Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek

Himalayan Dream Team will pick you up at the international airport in Kathmandu for your transfer to the hotel. As a welcome you will have a typical Nepalese dinner with some of the staff members. Learn about momo's and Dal bhat and do not forget to try our typical Nepalese drink with great mood of cheers.

After breakfast, we'll take you on a tour of Durbar Square, Pashupatinath Temple, Swayambhunath Stupa, and Boudhanath Stupa, all UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Durbar Square offers insights into the lives of royals in ancient times. Pashupatinath Temple holds great significance as a pilgrimage site for Hindus. Swayambhunath, also known as the Monkey Temple, and Boudhanath Stupa, one of the world's largest stupas, are both iconic landmarks

Our scenic flight from Kathmandu to Bhadrapur is scheduled for the morning. As we soar through the skies, we'll be treated to magnificent views of lush green hills and stunning landscapes. Upon our arrival in Bhadrapur, we will embark on a drive to Ilam, a district in eastern Nepal known for its exquisite tea plantations. This area boasts a diverse range of rare birds and endangered wildlife, such as the red panda. Ilam is a charming region that exports its renowned tea to various parts of the world. In addition to tea, other popular products from the area include cardamom, ginger, milk, potato, and more

Following breakfast, we'll resume our voyage by driving to Taplejung from Ilam. The Mechi Highway and verdant hills of Ilam serve as the picturesque path for the Kanchenjunga trekking route. Ilam, also known as the "Queen of Hills," boasts a moderate climate and fertile land. The stunning tea plantations offer a scenic glimpse of the area.

Our journey will continue as we depart from Taplejung and trek towards Sinuwa. Along the way, we'll encounter several scenic paths, such as the lush hills, tranquil rivers, and ridges. The route also guides us through rural communities of the area that feature mud houses, rice fields, and terraced farms as we descend towards the Tamor Khola River.

Our next adventure will begin by departing from Sinuwa Village on a descending path. We'll traverse relics and obstacles before crossing the Tamor khola river via a wooden suspension bridge. The trail will then guide us through a variety of natural terrains before leading us to Chiruwa. Following our visit to Chiruwa, we'll follow the Tamor River path until we reach Taplethok.

Departing from Taplethok we enter the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area. We follow the Tamor Khola river to a point where the Tamor and Ghunsa Khola rivers converge. After crossing both rivers we reach Sekathum, where the jeep track ends.

As the golden sunrise welcomes a new day, we'll ascend a trail from Sakathum to Amjilosa. From there, we'll proceed northeast along the Ghunsa Khola riverbanks to our intended destination. As we approach the Kanchenjunga Base camp, we'll gradually gain elevation. The challenging path will eventually guide us to Amjilosa, a stunning Tibetan village.

Our next adventure involves trekking from Amjilosa to Gyabla, where we'll traverse scenic paths adorned with rhododendron and bamboo forests. As we climb uphill, we'll come across a magnificent waterfall. Feel free to snap pictures and explore the waterfall for a while. We'll then follow the riverbank trail, leading us to Gyabla, our ultimate destination for the day. 

Today’s adventure will guide us through scenic paths that wind through breathtaking forests. We’ll follow the river trail until we reach Phale, a Tibetan village that started as a Tibetan refugee camp decades ago. After Phale, we continue through the forest toward Ghunsa. When weather is clear, we’ll have our first views of the snow-capped summits of Jannu and Kabru. Ghunsa is the largest village in the area with a school, health center, monastery and multiple guesthouses.

There are different options for acclimatization walks around Ghunsa. One option is to cross the river the way we came from the day before and start ascending to a viewpoint at approximately 3900m. From this viewpoint we can see Ghunsa village and its surrounding hills, some snow-capped mountains in the distance. Also, we’ll have a good view into the valley where we came from yesterday. The round trip to this point takes approximately 3-4 hours. Additionally, you can explore Ghunsa and visit the monastery. 

Our adventure continues as we depart from Ghunsa and trek through a variety of pine and rhododendron forests. As we slowly rise above the tree line, more and more snow-capped peaks appear. We follow the southern bank of the Ghunsa Khola before we cross the river and arrive in Khambachen. From the village we have a spectacular view towards the north face of Jannu (7711m). Optional: when weather is good and there is enough time left it is possible to walk to Jannu Base Camp (4700m) after an early lunch in Khambachen. This will take an extra 4-6 hours of walking. Optional: stay for an extra acclimatization day in Khambachen, which can be used to visit Jannu Base Camp. 

