Day 1
Arrival
Arrival. Expect moderate difficulty.
North and South Base Camps Kanchenjunga Trek
25-day trekking itinerary, reaching about 5,388 metres
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Route overview
The trek begins at Taplejung which is a 45 minute flight from Kathmandu to Bhadrapur, followed by a jeep to Birtamod and then to Taplejung. The broad itinerary for the whole trek is below, and we visit the north base camp first. This walk around Mount Kanchenjunga visits both the North and South Base Camps. The route begins by approaching the North side of Kanchenjunga where you will have great views of Tent Peak, Nepal Peak, Cross Peak before the bulk of Kanchenjunga itself becomes visible. From Pangpema on the north side the trek returns to Ghunsa and then crosses Mirgin La pass over to the south side of Kanchenjunga. Once over this pass, you follow the route through Ramche and Oktang where there are impressive views of the South West face of Kanchenjunga. Kanchenjunga Conservation Area is in the far east of Nepal near the border with Sikkim. A flight from Kathmandu to Biratnagar is about 45 minutes.
Why travellers choose this trip
North and South Base Camps Kanchenjunga Trek is a trekking itinerary running over 25 days with a high point around 5,388 metres and a moderate grading. Typical routing includes Kathmandu, Taplejung, Ghunsa.
- 25-day sourced itinerary - High point around 5388 metres - Peak focus: Kanchenjunga - Key locations: Kathmandu, Kathmandu, Taplejung, Ghunsa
Photos from North and South Base Camps Kanchenjunga Trek
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 2
Rest Day
This stage covers Stage based from Kathmandu. Expect moderate difficulty.
Day 3
Kathmandu – Bradrapur - Taplejung
This stage covers Kathmandu – Bradrapur, Taplejung. Expect moderate difficulty, a high point near 1,820 metres. Typical moving time is around 8.8 hours.
Day 4
Taplejung - Sekathum (Sukethum)
This stage covers Taplejung, Sekathum (Sukethum). Expect moderate difficulty, about 0 metres of ascent, about 244 metres of descent, a high point near 1,576 metres. Typical moving time is around 6 hours.
Day 5
Sekathum – Amjilossa
This stage covers Sekathum – Amjilossa. Expect moderate difficulty, about 732 metres of ascent, about 0 metres of descent, a high point near 2,308 metres. Typical moving time is around 7 hours.
Day 6
Amjilossa – Gybala
This stage covers Amjilossa – Gybala. Expect moderate difficulty, about 422 metres of ascent, about 0 metres of descent, a high point near 2,730 metres. Typical moving time is around 8 hours.
Day 7
Gybala - Ghunsa
This stage covers Gybala, Ghunsa. Expect moderate difficulty, about 865 metres of ascent, about 0 metres of descent, a high point near 3,595 metres. Typical moving time is around 6 hours.
Day 8
Ghunsa acclimatisation day and walk to the view point
Ghunsa acclimatisation day and walk to the view point is used as a rest and acclimatisation day. Base altitude or local high point is around 3,595 metres. Short local walks may be used if conditions and energy levels allow.
Day 9
Ghunsa to Khambachen
This stage covers Ghunsa to Khambachen. Expect moderate difficulty, about 455 metres of ascent, about 0 metres of descent, a high point near 4,050 metres. Typical moving time is around 6 hours.
Day 10
Khambachen - acclimatise with a trek to Janu View Point (Kumbhakarna Base Camp)
This stage covers Khambachen, acclimatise with a trek to Janu View Point (Kumbhakarna Base Camp). Expect moderate difficulty, about 509 metres of ascent, about 0 metres of descent, a high point near 4,559 metres. Typical moving time is around 4 hours.
Day 11
Khambachen - Lhonak
This stage covers Khambachen, Lhonak. Expect moderate difficulty, about 221 metres of ascent, about 0 metres of descent, a high point near 4,780 metres. Typical moving time is around 5 hours.
Day 12
Lhonak – Pangpema (Kanchenjunga north side base camp)
This stage covers Lhonak – Pangpema (Kanchenjunga north side base camp). Expect moderate difficulty, about 363 metres of ascent, about 0 metres of descent, a high point near 5,143 metres. Typical moving time is around 3 hours.
Day 13
Pangpema - half day hike and then drop back to Lhonak
This stage covers Pangpema, half day hike and then drop back to Lhonak. Expect moderate difficulty, about 0 metres of ascent, about 363 metres of descent, a high point near 4,780 metres. Typical moving time is around 7 hours.
Day 14
Lhonak – Khambachen
Following back along the same path for around 4 hours.
Day 15
Khambachen - Ghunsa
Following back along the same path for around 4 hours.
Day 16
Ghunsa – High Camp
From Ghunsa, the trail climbs steeply 500m to the high camp, for an overnight stay in preparation for the trek to Mirgin La Pass.
Day 17
High Camp – Mirgin La Pass 4663m – Tseram
This stage covers High Camp – Mirgin La Pass 4663m – Tseram. Expect moderate difficulty, about 0 metres of ascent, about 330 metres of descent, a high point near 3,870 metres. Typical moving time is around 6 hours.
Day 18
Tseram – Ramche
This stage covers Tseram – Ramche. Expect moderate difficulty, about 710 metres of ascent, about 0 metres of descent, a high point near 4,580 metres. Typical moving time is around 3 hours.
Day 19
Day trek to Oktang (Kanchenjunga South Base Camp)
This stage covers Day trek to Oktang (Kanchenjunga South Base Camp). Expect moderate difficulty, about 150 metres of ascent, about 0 metres of descent, a high point near 4,730 metres. Typical moving time is around 5 hours.
Day 20
Ramche – Tortong
This stage covers Ramche – Tortong. Expect moderate difficulty, about 0 metres of ascent, about 1,735 metres of descent, a high point near 2,995 metres. Typical moving time is around 7 hours.
Day 21
Tortong – Yamphudin
This stage covers Tortong – Yamphudin. Expect moderate difficulty, about 0 metres of ascent, about 915 metres of descent, a high point near 2,080 metres. Typical moving time is around 8 hours.
Day 22
Yamphudin – Mamanke
This stage covers Yamphudin – Mamanke. Expect moderate difficulty, about 0 metres of ascent, about 295 metres of descent, a high point near 1,785 metres. Typical moving time is around 7 hours.
Day 23
Drive from Mamanke - Kanyam
Drive from Mamanke, Kanyam. Expect moderate difficulty, about 0 metres of ascent, about 343 metres of descent, a high point near 1,442 metres. Typical moving time is around 8 hours.
Day 24
Drive to Bhadrapur, fly to Kathmandu
Drive to Bhadrapur, fly to Kathmandu. Expect moderate difficulty. Typical moving time is around 9.8 hours.
Day 25
Rest day in Kathmandu - explore the city or possible onward travel
Rest day in Kathmandu, explore the city or possible onward travel is used as a rest and acclimatisation day. Short local walks may be used if conditions and energy levels allow.
Day 26
Onward travel
Fly home on an am or pm flight.
Nearby mountains for the same itinerary
Explore this destination
Mountain collections
Mountain Ranges
1
Nepal Himalaya Peaks
Broad Nepal Himalayan region spanning expedition peaks, trekking circuits, and park-backed mountain areas.
Mountain Ranges
2
Sikkim and Eastern Himalaya Peaks
Eastern Indian Himalaya focused on Kanchenjunga-facing and Sikkim objectives.