Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek

Hello and Namaste! Welcome to Nepal. As you arrive at the Tribhuvan International Airport, a representative of our company will be waiting to welcome you. Soon as you exit the terminal you will see him. After an affectionate meeting between you two, he will accompany you to the private car. Once you have settled into the car, he will then transport you to one of the hotels in Kathmandu.

You will Check in at the hotel and should take some time to chill out and unwind. After calming down in your hotel, you'll prep for the trek briefing in our office. All of the trek's specifics will be covered in this presentation. Therefore, feel free to ask the presenter any questions you may have immediately. Overnight in Kathmandu.

As the country's capital, Kathmandu offers a distinctive feeling of its history, natural beauty, and cultural attractions. To be more specific, you will be driven to those unique locations of the city for the sightseeing trip. These locations are particularly significant for many religions which date back to the medieval ages or maybe earlier. The destinations on this trip include Boudhanath Stupa, Swoyambhunath, Pashupatinath Temple, and Kathmandu Durbar Square. Furthermore, you have the option of picking Patan Durbar Square instead of other destinations.
 

Accordingly, the historical works of art are exhibited at all of these places in different formats. Finally, after seeing these wonderful locations for half a day, we are going to regroup to organize the clothing and trekking supplies (a sleeping bag, and a down jacket) for the Kanchenjunga circuit trek. After concluding all things, you can kick back and spend the evening exploring the city's streets. Overnight at the Hotel in Kathmandu.

Today we will have to arrive at the airport to take a flight towards Biratnagar. After arriving at this lowland region of Nepal, we will have to check the flight availability to Suketar from Biratnagar. You will be presented with either of the two options. If a flight to Suketar is available, you can stay the night in Biratnagar and take a flight the following morning. Or, if no flights are available to Suketar, you will have to drive to Phidim and spend the night there.

On this day, you will either be flying directly to Suketar or taking a drive from Phidim to Suketar. If you have to take a drive, it would require you to a long and slow trip through a rugged path. It would typically take you 9 hours to drive from Birtanagar to Suketar. Anyhow, Suketar is the destination for the day, where you may relax with an excellent meal and comfortable lodging at a local teahouse.

Today, we will start our Kanchenjunga circuit trek journey by walking downhill toward Mitlung. The paths mostly travel through the lower parts of the Kanchenjunga range, passing through farming valleys with picturesque views of open meadows and little settlements. Soon, we will cross the Hangdewa River and follow the rushing Tanor River. Then further, the route will become steeper as we proceed northward from the trailhead. Finally, following the ascent, you will drop 350 meters on a muddy trail in the direction of Mitlung. Overnight at the lodge in Mitlung.

You should plan on trekking for at least 5 hours today. Firstly, we gradually incline the path and then descend before we reach Chirwa. Thereafter we continue to trek downhill to reach Tawa. Continuing, we will climb some height and cross the suspension bridges at Thiwa. And finally after passing through the remote landscape on the way we will reach Chirwa. Chirwa is a beautiful Limbu village that consists of a few lodges and teahouses. After reaching this place, you can explore first and then come to relax at the lodge. Overnight at the lodge in Chirwa.

Today, we'll embark on a special path that passes through a variety of settings, including deep forests and fields of cardamom. We will slowly ascend a hill before descending once again to the lush pastures below. Further, we move on through the thick woods as we make our way to the Tamor River. Here on the route, we will also register our permits at the checkpoint. 

Continuing along the path we will cross the river and the forest hills of pine to finally arrive at Lelep. Here you will stop for lunch and enjoy the beautiful stupas and stone-built homes. After lunch, we will cross the bridge of the Tamor River once again and head through Ghunsa Valley to finally reach Sukathum. Overnight at the lodge in Sukathum.

Today we will be leaving Amjilosa and eventually crossing the suspension bridge and walking alongside the river. Soon after, we will enter the dense forest, ascend the trail and descend to cross the river. Continuing along the trail, you can enjoy the stunning views of hills above the layers of forest. Moving further, you will climb a steep hill and arrive at Amjilosa after hiking for about 4 to 5 hours. Considering how difficult the path is going to be, it is strongly advised you be careful as you pass through the gorges of this particular area of the Kanchenjunga circuit trek. Overnight at the hotel in Amjilosa.

Today, the true appearance of the eastern Himalayas will be shown to you. As we stroll through the Ghunsa Valley, we'll pass by plains that are open to the sky, forests of rhododendron, fir, and bamboo, as well as glittering waterfalls. Today we will walk for four to five hours, although the final 30 minutes will be spent ascending a hard hill. The trail passes through the beautiful waterfall and soon goes through a steep climb that brings us to Gyabla. Here, the hospitality of the sherpa people and the dazzling views of the forested valley will surely enchant you. Overnight at the lodge in Gyabla village.

