health post, schools, shops, and some beautiful monasteries. After reaching Ghunsa, you can visit its beautiful waterfall and the ancient Tashi Choling Gumba. Overnight in Ghunsa.
As you have gained high altitude in a short period of time, you take this day to get adjusted to the high altitude condition. You can hike up to the Selele Pass (4480m) to boost the acclimatization process. Breathtaking views of Kanchenjunga (8586m), Jannu Himal (7711m), Kabru Himal range, and many other mountains bordering Nepal and Sikkim can be seen from the top of Selele La. You can later hike back to the village and interact with the locals. Overnight in Ghunsa.
The trail makes a gradual ascend along the south bank of Ghunsa Khola and reaches a beautiful waterfall before reaching Rambuk Kharka, situated on the north side of the river. The trail then ascends through a pasture before dropping to reach Lakep. You then make a quick ascend to reach Kambachen, which is a Tibetan settlement with only a dozen houses.
You cross the rushing waterfalls, slippery riverbanks, and faint trails in the midst of huge boulders and alpine pastures to reach Lhonak. Throughout the way to Lhonak, the mountains keep you company, and the peaks of the Kanchenjunga range start to appear larger as you near Lhonak. Lhonak is a yak pasture with a few huts, but from here you can see great views of the Himalayas on both northern and eastern borders of Nepal. Overnight in Lhonak.
Heading to reach Kanchenjunga North Base Camp or Pangpema, you trek along the edge of Kanchenjunga Glacier, which is mostly gradual paths on grassy trails. After arrival in Pangpema, a flat grassy base, you climb a little higher to reach the confluence of Kanchenjunga Glacier, Jhinsang Glacier, and Pathibhara Glacier. From the spot, you can get great views of the northern face of Mt Kanchenjunga (8586m) and many more mountains that surround you from all sides. After spending some time here, you trek back to Lhonak for the overnight stay.
Leaving Lhonak behind, you follow the descending path and cross the jungle. On this route, you see many Mani walls and prayer flags hanging on the trees. You cross a wooden bridge on the way and make your way to back to Ghunsa, where you will be staying for the night.
You walk through the alpine forest and negotiate the steep rocky trail to reach Selele Pass (4480m). This pass connects Kanchenjunga North and South Base Camps. After crossing this pass, you head to the southern side of Mt. Kanchenjunga. You will spend the night at the base of Selele.
Starting from the base of Selele, you climb the pass of Sinion La (4645m) through the forested ridge. From the top of the pass, the views of Jannu Himal (7711m), Kanchenjunga range, and the Kabru Himal range appear stunning. After spending some time at the top of the pass, you descend to Tseram and spend the night there.
Today you climb alongside the terminal moraine of Yalung Glacier to a yak pasture in Yalung Bara. Then you head north towards the frozen lake in Lapsang and then continue the walk to Ramche. On this route, you can get the views of Okthang Peak (6148m), Rathong (6682m), and many other snow-clad peaks. Overnight in Ramche.
You follow the trail alongside Yalung Glacier and cross Tso Glacier to reach Yalung Base Camp, also known as Kanchenjunga South Base Camp. From here, you can get amazing views of Mt Kanchenjunga (8586m) and Mt Jannu (7711m) along with many other mountain ranges lying in the Nepal-Sikkim border. After spending some time at the base camp, you trek downhill to Cheram for the overnight stay.
From Cheram, you descend slowly towards Tortong. The trail goes through quite a forest of rhododendron and oaks and has no settlements en route, except the temporary settlement of Anda Phedi. You climb down the ridge of Pasang Danda above Simbuwa Khola gorge to reach the small village of Tortong. Overnight in Tortong.
The most challenging part of today’s trek will be the climb to the hill top after crossing Simbuwa Khola. The steep uphill climb brings you to the top of Lasiya Bhanjyang (3310m) and then descends alongside Amji Khola to reach the traditional Rai village of Yamphudin. You can spend your free time here by exploring the village and getting to know about the Rai way of life.
