Kanchenjunga Base Camps (north and south) are not just trekking destinations but portals to an unforgettable experience (two gateways to the world's third highest peak). So, be prepared to witness innate natural beauty, cultural encounters, and a deep sense of accomplishment.
The Kanchenjunga Base Camp trek is a pilgrimage for seasoned adventurers, beckoning with its rugged beauty and the unparalleled sight of the world's third-highest peak, Kanchenjunga (8586m). This 22-day itinerary promises a challenging yet rewarding journey, leading you to both the South and North Base Camps, nestled amidst the grandeur of the Eastern Himalayas.
In this blog post, we will be discussing the detailed itinerary of Kanchenjunga Base Camps (Pangpema and Oktang).
Kanchenjunga Base Camps Trekking Outline Itinerary – 22 Days
Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu 1,300 m/4,265 ft
Day 2: Preparation Day in Kathmandu 1,300 m/4,265 ft
Day 3: Fly to Bhadrapur, Drive to Taplejung Jeep drive 9 hrs, 1,442 m / 4,730 ft.
Day 4: Trek to Chiruwa 6-7 hrs, 1,270 m/4,166 ft.
Day 5: Trek to Suketham, 5-6 hrs. 1585m/5200ft.
Day 6: Trek to Amjilosa 6 hrs, 2,395 m/ 7858 ft.
Day 7: Trek to Gyabla (Kyapra), 5 hrs, 2,730 m/8,956 ft
Day 8: Trek to Ghunsa (winter settlement) 6-7 hrs, 3,427 m/11,794 ft
Day 9: Acclimatization day at Ghunsa, 3,427 m/11,794 ft
Day 10: Trek to Kambachen (Khangbachen) 5-6 hrs, 4,050 m/ 13,287 ft /12 km
Day 11: Trek to Lhonak, 4-5 hrs, 4,780 m/15,682 ft
Day 13: Hike to Kanchenjunga North Base Camp (Pangpema 5,143 m) and return to Lhonak, 6-7 hrs, 4,780 m/15,682 ft
Day 13: Trek back to Ghunsa, 6-7 hrs, 3,427 m/11,794 ft
Day 14: Trek to Selele Camp 5-6 hrs, 4,290 m / 14,074 ft
Day 15: Trek to Cheram (Tseram) via Selele Pass and Sinion Pass, 8 hrs, 3,870 m / 12,696 ft
Day 16: Trek to Ramche (Ramchaur) 6 hrs, 4,580 m / 15,026 ft
Day 17: Hike to Kanchenjunga South Base Camp (Oktang, 4730m), descend back to Cheram, 8-9 hrs. 3,870 m / 12,696 ft
Day 17: Trek to Yamphudin 6-7 hrs, 2,080 m/6,824 ft
Day 19: Trek to Khebang, 6 hrs, 1,915 m / 6,282 ft
Day 20: Drive to Ilam from Khebang on a private vehicle, 6-7 hrs. 1627m/5334 ft
Day 21: Drive to Bhadrapur, 3 hrs. and Fly to Kathmandu, 1,300 m/4,265 ft
Day 22: Happy Departure
Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trekking Detailed Itinerary
Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu
Flying to Kathmandu is in itself an exciting and memorable experience. On a clear day, you will get a panoramic view of the snow-capped mountains. After completing the visa formalities at the airport, collect your luggage downstairs.
As you exit the airport terminal, you will be met by our representative carrying your name on a signboard as well as our company signboard, Annapurna Foothills Treks & Expedition. You will be taken to your hotel in our vehicle, where you will be staying before commencing the trip.
Day 2: Preparation Day in Kathmandu 1,300 m/4,265 ft.
The Managing Director of our company will meet you in the hotel and provide more information about the expedition. Your dues must be cleared before we proceed on the trip. Afterward, you are free to relax or explore around the city. We will finalize the paperwork permit for your trip and make a final check of your equipment. In case you need additional trekking equipment, you will have a chance to buy it. Sightseeing tours of Kathmandu Valley are also an option.
