Kanchenjunga Trek is surely strenuous but best designed route for the adventure seekers having basic mountaineering skills, to give the best views of both the north and south face of Kanchenjunga (8586m/28171ft), a third tallest peak after Mt. Everest and K2 that lies in the borderline between Nepal and Sikkim in India.
Kanchenjunga lies on the eastern border of Nepal providing a great chance to experience remoteness, spectacular mountain scenery, diverse flora and fauna and rich local culture, quite different to those found further west.
As Kanchenjunga forms the border between two countries we cannot complete a circuit around the mountain, but this route takes us to the foothills of Kanchenjunga both the north and south base camps on the Nepali side on a long and arduous four weeks trek that crosses either one of the pass, 4663m Mirgin La or the 5160m Lapsang La depending on the weather condition.
Kanchenjunga trek was open to trekkers since 1988 and is possible to walk here as part of an organised camping trek arranged through an agency.
Kanchenjunga area is the homeland of the ethnic group of Limbu people who speak a language related to Tibetan and follow a mixture of Buddhist, Hindu and animist beliefs.
Even though the views above Ghunsa are breathtaking in this trek, the facilities for trekkers are limited and the upper stages of the trek pass through desolate valley, scourged by icy mountain winds. As this trek route takes us to a maximum elevation of (5140m/16864ft), we must be alert for the symptoms of AMS.
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival Kathmandu (1300m/4265ft)
Day 2 Acclimatise in Kathmandu
Day 3 Fly to Biratnagar (72m/236ft); Drive to Basantpur (2200m/7218ft)
Day 4 Trek Chauki (2680m/8793ft) 5-6 hours; 580m ascent, 100m descent
Day 5 Trek Gupa Pokhari (2890m/9482ft) 4-5 hours; 320m ascent, 110m descent
Day 6 Trek Gurjagaon (2000m/6562ft)
Day 7 Trek Dobhan (640m/2099ft)
Day 8 Trek Mitlung (880m/2887ft)
Day 9 Trek Chirwa (1190m/3904ft)
Day 10 Trek Sakathum ( 1640m/5381ft ) 5-6 hours; 450m ascent
Day 11 Trek Amjilosa (2490m/8170ft) 4-5 hours; 890m ascent
Day 12 Trek Gyabla (2730m8957ft) 4-5 hours; 240m ascent
Day 13 Trek Ghunsa (3410m/11188ft) 6-7 hours; 680m ascent
Day 14 Trek Khambachen (4150m/13616ft) 5-6 hours; 740m ascent
Day 15 Acclimatise in Khambachen
Day 16 Trek Lhonak (4790m/15716ft) 4-5 hours; 640m ascent
Day 17 Trek Pang Pema (5140m/16864ft) 3-4 hours; 360m ascent
Day 18 Trek back Khambachen; 6-7 hours; 1000m descent
Day 19 Trek back Ghunsa 4-5 hours; 740m descent
Day 20 Trek Sele La (4115m/13501ft)
Day 21 Trek Tseram (3870m/12697ft)
Day 22 Trek back Torontan (2990m/9810ft) 4 hours; 880m descent)
Day 23 Trek back Yamphudin (1690m/5545ft)
Day 24 Trek back Phumphe (1780m/5840ft) 5-6 hours; 380m ascent, 290m descent)
Day 25 Trek back Lali Kharka (2266m/7435ft)
Day 26 Trek back Taplejung (1820m/5971ft)
Day 27 Fly to Biratnagar; Fly to Kathmandu
Day 28 Fly back home or extend your holidays
