Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek

Welcome to Nepal! When you arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport, a friendly representative from Alpine Ramble Treks will be waiting to welcome you to our exciting capital city. Depending on the time of your arrival, you may have the opportunity to visit the colorful markets of the Thamel district, where you’ll find an astonishing array of shops and local eateries. Tonight, you’ll enjoy first-rate accommodations at your hotel in town.

Welcome to Nepal! When you arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport, a friendly representative from Alpine Ramble Treks will be waiting to welcome you to our exciting capital city. Depending on the time of your arrival, you may have the opportunity to visit the colorful markets of the Thamel district, where you’ll find an astonishing array of shops and local eateries. Tonight, you’ll enjoy first-rate accommodations at your hotel in town.

This morning, we’ll return to the airport to take a brief flight to Biratnagar. This is the first step on the road to our remote Kanchenjunga trek, but Biratnagar is a modern city of considerable size. There’s plenty to see here, including beautifully tended gardens, busy markets where produce and spices are sold, and hilltop viewpoints with far-reaching views of the city. We’ll get checked into a comfortable hotel before heading off to stroll along streets packed with aromatic restaurants, vibrant handicrafts, clothes, and rickshaws hustling to and fro. This evening, we’ll enjoy dinner before returning to our hotel to spend the night.

Today, we’ll begin our Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek in earnest. But before we can get started, we need to reach Taplejung, the proverbial gateway to Kanchenjunga. While it’s possible to leave early in the morning and make the nine-hour drive to Taplejung, this is a long and slow trip on winding mountain roads. Most visitors prefer to fly to the nearby airport at Suketar instead, which allows us to start trekking right away. Today’s trek should take approximately five or six hours, passing through a handful of little villages and terraced fields of rice, millet, and cardamom. Continuing on, we’ll follow the banks of the Tamur River across rocky landscapes to reach Mitlung. It’s here that we’ll stop for the day, enjoying a hot meal and cozy accommodations at a local teahouse.

You can expect to spend about five hours on the trail today, ascending and descending alternately on the approach to Chirwa. We’ll depart from Mitlung after breakfast, making our way across rock-strewn terrain to reach the community of Sinwa, where some trekkers choose to stay. Moving on, we’ll hike through a valley, cross a wooden bridge spanning the Thiwa Khola River, and finally reach the startlingly beautiful hillside village of Chirwa. We’ll stop here for the night, getting to know the locals over a home-cooked meal. The villagers of Chirwa belong to the Limbu ethnic group and are known for their unique religious traditions and folk songs. After dinner, we’ll settle into comfortable accommodations to spend the night.

Our Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek continues this morning after breakfast when we’ll bid our fond farewells to the friendly inhabitants of Chirwa before moving on to follow the riverbank of the Tamur to the north, passing green fields of cardamom and registering our permits at a nearby checkpoint. From here, we’ll cross the river and trek through forested slopes of pine to reach the village of Lelep. This is an especially scenic place to stop for lunch, and you’re sure to appreciate the town’s picturesque stone-built homes and Buddhist stupas. After lunch, we’ll cross the Tamur River once again, this time using a suspension bridge. Then it’s on through the Ghunsa Valley to reach Sakathum, where we’ll stop for a hard-earned meal and a good night’s rest. 

Are you ready for a climb? We’ll be ascending almost 900 meters in elevation today, leaving the hamlet of Sakathum behind as we cross a suspension bridge and hike alongside the river. We’ll take our time on the ascent, climbing carefully on a series of stone steps to reach the village of Ghaiyabari. On a clear day, you can anticipate the chance to enjoy superb views of the surrounding green hills reaching above layers of mist-veiled forests. The sheer diversity of landscapes here is just one of the many perks that make the Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek so rewarding. Moving on, we’ll continue to climb steeply, arriving at Amjilosa after approximately four or five hours of hiking in all. This is a fantastic place to stop and savor the village ambience; we’ll pick out a local teahouse or trekking lodge for tonight’s accommodations.