Day 3: Fly to Bhadrapur, Drive to Taplejung (Jeep drive) 9 hrs. 1,442 m / 4,730 ft.
Today, we catch an early morning 45 minutes scenic flight to Bhadrapur. After landing, we take a jeep ride to Ilam enjoying the view of beautiful landscapes. Ilam is Nepal’s largest tea plantation area and serves as a major tourist area even for domestic tourists. The picturesque town of Ilam hosts large orchards of tea plants and is also famous for the Himalayan chew made of cheese. Moving on, we head towards Taplejung in a private vehicle.
Day 4: Trek to Chiruwa 6-7 hrs. 1,270 m/4,166 ft.
Today, we trek through the Limbu and Tamang villages of Sinwa, Tawa, and Porke. We also pass over old landslide debris, boulders, and strewn river deposits before descending to Thiwa Khola. We then cross a wooden bridge to reach Chiruwa where we stay overnight.
Day 5: Trek to Suketham, 5-6 hrs. 1585m/5200 ft.
Trekking through the villages of Taplethok, Tamewa, Hellok, and Lelep, we move alongside the Tamur River and descend towards Simbu Khola, which emerges from the Yalung Glacier. We then trek through the steep and narrow Ghunsa Khola valley and finally arrive in Suketham.
Day 6: Trek to Amjilosa 6 hrs. 2,395 m/ 7858 ft.
Moving with the flow of Ghunsa Khola, we head towards Amjilosa walking through steep uphill on exposed terrain. Relishing the amazing landscape view and crossing a couple of bridges over Ghunsa Khola, we reach the Tibetan village of Amjilosa.
Day 7: Trek to Gyabla (Kyapra) 5 hrs. 2,730 m/8,956 ft.
Today, we walk through forested trails filled with rhododendrons and bamboo. We also come across a big waterfall on the opposite side of the river on our way to Gyabla. Making a steep ascent and then a gradual descent, we arrive in Gyabla.
Day 8: Trek to Ghunsa (winter settlement) 6-7 hrs. 3,427 m/11,794 ft.
Leaving behind the beautiful Gyabla village, we trek towards Ghunsa through a broad meadow. We then climb a small hill and descend to cross the river to reach the Tibetan village of Ghunsa with wooden houses, the perfect place to stay overnight.
Day 9: Acclimatization day at Ghunsa, 3,427 m/11,794 ft.
Today, we take a day off to cope with the thin air. We can hike to the opposite side of Ghunsa Khola with a gain of about 400m. After returning from the hike, we can spend the rest of the day exploring the ancient village of Ghunsa, visiting monasteries, and learning about their Buddhist culture and tradition.
Day 10: Trek to Kambachen (Khangbachen) 5-6 hrs. 4,050 m/ 13,287 ft.
Today, we begin our trek, entering the forested path along the south bank of Ghunsa Khola. Passing several Mani walls and Chortens along the way, we trek through several scree slopes and some glacial moraines to reach the Tibetan settlement of Kambachen.
Day 11: Trek to Lhonak, 4-5 hrs. 4,780 m/15,682 ft.
Leaving behind Khangbachen, we follow the trail on the left side of Kanchenjunga Glacier. We hike along a high plateau to reach the campsite of Lhonak. From Lhonak, we can see the panoramic view of massive mountain peaks like Wedge Peak (6802m), Mera Peak (6364m), Nepal Peak (7177m), and other snow giants too.
Day 12: Hike to Kanchenjunga North Base Camp (Pangpema 5,143 m) and return to Lhonak, 6-7 hrs. 4,780 m/15,682 ft.
From Lhonak, the trail ascends along the lateral moraine from Kanchenjunga Glacier for about two hours. After passing through several sections of loose rock and landslide area the trail climbs less steeply to reach the stone huts in a grassy area at Pangpema in two hours. The view of the vast north face of Kanchenjunga from Pangpema is very impressive. After having lunch while enjoying the mountain vista we start the return walk back to Lhonak.
