Nepal opened the Kanchenjunga area to trekkers in 1988, though people had trekked in the area in connection with mountaineering expeditions since the turn of the century. Kanchenjunga is a long way from Kathmandu, and the nearest roads and airports are a long way from the mountain. You can trek either to the north or south Kanchenjunga base camp, but it takes luck, determination and a lot of time to visit both sides of the peak. The northern side is particularly remote; it takes almost two weeks of walking to get to the base camp at Pang Pema.
Kanchenjunga is on the border of Nepal and the India state of Sikkim, so a circuit of the mountain is politically impossible. The next best alternative is to visit both the north and south sides of the mountain from the Nepal side; you need to be equipped for a high pass crossing and have a minimum of four weeks to spare. If for any reason you cannot cross the pass, it's a long way around.
It's difficult to cross either the Lapsang La or Mirgin La. Bad weather and snow are often to blame, but more often it is simply a lack of time. Unless you have at least four weeks to spare, and preferably five, you should plan to visit either the north or south base camp, not both. If you can get to Taplejung by either road or air, the trek can be shortened by several days, making it a bit more reasonable.
The lowland portion of this region is culturally intriguing, but there are few good mountain views. The two treks that I have described will probably need to be extended by a few days because of porter problems, weather, or the need for a rest day.
The Kanchenjunga region is the home of the Limbus. Relatives of the Rais, Limbus dominate the region east of the Arun Kosi and few live elsewhere. Limbu men wear a distinctive, tall topi, a Nepali cap that is much more colourful than that worn by other Nepalis.
A noteworthy contribution of Limbu culture is the drink tongba. A wooden pot is filled with fermented millet seeds and boiling water. You sip the dangerously potent mixture through a special bamboo straw, with tiny filters to keep the seeds out of the drink, as the hotelier merrily adds more hot water. It is often served in a large plastic mug, but ethnically correct hotels serve it in a special wooden tongba pot, which has brass rings and a wooden cap with a hole for the straw. Tongba goew down easily, as you might do yourself when you arise after a lengthy tongba session. Watch for this speciality anywhere north of Dharan.
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Day 01 :
Drive from Kathmandu to Dharan(428m.), Dhankuta(1158m.),Hile (1822m.) to Basantpur by bus, overnight stay at Basantpur
Day 02 :
Trek from Basantpur to Chauki (2400m.) which takes about six hours. The trail follows gentle ascent and descent route as well. The path is covered by rhododendron forests. If the sky is clear, you can enjoy the panoramic view of Mount Makalu and Kahnchenjunga himal. On the way, you can see some small human settlements. You can also see view of villages at the distance. Chauki is a small village with few lodges and Nepali tea shops.
Day 03 :
Trek from chauki to Gupha Pokhari (2940m.) to Gurja Gaon(2145m.) and it takes about seven hours.While trekking through this way, you pass through rhododendron forests. At a point, you come across a pass situated at 3000 meter. There is a pond at the Gupha Pokhari where prayer flags and Buddhist mani wall can be seen. On the way from Gupha Pokhari to Gurja Gaon, you can see yaks and mountain sheep grazing in the jungle. You can observe some villages at a far distance. Gurja Gaon is occupied by Buddhist and Hindus. It is situated at low elevation.
Day 04 :
Trek from Gurja Goan to Dovan (730 m.) and it takes approximately five and half hours. The trails descend upto Dovan. En route you pass through jungle and villages. You trek through terraces as crops grown here are wheat, maize, rice, millet, potatoes and so on. Dovan is a village situated at low elevation between two streams. There is a small market in Dovan.
Day 05 :
Trek from Dovan to Mitlung (921m.) which takes approximately six hours. Crossing a suspension bridge over Tamur river, you follow quite flat route. You trek along the bank of Tamur Koshi through paddy fields. From time to time, you cross through small jungles of cardamom plants and other natural vegetation. You can see some small village stretching at a far distance. The inhabited area of this part is occupied by Brahmin, Chhetri and Limbu. Mitlung is a tiny village with few houses and Nepali tea shops known as Bhattis.