The natural beauty of eastern Nepal is sure to make an impression upon you today; as we walk further into the Ghunsa Valley, we’ll find ourselves encountering wide-open plains, forests of rhododendron and bamboo, and even a few waterfalls sparkling in the light of late morning. We’ll only be on the trail for about four or five hours today, but the latter half of our hike will include a steep ascent. The climb begins at an especially large and beautiful waterfall, and the path rises sharply before bringing us into Gyabla huffing and puffing. The village itself makes for a great reward; with its friendly Sherpa villagers and pleasant views of the forested valley below, you’ll feel right at home. We’ll check into the best available trekking lodge to spend the night.

This morning’s hike continues along the Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek by plunging into a ravine, giving our lungs a welcome rest as the terrain flattens out and brings us to the riverbank. From here, we’ll enjoy relatively easy hiking through shaded woodlands of rhododendron and fir before emerging into the open pastures surrounding the Tibetan refugee settlement of Phole. This is an ideal place to break for lunch and support the local community by purchasing some authentic Tibetan souvenirs and curios. Moving on, we’ll continue through the valley, cross the Ghunsa Khola River, and arrive at Ghunsa itself. We’ll get checked into our lodge in town, where we’ll spend the next two nights.

The village of Ghunsa is situated at an altitude of 3,410 meters, and we need some time to adjust to this marked increase in elevation. We’ll use today as an opportunity to acclimatize and enjoy the pleasant surroundings of Ghunsa. While you can certainly choose to relax, chat with the Sherpa locals, and rest your feet, there are also some hiking options for restless travelers. We can trace the route of the nearby Yamatari Khola to a beautiful glacial moraine, or we can visit the local monastery at Lapsang La. Of course, nature lovers may be content to find a nice place to sit in the uncommonly flat village terrain and simply watch the river rush by. However you choose to spend the day, we’ll return to Ghunsa this afternoon and spend a second night in town.

Today, we’ll lace up our boots and continue drawing nearer to Kanchenjunga Base Camp. Our path leads north from Ghunsa, bringing us through sweet-smelling forests of pine and juniper—and rewarding our efforts with some truly spectacular mountain views. We’ll hike past a collection of Buddhist mani walls and stupas, eventually crossing the river and glimpsing a waterfall that signals our imminent ascent. From here, it’s a steep climb along scree-covered slopes to reach our destination: the Tibetan community of Khambachen. We’ll take our pick of the best available teahouse before tucking into our dinner and savoring marvelous views of Kumbhakarna, or Jannu. This is only the world’s 32nd-highest mountain, but it’s a sure sign that we are approaching the mighty Kanchenjunga at last.

Believe it or not, we’ve already ascended to 4,150 meters. This means that we’ll need to spend another day here in Khambachen to allow our bodies enough time to adjust to the altitude. But you don’t have to worry about getting bored—with the monumental snow-covered peaks of Jannu, Phole, and Khabur looming overhead to the east, there’s enough astounding scenery here to satisfy the soul of any traveler yearning for distant mountains. We can spend the day relaxing and chatting with villagers, or we can make a short hike above the town to gain an even better glimpse of the surrounding scenery. We’ll spend a second night here in Khambachen; tomorrow, our journey on the Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek continues in earnest.

You’ll notice a distinct chill in the air as we climb higher on today’s hike, ascending beyond Khambachen on steep slopes to skirt Kanchenjunga’s massive glacier. Our terrain today is covered with scree, rocks, and the occasional boulder, and we’ll take our time to reach a waterfall before climbing to Ramtang and visiting its fascinating monastery. From here, we’ll follow the edge of the glacier and cross a bridge to reach our destination: Lhonak. The village is situated on a high-altitude plateau at 4,790 meters. After checking in at our guesthouse, you’ll have the rest of the day free to revel in Lhonak’s all-encompassing mountain views. Two of the most impressive mountains here are known locally as Mera Peak and Wedge Peak; you’ll feel positively inspired as the light of the setting sun casts its shadows over this little Himalayan village.

