Kanchenjunga (8,586 m), the world’s third-highest mountain. It rises with an elevation of 8,586 m in a section of the Himalayas called Kanchenjunga Himal delimited in the west by the Tamur River, in the north by the Lhonak Chu and Jongsang La, and in the east by the Teesta River. It marks the eastern border of Nepal with the Indian state, Sikkim.
The word Kanchenjunga comes from old Tibetan and translates to “Five treasures of snow.” Local inhabitants have worshiped these holy mountains for as long as their stories go back in time. The five treasures are Gold, Silver, Precious Stones, Grain, and Holy Scriptures, referring to the five individual peaks of the Kangchenga Himal range.
The trek described below is a circuit and includes a visit to the Pathibara Temple, which is an important religious site for many Indian and Nepali pilgrims. The trail goes northwards to Ghumsa where it climbs to the Kanchenjunga Base Camp (5143 m) going through a spectacular high alpine landscape. It then goes east via 2 passes and continues to the Yalung Base Camp (4500 m), after which it goes back south to Taplejung, the starting and ending point of the trek.
The trek goes through the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area, managed by local communities in partnership with WWF, which is one of the least densely populated areas in Nepal. Pristine forests, alpine meadows and high-altitude wetlands are home to the endangered snow leopard and red panda, the vulnerable Himalayan black bear, clouded leopard and the Assamese macaque.
Restricted Area Permit to Kanchenjunga and Entry Permit for Kanchenjunga Conservation Area Project (KCAMC) is needed.
Best Season for Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek
- Best Month for Kanchenjunga Trek are March, April, May, September, October and November.
Trek Detail Route
One can take a flight from Kathmandu to Bhadrapur than you can drive to Taplejung/Suketar.
- Day 1 : Taplejung/Suketar (2420 m) – Mitlung (921 m) 5 hrs
- Day 2: Mitlung (921 m) – Chiruwa (1270 m) 6 hrs
- Day 3: Chiruwa (1270 m) – Sukathum (1576 m) 6 hrs
- Day 4: Sukathum (1576 m) – Amjilosa (2308 m) 7 hrs
- Day 5: Amjilosa (2308 m) – Gyabla (2730 m) 6-7 hrs
- Day 6: Gyabla (2730 m) – Ghunsa (3595 m) 6 hrs
- Day 7: Ghunsa (3595 m) – Acclimatization and local exploration.
- Day 8: Ghunsa (3595 m) – Kambachen (4050 m) 6 hrs
- Day 9: Kambachen (4050 m) – Lhonak (4780 m) 7 hrs
- Day 10: Lhonak (4780 m) – Pangpema (5140 m), afternoon visit to Kanchenjunga North Base Camp (5143 m) 7 hrs
- Day 11: Pangpema (5140 m) – Kambachen (4050 m) 5 hrs
- Day 12: Kambachen (4050 m) – Ghunsa (3595 m) 6 hrs
- Day 13: Ghunsa (3595 m) – Sele La Camp (4290 m) 7 hrs
- Day 14: Sele La Camp (4290 m) – Tseram (3870 m) via Sele-La pass (4480 m) 7 hrs
- Day 15: Tseram (3870 m) – Ramche (4620 m) 7 hrs
- Day 16: Ramche (4620 m) – Day trip to Yalung Base Camp (4500 m) 7-8 hrs
- Day 17: Ramche (4620 m) – Tseram (3870m) 5 hrs
- Day 18:Tseram (3870m) – Tortong (2995 m) 6 hrs
- Day 19: Tortong (2995 m) – Yamphudin (2080 m) 7 hrs
- Day 20: Yamphudin (2080 m) – Mamankhe (1810 m) 5 hrs
- Day 22: Mamankhe (1810 m) – Kande Bhyanjyang (2120m) 6 hrs
- Day 23: Kande Bhyanjyang (2120m) – Lalikharka (2220 m) 6 hrs
- Day 24: Lalikharka (2220 m) – Suketar (2420 m) 5-6 hrs