Day 06 :
Trek from Mitlung to Chirwa(1171m.) and it takes about seven hours. The path to follow is quite narrow and passes through jungle mainly covered with cardamom plants and other vegetation. You can also see the small gardens of orange on your way. You cross through some small streams while trekking. This day your trek is through ascent and descent paths. You walk along the more flat land. Chirwa is a small town where you find small lodges and camping site with local shops. The people are mainly engaged in agricultural activities.
Day 07 :
Trek from Chirwa to Sekathum(1635m.) which takes about six hours. Your trek passes through a small jungle along with the bank of river. You find the plants of cardamom and other different vegetation. The trail normally ascends and descends as well. You cross a small hanging bridge before you reach Sekhathum. You spend overnight
Day 08 :
Trek from Sekathum to Amjilosa ( 2510m.) and it takes about five hours. The first one and half-hour you trek through normally flat land. Then your trail goes steeply ascent up to Amjilasa. Amjilassa is small village with few houses and yak herds with local shops where you find minimal supplies. These shops are also called Bhattis and teashops.
Day 09 :
Trek from Amjilosa to Gyable ( 2730m.) which takes about seven hours. The trail is quite flat in the beginning and gently ascent to Gyable passing through jungle. There can be seen human settlement at Gyable. People living here follow Buddhist culture. You stay overnight.
Day 10 :
Trek from Gyable to Ghunsa (3468m.) which takes about six hours. Your trails pass through jungle. You can see Gunsa river down the trail. The trail passes through few human settlements and it is clearly visible that their life style and culture has been inherited from Tibet. You pass through terrace fields where are grown potato, wheat, barley, buck wheat and so on. The local trader are involved in export-import business in Tibet. The traders go to India for trade activities during the winter season.
Day 11 :
Rest day at Ghunsa for acclimatization. A day to rest in order to acclimatize and excursion in and around Ghunsa. Gunsa is also rich with Tibetan and Buddhist culture. Ghunsa is relatively larger town. It is inhabited by Tibetan people. Mainly the women are involved in carpet weaving profession. There is run Carpet Weaving Industry in their home at small scale by local people. The trekkers come across with few check point at Ghunsa. There are local shops where you can buy goods to take along with you at high altitude.
Day 12 :
Trek from Ghunsa to Kambachen (4124m.) which takes about six and half hours.
The trail makes a gradual ascent along the south bank of the Gunsa Khola, 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 unstable scree slope. It's a passage across the slide, with loose footing, a steep fall to the river and lots of tumbling football-sized rocks. Beyond the slide, the trail drops to the single locked hut at Lakep, then traverses to Khambachen, a Tibetan settlement of about a dozen houses at 4040m.
Day 13 :
Trek from Kambachen to Lhonak(4780m.) and it takes about four hours. The trail climbs gradually through open rocky fields to Ramtang at 4240m, then across moraines north-west of the Kanchenjunga Glacier. Lhonak, at 4790m, is near a dry lake bed on an open, sandy plain; water is scarce here. There are no houses, but you can camp among the large boulders to get out of the wind. Terrific mountain views abound in all directions.
Day 14 :
Rest at Lhonak. From Lhonak, the trail ascends gradually across the plain, then gets a bit steeper as it follows the moraine. You can drop off the moraine and follow the bottom of the valley to avoid the steeper section. The views are dramatic, but you cannot see Kanchenjunga or Wedge Peak until you are near Peng Pema. The spectacular main peak of Kanchenjunga, and a panorama of other peaks that make up one of the largest mountain masses in the world, tower over the single roofless hut at Pang Pema.
Day 15 :
Trek from Lhonak to pangpema(5152m.) which takes about 3 to 4 hours. From Lhonak, the trail ascends gradually across the plain, then gets a bit steeper as it follows the moraine. You can drop off the moraine and follow the bottom of the valley to avoid the steeper section. The views are dramatic, but you cannot see Kanchenjunga or Wedge Peak until you are near Peng Pema. The spectacular main peak of Kanchenjunga, and a panorama of other peaks that make up one of the largest mountain masses in the world, tower over the single roofless hut at Pang Pema.
