Kanchenjunga South Base Camp

Day 01: Kathmandu, 1360m

You arrive in Kathmandu and are transferred to the hotel. A pre-trek briefing will be scheduled to discuss the trekking program and co-ordinate any last-minute arrangements.

Day 02: Kathmandu Sightseeing

Today we explore Kathmandu on an organized sightseeing tour. This will include a visit to the Bodhnath Stupa, one of the biggest Buddhist shrines in the world. We also visit Pashupatinath, located on the banks of the holy Bagmati River and home to the most famous Hindu temple in the country. Here we will see Hindu holy men (saddhus) and pilgrims performing ritual bathing, and occasionally, funeral pyres burning on the Ghats.
The early afternoon will be free to relax in the hotel garden or visit Thamel for last minute shopping. You will be supplied with your trek departure information in the afternoon.

Day 03 : Fly to Suketar (Taplejung) then trek to Jogidanda (2059m)

After breakfast at the hotel, we take a flight to Suketar (35 min). From the airport in Suketar, the trail inclines gradually along the rhododendron covered Surke Danda, crossing a ridge at 2580m the trail branches from here, the Kanchanjunga trail descends and contours through forests to Jogidanda crossing Limbu Village near jogidanda Jogidanda our first camping sight of our trek.

Day 04 : Jogidanda- Chirwa (1800m)

Trek to Chirwa(1171m.) and it takes about seven hours. The path to follow is quite narrow and passes through jungle mainly covered with cardamom plants and other vegetation. You can also see the small gardens of orange on your way. You cross through some small streams while trekking. This day your trek is through ascent and descent paths. You walk along the more flat land. Chirwa is a small town where you find small lodges and camping site with local shops. The people are mainly engaged in agricultural activities.

Day 05 : Chirwa – Sakathum (1660m)

Trek from Chirwa to Sekathum(1635m.) which takes about six hours. Your trek passes through a small jungle along with the bank of river. You find the plants of cardamom and other different vegetation. The trail normally ascends and descends as well. You cross a small hanging bridge before you reach Sekhathum. You spend overnight

Day 06 : Sakathum – Amjilosa (2510m)

Trek from Sekathum to Amjilosa ( 2510m.) and it takes about five hours. The first one and half-hour you trek through normally flat land. Then your trail goes steeply ascent up to Amjilasa. Amjilassa is small village with few houses and yak herds with local shops where you find minimal supplies. These shops are also called Bhattis and teashops.

Day 07 : Amjilassa – Kyapar (2730m)

Trek from Amjilosa to Kyapar ( 2730m.) which takes about seven hours. The trail is quite flat in the beginning and gently ascent to Gyable passing through jungle. There can be seen human settlement at Gyable. People living here follow Buddhist culture. You stay overnight

Day 08 : Kyapar – Ghunsa (3695m)

Trek to Ghunsa (3468m.) which takes about six hours. Your trails pass through jungle. You can see Gunsa river down the trail. The trail passes through few human settlements and it is clearly visible that their life style and culture has been inherited from Tibet. You pass through terrace fields where are grown potato, wheat, barley, buck wheat and so on. The local trader are involved in export-import business in Tibet. The traders go to India for trade activities during the winter season.

Day 09 : Ghunsa – Khambachen (4099m)

Trek from Ghunsa to Kambachen (4124m.) which takes about six and half hours.
The trail makes a gradual ascent along the south bank of the Gunsa Khola, then crosses a boulder strewn flood plain and crosses back to Rambuk Kharka on the north side of the river. Once on the opposite side, the trail passes a waterfall then makes a short, steep ascent to a very unstable scree slope. It’s a passage across the slide, with loose footing, a steep fall to the river and lots of tumbling football-sized rocks. Beyond the slide, the trail drops to the single locked hut at Lakep, then traverses to Khambachen, a Tibetan settlement of about a dozen houses at 4040m

Day 10 : Rest Day

Khambachen (4099m) It is again time to stop and acclimatize. There are view of the high peaks near Kanchenjunga , Khabour, Phole, Nango Ma and Jannu. Climb a ridge above the village for more views or take aday hike to the Jannu base camp.

Day 11 : Khambachen – Lhonak (4785m)

The trail climbs gradually through open tocky fields to Ramtang, 4240 metres, then across moraines northwest of the Kanchenjunga Glacier. Lhonak 4790 metres is near dry lake bed on an open sandy plain. Terrific mountain views abound in all directions.

