Introduction of Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek
Trekking is the most done and the most chosen outdoor activity in Nepal. There are diverse trekking trails that hold the countless diversity of nature and its beauty. Those trails carry enormous untouched beauty as well as the uninfluenced culture of ethnic people. Most of these trekking trails lie in the western side of Nepal as there are very less trekking trails that are built or managed in the eastern part. And very few of them are considered the proper trekking trails, which offer the proper features and the aspects of the Himalayan trekking journey. Among them, the long trekking journey of Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek becomes a vital choice or a landmark for the Eastern trekking trail.
It consists of a long trail with the untouched beauty of nature and the unspoiled culture of eastern ethnic people and the mountain settlements. It is also unique as it holds another ethnic group than then what you find in the most of the trekking trails in the western part of Nepal. Trekkers also see the empty trekking trail most of the time around the whole year, this trail of Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek is not that well known due to the over shaded by popular trekking trails like Everest Base Camp Trek and the Annapurna Base Camp Trek as well other popular trekking trail of Nepal. Also, the reason is that the tourist attraction in the Eastern part is generally very low compared to the western parts of Nepal.
So, the region of Kanchenjunga remains untouched and traveled by the less crowded every year, making it an unspoiled beauty region of the Himalayas, beneath the third highest peak in the world, Mt. Kanchenjunga. The trail goes all, around the lap of the high hills of Eastern Nepal.
Here, we bring you the proper package of this journey scheduled with the 25 days of itinerary which offers you the proper and a pretty long journey around the sanctuary of Kanchenjunga range. You will get a diverse and unique collection and a combination of various plants and animals that you rarely or can’t see over the western region of Nepal and also holds a different hilly culture than the western region of Nepal which carries overall very similar to the Himalayas of Nepal. So, stick here to explore more about the region with us having the Kanchenjunga base camp trek.
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Trip Highlights
- Breathtaking journey, through the unspoiled and untouched nature beneath the third-highest peak in the world
- Less crowded trails and empty paths
- A diverse ecosystem holding various plant species and different wildlife
- Witnessing the variety of flowers including the Rhododendrons, OIaks, and Magnolias
- Encountering wildlife including Snow Leopard, Red-billed Blue Magpie, Himalayan Black Bear, Red Panda, and Musk Deer
- Witnessing very unique side of the Himalayas
- Several rivers, lakes, waterfalls, streams, and lots of glaciers
- Adventurous journey through different Himalayan terrains, cliffs, rough routs, difficult formations, and other factors of mountain
- Witnessing of culture and the tradition of ethnic people such as Limbu, Rai, Gurung, and Sherpa
- Taste of different local foods and the local cuisines
- The journey with the diversity and the combination of beauty, nature, geography, and the culture of people.
Route Map
Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek Detail Itinerary
01
Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu
Your journey starts with your arrival in Kathmandu, at the TIA, (Tribhuvan International Airport). You will see one of our office representatives or the staff waiting for you at the airport.
You will be picked up from there and taken to the home check-in. Thereafter you will get a short briefing about the trip and its whole itinerary. After that, you can have a nose time hunting local street foods in Kathmandu.
Your overnight stay will be at the 3-star hotel in Kathmandu.
Max Altitude
1400m. / 4,593ft
Accommodation
Hotel 02
Day 02: Sightseeing Tour in Kathmandu Valley
With the fresh morning in Kathmandu, you will get breakfast to get ready for the sightseeing tour in Kathmandu Valley. You will be taken to the historical and some of the religious sites of Kathmandu Valley.
You will be taken to the religious pilgrimage temple of Pashupatinath, the Buddhist stupa of Swayambunath, the ancient architectural miracle of Boudhanath, and historical sites like the Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Patan Durbar Square, and Kathmandu Durbar Square. All of them are also on the list of UNESCO World Heritage list.
You will get your accommodation facility in a 3-star hotel in Kathmandu.
Accommodation
Hotel 03
Day 03: Fly to Bhadrapur And Drive To Illam
With the morning breakfast, we will get ready for the flight to Bhadrapur. It takes you the 45min of flight time to get through the flight, as you will get a very scenic flight over the hilly landscapes of Eastern Nepal, enjoy them. Once we arrive at the Bhadrapur Domestic Airport, we will head towards the Illam driven by a private vehicle.
This drive up to the Illam Bazer will be one of the most scenic during your itinerary as it goes through the landscapes of Eastern Nepal covered with tea farms. The places like Kanyam and Fikkal will be the best scenic point for you. It holds the enormous beauty of midhill covered with tea farms. You will also see the separating point of hills and the plain area while going through the upper Jhapa district.