Today is a short trek from Yamphudin to the Limbu center of Mamankhe. The trail goes alongside Kabeli Khola throughout the way, and you walk through verdant forests that bring you to small settlements before reaching Mamankhe. In Mamankhe, you can visit the Limbu Museum and Culture Centre to get an insight into the Limbu culture and lifestyle.
The trail first ascends through the lush forests to reach Phumphe Danda. You then descend along the ridge to reach a gorgeous waterfall near which Phungphung Danda is situated. A gradual ascend from Phungphung Danda finally brings you to Khesewa.
A gradual ascend from Khesewa brings you to the settlement of Kande Bhanjyang. From Kande Bhanjyang, you descend through the forest and cross Phawa Khola to reach Simbu. The trail ascends again through the forested hills until reaching the small settlement of Lalikharka. Overnight in Lalikharka.
Ascend through the forested trail to reach Deurali. Then you descend through the lush pine forest and follow the flat trail to reach Suketar. Form Suketar, you follow a flat trail to reach the market town of Taplejung. The trek ends here as you rest your tired foot in Taplejung.
Bidding goodbye to the gorgeous Kanchenjunga Himalayan range, today you take a scenic drive from Taplejung to Ilam. Riding along the beautiful countryside, you get to enjoy the views of green hills and beautiful farmlands until reaching the tea estate of Ilam. In the evening, you can visit the tea production areas of Ilam.
From Ilam, you drive to Bhadrapur and then take a scenic flight to Kathmandu. After arriving in Kathmandu and checking into your hotel, you can head outside and stroll around the local markets. You can also take this time to do some souvenir shopping. Overnight at the hotel in Kathmandu.
Today our company van will once again take you around the valley. There are so many sites to visit, so you can take the whole day to explore the capital city. Bhaktapur Durbar Square is the first site that you visit today. It is one of the oldest and the most famous palace squares in Kathmandu valley. After visiting Bhaktapur Durbar Square, you head on to other cultural sites like Changunarayan Temple and Patan Durbar Square. In the evening, you join the group for a farewell dinner hosted by the company. Overnight at the hotel in Kathmandu.
The trip comes to an end today. Our office representative will drive you to the airport 3 hours prior to your scheduled flight.
SNo.0 | Date | From | To | |
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1 | 15/03/2023 | Kathmandu | Kathmandu | Enquiry This |
2 | 05/10/2023 | Kathmandu | Kathmandu | Enquiry This |
When you are up in the mountains in Nepal, we would suggest you to be ready for anything. Weather forecasts for Lukla are never correct and different sources will give you different information. If it is a really bad day in terms of weather, the airlines will themselves cancel the flight and you might have to wait till the weather clears. Yes, flying in high altitude is never easy, even on a clear sunny day, the plane might face turbulence because of the wind blowing from the mountains. But overall the flight to Lukla is very exciting and it’s an experience that you will never forget.
When you are up in the mountains in Nepal, we would suggest you to be ready for anything. Weather forecasts for Lukla are never correct and different sources will give you different information. If it is a really bad day in terms of weather, the airlines will themselves cancel the flight and you might have to wait till the weather clears. Yes, flying in high altitude is never easy, even on a clear sunny day, the plane might face turbulence because of the wind blowing from the mountains. But overall the flight to Lukla is very exciting and it’s an experience that you will never forget.
When you are up in the mountains in Nepal, we would suggest you to be ready for anything. Weather forecasts for Lukla are never correct and different sources will give you different information. If it is a really bad day in terms of weather, the airlines will themselves cancel the flight and you might have to wait till the weather clears. Yes, flying in high altitude is never easy, even on a clear sunny day, the plane might face turbulence because of the wind blowing from the mountains. But overall the flight to Lukla is very exciting and it’s an experience that you will never forget.
When you are up in the mountains in Nepal, we would suggest you to be ready for anything. Weather forecasts for Lukla are never correct and different sources will give you different information. If it is a really bad day in terms of weather, the airlines will themselves cancel the flight and you might have to wait till the weather clears. Yes, flying in high altitude is never easy, even on a clear sunny day, the plane might face turbulence because of the wind blowing from the mountains. But overall the flight to Lukla is very exciting and it’s an experience that you will never forget.