Kanchenjunga Trek

Arrive in Kathmandu at any time. Our airport representative will welcome you and explain the program further. There is no planned activities for the day, so check into the hotel. 

Overnight at the Hotel. Breakfast Included. 

You will be transferred to the airport for your thirty-minute flight to Taplejung which is situated in northeastern Nepal with the Tamur River flowing through the district. The area is home of Mount Kanchenjunga. The name "Taplejung" is derived from the words "Taple" and "Jung". Taple was the medieval Limbu king who ruled the area and "Jung" in the Limbu language means fort. As such, "Taplejung" literally translates as "the Fort of King Taple". Upon arriving at the Suketar Airport at Taplejung, we will start our trek to Mitlung- an old village surrounded by green hills dotted with traditional Nepali houses with thatch roofs and rice farms.

Overnight at the Guesthouse, breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

The trail to Chirwa ascends and descends steadily as we make our way towards the village of Sinwa. We will continue trekking downhill until we reach Tawa. At Tawa, we ascend to some heights and cross the suspension bridge at Thiwa. Passing a beautiful rural landscape along the way, with dense forests and coruscating trails that wind along small brooks and rivers, we will reach Chirwa, a beautiful Limbu village with few lodges and tea shops. We spend the night at Chirwa.

Overnight at the Guesthouse, breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

The trek from Chirwa to Sukathum passes through a varied trans-Himalayan landscape lush with cardamom fields and dense deciduous woods. We will trek uphill for some time, then descend the terrain to the lush green fields below. Continuing trekking along the Tamor River, we will be passing through relatively untouched fields of greenery and verdant vegetation. It’s both an uphill and downhill trek until crossing the Ghunsa River, after which we will reach Sukathum and spend the night there.

Overnight at the Guesthouse, breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

Trekking from Sukathum to Amjilosa is challenging. After crossing the suspension bridge outside Sukathum, we will enter a dense forest, ascend the steep trail, descend, and cross the river again. Climbing a gorge from the bottom, we will pass by the Solima village and descend again to the level of the river below. All in all, this day’s trekking is rather tough. Therefore, it is advisable to be very careful especially while walking the trail that passes the gorge. We later follow a tricky trail that goes both uphill and downhill until reaching Amjilosa where we spend the night. Overnight at the Guesthouse, breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

We start today's trekking from the river bank, passing through a dense forest of bamboo, fir, and rhododendrons until eventually reaching a small stone house by the river. From here, we will then climb uphill while crossing a few small bridges along the way. Here, we get to enjoy the company of stunning waterfalls that originate from the mountains. After yet another short uphill walk, we will reach the Tibetan settlement of Gyabla.

Overnight at the Guesthouse, breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

Descending the river as we trek on the beautiful emerald trail, we can notice the valley as it slowly opens up before reaching Phale, a Tibetan refugee settlement where it is possible to purchase handicrafts and homemade rugs from the locals. After purchasing a few souvenirs, we will travel through the brimming conifer and pine forest to reach the Sherpa village of Ghunsa where we will spend the night. This place is known for its hydroelectricity plant and the fact that more than 20 prominent conservationists met a tragic end in a helicopter crash.

Overnight at the Guesthouse, breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

We take care to spend time acclimatizing around Ghunsa before continuing our next day’s trek. We recommend you stay active even on a rest day as it is better than being idle while on a trekking journey. Therefore, we will take a short hike towards the Laspsan La Monastery through the lush green forest. After spending time at the Monastery, we will come back to Ghunsa by afternoon and relax. The monastery is a great place to get to enjoy the views of the Kanchenjunga Peak. The mountain seems to rise against the ground like a giant white shroud of snow and glimmering turquoise. Moreover, you can also enjoy the Buddhist murals in the monastery and offer a prayer for a successful journey. The camphor-lit monastery attends to monks and trains young monks on the different sects of Buddhism. The pastel-colored murals hung on the monastery walls tell different stories about Buddhist myths and legends.

Overnight at the Guesthouse, breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

From Ghunsa, we will trek further north along the river bank- which presents us a magnificent mountain scenery. Passing through meadows full of beautiful wildflowers, rhododendrons, and pine forests, we will cross a bridge at Rampuk Kharka and continue past the waterfall to cross the tricky section of the landslide. After crossing the landslide area, we will begin to see the spectacular view of Mount Jannu. It is also referred to as Mount Kumbhakarna, and it is the 32nd-highest mountain on Earth. In the Limbu language, the mountain is called Phoktanglungma- which translates to "the mountain with shoulders". The mountain peak is also sacred to the Kirant people, and its name "Kumbhakarna" comes from the demon from the Hindu epic- Ramayana. Further exploring and tackling the tricky mountain trail, we will finally arrive at Kambachen and spend the night. Overnight at the Guesthouse, breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

We will take yet another day for acclimatization at Kambachen which is reserved to accommodate participants in high altitude and also to observe if anybody in the group has any symptoms of altitude sickness. The overall idea for this day is to relax- take a bath and/or explore the Nuphchu Khola Valley area. You can see spectacular views of Mount Ghabur from here, and the snowy terrain is often dotted with mountain yaks that graze on buried patches of mountain grass. Beautiful rhododendron trees are grown here, and in the spring- the village is decorated quite majestically with red and pink flowers that contrast in a heavenly way against the snowy backdrop. You can visit Buddhist hermit meditation caves here as well and take a short trip to the Jannu Glacier moraine. We spend yet another night at Kambachen.

