Trip Duration
19 Days
Trip Difficulty
Difficult
Max. Altitude
5,143m / 16,873ft.
Activity
Trekking
Destination
Nepal
Group Size
1-16 Pax
Accommodation
3 star Hotel
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
US$ 1750
We offer group discounts
Total Cost:
US$ 1850
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Talk to trip expert
The Kanchenjunga circuit trek is truly a hidden secret trekking path of Nepal that will lead you into the depth of the untamed wilderness of eastern Nepal near the border of Sikkim, India.
If you are looking for a genuine wilderness experience, then our Kanchenjunga circuit trek 19 days journey is made for you. As one of the longest and most rugged treks in Nepal, the hiking route of Kanchenjunga is as long as the Everest three high passes trail.
But what sets our Kanchenjunga circuit trek apart is its less traveled path through the untouched remote region where you will not encounter long throngs of tourists. You will find yourself only in the secluded lands between the Himalayas and mountains.
Our Kanchenjunga circuit trek itinerary will advance you to both the Kanchenjunga base camps (north and south) of the tallest Himalayan peak of the planet at 8586 m that was first triumphed in 1955.
Initially opened in 1988 as a camping trek, the Kanchenjunga circuit trek has now turned into the rustic tea house trek that reminds us of the spirit of trekking a few decades ago.
Our Kanchenjunga circuit trek itinerary follows the air route to Bhadrapur from Kathmandu. Then, you will walk through the Kanchenjunga Reservation area’s villages of Sekathum, Amjilosa, and Lhonak.
Here, you will meet the ethnic communities of Walangpa, Tamang, Sherpa, and Bhotiya for whom Tibetan Buddhism is an important religion.
From Lhonak, you will travl upward to the Pang Pema or the north base camp of Kanchenjunga (5143 m). Once you are on the verge of making your way through to the Tseram from Sele La Base Camp, you will traverse the extraordinary heights of four Passes: the Sele La (4290 m), the Sinion La (4660 m), the Mirgin La (4480 m), and the Sinelapche La (4645 m).
Then the Yalung or the Oktang south base camp of Kanchenjunga awaits your arrival after which you will journey through Yamphudin to Kanyam Tea village of Ilam and air travel back to Kathmandu through Bhadrapur.
From both the base camps of Kanchenjunga, you will have the remarkable close sighting of three summits of Kanchenjunga: 8586 m, 8420 m, and 8474 m, along with Kabru (7412 m), Rathong (6678 m), Jannu (7711 m), Everest (8848 m), Gimmigela Peak (7350 m), Ramtang Peak (6601 m), Langpo Glacier, Drohma Ri, Chamlang (7319 m), Makalu (8485 m), Yalung Kang (8505 m), and Chang Himal (6802 m).
Our Kanchenjunga circuit trek route travels in the counterclockwise direction leading you to north and then to south base camps. This route offers you more adapting chances along with the best and changing scenery en route.
Our Kanchenjunga circuit trek no doubt is one of the tough and long hiking adventures in the true wilderness of Nepal. However, it will compensate you for all the inconveniences with the inexplicable wonderful views of the Himalayas and its wilderness.
Sherpa Discovery Treks welcomes you cordially in Kathmandu. Once you are through the customs and Visa procedures at TIA, our delegate will escort you through the twisting streets of Kathmandu so that you can settle into your appointed accommodation.
Later, once all are gathered, our guide will brief you about the Kanchenjunga circuit trek itinerary. Spend your first Nepali evening in the musical Thamel.
We request you hand over your passport temporarily to our team so they can make the arrangements for the necessary permits. You can then set forth to take a short tour of the capital with a brief tour to Swayambhunath, Pashupatinath, Durbar Square, and Boudhanath.
Later today, our guide will help you inspect your gear and assist you in getting or renting one if needed.
We will fly very early in the morning over Makalu, Nuptse, Cho Oyu, Everest, Kanchenjunga, and Lhotse to land in the plains of Bhadrapur. After landing, we will drive out of the town along the Mechi Highway on the foothills.
On the way, we will pass by numerous mountain villages such as Phikkal, Illam, Nepalthok, and Phidim where we will take a few moments of rest. Continuing through Salleri and its Jor Pokhari Bazaar, we will arrive at the motorable bridge over Kabeli Khola.
The road across will finally then take us to Taplejung which is also called Phungling and is known in Nepal for the temple of Pathivara Goddess.
The Mechi Highway now transforms into a sharp pathway hugging the mesmerizing Tamor River. En route, several gorgeous rural communities of Mitlung, Sinuwa, Tawa, and Chirwa before we reach the checkpoint at Taplethok.