After arriving in Illam, you can have your time there hanging around in the hill town of Illam district.
You will get your overnight stay at the local hotel in Illam Bazar.
Activity
45 min & 2 hours of drivingMax Altitude
1627m. / 5,338ftAccommodation
Hotel 04
Day 04: Drive to Yamphudin
You will get one of the best mornings in this itinerary at the local town of Illam. After taking the morning breakfast, we will be heading for the Yamphudin through the drive of about 8 hours of drive. It is also going to be a very scenic and amazing journey through the mid-hill to the upper hill. You will get the very unique culture of settlements of small towns from where the highway goes through pinpointing as the marketplace for local people.
After about 8 to 9 hours of driving you will get there at the Yamphudin. It is a small village at the Taplejung which covers most of the area of Kanchenjunga Conservation Area.
You will get the overnight at a local Teahouse in Yamphudin.
Activity
8 hours of driveMax Altitude
2080m. / 6,824ftAccommodation
Teahouse 05
Day 05: Trek to Jhoreni from Yamphudin
Today in the morning at the village of Yamphudin, we will have breakfast and start our trek to Jhoreni. The trek is not that long but consists of ascends and descends which makes it a little longer. We will be going through the alpine forest and some of the ascending terrains. After some ascends we will be having little descending paths which take us to the little pasture of land where we will be staying there.
We will be staying there in a local lodge.
Activity
5 to 6 hours of trekMax Altitude
2500m. / 8,202ftAccommodation
Lodge 06
Day 06: Trek from Jhorani to Torongten
We are on the 6th day of the trekking itinerary of Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek. We will have the ascend over the ridge above the Kabeli Valley and the south Kanchenjunga range. We will be on more precautions as we will be having a little bit difficult path until we arrive at the Torongten.
We will get our lodge for the overnight stay.
Activity
6 hours of walkMax Altitude
2995m. / 9,826ftAccommodation
Lodge 07
Day 07: Trek to Tseram
On the seventh day of the itinerary of your trek, you will have to ascend through the trail above the Torongten. You are already in the remotest part of Eastern Nepal at this point. With the beauty of valleys and the small peaks around you will arrive at the Tseram where few lodges can be seen.
The overnight stay will be there at the lodges.
Activity
7 to 8 hours of walkMax Altitude
3865m. / 12,680ftAccommodation
Teahouse 08
Day 08: Trek To Ramche
With the morning at the Tseram, after the slight ascend we will see the several huts used by the sheppards, at the vast pasture of lands beneath the high hills. After crossing some of the shepherd huts across different pastures of lands we will arrive at the Ramche, where we will also see the great view of Yalung Glacier.
Activity
4 hours of trekMax Altitude
4200m. / 13,780ftAccommodation
Teahouse 09
Day 09: Exploration day of South KBC and Back to Remche
After getting the Himalayan morning at the Remche, we will ascend some of the mountain terrain. The ascends is up to the South of Kanchenjunga Base Camp. After exploring the massive view of the Kanchenjunga range and its sot rounding we will return from there down to the Ramche for the overnight stay.
Activity
8 hours of walkMax Altitude
4810m. / 15,781ftAccommodation
Teahouse 10
Day 10: Decent to Tseram
We will descend to Tseram, through the same trail which we ascended to Remche. We will be staying there in lodge in there at Remche.
Activity
5 hours of trekMax Altitude
4200m. / 13,780ftAccommodation
Lodge 11
Day 11: Trek To Selela
We will be descending again down to Selela Pass. Down there, you will see the majestic beauty of Kanchenjunga’s surroundings. We will be staying there at the campsite for accommodation.
Activity
6 hoursMax Altitude
4200m. / 13,780ftAccommodation
Lodge 12
Day 12: Descend to Ghunsa
After the overnight stay at the seller, we will be descending to the Ghunsa, through several passes including Sinion La( 4660m), Miring La (4663m), a Second pass( 4115m) an unnamed pass (4724m), and a Tamo La Pass( 3900m).
The best thing you will see there is the Anda Pokhari, with crystal clear water and very beautiful surroundings, through the rhododendron and Oak forest we will arrive at the Ghunsa after a steep descent.
You will get your overnight there at the Ghunsa.
Activity
7 hoursMax Altitude
3475m. / 11,401ft
Overnight Stay
GhunsaAccommodation
Lodge 13
Day 13: Trek from Ghunsa to Kangbachen Base
We will follow the trail along the Ghunsa River. It is like a riverside trek. We are already in the middle of our itinerary for Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek at this point. The trail is full of rhododendrons and juniper trees. We will also pass through several small landslides which is an often thing in the mountain region. Through such sketchy and steep paths, we will arrive at the Khangbachen.