Overnight at the Guesthouse, breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

Today will be another challenging day and an early start is needed. Trekking through rocky fields and large boulders on the hillside along the riverbank, we will arrive at a waterfall. We then cross a bridge to the Ramtang monastery and further on out, will come across a landslide section which we must pass through at a steady pace before descending to the river and finally arriving at Lhonak. Overnight at the Guesthouse, breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

We trek along the Kanchenjunga Glacier to spend a night at Pangpema, Kanchenjunga base camp on the north side. We urge you to be careful around the rockier sections as they are prone to landslides. After a short while you reach Pangpema, a flat grassy base camp. Climb a little higher and enjoy the splendor of Jannu, Kanchenjunga, and the Chang Himal.

Overnight at the Guesthouse, breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

We retrace our path to Lhonak and continue down the valley to the Ramtang Monastery. The return journey offers a different perspective of the mountains like Kanchenjunga, Taple Shikhar, Gimmigela, and the Mera Peak among others. Due to the descending nature of this trek, we will reach Kambachen by evening and spend the night there.

Overnight at the Guesthouse, breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

We descend to Ghunsa from Kambachen which means that we get to enjoy the beautiful snow-enveloped forests along with a backdrop of the impressive mountain scenery. The magical journey is made even more paradise-like by the fact that the trekking trail is often shrouded in low mist and gives you an eerie feel of being in another world. We will stay overnight at Ghunsa.

Overnight at the Guesthouse, breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

It’s a steep trek upward from Ghunsa to Sele-Le. Upon reaching Sele Le, we will climb through a dense forest of moss, rhododendrons, and juniper. Lunch will be served in an appropriate place with the availability of water. We will spend the night in Sele Le. The tea houses at Sele Le are rather basic, but the journey is worth it because of the vast expanse of snow and the distant looming mountains of the Kanchenjunga massif.

Overnight at the Guesthouse, breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

We will be doing an uphill trek, all the while enjoying the mesmerizing south-side view of the Jannu Himal and Mount Makalu (the world’s 6th highest mountain). Today is a strenuous trekking day as we will cross several passes- the Sinion La, the Mirgin La, and the Sinelapche Bhanjyang. We will then make a steep descent to Cheram and spend the night there. The trekking trail passes through fir trees that line the journey with an environment that can only come out of a fairy-tale book.

Overnight at the Guesthouse, breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

We ascend past the snout of the Yalung Glacier and walk alongside the Simbuwa Khola, passing through the Lapsang village to reach Ramche. While there, we walk further up the valley or ascend a ridge for a tremendous view of the Blue Sheep. The animal, called Bharal in the native tongue, is a beautiful caprid that is often protected by Buddhist monasteries. They are the major prey of the Snow Leopard and are very captivating to look at with their big horns and powerful legs that carry them up almost vertical straps of gorges. We then follow the stream before climbing on the moraine top until confronted by Kanchenjunga’s southern face. Walking further ahead, we can catch a glimpse of the Jannu Himal again, looming with its lopsided summit. We can even consider continuing to the Oktang Monastery. We will descend and spend the night at Cheram.

Overnight at the Guesthouse, breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

As we descend to Tortong, we will first encounter two trails. One trail is the one we took while descending from Sele Le. However, we will not take this route and instead descend further down to the trail alongside the Simbuwa Khola where lush rhododendron forests line the journey spectacularly.

Overnight at the Guesthouse, breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

While descending from Tortong to Yamphudin, we will pass through Lasiya Bhanjyang which involves walking up through trees and areas of landslides. "Bhanjyang" is a local word that means "Mountain Pass"- similar to the Tibetan word "La". The trail is cut sharp against the steep hill and is completely open to the gaping vastness on one side. The terrain changes after every monsoon but by the middle of October, it should be stable with a route through. Walking further down, we will reach the village of Yamphudin, a village inhabited by Sherpas, Limbus, and Rai ethnic people. The beautiful village is strewn with lush ficus trees and thatch-roofed houses where you can experience the local culture. The women and men of the village dress in traditional attires, with pote necklaces and gold plated copper headdresses, and nose phuli. Mile-long terrace farms are embedded into the hills and you can also enjoy the local drink Tongba- an alcoholic drink typical for the Kanchenjunga region. It is prepared with boiled and fermented millet and is consumed warm.

Overnight at the Guesthouse, breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

From Yamphudin, we will make our way to Mamanke (1800m). The snowline ceases slowly, and the terrain is replaced with trans-Himalayan vegetation again, with lush forests and dry soils baking in the Himalayan sun. The moisture of the woods scents the trail with an aroma of fresh pine and chamomile. It is a beautiful journey and you can also experience the local people working on the farms of millet and potatoes and carrying donkey caravans along the way. The vast wheat fields at Mamanke are quite beautiful and the towering mountains in the distance decorate the skyline like a postcard.

Overnight at the Guesthouse, breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

The trek to Lalikharka winds along the village passing Mamanke and goes through the woods. Terrace farms and swirling vast patches of wheat and rice fields make a gorgeous view set against the mountains.

Overnight at the Guesthouse, breakfast, lunch, and dinner included. 

The trek back to Suketar is much like the trail to Lalikharka. The village of Suketar is also a rather quaint village where the people go about their day, chopping firewood, farming, or rearing domesticated cattle. It is a prime example of the peaceful village life of the Nepali Himalayas.

Overnight at the Guesthouse, breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

From Suketar, we will make our way back to Taplejung from where we will catch our flight back to Kathmandu.

Overnight at the hotel, breakfast included. 

This day is set aside for your relaxation after a long and strenuous trek. You can spend the day in Kathmandu, to rest or to explore, as per your inclination. You can also shop at Thamel- a famous tourist destination of the capital where you can shop for a wide variety of goods from Pashmina shawls to exotic jewelry. You can also try different cuisines at the many restaurants that provide continental palates.

Overnight at the hotel, breakfast included.

Approximately 3 hours before the scheduled flight, a representative from Escape Himalaya will take you to the airport from where you will depart.

Breakfast Included.