Are you ready to set foot in the first of Kanchenjunga’s two base camps? Our path today leads east to Pang Pema, where we’ll gain an obstructed look at the magnificent Kanchenjunga in all its glory. To reach Pang Pema, we’ll trek for about three hours, proceeding with caution to cross rocky terrain following the glacier’s edge. Pang Pema itself lies on a flat field, which comes as a welcome relief after all of the ups and downs of our hike. After reaching base camp and basking in the splendor of the world’s third-highest mountain, we’ll take the last of our photos and make the return trip back to Lhonak.

We may have visited Kanchenjunga’s northern base camp, but our Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek isn’t over—not by a long shot. We’ll set off early this morning, likely still brimming with excitement over the fantastic views we’ve already seen. We’ll return to Ghunsa along the same path we’ve followed over the course of the last few days. Fortunately, descending is easier than ascending, and we can make it all the way back to Ghunsa in approximately seven hours. When we arrive, we’ll get checked into our lodge to enjoy a hot meal and some much-needed rest.

Today is the day that our Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek really becomes something special. After breakfast this morning, we’ll diverge from the route we previously followed; rather than returning to Gyabla and Amjilosa, we’ll instead climb a series of mountain passes over the next two days. This path effectively combines the northern and southern Kanchenjunga treks into a single epic adventure—and it’s one you won’t soon forget. To reach Sele La, we’ll head south from Ghunsa, crossing the Yamatari Khola and climbing to the first pass: Tamo La, which sits at 3,900 meters. The views from here are nothing to scoff at, but we’ll be climbing even higher. Our destination for today is Sele La at 4,115 meters. We’ll have more climbing ahead of us, but we’ll save the rest for tomorrow. Accommodations at Sele La are basic but comfortable, and thanks to the near-constant shroud of mist hanging over the mountains, the atmosphere here is unforgettable.

This is a day of high passes—leaving our teahouse behind, we’ll climb to Sinion La, Mirgin La, and Sinelapche La today. The last of these passes is also the highest, situated at a staggering 4,724 meters. We’ll take our time to ascend carefully, making sure to enjoy the spectacular scenery along the way. Despite the strenuous hiking—or maybe because of it—we’ll be rewarded with fantastic views of Jannu, Makalu, and other Himalayan peaks straddling the border with Sikkim. After taking in the view, we’ll begin a steep descent to Tseram, or Cheram. This village marks the point where our trail connects with the Kanchenjunga South route, and it makes for a great place to stop for today. Tomorrow, we’ll make for Kanchenjunga’s second base camp.

After breakfast this morning, we’ll embark upon an out-and-back hike which constitutes the second major achievement on our Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek. We’ll ascend past Tseram, climbing onto alpine meadows, walking past cold lakes, and trekking along sparsely vegetated slopes where we’re likely to see herds of blue sheep. Our destination is Ramche, perched in a valley at 4,620 meters, and it affords unforgettable views of Kanchenjunga’s sheer southern face. Depending on the time of day, we can even go a little further to the monastery at Oktang. The mountain’s actual southern base camp lies two days beyond, at the end of a path on the Yalung Glacier which is inaccessible to trekkers. For all intents and purposes, though, we’ve now visited both of Kanchenjunga’s base camps! This afternoon, we’ll return to Tseram to spend a second night.

Even though we’ll be turning our backs on Kanchenjunga this morning, that path that lies ahead may well represent one of the most scenic days on our entire Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek. We’ll be spending about six or seven hours on our feet today, and much of that time will be spent hiking amongst forests of pine, rhododendron, orchids, and hanging moss. Of course, the mountain views are still as spectacular as ever—just be sure to watch where you’re walking, as this territory is prone to landslides, especially during the monsoon. We’ll take our time on the descent to Lamite Bhanjyang, which is situated at just 3,410 meters. When we arrive, we’ll sit down to another satisfying meal before spending the night at a guesthouse here in town.