Our hike will continue by heading towards the ravine and then continue forward to the flat trails leading to the Riverbank. From here, we will do an easy stroll that goes through rhododendron and fir forests which will ultimately lead us up to the open pastures which surround the Tibetan Refugee settlements. Here, you may buy locally crafted handicrafts and homemade rugs.
 

If you are genuinely interested, get some of those and continue the trail through the Conifer and pine forest that will ultimately lead you to the Sherpa Village of Ghunsa. Basically, this location is famous for its hydropower plant and a helicopter crash that took the lives of more than 20 individuals. Overnight at the lodge in Ghunsa.

As today is our first acclimatization day of the Kanchenjunga circuit trek, we will go out and explore the area around Ghunsa to Acclimatize to the surroundings. Since we have to follow the climb high sleep low rule, we will have to remain active. You can opt to hike up to the glacier at the Chherpuk Kharka or, you could also choose to walk above the monastery which goes through the Lobsang la Pass. The top point offers breathtaking views of Ghunsa Peak, Sele la Pass, and several other peaks. After spending a while on the pass, return to Ghunsa and get enough rest for the journey tomorrow. Overnight at the lodge in Ghunsa.

Today we will join the trail to the north along the river bank and enjoy the dazzling mountainous landscapes. Continuing, we pass through meadows full of flowers and rhododendron forests. Here you may also spot some wild animals like blue sheep and snow leopards. On this day, you will also go through a few places where landslides are likely to occur. You must be extremely cautious when you travel on this road.
 

Meanwhile, if the landslide region is risky, we will take a different route, which will add another 30 minutes to our journey. Finally, after crossing the landslide area, we will begin to see the fabulous views of Mt.Jannu and later on cross the difficult trail ultimately leading us to Khambachen. Overnight at the lodge in Khambachen.

Today is our second acclimatization day in the Kanchenjunga circuit trek. We'll relax and enjoy most of the time and for some while make a brief ascend to the ridge in the Nupchu Khola Valley. You may enjoy a great view of Mount Kanchenjunga from this ridge and also you can experience the serene environment of the area. On top of that, you may have fun here talking with the locals.

While on the route you could also run into a few trekkers in Khambhachen who are heading to Kanchenjunga base camp or returning from their trek. Overnight at the lodge in Khambhacen.

With the breathtaking scenery along the way, today's hike from Khambachen to Lhonak will probably take you about 6-7 hours. Today, you will mostly pass through the rocky path with large boulders that are present alongside the riverbank. Passing the route, you will also be welcomed by waterfalls along with blue sheep and yaks. Shortly after, you will arrive at Ramtang Monastery crossing the bridge. Exploring there for a bit, we will pass the landslide-prone section and descend down to the river before finally arriving at Lhonak. Overnight at the lodge in Lhonak.

Today is the special day of our Kanchenjunga circuit trek. As we continue our trek through Kanchenjunga Glacier, we will finally arrive at the Pangpema aka Kanchenjunga North base camp. Nearly after trekking for 3-4 hours, you will arrive at this ultimate destination. You will spend time exploring this grassy base camp while celebrating your successful adventure and taking lots of photos. You will have a great chance to see views of the Kanchenjunga, Kirat Chuli, Dromo Peak, Khambachen, and other nearby peaks from this location. Also, you can go slightly higher to take in the wonderful vista of Chang Himal, Nepal Peak, Jannu, and Kanchenjunga.

Furthermore, we warn hikers to take caution in the rugged area here since it is more prone to landslides. After completing the journey around the base camp we will directly return to Lhonak for an overnight stay.
 

Your refreshing trek today will start after having a fulfilling breakfast. Today you will come across diverse flora and fauna that go through spectacular upward trails. Also, you will go through the yak pastures which offer you a unique perspective of the mountains like Kanchenjunga, Taple Shikhar, Gimmigela, Mera Peak, and many others. As this is the descending trek, we will arrive in Kambachen by the evening. Upon reaching, you can stay around for a bit while you overnight here.

Right in the morning we will start our journey from Gunsa to Kambachen. It just so happens that the route on this day is exactly the opposite of the one on day 12. As we start the journey, we will head over to see the sunrise which occurs above the beautiful Mount Jannu. Soon after, we will proceed through the deep pine and rhododendron forests with the background of the beautiful mountains. Finally, after passing the glaciers, we will reach Gunsa to spend the night at the lodge.

