Trekking Summary
Kanchenjunga Region is an ideal trek for nature-loving trekkers who want to experience a variety of landscapes, cultures, and views of the world’s tallest mountains, including Mount Everest, Makalu, Lhotse, etc. The trail passes through the Arun valley and Kanchenjunga Conservation Area which covers an area of 2035 square kilometers.
Mount Kanchenjunga is the third highest mountain in the world standing above 8,586 m. For many years Kanchenjunga was considered the highest mountain in the world, until 1856, Mount Everest was discovered. Kanchenjunga translates to “Five Great Treasures in the Snow”. Kanchenjunga Region has remained relatively isolated because of its remote location and lack of infrastructure.
Kanchenjunga Conservation Area is the shelter for 250 species of birds and endangered wildlife including Asian black bears, snow leopards, red pandas, and musk deer. 15 of Nepal’s 28 endemic flowering plants and almost all 30 kinds of rhododendron species are found here.
Kanchenjunga Trek takes you across Hindu and Buddhist villages inhabited by ethnic groups such as Rai, Limbu, Gurung, Sherpa, Tibetan and Chettri, and Brahmins communities. In recent years, tea houses have opened up in the villages and other convenient locations along the trail but you need to confirm if tea houses are open before you visit. In that case, you can carry a tent.
The best time for the Kanchenjunga trek is spring and autumn. This is a physically demanding route through one of Nepal’s most remote regions. The trek starts at Taplejung. The trail passes through layered landscapes with distant views of the ever-present Himalayas and passes by the riverside villages, series of impressive suspension bridges, and dense forest following Gunsa river valley right up to Pangpema and the northern Kanchenjunga Base Camp.
Returning by the same route to Ghunsa then turn towards the Kanchenjunga South Base Camp. The trail starts with a challenging day crossing numerous high passes then the path gradually leads down to Tseram. The trail leads out through the forest approaching the moraine field of Yarlung Glacier and the South base camp.
Descending with incredible views back up to the Himalayas, Kanchenjunga Trek will surely make a truly memorable and thrilling journey with its high passes, impressive isolation, and incredible scenery. Further, if you have been dreaming to complete the upper Great Himalaya Trail of Nepal, this might where it all starts. Kanchenjunga trek up to the northern base camp and back to Ghunsa is section one of clusters of The Great Himalaya Trail Nepal.
The Great Himalaya Trail – Section 1 (Kanchenjunga Region) is the adventurous expedition to a remote and wild region of clusters of The Great Himalaya Trail Nepal.
The Great Himalaya Trail (GHT) is an epic trail crossing Nepal from east to west. The upper route passes from East to West through established trekking areas of Kanchenjunga to Makalu Barun, Solukhumbu, Rolwaling Himal, Helambu, Langtang, Ganesh Himal, Manaslu, Annapurna, Dolpa, Rara Lake, and Humla finishing on the Tibetan border at Hilsa. The trail stretches over a distance of about 1,700 km.
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itinerary
Kathmandu to Taplejung
You can take public or private vehicle to Taplejung. You can also take a flight.
- Taplejung 1820 m
- Start of Trek
Taplejung to Chirwa 1270 m
- Suketar
- Surke Danda Ridge
- Siwan Village
- Mitlung 996 m
- Sinwa Village
- Tawa Village
- Porke Village
- 7 hours
Taplejung to Pathibhara Temple 3794 m to Chirwa 1270 m
- Deurali
- Ramitedanda
- Chhatedhunga
- Bhalugaunda
- Phedi
- Pathibhara Temple 3794 m
- Tawa Village
- Chirwa
- 3 days
Chirwa to Sekathum 1660 m
- National Park checkpost at Taplechok 1380 m
- 1st option: Main trail crosses a long suspension bridge to the west bank (true right) trail
- Cardamom fields
- Climb from Tamor River to Lelep 1750 m
- 2nd option: The old route, only used if the main trail is broken, takes the east bank (true left) trail
- Tamewa 1420 m
- Simbuka Khola, Hellok 1550 m
- Gunsa Khola Valley
- 6 hours
Sekathum to Amjilosa 2308 m
- Jaubari
- Dense Forest
- Narrow Gorge of Gunsa Khola Valley
- Stone Path
- Another Deep jungle 1 hour
- Steep Climb
- 7 hours
Amjilosa to Gyabla 2730 m
- Descend towards the Ghunsa Khola at Thyanyani 2405 m
- Dense Forest
- Log Bridges
- Steep Track
- Gyabla or Kyapra
- 5 hours
You can take a walk to Birdhungga Danda for sunset and evening view.