We will be staying there at Kangbechen.
Activity
6 hours of trekMax Altitude
4050m. / 13,287ftAccommodation
Lodge 14
Day 14: Explore Janu Base camp and Back to Kangbachen
From Kangbachen, it’s just a matter of some hours of trekking to get there in Janu base camp. After getting there we will explore some parts of the Jamu base camp. It holds the majestic beauty of the Kanchenjunga sanctuary. You will experience the tranquil environment of the Kanchenjunga region at this point.
You will get your overnight at the kangbachen after we get back there.
Activity
7 hours of trekMax Altitude
4500m. / 14,764ftOvernight Stay
KangbachenAccommodation
Lodge 15
Day 15: Trek To Lonak
On the 15th day of this itinerary, we will trek up to there in Lonak. We will go through several open fields where you can witness the blue sheep and lucky enough the very rare snow leopard. Lonak is considered one of the most beautiful places in Nepal which lies just at the side of the dry lake.
We will be staying there at Lonak for an overnight stay.
Activity
8 hours of trekMax Altitude
4780m. / 15,682ftAccommodation
Lodge 16
Day 16: Hike to Pangpema and KBC and return to Lonak
This is the day when we will summit the main point of this trekking journey, We will hike up to the Pangpema and Kanchenjunga Base Camp. And we will again return to the Lonak for the overnight stay.
The hike will take 6 hours to reach there at Pangpema and with a further walk of a couple of hours we will arrive at the Kanchenjunga Base Camp. Up to here, it will be the most difficult climb of this trekking itinerary, as we will be going through the proper mountain terrain and the difficult steps as well.
So, after arriving in both of Pangpemna Kanchenjunga Base Camp we will explore there and have some time enjoying the majestic view of the Kanchenjunga Sanctuary. We will return to Lonak thereafter and manage an overnight stay there in Lonak.
Activity
8 hours of trekMax Altitude
5140m. / 16,864ftAccommodation
Lodge 17
Day 17: Desend To Kangbachen
Now, from this day we will be returning from the Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek by ascending from where we came ascending to there.
We will ascend back to the kangbechan from Lonak through the alpine forest and the downhill descends.
Overnight stay will be at the Kangbechen.
Activity
5 hours of trekMax Altitude
4050m. / 13,287ftAccommodation
Lodge 18
Day 18: Trek to Ghunsa
Again we will be heading back to Ghunsa through the same trail that we came through. We will be having the same trek through the same scenic points, forests, and hilly terrains.
Overnight stay will be there at the Ghunsa.
Activity
6 hours of trekMax Altitude
3475m. / 11,401ftAccommodation
Lodge 19
Day 19: Trek to Gyable
From the Ghunsa we will be changing a bit trail from where we ascended from. From there we will be taking the route through another lap of the hill to get there in the Gyable. We will be going through the rhododendrons and juniper trees. Also the very dense alpine forest at some points. You will be seeing several crystal clear cold streams following down the hill.
Once we arrive at the Gyable, we will be exploring the place around there. Our overnight stay will be there at the Gyable.
Activity
6 hours of trekMax Altitude
2310m. / 7,579ftAccommodation
Lodge 20
Day 20: Trek To Amjilasa
With the very refreshing morning at the Gyable, we will be heading towards the Amjilasa. Down there, you will witness several settlements and Himalayan farming terraces, with the farming of traditional farming methods. These also hold the enormous beauty with the backdrop of the great Himalayan range.
We will be staying there at Amjilasa for the overnight.
Activity
7 hours of trekMax Altitude
2310m. / 7,579ftOvernight Stay
AmjilasaAccommodation
Teahouse 21
Day 21: Trek To Sekhathum
On the day after the overnight at Amjisila, we will be heading towards another point of this trek to Sekhathum. Down there we will start to see the small settlements of local ethnic groups of people like Limbu, Rai, Gurung, and Sherpa. There you can also witness the local culture and the traditions followed by them. You can reach for and try out several local foods and cuisines all over there.
Sekthathum is still a cultural place located at the Taplejung with an uninfluenced culture which is now a rare story of traditions.
We will be having our overnight stay there in Sekhathum.
Activity
7 hours of trekMax Altitude
1650m. / 5,413ftAccommodation
Lodge 22
Day 22: Drive to Kanyam
Today, the actual walking journey for the trekking journey of Kanchenjunga Base Camp trek comes to an end. With the morning breakfast, we will be taking a drive down to Kanyam. It takes you through the same scenic highway that you came through up to the Taplejung between mid-hill roads.
