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Kanchenjunga Highlands Expedition adventure image
Kanchenjunga Highlands Expedition hero image.
Trekking

Kanchenjunga Highlands Expedition

Nepal · Nepal Himalaya

A longer remote eastern Nepal itinerary around the Kanchenjunga high valleys.

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

Kanchenjunga Highlands Expedition hero image.
Kanchenjunga Highlands Expedition hero image.

Brodip / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

Photo source

Route stages

Stage 1

Arrival

Kathmandu to Unknown finish

Distance
Varies
Ascent
Varies
Time
Flexible

Arrival. Expect moderate difficulty.

Stage 2

Rest Day

Kathmandu to Unknown finish

Distance
Varies
Ascent
Varies
Time
Flexible

This stage covers Stage based from Kathmandu. Expect moderate difficulty.

Stage 3

Kathmandu – Bradrapur - Taplejung

Kathmandu to Unknown finish

Distance
Varies
Ascent
Varies
Time
8.8h

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

Distance
Varies
Ascent
0M
Time
6h

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

Distance
Varies
Ascent
732M
Time
7h

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

Distance
Varies
Ascent
422M
Time
8h

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

Distance
Varies
Ascent
865M
Time
6h

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

Distance
Varies
Ascent
0M
Time
4h

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

Distance
Varies
Ascent
455M
Time
6h

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

Distance
Varies
Ascent
509M
Time
4h

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

Distance
Varies
Ascent
221M
Time
5h

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

Distance
Varies
Ascent
363M
Time
3h

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

Distance
Varies
Ascent
0M
Time
7h

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

Distance
Varies
Ascent
0M
Time
4h

Following back along the same path for around 4 hours.

Stage 15

Khambachen - Ghunsa

Kathmandu to Unknown finish

Distance
Varies
Ascent
0M
Time
4h

Following back along the same path for around 4 hours.

Stage 16

Ghunsa – High Camp

Kathmandu to Unknown finish

Distance
Varies
Ascent
605M
Time
5h

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

Distance
Varies
Ascent
0M
Time
6h

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

Distance
Varies
Ascent
710M
Time
3h

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

Distance
Varies
Ascent
150M
Time
5h

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

Distance
Varies
Ascent
0M
Time
7h

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

Distance
Varies
Ascent
0M
Time
8h

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

Distance
Varies
Ascent
0M
Time
7h

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

Distance
Varies
Ascent
0M
Time
8h

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

Distance
Varies
Ascent
Varies
Time
9.8h

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

Distance
Varies
Ascent
Varies
Time
Flexible

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

Distance
Varies
Ascent
Varies
Time
Flexible

Fly home on an am or pm flight.

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Peak Kanchenjunga Himalayas

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Mountain collections

Mountain Ranges 1

Nepal Himalaya Peaks

Broad Nepal Himalayan region spanning expedition peaks, trekking circuits, and park-backed mountain areas.