Gyabla to Gunsa 3594 m
- Ascending
- Rhododendron, Camellias and Azaleas beside the trail
- Phale or Phere 3140 m
- Winter village and Tibetan Refugee Settlement
- Handicrafts
- Pine Forest
- Waterfalls
- 4 hours
Gunsa to Khambachen 4050 m
- Rampuk Kharka 3720 m
- Landslide area
- Terminal Moraine
- Kanchenjunga Glacier 4100 m
- 6 hours
If there is time and energy continue to 2nd option of next day
Khambachen 4050 m
- 1st option: valley directly behind Khangpachen and ascend to the base of Tha Nagphu 5980 m
Massive snow and rock dome can be seen from the village
- 2nd option: cross the river and climb the true right (left-hand) side of the Kumbhakarna Glacier lateral moraine to the popular pilgrimage site beneath the massive vertical north face of Jannu
A large boulder and plenty of prayer flags
Khambachen to Lhonak 4780 m
- Gradual climb
- Lateral moraine
- Ramtang
- Steep climb in Landslide area across large boulders be aware of rock fall
- Lhonak Khola
- Lhonak Glacier
- 6 hours
Lhonak to Pangpema 5200 m
- Ascend along the massive lateral moraine of the Kanchenjunga Glacier
- Steep climb of loose rock and landslide area
- Stone huts
- Kanchanjunga Base Camp 5143 m
- New Advanced Base Camp across the Glacier
- 4 hours
- Pangema to Khambachen
- 5 hours
- Khambachen to Gunsa
- 5 hours
Gunsa to Sele La Base Camp 4130 m
- Steep climb
- 5 hours
Sele La Base Camp to Tseram 3860 m
- Crossing five passes
- Tamo La 3900 m
- Unnamed Pass 4115 m
- Mirgin La 4470 m
- Sinion La 4646 m
- Sele La 4720 m
- View of Mt Everest and Makalu
- Steep descend 1000m
- Tseram or Cheram
- 8 hours
Tseram to Ramche 4580 m (3 hours)
- From Ramche Hike to South Kanchenjunga Base Camp
- Oktang
- Yalung Base Camp 4850 m
- South Kanchenjunga Base Camp
- Back to Ramche
Ramche to Tortong 2995 m
- Lamite Bhanjyang 3310 m
- 7 hrs
Tortang to Yamphudin 2080 m
- Beautiful village (home to a mixed community of Sherpas, Gurungs, Rais and Limbus)
- 7 hours
Yamphudin to Khewang 1915 m
- Memangkhe 2000 m 5 hours from Yamphudin
- Ponphe 1900 m
- 6 hours
Khewang to Suketar
- Kesuwa 2100 m
- Khunjari 1928 m
- Lalikharka 2220 m
- Happu Khola 1050 m
- 6 hours
Hike back to Buspark and Drive back from Taplejung to Kathmandu.
what to carry?
- Socks 4 pairs
- Waterproof Gloves 1 pair
- Underwear 3 pairs
- Sports bra 2 pairs
- Winter Cap 1
- Neckband and Balaclava 1
- Lightweight Raincoat
- Trekking Boots 1 pair
- Slippers/Flip-flops 1 pair
- Trekking Trouser 1
- Fleece/Thermal trouser 2 pair
- Cotton vest 3 pairs
- Dry fit T-shit 3 pairs
- Lightweight Fleece Jacket 1 pair
- Down Jacket/Gore-Tex Jacket 1
- Camping Shovel
- Camping Light
- Waterproof Tent
- Sleeping Bag and Mattress
- Fleece Linen, Blanket and Air Pillow
- Portable Stove and Fire Starter
- Cooking and Eating Set
- Dish washing Detergent Bar and Pad
- Trekking poles 2
- Water Bottle (preferably Thermal)
- Backpack (minimum 50ltrs)
- Backpack Rain-cover
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Knee pads
- Small Day Bag or Waist bag
- Head torch
- Camera
- Waterproof Sack or polythene bags
- Diamox – (Medication for altitude sickness)
- Paracetamol or Ibuprofen – (Light Painkillers for altitude-induced headaches)
- Metronidazole – (Anti-Diarrhea tablets)
- Ctz – (General Anti-Allergy tablets)
- Pain Relief Spray and Elastic Bandage
- Talcum Powder
- ORS few packets
- Lots of Blister plasters and Band-Aids
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Lip balm
- Cold cream/Lotion
- Wet Wipes
- Toilet paper
- Sanitizer
- Bar Soap 1 each for clothes and body
- Shampoo
- Towel
- Sanitary pad/Tampon
- Rice for 3 days – 1 kg
- Lentil for 3 days – 1 kg
- Soup powder – 6 packets
- Dried Vegetables as per consumption
- Dried meat as per consumption
- Spices as per taste
- Noodles – Ramen and Wai-Wai
- Coffee, Tea and Sugar Sachets
- Chocolates – Snickers
- Nuts
- Lots of Biscuits
- Satu – Mixed Grain Flour
Remember to Keep Toiletries and First aid small and pack chargers, power adaptors, extra memory cards, and spare batteries for the phone, camera, and torch. Carry a map, compass, and some static rope. Carry food according to consumption and need. You can also buy food at tea houses to avoid extra weight. Remember to bring back your waste.
national park entry and permit fees
Kanchenjunga is a restricted area, under the controlled tourism policy. As general movements are controlled in this region foreigners must be accompanied by a registered trek guide and take a special permit to enter this area. The permit must be processed through a trekking company registered in Nepal. A Group of minimum of two trekkers is required to obtain the special permit.
TIMS Card Fee: NRs. 1,000 for Group trekker and NRs. 2,000 for Free individual trekker (FIT) per trekking route per person per entry.
Kanchenjunga Conservation Area Entry Fee: Nrs 2,000 per person/Entry for Foreigners and Nrs 500 per person/Entry for SAARC
Kanchenjunga Region Trekking Permit Fee: USD 20 per person/week (First 4 weeks) and USD 25 per person/week (Beyond 4 weeks)