Day 12 : Lonak – Pangpema (5143m)

You can not see the main Kanchenjunga peak from Lhonak, for a view of this peak you must go on to the base camp at Pang Pema, 5140 meters. The spectacular main peak of Kanchenjunga and a panorama of other peaks that make up one of the largest mountain in the world tower over the single roofless hut at Pang Pema

Day 13 : Pangpema (5243m)

Trek from Pangpema to Kanchanjunga (North) Base Camp (5280m.) and trek back to Pangpema and it takes approximately eight hours. The trek goes upward until you reach Base Camp. Here you can enjoy the snow capped mountains and Kanchenjunga glacier. There are gorges of mountain glacier where water flows all the time. During the middle of the day, the scene of falling avalanches captivates you completely. While trekking back you climb down till Pangpema. On the way you can see yaks and mountains grazing in the pastures.

Day 14 : Pangpema – Khanbachen (4040m)

Take a moraning hike up to the ridge north of Pang Pema. A climb of 200 to 300 meters provides a vantage point with views of Kanchenjunga, Wedge Peak, the Twins, Pyramid Peak and Tent Peak. As usual, the descent goes faster, you can easily get back to Khambachen in a single day.

Day 15 : Khangpachen -Lumba Samba (4206m)

We select to cross either of the 2 passes today depending on the weather conditions: Lapsang La, the higher pass at 5180m or the Mirgin La at (4500m) .

Day 16 : Lumba Samba – Ramche (4580m)

Trek to Ramche [4360m) and it takes about seven hours. You have a short walk today to your next camp at Ramche. The scenery is magnificent as you ascend past the snout of the Yalung Glacier and into a series of ablation valleys. A frozen lake, crystal clear streams and views of Kokthan, Rathong and Kabru are the highlights of this walk into Ramche which is situated on a broad, flat ablation zone.

Day 17 : Ramche (4580m)

Explore around South base camp. Ramche for Exploration and walk approximately for 5 to 6 hours. Leaving your camp set up at Ramche, you take a packed lunch and set off very early for your first close encounter with Kanchenjunga. Following the valley around its sweeping curve, you are suddenly confronted with the vast southern wall of the mountain. The ridge forms a cirque, which is over 15 kms long and never less than 7500 metres high. Along this ridge lie the three main summits of Mt Kanchenjunga at 8420m, 8586m, and 8474m. It is truly breathtaking. Proceeding further on towards Oktang [4630m], you may then descend onto the glacier and cross it to a point below Talu from where you can see all the mountains of the area in panorama. Especially impressive is the east part of Khumbakarna Glacier flowing from the east face of Jannu [Kumbhakarna being the local name for Jannu]. You then return to your camp at Ramche.

Day 18 : Ramche – Cheram (3870m)

Trek from Tseram (3725m.) and it takes about seven hours. You trek through almost desert like area and some places you cross is stony trail. The path is ascent from Mirgin La to Tseram. On the path, you can see Lapsang La glacier,Mirgin La glacier and snow-capped mountains. There are very few stone roof houses at Tseram and yak huts. You stay overnight.

Day 19 : Cheram – Tortong (2995m)

The hike starts in forest, then crosses landslides to Tsento Kang, a goth at 3360 meters. An hour beyond is a Buddhist Shrine. Peaks begin to appear in the distance as you climb further.

Day 20 : Tortong – Yamphudin (2080m)

Trek to Yamphudin (2090m.) which takes about 8 to 9 hours. The first part of the trekking goes along the bank of the river, Simbua Khola. You have to walk through jungle. On the way, you can see the landslide at some places. The trails normally ascends up to Lamite Bhanjyang and then descends to Yamphudin crossing the small river. Yamphudin is a mixed community of Sherpas, Limbus, Rais and Gurungs. Among the corn and rice fields of the village there are a school and some shops with minimal supplies.

Day 21 : Yamphudin – Anpan (2040m)

Trek from Yamphudin to Anpan (1740m.) which takes about 6 to 7 hours. In the beginning, you descend crossing the Omje Khola up to halfway. Now you ascend through the jungle of cardamom and orchid plants. You pass a small village where you can find different human settlements, small thatched roof houses and local shops with minimal supplies. From here, the trails is quite ascent up to Khebang Danda and then you trek in descending order to Khebang village. Khabang is comparatively big village where is found the people following religion of Hindu and Buddhism.

Day 22 : Anpan – Tembewa Height (2000m)

It takes 7 hrs

Day 23 : Tembewa – Taplejung or Suketar (1780m-2300m)

It takes 6 hrs

Day 24 : Taplejung or Suketar – KTM (1300m)

After breakfast at the lodge of Suketar we go to the airport to fly to Biratnagar and then from there we connect flight to Kathmandu. Arrive Kathmandu and then transfer to the hotel

Day 25 : Kathmandu free day of your own.

Enjoy a day exploring some of the quieter streets of Kathmandu, stocking up on souvenirs and presents for those back home. This evening you have a farewell dinner, you will be picked up in good time

Day 26 : Final Departure.