Today the trail takes us mainly over moraine from the Kanchenjunga Glacier. Walking uphill over large boulders there are wonderful views on both sides of us. Before we reach Lhonak we will cross an area of summer yak pastures with views towards Kanchenjunga. When we continue to Lhonak and reach the Kanchenjunga Glacier, we will have stunning views towards Mera Peak (6344m), Nepal Peak (6910m) and Twin Peak (7351m).

Today we will start our trek early in the morning heading east following the glacier towards Pangpema Base Camp. This is blue sheep habitat, when we are lucky we might see some. From base camp we will have beautiful views towards Kanchenjunga and its glacier. You can explore the area and take incredible pictures. After our visit to Pangpema, we return to Lhonak for the night. Optional: walk to Drohmo Ri (6000m) from Pangpema, for even better views of Kanchenjunga. 

Today we will retrace our steps back to Ghunsa via the same trail we took earlier. However, the hike will offer a fresh perspective of the region, with breathtaking views of the snow-capped mountains. We will stop in Khambachen for lunch and then continue through the pine and rhododendron forests to Ghunsa. 

Today's trek will take us through some awe-inspiring trails, with steep and rocky roads that wind through a beautiful forested area, leading us to the High Camp. Along the way, we will cross a high pass situated just above Sele la Kharka.

After witnessing the sunrise and having breakfast, we will embark on an incredible trek towards the Sele le Pass. This will involve crossing two passes, namely Sinion La (4660 m) and Sele La (4480 m). Once we have crossed Sele La pass, we will continue our journey on a descending trail, covering a distance of 1000 m to reach Tseram. The trail will take us through some beautiful landscapes, and we will have ample opportunities to enjoy the stunning views along the way. 

After a first ascent we will reach a more gradual trail that will take us into an eroded valley with breathtaking views of the snow-capped peaks of Kabru. The trail will lead us via Ramche to Oktang Base Camp, a viewpoint that offers stunning vistas towards Kanchenjunga and other majestic peaks on the Nepal-India border. We return the way we came to overnight at Tseram. Optional; stay overnight in Ramche (4580m) instead of going all the way back to Tseram. There are not a lot of places to stay in Ramche, so this might not be possible when there are many people on the trail.

Today the trail is mostly downhill through a gorge following the Simbuwa Khola river. The final section is uphill through pine and rhododendrons forest towards Torangden

After we cross the Simbuwa Khola river, the trail makes a steep climb up through the forest. When we reach the pass it is an easy descent towards the guest house where we will spend the night. Optional: combine day 19 and 20 as both are relatively short days. Future: They are working on a new trail directly from Tseram to this new place Zarani that will bypass Torangden. In the future this will be only 1 day of walking.

Our next destination is Yamphudin, which we will reach after trekking from Torangden via the Lasiya Bhanjyang. Unlike other days, the route is relatively easier. We will descend from the Lasiya Bhanjyang until we reach Yamphudin, a charming little village where Sherpas, Gurung, Rais, and Limbus reside.

We will descent through forest along the Kabeli Khola river, with various waterfalls of different sizes along the way. Later we will cross hills with cultivated fields and small villages. After lunch in Mamanke it is another hour of easy walking along an old jeep track to Pumphe.

After enjoying a stunning Himalayan sunrise over breakfast, we will begin our journey by ascending a ridge and then descending into a series of side valleys. Along the way we will pass through cultivated fields and small villages, until we reach the village of Bhanjyang.

This is the final day of our trekking as we make our way towards Suketar. This day involves desending as well as ascending through rice and millet fields. Eventually we will follow a jeep track towards Lalikharka and Deurali. From Deurali the best option is to take a jeep to Suketar instead of walking a very dusty jeep track down to Suketar.

Today we have a long drive ahead to Bhadrapur where we will also spend the night.

Our flight back to Kathmandu in the morning takes around 45 minutes with a last glimpse of the area where we did this adventurous and long trekking. In Kathmandu we will transport you back to the comfort of a hotel. Our tip is to take a nice long massage as reward for body and mind.

This last day you can wander all around Thamel to look for some lasting souvenirs and take a nice Masala tea on one of the many local terraces or even a cappuccino in one of the very modern Java coffeeshops.

Depending on your flight time, we will transport you to the Tribhuvan airport. You can leave your luggage in the hotel till departure time.