Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek

We will welcome you in a traditional way upon your arrival at Kathmandu Airport, then head to the hotel for some much-needed rest. In the evening,join us for a welcome dinner where we will share all the trip details. Afterward, you will return to the hotel for a good night's rest.

On your second day, we will help you settle in and feel at home by exploring some of Kathmandu’s key UNESCO heritage sites, including Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple) and  Kathmandu Durbar Square. Meanwhile, our team will handle all trek preparations—permits, tickets, and gear etc. After returning to the hotel, you will have time for any last-minute shopping before the trek. Overnight stay at the same hotel in Kathmandu.

Today, we take a short flight (about 45–50 minutes) from Kathmandu to Bhadrapur (Chandragadhi Airport). From there, we drive in a local jeep through the beautiful tea gardens of Kanyam, following the Mechi Highway. The scenic drive takes us to Taplejung, where our Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek begins.

After breakfast, we will take a local jeep and start our second day’s journey to Sekathum. Most trekkers walk to Sekathum from Taplejung, but we are making our trip shorter by using the available transport. This way, we reach Sekathum two days earlier than usual. The drive takes us through several villages like Mitlung, Chirwa, Thapethok, and Lelep, following the Tamor River. On the way, we will pass the Kanchenjunga National Park entry point, where our permits will be checked before we continue to Sekathum.

After two days of driving, our adventure in the Himalayas starts as we follow the Ghunsa Khola, crossing several bridges along the way. We walk through green forests and pass small villages like Jonggim and Ghaiyabari before reaching Amjilosa.

After breakfast at Amjilosa, we continue our hike to Gyabla, also called Kyapra. We walk through thick forests on a quiet trail where no people live. If we’re lucky, we might see a Red Panda along the Kanchenjunga Trail. After climbing uphill, we enjoy beautiful views of mountains and waterfalls. Step by step, we make our way and finally arrive at Gyabla village.

Today, our walk goes through beautiful forests full of different plants and animals as we reach Phale village. Then, we continue steadily to Ghunsa village. Many trekkers stop at Ghunsa to rest and adjust, but we will do our acclimatization day later at Khambachen.

After breakfast, we start a gentle climb through open pine forests, where we might see blue sheep and even snow leopards. The trail goes through some landslide areas. Along the way, we enjoy amazing views of Mt. Jannu and beautiful green glacier valleys before reaching Khambachen village.

We spend two nights in Khambachen at 4,100 meters to help our bodies adjust to the altitude. On this day, we hike to the base camp of Janu Himal. Since there are no places to eat on the trail, we carry a packed lunch with us.

The view from the base camp is breathtaking. The whole area is often covered in snow, and we get to see Kumbhakarna, the 32nd highest peak in the world. We also visit a sacred site where the Kirat people worship their god. After spending some time exploring, we walk back to our teahouse in Khambachen.

Today, we walk over rocky ground from the Kanchenjunga Glacier. The trail goes uphill with big stones, and we see beautiful views all around us. We are now in an area where snow leopards live, so we keep looking – maybe we’ll be lucky! This place is also used for yak grazing in summer, but there are no villages along the way.

We reach Kanchenjunga North Base Camp, also called Pangpema, at about 5,143 meters (16,873 feet). This is the final point of our trek and gives us an amazing view of Mt. Kanchenjunga (8,586 meters), the world’s third-highest mountain, along with other beautiful peaks like Tent Peak and Chang Himal.

On the way, we pass through quiet villages, thick forests, high meadows, and rocky glacier paths. It’s one of the most adventurous treks in Nepal.

Since there are no tea houses at Pangpema, we stay at Lhonak and hike to the base camp as a day trip. The area is wild and peaceful, with huge ice walls and glaciers all around. Because of the high altitude, we need to be well acclimatized and physically fit. Reaching the base camp is tough, but the views and experience make it truly worth it.

We hike down from Lhonak (5,065m) to Ghunsa (3,475m), following the same trail we used before. On the way, we pass through beautiful alpine landscapes and the villages of Ramtang and Kambachen. We still get great views of Kanchenjunga’s north face. Going downhill is easier on our lungs, but some parts of the trail are rocky and need careful walking. We may also spot blue sheep or signs of snow leopards along the way, which makes the walk even more exciting.

As we drop about 1,600 meters in height, the scenery slowly changes back to green forests. By late afternoon, we reach Ghunsa—a peaceful Sherpa village with wooden houses, prayer flags, and a quiet monastery. Here, we enjoy a comfortable stay with good food and a warm place to rest before we begin our journey toward the southern base camp.

After breakfast, we leave Ghunsa and walk past the forest. Soon, we see open grasslands and colorful plants. The mountain views are beautiful and make us feel happy. As we move ahead, the view of Phale village slowly disappears. When reach Sele La, the views from here are amazing. On the way, we see some camps. There are two places to stay in Sele La – upper and lower – and we will stop where it’s best for us.

After leaving Sele Le, we hike up to some high mountain passes—first Sinion La (4,440m), then Mirgin La (4,480m), and finally Sinelapche Bhanjyang (4,645m). As we climb, we get amazing views of Mt. Jannu, Everest, Makalu, Baruntse, Chamlang, and Kanchenjunga. After enjoying the views, we go downhill and reach Tseram, where we stay for the night.

After an early breakfast, we start our trek along the Yalung Glacier, getting closer to the stunning mountain views. As we walk, we can see Rathong (6682m) and Kabru (7412m). We’ll stop for lunch at Ramche. Then, we hike up to Oktang, also known as the viewpoint of Yalung or Kanchenjunga South Base Camp. From there, we enjoy breathtaking views of the three peaks of Mt. Kanchenjunga along with other high mountains. After exploring this remote and rarely visited base camp, we return to Tseram.

Now, we walk slowly down steeply from the high mountains into thick rhododendron and pine forests. On the way, we may see birds, deer, or even a red panda.

The trail is rough with steps and slippery parts, so we use trekking poles. Tortong is a quiet place with two teahouses and basic services. There’s no internet, and charging costs extra. Spring water is available but needs to be boiled or purified. This downhill walk helps us feel better as we reach lower altitudes.

From Tortong, we keep walking downhill along the Amji Khola, passing through Lasiya (or Lamite) Bhanjyang at 3415m and Dhupi Bhanjyang at 2665m. After walking through some steep areas, we arrive at Yamphudin village. If we started our trek from the Kanchenjunga South Base Camp side, our permits will be checked at the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area checkpost in Yamphudin.

After breakfast in Yamphudin, we begin walking along the trail beside the Kabeli Khola, enjoying the beautiful landscapes. Leaving the mountain villages behind, we take a drive to Kanyam, a lovely place known for its tea gardens. On the way, we see tea and cardamom farms through the window. With sweet memories of our high-altitude trek, we now arrive in the peaceful lowlands. Kanyam is popular with local visitors, and we’ll likely see many enjoying the scenic tea gardens.

We will start the day with breakfast, then spend some time exploring the green tea gardens in Kanyam, Ilam. After that, we drive for about 2 to 3 hours to Bhadrapur. In the late afternoon, we take a 45 to 50-minute flight back to Kathmandu.

Enjoy a leisurely day in Kathmandu — unwind at your boutique hotel, indulge in spa or massage treatments, shop for exquisite handicrafts, or take a private cultural tour. The day is yours to savor in style.

And now, it's time to depart from Nepal. What an adventure it has been! We will drop you at Kathmandu Airport — fly back home taking a beautiful memory in your heart.