Stage 1
Arrival
Kathmandu to Unknown finish
Arrival. Expect moderate difficulty.
Kanchenjunga Highlands Expedition
A longer remote eastern Nepal itinerary around the Kanchenjunga high valleys.
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Route mini map
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
A longer eastern Nepal trek using the Taplejung and Ghunsa corridor to build a more remote Kanchenjunga mountain journey.
- Travel through Taplejung and Ghunsa - Extend the Kanchenjunga approach into a fuller mountain journey - Keep the trip focused on remote eastern Himalaya terrain
Photos from Kanchenjunga Highlands Expedition
Route stages
Stage 2
Rest Day
Kathmandu to Unknown finish
This stage covers Stage based from Kathmandu. Expect moderate difficulty.
Stage 3
Kathmandu – Bradrapur - Taplejung
Kathmandu to Unknown finish
This stage covers Kathmandu – Bradrapur, Taplejung. Expect moderate difficulty, a high point near 1,820 metres. Typical moving time is around 8.8 hours.
Stage 4
Taplejung - Sekathum (Sukethum)
Kathmandu to Unknown finish
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.
Stage 5
Sekathum – Amjilossa
Kathmandu to Unknown finish
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.
Stage 6
Amjilossa – Gybala
Kathmandu to Unknown finish
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.
Stage 7
Gybala - Ghunsa
Kathmandu to Unknown finish
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.
Stage 8
Ghunsa acclimatisation day and walk to the view point
Kathmandu to Unknown finish
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.
Stage 9
Ghunsa to Khambachen
Kathmandu to Unknown finish
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.
Stage 10
Khambachen - acclimatise with a trek to Janu View Point (Kumbhakarna Base Camp)
Kathmandu to Unknown finish
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.
Stage 11
Khambachen - Lhonak
Kathmandu to Unknown finish
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.
Stage 12
Lhonak – Pangpema (Kanchenjunga north side base camp)
Kathmandu to Unknown finish
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.
Stage 13
Pangpema - half day hike and then drop back to Lhonak
Kathmandu to Unknown finish
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.
Stage 14
Lhonak – Khambachen
Kathmandu to Unknown finish
Following back along the same path for around 4 hours.
Stage 15
Khambachen - Ghunsa
Kathmandu to Unknown finish
Following back along the same path for around 4 hours.
Stage 16
Ghunsa – High Camp
Kathmandu to Unknown finish
From Ghunsa, the trail climbs steeply 500m to the high camp, for an overnight stay in preparation for the trek to Mirgin La Pass.
Stage 17
High Camp – Mirgin La Pass 4663m – Tseram
Kathmandu to Unknown finish
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.
Stage 18
Tseram – Ramche
Kathmandu to Unknown finish
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.
Stage 19
Day trek to Oktang (Kanchenjunga South Base Camp)
Kathmandu to Unknown finish
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.
Stage 20
Ramche – Tortong
Kathmandu to Unknown finish
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.
Stage 21
Tortong – Yamphudin
Kathmandu to Unknown finish
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.
Stage 22
Yamphudin – Mamanke
Kathmandu to Unknown finish
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.
Stage 23
Drive from Mamanke - Kanyam
Kathmandu to Unknown finish
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.
Stage 24
Drive to Bhadrapur, fly to Kathmandu
Kathmandu to Unknown finish
Drive to Bhadrapur, fly to Kathmandu. Expect moderate difficulty. Typical moving time is around 9.8 hours.
Stage 25
Rest day in Kathmandu - explore the city or possible onward travel
Kathmandu to Unknown finish
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.
Stage 26
Onward travel
Kathmandu to Kathmandu
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.