We'll begin our tour today by moving along a grassy slope and taking in the breathtaking views of Mount Makalu. Basically, it is all the way up steep from Gunsa to Sele La. Soaking in the views of forests consisting of Rhododendrons, oak, and pines, we will make our way toward Sele La. We will pass through various hills and views of the Tamur River before ultimately arriving at Sele La for an overnight stay.

Today we will climb a hill to see the brilliant views of the beautiful Mount Jannu and Makalu. Later on, as we go further, we will pass the most famous destinations of the Kanchenjunga circuit trek, that is Mirgin La Pass and Sinelapache La Pass. From these passes, you will see the surrounding snowcapped mountains in their best presence. Especially, you get to catch a glimpse of Mount Everest from Mirgin La Pass. While going through these routes, trekkers get to see the varied flora and fauna, which is quite a treat for them. After finally exploring the whole of this thing, you will now have to descend through a short trail and arrive at Cheram. Overnight at the lodge in Cheram.

We head out on our journey following the trail going along the Yalung glacier. Moving further through it, you will be visiting the viewpoint of the Kabru and Rothong Peaks. Also, you will head out to the ridge to see the fabulous views of the Kanchenjunga south, Mount Janu, and Nyukla Lanchung. In addition to these, you can also consider going to the Oktang Monastery for exploration. Finally, after doing all this, you will again descend to Cheram for an overnight stay.
 

Today after doing numerous ascents and descent we will make our way towards Tortong. The trail is basically filled with rhododendron forests which will of course be an eye-pleasing moment for you to watch. Thereafter, we will further descend down to the trail which goes alongside the Simbuwa Khola. Enjoying the beautiful atmosphere we will soon reach Tortong and spend our night there.
 

Today we will leave Tortong and head toward Lasia La pass (3550m). We will basically pass through Lasia Bhanjyang which goes through the trees and the landslide-prone areas. Passing through those beautiful green forests we will stop at the teashop for lunch and directly trek downhill approaching Yamphudin village. Upon reaching you will settle into the lodge, explore the nearby areas, and again come back for an overnight stay.

After going up and down, now we finally got the opportunity to fully descend to the Yangpang. Firstly, we descend to cross the bridge at Samkham and follow the trail towards Kabeli Khola. Following this trail, we pass through several charming villages situated which is accompanied by the terraced field on the hills. Thereafter we go through Mamankhe which consists of several houses of Limbu people with their museum and the cultural center. After visiting there for a while, we will continue our journey toward the small settlement of Yangpang. As soon as we reach this village, we will settle into the lodge head towards the Hindu temple located nearby, and explore further in the area. Overnight at the lodge in Yangpang.

Today we will find ourselves moving along the final trails of the Kanchenjunga circuit trek. As we descend to Thorpu, we will pass through beautiful pastures and farmlands for 5 to 6 hours. This is also gonna be the day when you will be finally leaving the Himalayas, so be sure to not miss the views of the magical Himalayan range of eastern Nepal. As you make your way to Thorpu you will pass through beautiful terraced villages where you will encounter people who are humble and want to see you. Finally, after reaching Thorpu we will enjoy our last teahouse accommodation, so be sure to enjoy the traditional Nepali food dishes here. Overnight at the lodge in Thorpu.

Today we have the option to drive from Thorpu to Birtamod. But we will follow the picturesque road by trekking all the way from Thorpu. As we descend down all the way from the mountains, the weather gets warmer, and the landscape also changes noticeably. After reaching Birtamod after several hours of walking you will get astounded to see the city life again with bustling streets and buildings. Soon we will check into one of the hotels with the best accommodation facilities. Here, you can have a great shower and choice of your food after a long time. Overnight at the Hotel in Birtamod.
 

Today marks the last journey as we leave Birtamod for Bhadrapur. We will head to Bhadrapur by 4-wheeler in the morning from the hotel. Through the drive, it will take you only half an hour to arrive there. After reaching Bhadrapur, then it's back to Kathmandu by air.

As all of the flights in Nepal are scenic there is no exception to this flight. We are pretty sure that your eyes will be in the sky all the time throughout the flight. After arriving in the hustling and bustling city of Kathmandu you will chill at the hotel or you could explore the markets in the nearby streets. In the evening, we will be hosting a fabulous dinner as a celebration of our successful Kanchenjunga circuit trek journey. After Enjoying the dinner program we will transfer you to your booked hotel for an overnight stay.

Your journey with the Trek Ways Nepal team across the Kanchenjunga circuit comes to an end today. Three hours before your trip, an employee of our company will smoothly drive you to the international airport while engaging in pleasant conversation. Once you get to the entrance, he will give you his warmest wishes and wish you a very successful trip. Remember that even when we say goodbye, we will always be ready to get in touch with you through different channels. So till then, Happy trekking :)