Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek

Nepal High Trek welcomes you to Nepal for an amazing trekking trip to an abode of the world’s 3rd tallest mountain, Mount Kanchenjunga. Our airport representative will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel in Thamel. You will meet your trekking guide and all the trip details will be briefed to you. Overnight in a hotel

Today is a free day for you! Our office staff will process for the restricted area permit from the immigration department. Meanwhile, you can choose to explore different UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE sites of the Kathmandu Valley. It is not included in your trekking package but we can arrange transport and guide services upon your request with additional cost. You can inform our travel planners to book a Kathmandu Day tour or you can simply tour on your own to various touristic or local places of the valley. Overnight in a hotel

Early in the morning, you will be picked up from your hotel and we will travel to domestic airport in Kathmandu for our flight to Bhadrapur. Upon reaching Bhadrapur, we will meet our rest of the crew members and drive to Phidim. The route is through tea garden hills to Phidim where we will stop for a while to enjoy this majestic queen hills of Eastern Nepal. Overnight in a lodge.

After breakfast, we will hop on the jeep and head to Sekathum. Before we start the dirt mountain track road drive, we have to reach Taplejung where you can buy last minute things before the trek. Our road trip drops down along the Tamor River Valley all the way to a small hill town of Sekathum. It is also the trailhead of the Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek. Overnight in a tea house.

Today is the first day of the trek. We will begin our trekking after breakfast. Our trekking guide will conduct short stretching session before starting the trek. We will Cross suspension bridges over river confluences and hike up steep forest gorges and narrow stone steps to the Sherpa village of Amjilosha. Overnight in a tea house

We will gradually gain altitude on this day. Today’s trek features waterfalls, streams, hamlets, and forests. Therefore, we will have joyous walking events on this day. Our journey starts after breakfast and we ascend through dense bamboo, oak, and rhododendron forests along roaring mountain streams and waterfalls before arriving at Gyabla. Overnight in a tea house.

Today’s highlights include our trek crossing wooden bridges over roaring glacial streams along the way. We eventually arrive at Ghunsa, the main Sherpa or Tibetan settlement in the valley where we are greeted by painted wooden houses, prayer flags, and well equipped tea houses. We will begin our trek with a gentle descent toward the riverbank before starting a steady climb into dense rhododendron, fir, and pine forests after breakfast. As we gain altitude, the gorge starts to open up to reveal expansive grassy alpine meadows around us. The village of Ghunsa is the largest Tibetan influenced village on the northern side. Overnight in a tea house.

Early in the morning, we will start to feel the mountain adventure on this day. We will be staying another day and a night for acclimatization. After breakfast, we will begin our acclimatization activity. It is to help our body to adapt in higher elevation place. We will walk toward Yamatari Glacier and visit the local monastery. Before our push above 4000 m, it is important to take this acclimatization day seriously.

Our activity includes standard acclimatization route by ascending toward the Yamatari glacier through dense larch forests so we can practice the classic climb high and sleep low strategy of acclimatization. We spend our time exploring and understanding the ancient local cultures by visiting local monastery as well as interacting with the local people. The sweeping views of the surrounding ice walls as our bodies naturally adapt to the higher elevation can surely alleviate our overall trekking experiences. Overnight in a tea house.

We start our morning leaving Ghunsa and quickly find ourselves heading up into rugged alpine country. The path leads us right alongside rushing glacial riverbanks where the sound of moving water follows our every step. We have to watch our footing closely as we navigate across open boulder fields and areas where landslides have washed away parts of the trail. It requires full focus and steady legs, but every time we look up, the views take our breath away. Standing directly above us is the gigantic, sheer north face of Mt. Jannu, also known as Kumbhakarna. Its massive rock walls loom over the valley in a way that feels almost unreal. As the elevation climbs to over 4,000 meters, the landscape grows rougher and wilder with every mile we cover. We take slow, steady steps to conserve our energy while taking in the high-mountain air. By the time we arrive in Kambachen, we are tired but completely awed by the scale of these giant peaks. Overnight in a tea house.

