Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek Itinerary from Nepal - 25 Days
Kanchenjunga Base Camp trek lies on the Eastern border of Nepal and is widely considered to be the best trekking trail in rural Nepal by trekkers. During the trek, you will see plenty of forests booming with rhododendron and bamboo. You will also get a chance to get up close to the panoramic view of the mountains and get in touch with the local culture of the region.
The trek to the Base Camp of Kanchenjunga is one of the longest in Nepal as completing this trek will take you around 25 days. This takes you to the foot of Kanchenjunga mountain, the third highest mountain in the world standing at an altitude of 8586 meters. It covers around 16 peaks that are more than 7000 meters high. The name Kanchenjunga has a Tibetan origin and can be broken down as “Kang-Chen-Dzo-Nga”. It is interpreted in Sikkim as the “Five Treasuries of Great Snow”. Kanchenjunga Base Camp trek starts with a flight to Bhadrapur, a town in the Terai parts of Nepal. From there, you will walk through trails that will take you to beautiful valleys, rugged hills, and snow-capped mountains. is home to many florae and fauna like the red panda, snow leopard, wild boar, and various species of deer, etc.
Kanchenjunga Base Camp trek has been regarded as one of the most serene treks as it doesn’t receive as many trekkers as the Annapurna or Everest region. It also offers a unique perspective into the lives and culture of this region which is quite diverse. This is one of the most serene treks. This trek takes you to an altitude of more than 5000 meters and takes more than three weeks to complete. Along the trails, you will go through the Migrin La pass, Sele-La pass, Yalung glaciers, rivers, hills, and beautiful villages. This trek will be one of the most authentic treks you have undertaken and first-hand experience of the culture of the Eastern part of Nepal.
Get to the Kanchenjunga Base Camp also known as Pang Pema at the foot of the third highest peak to get amazing views of mountains like Kangbachen, Kanchenjunga, Kirat Chuli, Taple Sikhar, Ramtang Peak, etc.
Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek Highlights:
- 50 minutes of scenic flight from Kathmandu to Bhadrapur
- Walkthrough beautiful hills, bamboo and rhododendron forests
- Reach Octang which is the best viewpoint to get amazing views of Kabru, Rathong, Jannu, Kokthang, and Kanchenjunga range
- Get to a village named Ghunsa and visit the monastery and couple of other monasteries showcasing Tibetan architecture and culture
- Reach Sele La Pass and Mirgin La, Seinen La Pass to get panoramic views of mountains
- Walkthrough amazing villages like Lhonak at an altitude of 4790 m and Kambachen at 4150 m
- Chance to see various animals and birds living in this area
- Enjoy the warm hospitality of the locals and learn about their culture
Food and Accommodation During The Kanchenjunga Trek
Staying away from modern luxuries and staying tea house run by locals is a different experience. They provide basic accommodation and food like Dal Bhat, pasta, noodles, potatoes, vegetables, eggs, soup, etc. You will have three meals at these tea houses. While your days in Kathmandu and Pokhara you will stay in 3-star hotels with breakfast service. You can go to various restaurants and cafes in the cities for lunch and dinner
Weather and Best Time to Trek Kanchenjunga Base Camp
The Kanchenjunga region showcases a diverse range of landscapes and altitudes and the weather varies accordingly. Generally, Autumn and Spring are considered to be the best season for trekking. The temperate is moderate in these seasons and the weather is also calm and consistent. You are generally expected to see a clear sky in these seasons and forests also look beautiful due to leaves in autumn and wildflower blooms in spring.
It is difficult to trek in winter as the temperature becomes unbearably low. The days become cold and windy and nights even colder. Episodes of snowfalls and blizzards occur in this region. So, it becomes almost impossible to trek in winter.
Similarly, the trek becomes difficult due to rainfall in summer. The trail might become slippery and the views often get obscured.
Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek Difficulty
Kanchenjunga trekking falls in strenuous grade trek. You have to walk for 6/7 hours for several days at an altitude higher than 3000 m. The weather conditions get harsh in high-altitude areas and the temperature gets low and even below freezing point sometimes. Due to a drop in atmospheric pressure, there is also altitude sickness in the altitude of over 3000 m. The trek a high level of physical fitness. You should also be mentally fit and prepared to do this trek.
Kanchenjunga Trekking Route
You will have a flight to Bhadrapur and drive to Taplejunng to start this trek. From Taplejung you will trek to Mitlung, Chirwa, Sekathum, Gelpa, Ghunsa respectively. You will spend a day at Ghunsa as a part of the acclimatization and resume the trek the next day. You will then trek to Kambachen, Lhonak, and you finally reach Kanchenjunga Base Camp. You will then return to Kambechan, Ghunsa and trek to Selele Base Camp and Selele Pass the next day. You will then trek to Tseram crossing the Mirgin La Pass. From Tserem, you will trek to Ramche, Dorongdin, Sherpa Gaun, Danda, Kade Bhanjyang, Lalikharka and finally to Suketar where the trek ends. You will have a ride to Bhadrapur and a flight to Kathmandu.
Outline Itinerary
- Day 1:Arrive in KathmanduAltitude: 1345 m
- Day 2:Fly to Bhadrapur; drive to Taplejung
- Day 3:Trek to MitlungAltitude: 850 m
- Day 4:Trek from Mitlung to ChirwaAltitude: 1190 m
- Day 5:Trek from Chirwa to SekathumAltitude: 1640 m
- Day 6:Trek to AmjilashaAltitude: 2460 m
- Day 7:Trek to GelpaAltitude: 2730 m
- Day 8:Trek to GhunsaAltitude: 3430 m
- Day 9:Rest and Acclimatization in GhunsaAltitude: 3430 m
- Day 10:Ghunsa to KambachenAltitude: 4150 m
- Day 11:Trek from Kambachen to LhonakAltitude: 4790 m
- Day 12:Trek from Lhonak to Kanchenjunga Base CampAltitude: 5160 m
- Day 13:Return to KambachenAltitude: 4150 m
- Day 14:Kambachen to GhunsaAltitude: 4290 m
- Day 15:Ghunsa to Selele Base Camp via Sele La Pass (4,290m)Altitude: 4290 m
- Day 16:Selele Base Camp to Tseram via Mirgin La Pass (4480 m)Altitude: 3870 m
- Day 17:Tseram to Ramche via Octang, Yalung GlaciersAltitude: 4620 m
- Day 18:Ramche to DorongdinAltitude: 3000 m
- Day 19:Dorongdin to Sherpa Gaun (Yamphudim)Altitude: 2080 m
- Day 20:Yamphudim to Phumpe DandaAltitude: 1858 m
- Day 21:Phumpe Danda to Kade BhanjyangAltitude: 2134 m
- Day 22:Kade Bhanjyang to Lali KharkaAltitude: 2134 m
- Day 23:Lali Kharka to Suketar and Ride to BhadrapurAltitude: 1824 m
- Day 24:Fly to KathmanduAltitude: 1345 m
- Day 25:Departure