The Kanyam is itself a very beautiful landscape of a tea farm. It holds the majestic and breathtaking beauty as it is also called the Queen of Hills. You can have your time there hanging around the tea farm as we will be there throughout the full day.
We will be having an overnight stay there in Kanyam in a Hotel or a resort.
Activity
8 hours of driveMax Altitude
1629m. / 5,344ftOvernight Stay
KanyamAccommodation
Hotel 23
Day 23: Drive To Bhadrapur Airport And Fly Back To Kathmandu
After breakfast and a morning meal at Kanyam, we will be taking a drive to the Bhadrapur Airport. From there you will be getting the flight to the city of Kathmandu.
You can enjoy your scenic flight which gives you the time of 45 min flight.
Overnight stay will be there at a 3-star hotel in Kathmandu.
Activity
3 hours drive and 45 min flightMax Altitude
1829m. / 6,001ftAccommodation
3-star hotel in Kathmandu 24
Day 24: Rest Day In Kathmandu
This day will be fully dedicated to your rest day and a little refreshment after the long and tiring journey of such a long trek. But you still can use this day to explore more about Kathmandu hanging around the streets of the city and hunting for food. Or you can have a visit to the local market and shop for something to take with you. Or you also can have and experience the nightlife at Thamel.
Overnight stay will be there at a 3-star hotel in Kathmandu with a farewell dinner.
Max Altitude
1400m. / 4,593ftAccommodation
3 star Hotel 25
Day 25: Departure for Kathmandu
Today you will get your departure from Kathmandu. Your 25 days of long itinerary of this trek of Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek comes to an end.
You will be given breakfast and taken to the airport and dropped there by private vehicle, for your departure.
If our standard itinerary doesn't fully meet your needs, we are happy to tailor it to your specific preferences and requirements.
Private Trip or Group Joining ?
Private Trip
A private trip offers complete flexibility, personalized itineraries, and tailored experiences. You enjoy privacy, exclusive attention from guides, and the freedom to travel at your own pace, making the journey more intimate and customized to your preferences.
Group Joining
Joining a group tour offers cost savings, added safety, and the chance to meet new people. It provides expert guidance, organized logistics, and a more enriching experience through shared insights and camaraderie.
Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek - Trip Information
Kanchenjunga Base Camp lies over the very naturally rich region of Nepal. It covers and holds the massive features of an untouched nature and its factors. So, the beauty and the features of the region remain equally diverse all over the year. You only find the difference in the features of nature which hold different during the changing seasons. Therefore it’s hard to pick any of the seasons as the best time e to have this trek as it is also a matter of personal choice and the specific interest of what features a trekker wants in their journey. But by considering the most chosen features you could get in a single trek, the season of Spring and Autumn is considered the best time to have any trekking journey all over Nepal.
During the Spring, you will get the blossoming, landscapes as all the flowering plants and vegetation get its blossoming phase. Hence, it’s the Kanchenjunga region you will also witness the very rare Himalayan flowers and plants which are found very rarely and specifically in a region. The weather also gets stable and the days get longer, from where you can enjoy your itinerary days longer. You will get clear visibility and a refreshing environment as all the dust in the air got washed by the pre-monsoon just before the spring. Overall, you will get a scenic and refreshing journey during this season.
During the Autumn, you will get the most stable weather at its peak, and the visibility the most clear than any other month of the year. The journey becomes colorful, with the dry leaves, all over the trail as the changing phase of the plant leaves will be there. Your journey gets very scenic and mesmerizing. You will get a picturesque walk through different features and the factors of the region. Overall, your journey will get all the features dry trekking should have during Autumn.
The managing of accommodation food and drink during the journey of Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek is a bit complex, as it goes through the long trail and the remotest parts of Nepal. Most of the stays are managed and scheduled in teahouse, which are more basic than the Teahouse of ABC or In EBC because of low number of visitors every year. Therefore it is also another challenge we will have to tackle during this trekking journey.
Other than that it will be there in the hotel and Teahouse for the accommodation and overnight stay, which provide basic services but still a good accommodation with better hospitality.
Out of that, the menu in the hotel and teahouse consists of local foods like Dal Bhat Tarkari, momo, noodles, eggs, soups, and many more. You will also find a wide range of Western dishes but you need to wait until you arrive in Kathmandu. We can also find these items in different small towns during the journey, but it is very uncertain to find any of the specific dishes.
So, you will be getting your stay from 3star hotel to the teahouse and lodges which is also the feature of this trekking journey which offers you several experiences of different living standards.