Leaving Kambachen behind, we continue our push higher into the mountains as we head toward Lhonak. Today we hike right along the lateral moraine of the massive Kanchenjunga Glacier. As we gain elevation, we watch the last of the trees completely disappear from the landscape. The scenery shifts into open alpine tundra filled with low-growing shrubs, grey rock, and vast gravel beds. The air is noticeably thinner up here, so we keep a comfortable, measured pace.

On the dry hillsides above us, we keep our eyes peeled and often spot herds of wild blue sheep grazing peacefully on the sparse grass. The trek takes us about four to five hours of steady walking until the valley suddenly opens up into Lhonak. This place is a vast, isolated plateau sitting at nearly 4,800 meters, completely surrounded by towering ice peaks and swept by cold mountain winds. We drop our gear, stretch our legs, and take in the total peace of this remote high-altitude wilderness. Overnight in a tea house

We roll out of our sleeping bags early today for our big trip up to North Base Camp, also known as Pangpema. The air is freezing, but our excitement keeps us warm as we head out along the edge of the Kanchenjunga Glacier. We follow narrow glacial ridges and scramble across loose, rocky scree trails that require careful step placement. It takes us several hours of hard, steady climbing to reach an elevation of over 5,100 meters. When we finally step onto the flat ground at Pangpema, the effort pays off instantly. We are standing directly across from the sheer, icy North Face of Mt. Kanchenjunga, the third-highest mountain on Earth.

The giant wall of ice and rock dominates the entire horizon, leaving us completely speechless. We spend plenty of time taking photos, drinking hot tea from our flasks, and soaking in one of the most famous mountain vistas in the world. Afterwards, we turn around and retrace our steps back down the moraine to Lhonak to rest up. Overnight in a tea house.

After spending time in the deep freeze of the high plateau, today we begin our journey back down the valley toward Ghunsa. We retrace the very path we came up, winding past Kambachen as we descend. Overnight in a tea house.

Today we leave the main valley trail behind and branch off onto a much quieter, remote path toward Sele La Kharka. The trail immediately begins to climb up through dense, mossy pine and rhododendron forests that feel completely untouched by the outside world. The ground beneath our boots is soft, and the smell of pine fills the cool mountain air. We take our time making our way up the steep switchbacks, listening to the quiet sounds of the woods.

After a few hours of climbing, the thick forest suddenly opens up into high alpine pasturelands, locally known as a Kharka. We have left all the big permanent villages behind now, and the total tranquility of the wilderness surrounds us. Sele La Kharka sits at nearly 4,300 meters and acts as our quiet staging ground for the big pass crossing scheduled for tomorrow. We spend the afternoon resting our muscles, drinking plenty of fluids, and checking our gear to make sure we are fully ready for a long day on the high ridges. Overnight in a tea house.

We wake up before dawn to tackle what is easily the most physically demanding day of our entire trek. Today we traverse a high, exposed mountain ridge and cross three major passes in a single go: Sele La, Mirgin La, and Sinion La. The climb up to the first pass is steep and relentless, testing our stamina right out of the gate. As we reach the top of the pass at over 4,600 meters, the views wipe away all our tiredness.

On a clear day, the panoramas extend for miles, letting us spot iconic giant peaks like Makalu and Mt. Everest standing sharp against the blue sky. We trek along the rocky ridge lines, carefully navigating the high-altitude terrain while battling the mountain winds. After successfully crossing all three passes, we begin a long, knee-jarring descent down into the Simbua Khola valley. The trail drops sharply over rocks and scree until we finally reach the small settlement of Tseram. We arrive feeling exhausted, proud, and ready for a heavy meal and early sleep. Overnight in a tea house.

Even though our legs are tired from yesterday's pass crossings, today offers another incredible highlight as we make a day hike toward South Base Camp. We set off from Tseram and trek past the small pasture of Ramche, following the lateral moraine of the Yalung Glacier. The path leads us along elevated, high-alpine trails flanked by towering rock walls and hanging glaciers. After a steady three-hour walk, we reach the famous Oktang viewpoint.