Day 13: Trek back to Ghunsa, 6-7 hrs. 3,427 m/11,794 ft.
After the amazing experience in KBC, we retrace our trail to Ghunsa enjoying the spectacular view of different mountains. Descending past Lhonak and Khangbachen while walking on the moraines of Kanchenjunga Glacier and Kumbhakarna Glacier, we arrive in Ghunsa.
Day 14: Trek to Selele Camp 5-6 hrs. 4,290 m / 14,074 ft.
To reach the High Camp, we trek along a steep rocky trail through a forested area filled with birch, pine, and colorful rhododendrons. An amazing view of Jannu (7710m), Nyukla Laching (6670m), Temachunggi (6044m), and other mountains can be observed from the camp.
Day 15: Trek to Cheram (Tseram) via Selele Pass and Sinion Pass, 8 hrs. 3,870 m / 12,696 ft.
Today might be the most challenging day as we cross over two passes on our way to Tseram, the highest pass being the Selele La (4480m) and Sinion La (4646m). Upon reaching the top of the passes, we are rewarded with an amazing view of Yalung Glacier, Jannu (7710m), Makalu (8481m), Baruntse (7129m), Kanchenjunga (8586m), and many other mountain ranges along the Sikkim border. We then descend to Cheram.
Day 16: Trek to Ramche (Ramchaur) 6 hrs. 4,580 m / 15,026 ft.
Today, we walk up to Ramche for lunch, where we pass the snout of the Yalung glacier into an ablation valley. All the peaks to the east straddle the India-Nepal border- Koktang (6,147m), Rathong (6,679m), and some of the Kabrus, which are all over 7,000m. There is a lake, a meadow, and two stone houses at Ramche, and blue sheep can often be seen on the grassy slopes above.
Day 17: Hike to Kanchenjunga South Base Camp (Oktang, 4730m), descend back to Cheram, 8-9 hrs. 3,870 m / 12,696 ft.
In the early morning, we march towards the valley to Oktang. The valley is above 7,500m, and the three main summits all over 8,400m can be seen. The climbing route to the summit of Kanchenjunga, first climbed by Joe Brown and George Band in 1955, can be seen from Oktang.
We then descend towards Cheram through the densely forested path filled with rhododendrons and bushes. We also stumble across a few streams, Chortens, monasteries, ponds, and waterfalls en route.
Day 18: Trek to Yamphudin 6-7 hrs. 2,080 m/6,824 ft.
We continue to descend to the Amji Khola and then cross Lasiya Bhanjyang (3310m) and Dhupi Bhanjyang (2620m); we descend towards Yamphudin. Yamphudin is a village inhabited by a mixed community of Sherpa, Rai, Limbu, and Gurung.
Day 19: Trek to Khebang, 6 hrs. 1,915 m / 6,282 ft.
After the experience and thrill of the alpine heights, the terraced fields, peaceful villages, and vivid colors of the lower ranges make for a relaxing hike as we slowly wind our trek down to Khebang.
Day 20: Drive to Ilam from Khebang on a private vehicle, 6-7 hrs. 1627m/5334 ft.
Today, we drive through Limbu villages and a steady patchwork of farmland and pastures, with the smiling faces of the ever-curious locals greeting us as we walk by. Our arrival in Ilam gives us pause to relax and reflect on an amazing journey through one of Nepal's most remote regions.
Day 21: Drive to Bhadrapur, 3 hrs. Fly to Kathmandu, 1,300 m/4,265 ft.
A short drive takes us to Bhadrapur, where we pick up our return flight to Kathmandu in plenty of time to relax.
Day 22: Happy Departure
We will accompany you at the Tribhuvan International Airport for your final departure with the hope of seeing you again in the near future.