The best thing about the accommodation during this trek is all at the teahouse and mountain lodges as it is also the way to enjoy nature and the trekking adventure more than any casual or regular trek.
This trek holds the difficulty level of stannous hard and even for the experienced trekkers it is on the list of hard trekking journeys. So, with its difficulty and the long range of trekking journey over the proper Himalayan region and the geography, you also need to have the proper and strict preparation to not get into trouble during your trekking journey over the trail of Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek.
For fitness, you need to be in good shape and have a healthy body, as it goes through several difficult terrains and mountain steps. This trek also covers landscapes and the remote parts of the Himalayan region.
So, you need to be prepared for your essentials and equipment as well as the necessary materials during your trekking. Do carry enough clothes which can cover the 25 days of the itinerary. Even in the summer, it gets extremely cold during the night so, keep clothes which can keep you warm rather than carrying stylish or trendy ones. Carry an extra pair of socks and footwear too, as if you find any fault or damage during your journey in the KBC trek then it is impossible to find any other pair of footwear for you as there are no settlements miles away from one place to another.
Also carry the essentials items personally like water bottles, trekking poles, crampons, and others that you think you need the most during the trek.
But do not carry any kind of essentials or stuff that you will not use much or do not need that often during the trek as the weight of the essentials already gets heavy due to the instruments, gears, and equipment of camping. It may increase the weight more than necessary and can ruin the experience of the journey.
Also, do not forget to carry the basic medical kits with you and some of the basic medical support as it is going to be a great help during any unfortunate accidents or any such incidents. And having such a diverse and long journey over the Himalayan terrain and the dense forest it is often a thing to get small wounds. And it can lead to further infections if not treated at the time.
Note: The above pre-ration is only the surface suggestion and some recommended points. This type of long trek which consists of remote areas and camping needs a proper and strict plan. You will get all the information about the preparation and other stuff during the briefing session on the day of your arrival. You can have your questions and queries to know about your doubts. You will get the proper plan and schedule for all the itinerary days during the briefing.
The region of Kanchenjunga is still a restricted area to preserve the diversity of nature, the rare and uninfluenced culture of the ethnic community, and the geographic formations that hold the prehistoric characters back from hundreds of millions of years. So, you need to have some permits to get access inside the Kanchenjunga region. You need the following permits as,
- (KRAP) Kanchenjunga Restricted Area Permits
- (KCAPEP) Kanchenjunga Conservation Area Permit
The above are the required permits to do the Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek. You need to get them from the official government boards or the official representative. They all should be filled with your legal information and the official stamp issued by the government of Nepal or the Tourism Board of Nepal. Without permission accessing or entering the region is considered illegal and can be taken under legal charges if found doing so. Don’t worry all the procedures during the permits will be helped by our staff.
Most Asked Questions
Why this trek is not that popular?
This is because of overshadowed by other popular trekking trails like Annapurna Base Camp Trek, Everest Base Camp Trek, and many more. Also due to its location in the East which is overall not as popular for tourists as what you can see in the western parts of Nepal. But it’s gaining popularity slowly with its enormous beauty and the unspoiled geography with the modern infrastructure.
Is there any potter or guide I need to hire by myself?
No, you do not need to hire any potter or the guide by yourself as it comes or is provided for you with the package which you get along with this. It includes the local potter and the government-licensed guide. You just need to give your attention to enjoy your trip.
What currencies are there in use in this trek?
You only can use the Nepalese currency on the trail of Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek. There is no use of any other foreign currency. So, carry your amount in Nepalese currency and cash as online transactions are also very rare in the region. You can exchange them in Kathmandu with the international exchange rate.
Is there any other outdoor activity besides trekking in this region?
Besides trekking and climbing, there are no other outdoor activities available, as mentioned above the region itself is not that well explored, and not visited often. So, it is in progress to open any other outdoor or adventure activities out of trekking and climbing. The region still holds great potential for such kinds of outdoor activities.
Does altitude sickness happen in this trekking?
The highest elevation during the Kanchenjunga Base Camp trek is the height of 5160m from the sea level and the effect of altitude sickness happens to begin from the altitude of 3000m. So, of course, there is a high chance of getting altitude sickness in your journey over the trail of KBC Trek if not follow, or stay on precautions.
What are the minimum and the maximum walk per day in this trekking journey?
The minimum walk you will need in this journey is the walk of about 6 hours of continuous journey and a maximum of 8 to 9 hours of continuous journey through walk. And this is all through the difficult terrains and sometimes through normal terrain too. But it also depends upon the speed and the ability to walk during the trek.