After going through the permit inspection, we will now enter inside the beautiful surroundings of the Kanchenjunga National Park. The climbing trail will then proceed us through Lelep and then to Sekathum.
The trekking now literally commences in our Kanchenjunga circuit trek itinerary. Following the north edge of the Ghunsa Khola, we will tackle a rugged ascent at 2150 m Ghyabari.
Past the waterfall, we will march downward towards the beautiful gorges of Jongim and Solima. We will then calmly follow the rising slope of the Chanjalung Danda (2530 m).
The downhill slope will now guide us to Amjilosa where we begin to see Tibetan Buddhism in the area.
The lush bamboo, oak, and rhododendron jungle will climb us up toward the picturesque waterfall of Thanyani Village. Progressing on the way, we may catch the sight of cute red pandas up above the tree.
Now, a small climb will advance us to Gyabla or Kyapra- a very beautiful calm Sherpa settlement with old Gompa and chortens.
The open forested trail will lead us up to the summer pasture and then to the tiny village of Phale (3250 m). We will now gently move across the Yangma Samba Khola River and pass by Tashi Choling Monastery before reaching Ghunsa Village inside the Valley of Upper Tamor.
The Kabru and Jannu Peaks will mostly dominate the horizon of the village.
Following the trail that hugs the south edge of the Ghunsa Khola, we will slowly ascend to the 3720 m Rambuk Kharka through Labuk Village. Capture a few precious minutes with Sobi Thongje, Ghabur, Jannu, and Phole Himals.
We will now march over the Ghunsa Khola via a hung bridge and then climb up towards Khambachen.
This a very important acclimatizing day that will prepare us for the coming days of higher climbing. If you want a very short, easy, and simple hike, then you can trek up to Nupchu Khola.
If you feel more energetic, then you can also take on the tougher upward trail to reach the 4700 m high base camp of Jannu or Kumbhakarna Peak.
After Khambchen, the trail running through the higher alpine shrubs will lead us to a mountain stream. After hiking across this stream, we will pass by Khando Waterfall and make the rigorous ascent to Ramdang (4350 m).
With Chang Peak up front, we will make a gradual upward progress along the Kanchenjunga Glacier. Here, we will come by the tiny river flowing through the Lhonak Glacier.
The opposite path after the river will now slowly advance us up to Lhonak Village where Nepal Peak and Gimmigela Chuli Peak outshine the landscape.
One of the memorable journey in our Kanchenjunga circuit trek 19 days adventure. Beginning early morning, we will head over the slippery rising moraine to reach the Pangpema or the North Base camp of Kanchenjunga.
There can be few tricky spots en route but overall the climb will be smooth. Kanchenjunga, Drohma Ri, Langpo Glacier, Ramtang Himal, Gimmigela Himal, Yaling Khang, Nepal Peak, and Chang Hima shine gorgeously very close to us.
After some mind-capturing moments, we will descend again and return to the tea house of Lhonak.
Taking our feet back through the valley, we will travel through Ramtang and stop at Khambachen for lunch. We will be once again back in the jungle trail as we proceed to Lhonak for complete rest after almost a full day trek.
After Lhonak, we will go along a sharp slope through the jungle. A pleasant open area will be in front of us after which we will once more tackle the very rigorous climb to the ridge overlooking the Ghunsa Khola.
As we travel down the pass, few tea houses made of stone appears hinting we are at the Sele La Base Camp. If fortune smile on us, we may even see a part of Everest, Manaslu and Makalu along with the very shy snow leopard
From Sele La Base Camp, we will commence our ascent to conquer the 4290 m height of the Sele La Pass. One after another, three more elevated passes will begin to appear: the Sinion La Pass (4660 m), the Mirgin La (4480 m), and Sinelapche La (4645 m).
From all these passes, we will have the spectacular Kanchenjunga, Chamlang, Baruntese, Makalu, Everest and Kumbhakarna peaks at our sight.
A significant descent of about 800 m will then take us to the tea house of Tseram.
The gorgeous cool jungle trail above the Simbua Khola will march us to the head wall of the Yalung Glacier. Climbing a bit again, we will ascend by the side of the glacier and reach Lapsang Lake.
Observing the Rathong, Bokta and the Kokthang Peaks, we will then arrive a little later at Ramche. From here, we will climb even further along the glacier to arrive at the Oktang Observation Deck or the Viewpoint.
Suddenly the three Kanchenjunga Himalayan range comes into our view: 8586 m, 8420 m and 8474 m. with blue sheep giving us the company, we will now walk back downward to Tseram.
From Tseram, we will start to march down through the brilliant colors of rhododendrons. Soon, we will arrive at the beautiful gorge from where we will proceed towards the forked trail.
Taking the left sided track, we will the meander beside the Simbuwa Khola and reach Tortong through Anda Phedi.
From Tortong, we will ascend and descend from Lasiya or Lamite Bhanjyang (3415 m) and the Dhupi Bhanjyang (2665 m). The rigorous trail will go on for some time along the Amji Khola till we are at Yamphudin- a tiny secluded village inhabited by Sherpas, Gurung, Rais and Limbus.
The trekking portion of our Kanchenjunga circuit trek itinerary has ended and now we will take the drive along the picturesque Kabeli Khola to reach Kanyam.
Kanyam is a charming little town in the Ilam Tea State of Nepal filled with the pleasant aroma of cardamom and the scent of lush, fresh tea gardens.
From Kanyam, the Mechi Highway will once again comfort us for a short 3 hour drive towards the airstrip of Bhadrapur. After a brief moment o rest, a connecting flight will venture us back to Kathmandu and we will take you back to the comfort of your hotel.
The Kanchenjunga circuit trek trail passes through specific restricted areas that include Yamphudin and Lelep. Therefore, this trek necessitate the procurement of a special Restricted Area Permit, advance booking, a minimum of two participants, an organized trip through a government-authorized travel agency like ours, and the presence of a certified authorized local guide.
The Kanchenjunga region is part of the Kanchenjunga WWF conservation project, which protects numerous rare and threatened plant and animal species. The huge overflow of tourists can threaten their existence.
Additionally, the rural community of the region also face several challenges due to its remoteness. So to promote their development and economic growth, the restricted area has been established.
The Kanchenjunga region in Nepal is the first one to feel the monsoon rain which lingers for a longer time in the region. Thus the fall months extending from September to November and the spring months stretching from March through May are the most beautiful window for the Kanchenjunga circuit trek.
The high Passes and the trekking track leading to both the base camps will be free of snow and the climate also remain remarkably consistent through the seasons.
The autumn air is spectacularly fresh because of the subsided monsoon rain while the spring brushes the terrain with the brilliant shades of rhododendrons.
December, January and February lead to the closure of the tea houses in the region due to minus degree heat and thick snow collecting on the trail.
June, July and August wets the Kanchenjunga in heavy rain with thunder resulting in muds and rivers making the Passes almost impossible to cross.
The Kanchenjunga circuit trek route is a challenging level three-category adventure in Nepal that reaches its maximum elevation of 5143 m at the Pang Pema base camp of Kanchenjunga.
The walking route comprises of around 220 km needing at least 19 days to complete with each day traversing for around 5 to 7 hours on average on foot.
Additionally, there are also four major 4000 m above high passes en route that demands a certain physical fitness and the endurance for long hour trekking.
The terrain you will go through also begins from the dense forests slowly leading you to the alpine glacial atmosphere of the region. The tea houses are also pretty rustic giving you the feel of true wilderness hiking which used to be a few decades ago.
Therefore, the Kanchenjunga circuit trek is not just a physically tough adventure but also a wild untamed journey that will take you beyond your comfort zone.
If you are a new adventurist venturing into the high altitude hiking world, then please do not attempt the Kanchenjunga circuit trek 19 days journey as your first mountain walking.
Instead, you can gain insights of the mountain and Himalayan trails of Nepal through Annapurna and Everest trails first before engaging in this wild trekking trip.
The wild untamed terrain, the four high Kanchenjunga Passes, the high ridges, and the wild rivers and glacier crossings along with the very rustic remote settings of the tea houses can be tough on the beginner trekkers.
Additionally, the Kanchenjunga circuit trek needs almost three weeks duration with each day travel tie extending beyond 6 hours. The trek also ask for a more physical toughness and endurance than any other hiking trails in Nepal thus making this expedition suitable only for the seasoned hikers.
Our Kanchenjunga circuit trek 19 days journey will make us stay above 3500 m for almost nine days which means altitude sickness or AMS is prominent in our Kanchenjunga circuit trek.
Therefore, we have placed the two nights rest at Khambachen Village where you will undertake a brief walking up to Nupchu Khola or ascend the Jannu Himal Base Camp at 4700 m.
Also days preceding the hike to the Pang Pema Base camp, short walks of up to 4 to 5 hours has been planned. We highly advise our trekkers to stay active and take a very long night rest to promote a proper acclimatization.
If not, you are sure to go through the discomforts of AMS that can appear in the form of restless nights, digestive issues, tiredness, headaches, and nausea.
If your condition doesn’t worsen but stays the same, with few hours of rest and ample rehydration, you may continue on the journey. However, if your condition starts to deteriorate, you may have to walk lower and rest.
Our team always have first aid and capable of addressing such issues. Evaluating your physical manifestation, our guide may advise you to take Diamox but you have to be aware that it is diuretic and should be taken safely with no other health issues.
Please do not underestimate the toughness of the Kanchenjunga circuit trek and neglect the mental and physical prep before the trip even if you are an experienced hiker.
Please start training and prepping yourself six months prior to this trek with the right muscle-strengthening exercises. Aim to work out four times per week and promote your endurance with swimming, walking, jogging, running, cycling, squatting, planks, push and pull-ups.
If you are in the gym, go for the exercises bikes, rowing machines or treadmills. Practice hiking daily on frequently changing terrain with backpack weighing around 15 kg.
Likewise, see the details of Kanchenjunga and if possible meet those who have already been to the region. Develop the ability to adapt quickly and try to listen to the guide.
Our Kanchenjunga circuit trek route runs anticlockwise way but if you like, you can also engage in clockwise route which will guide you to Oktang or south Kanchenjunga base camp first then to Pang Pema.
Please understand that this approach of Kanchenjunga circuit trek may heighten the concern of AMS. The journey as usual will begin from Taplejung after which the route will traverse you to Phumphe, Yamphudin, and Tortong before arriving at the south Kanchenjunga base camp.
You will then navigate the four passes before ascending the north Kanchenjunga base camp. You can also choose to head to only one base camp reducing the toughness and duration of the trip.
Sherpa Discovery Treks will see every detail of your Kanchenjunga circuit trek from your night stay, food arrangements, and permits to how you travel.
Your stay in Kathmandu will be comfortable in a twin room of a reputed three-star hotel in Kathmandu. Here, you will get your own bathroom, Wi-Fi, and continuous hot water. Each morning, breakfast will also be served here to begin your day.
During the trek, the tea houses located in the overnight stop villages will offer you warm nights in two or sometimes three-bedded rooms. The conditions can be minimal with rustic charm compared to those on the Everest or Annapurna routes.
Expect squat toilets common for all guests and bring your sleeping bag for the warmer nights. Tea, coffee, and three main courses (breakfasts, dinners, and lunches) will also be offered in these tea houses.
The food menu can be limited to Tibetan dishes, potatoes, noodles, bread, and eggs.
For transportation, our private vehicle will be available for your international and domestic airport transfers, as well as city tours. We will also manage the back and forth internal flights between Kathmandu and Bhadrapur and a shared jeep or bus will be used for transport to Taplejung, Sekathum, Kanyam, and Bhadrapur.
For our Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek 19 days journey, we need to procure the Kanchenjunga Restricted Area Entry Permit (RAP) and the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area Project Entry Permit (KCAP).
We as your travel and trekking partner will take care of all the permits arrangement and their costs The Kanchenjunga RAP is only available through the Immigration Office in Maitighar, Kathmandu, at a cost of USD 20 per tourist for the first four weeks, and USD 25 per tourist thereafter.
The Kanchenjunga Conservation Permit is available through the tourism office in Kathmandu for USD 25 per tourist.
The restricted nature of the Kanchenjunga circuit trek mandates the compulsory procurement of travel insurance for all as the RAP will not be given to you if you are unable to present the right insurance policy.
This rule is in place by the government to ensure the security of each trekker in the Kanchenjunga region. It is one of the most isolated Himalayan trails, which has seen very little development in recent years.
The terrain also presents several unseen challenges compared to the Everest or Annapurna trekking routes. In case of an accident, illness, or injury, a quick helicopter rescue may be necessary, which can be no doubt very pricey.
With travel insurance, your expenses will be covered for such rescue with ease. So make sure with your insurer that the high altitude coverage for this journey extends up to 5500 m.
Your insurance should provide you with extensive protection for the whole 19 days of your journey. To further improve your protection, you can also think about adding a few days extra stay, journey delays, theft, loss, or damage to your baggage.
It is the complete travel around the third tallest Himalayan peak of the world: the Kanchenjunga. You will not go atop the summit but around it through its two north and south base camps.
You will have no banking services or ATMs on the Kanchenjunga circuit trek route so carry enough Nepalese rupees that can cover your personal expenses.
Ncell lacks the proper network coverage in Kanchenjunga so we suggest you get the Namaste/NTC instead. For emergency communication, you can also make use of satellite phones in the villages. The tea houses generally lacks the WiFi so get the NTC mobile data.
Most of the Kanchenjunga settlements have now electricity through government and solar panels so yes you can power up your devices at small fee.
No, no camping nights will be needed now on the Kanchenjunga circuit trek route.
US$ 1750
We offer group discounts
Total Cost:
US$
Need help?
Talk to trip expert
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