Standing here, we look straight up at the massive, icy South Face of Mt. Kanchenjunga, which towers thousands of meters above us. Neighboring peaks like Rathong and Kabru rise up beside it, forming a huge wall of snow and granite that blocks out the sky. We stand at the viewpoint taking in the sheer power of the landscape and snapping photos to capture the moment. After spending a quiet hour enjoying the sights at South Base Camp, we turn around and take a easy stroll back down to Tseram for our second night. Overnight in a tea house

Today is all about going down and getting warm as we begin our long descent out of the high mountains toward Tortong. We join the river trail following the Simbua Khola, which rushes and tumbles alongside our path. The trail drops steadily, and with every hour of walking, we can physically feel the temperature rising around us.

The barren grey rocks of the high altitudes quickly disappear, replaced by ancient oak, pine, and dense rhododendron woodlands. Sunlight filters through the thick canopy above, and the air smells rich with wet earth and green leaves. The walking feels pleasant and rhythmic as we stroll under the shade of massive trees. By the time we reach the small riverside stop of Tortong, we feel warm, relaxed, and fully energized by the lush greenery around us. It is a wonderful change of pace after so many days spent up in the cold ice and scree. Overnight in a tea house.

We start our day with one last proper mountain climb as we head out from Tortong toward Lasiya Bhanjyang pass. The trail leads us up through steep, dense jungle terrain where heavy moss hangs from the trees and thick vegetation crowds the path. Pushing up through the humidity makes us sweat, but we keep a steady rhythm until we top out at the pass around 3,310 meters. Once over the top, the trail begins a long, steep descent down into the warmer, lower agricultural valleys. As we lose elevation, the landscape transforms from wild jungle into neat, green terraced farming fields.

By late afternoon, we reach Yamphudin, one of the most charming villages on the entire route. This vibrant mountain community is home to a rich blend of Limbu, Rai, and Gurung families living side by side. We walk past traditional wooden houses, smiling children playing in the yards, and fields of growing crops. It is wonderful to be back among local culture and warm human hospitality after our time in the wilderness. Overnight in a tea house

Our final day of actual foot travel is a beautiful, easy walk through the mid-hill countryside from Yamphudin to Khebang. The trail winds through vibrant rural farmland, bright green terraced rice fields, and peaceful hamlets sitting along quiet riverbeds. We pass local farmers working their crops, water mills spinning in the streams, and livestock grazing along the dirt paths. The walking is gentle and mostly downhill, allowing us to stroll at an easy pace and chat as we go. It gives us a fascinating, up-close look at everyday life in the remote hill regions of eastern Nepal. There are no massive ice walls or snowy passes today, just warm sunshine, colorful countryside views, and friendly waves from locals as we pass through their villages. By the time we step into Khebang, we have officially completed the entire walking circuit of our adventure. We kick off our dusty trekking boots, stretch our sore feet, and celebrate finishing one of the most rugged and remote treks in the Himalayas. Overnight in a tea house

We will travel back to Birtamode on a 4WD jeep for a scenic ride out of the mountain foothills down to the flatlands around Birtamode via Illam known for its tea plantation hills. Overnight in a lodge

We will fly to Kathmandu from Bhadrapur. Upon reaching Kathmandu, the officials of the Nepal High Trek will meet you and review about the trek. You will have free to roam around Kathmandu valley’s cultural attractions. Overnight in a hotel.

Today is a reserve day! We always keep a reserve day at the Nepal High Trek to make sure that you don’t miss your international schedule. We can work on our trekking itinerary flexibly to adjust according to your demands. Overnight in a hotel

We bid farewell to Nepal, concluding our incredible adventure with the team of the Nepal High Trek in the home of the world’s 3rd tallest mountain, Mount Kanchenjunga. We will depart with promise to meet again for another adventure in Nepal.