This morning, we’ll set off by descending through the forest for just about an hour. Next, we’ll cross a suspension bridge and climb through more woodland to reach the grazing pastures and cultivated fields near the village of Darachuk. This is a pleasant spot to stop and enjoy our packed lunch as we watch the wandering livestock and listen to the forest’s lively birdsong. Moving on, our path then leads across a suspension bridge to arrive at the community of Yamphudin. All told today’s stretch of the Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek should take approximately four or five hours. Yamphudin is populated by Nepali people of various ethnicities, including both Sherpas and Gurungs. We’re sure to receive a warm welcome when we arrive in town and pick out our lodge for the night.

For our next day on the Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek, we’ll spend some time simply relaxing and enjoying the ambience of Yamphudin. All too often, trekking in the Himalayas is all about relentlessly pressing onto the next destination—and keeping up such a steady pace means that you’re often too tired to truly appreciate village life in each of the towns you visit. We’ll break that mold here, allowing you to meet plenty of the Sherpa, Rai, Gurung, and Limbu villagers who call Yamphudin home. Consider grabbing a local beer, playing cards, chatting with the folks who own your guesthouse, and watching the clouds alternately collect and dissipate over the green hills and snowcapped mountains above the village. There’s still some trekking ahead of us, so today will serve as a welcome respite from the exertion of trotting up and down the mountains.

From Yamphudin, we’ll continue our Kanchenjunga trek by hiking for about five hours in the direction of Yangpang. Our path today will bring us along the Kabeli Khola River, passing a number of charming villages situated on terraced hillsides where traditional crops are sown. This is an excellent opportunity to really get acquainted with Nepali village life, which offers a unique window into the past when compared with the urban hustle and bustle that characterizes cities like Kathmandu, Pokhara, and even Biratnagar. There’s a cultural museum in the village of Mamanke where curious travelers can learn more about Limbu culture. After visiting, we’ll continue to the little community of Yangpang. We’ll get unpacked at our guesthouse here, check out the nearby Hindu temple, and sit down for a hot meal with great views of the always-impressive mountain of Jannu.

As our Kanchenjunga trek approaches its final stretch, we’ll find ourselves walking for about five or six hours through pleasant farmlands and pastures. We’ll finally be leaving the mountains behind, so be sure to enjoy your last glimpses of the mighty Himalayas of eastern Nepal. When we’ve completed our descent to Thorpu, we’ll enjoy our last night of traditional teahouse accommodations—so make sure to ask for a second helping of home-cooked dal bhat!

While it’s possible to drive from Thorpu to Birtamod, we’ll take the scenic road this morning by following our own two feet. As we continue to descend from the mountains, the weather becomes noticeably warmer, but the scenery remains nothing short of captivating. Arriving in Birtamod, you might be surprised to discover a modern town with excellent hotels, busy streets, and plenty of travelers coming and going. We’ll get checked into our hotel, where you can set aside your trekking poles and enjoy a hot shower and a good meal.

The final stretch of our Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek will actually proceed on four wheels today, as we make the short morning drive from our hotel in Birtamod to the airport at Bhadrapur. This short trip should take only about half an hour, and then it’s back to Kathmandu by air. All flights in Nepal are guaranteed to be scenic, but the 45-minute jaunt from Bhadrapur to Kathmandu is sure to have your eyes glued to the window. When our plane touches down in Kathmandu, you’ll get checked into your hotel in the city to spend the night—and you’ll have plenty of time to hunt down a great restaurant for dinner.

No visit to Nepal would be complete without spending plenty of time in Kathmandu. Today makes for a great opportunity to visit any of the cultural attractions you didn’t check out at the beginning of our Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek. You’ll also want to shop for local souvenirs in the colorful markets and curio shops in the tourist district of Thamel. This evening, you’ll return to your hotel to spend the last night on our epic trekking itinerary.

This morning marks the end of the Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek! We hope you’ve enjoyed hiking all the way to the twin base camps of the world’s third-highest mountain. When it’s time for your departure, a representative from Alpine Ramble Treks will transport you back to Tribhuvan International Airport in time for your flight. When the Himalayas call you back to Nepal again, we’ll be there to craft another itinerary that’s sure to fulfill your wildest dreams.