Day 16 :
Trek from Pangpema to Kanchanjunga (North) Base Camp (5280m.) and trek back to Pangpema and it takes approximately eight hours. The trek goes upward until you reach Base Camp. Here you can enjoy the snow capped mountains and Kanchenjunga glacier. There are gorges of mountain glacier where water flows all the time. During the middle of the day, the scene of falling avalanches captivates you completely. While trekking back you climb down till Pangpema. On the way you can see yaks and mountains grazing in the pastures.
Day 17 :
Trek from Pangpema to Ramtang Valley (4370m.) which takes about seven hours. You follow quite descent path passing through bushes until you reach Ramtang valley. It is surrounded by mountains. From here you can enjoy the panorami view of Chang Himal (6750m.), Ramtang peak (6700m.), Lupche peak (6044m.) and Dango peak (6250m.). You can see yak pastures over there.
Day 18 :
Trek from Ramtang Valley to Ghunsa (3468m.) which takes about eight hours. You cross several jungles covered with rhododendron, oak and pine. You descent all the way to Ghunsa.
Day 19 :
Trek from Ghunsa to Gyable (2730m.) which takes about six hours. The trails is descent and ascent respectively along the shore of Ghunsa Khola. On the way you pass through forests covered with bamboo shoots, rhododendron, pine and oak. You can see Himalayan deer and domestic animals grazing in fields. People living in Gyable village follow Buddhist culture.
Day 20 :
Trek from Gyable to Sekathum (1660m.) and it takes about seven hours. This day you head downhills passing through jungles covered with rhododendron, cardamom, pine and local birds. On the way, you cross different villages inhabited by people of mixed community. You can see terraces where people grow maize, millet, potatoes, wheat and green vegetables.
Day 21 :
Trek from Sekathum to Chirwa (1270m.) which takes about six hours. You follow downhills along the shore of Tamur river until you reach Chirwa. On the way, you pass through cardamom plants, terraces and forests. You find local porters carrying goods to the local shops. Chirwa is a small village with a market. The main inhabitants are Limbu, one of the ethnic community of Nepal. Chirwa lies at the bank of Tamur river and surrounded by forests and hills.
Day 22 :
Trek from Chirwa to Mitlung ( 921m.) and it takes about six hours. This day's trek moves along the shore of Tamur river. The supposed path goes ups and down. On the way, you pass through jungles, farming terraces and local villages at your distance. People living around here belong to different community such as Rai, Limbu, Chhetri , Brahman and others. Mitlung is a tiny village with few houses and Nepali tea shops known as Bhattis.
Day 23 :
Trek from Mitlung to Suketar or Taplejung. If you prefer to fly from Suketar , you will have trek for eight hours starting from Milung. The pass goes uphill until you reach Suketar. On the way you pass through jungles with cardamom and other natural vegetation. You cross several local villages and farming terraces. From here, you will be stunned at the splendid views of Kanchanjunga Himal (8598m.) and Pathi Bhara Himal (6837m.).
On the other hand, if you prefer to drive out you will have to trek for six hours to get to Taplejung. It is headquarter of Taplejung district.
Services Included
National Park entry permit, Trekking permit, all surface transportation to and fro, a guide and required number of porter(s), cook, kitchen helper, sherpas, all meals three times a day (breakfast, lunch, dinner, tea, coffee, fruit, juice, etc.), necessary camping equipments such as tents, kitchen tent, dining tent, toilet tent, mattresses, down sleeping bags, down jackets, cooking utensils, fuel etc. camping charges, rescue help, insurance and equipment for the Nepali staffs.
Services Excluded
Personal expenses, Insurance, Tips, Emergency evacuation by Helicopter, Alternative transportation in case of heavy rain, landslide, strike, road blockade etc.
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Facts of the Trek: