Kanchenjunga North Base Camp Trek

The journey to Kanchenjunga North Base Camp commences with a flight from Kathmandu to Bhadrapur, taking 45 minutes.You’ll have breakfast in Kathmandu or Bhadrapur, depending upon the departure time.As you land at Bhadrapur, you’ll take a local bus to get to Ilam.The drive passes through stunning areas with a glimpse of tea plantations.A four-hour drive from Bhadrapur takes you to Ilam, which is known for tea farming.Check-in at the accommodation point and spend some time exploring the tea plantations.The day’s overnight stay and dinner are at Ilam’s guest house.

Day two is another driving day that takes you to Taplejung from Ilam.After a hearty morning meal at Ilam’s guest house, you’ll take a local bus to drive towards Taplejung.The road from Ilam to Taplejung is a mostly bumpy section, yet it offers a glimpse into Nepal’s countryside and the Kanchenjunga Massif sometimes.The road becomes steeper as it passes Phidim village.Likewise, the landscape will change as you approach the conservative area of Kanchenjunga.Within 6 hours of drive from Ilam takes you to Taplejunga, your overnight stay point.

Good morning in the Talejung.Have your breakfast, enjoy the freshness of the area, and pack your backpack for your another journey.Taking a local jeep, you’ll drive towards Sekathum from Taplejung.The drive passes through narrow and winding roads.On the way, you’ll check in your permit of Kanchenjunga Conservation Area at the check-post and continue your drive through various settlements.Driving alongside the Tamor Nadi, you’ll reach the day’s destination, Sekathum.It takes 4 hours to get to Sekathum from Taplejung.Overnight and dinner are at the tea house or tent at Sekathum.

Have your morning meal at Sekathum and pack your backpack as your trekking begins from here.The hike begins with crossing numerous suspension bridges and walking via Rhododendron forests.The first phase of the hike includes mostly uphill strolls, whereas the second part involves challenging climbs.Lamatar is your lunch point where you’ll fill your tummy and rest.Navigating a quite difficult section from Lamatar, you’ll get to Amjilosa.It takes 6 hours to reach Amjilosa from Sekathum, covering 7 km/4.3 miles.Your overnight stay and dinner will be at the tea house or tent in Amjilosa.

Are you ready for another adventure? After filling your tummy with a yummy morning meal, you’ll make your way towards Gyabla.Following the Ghunsa Khola Valley through rhododendrons and oak forests, you’ll make your first step towards the day’s destination.After six hours of trekking from Amjilosa, you’ll reach Gyabla village, surrounded by majestic Jaanu Peak.Your lunch will be along the way, and your overnight stay and dinner will be at the accommodation point in Gyabla village.

On the sixth day, the trail moves forward to Ghunsa from Gyabla.After breakfast, the trek begins, following the track of the forests.On the way, you’ll encounter Himalayan yaks carrying loads upwards to Ghunsa.Likewise, you’ll meet moving towards or returning to North Base Camp of Kanchenjunga.The distance from Gyabla to Ghunsa is 10.5 km/6.5 miles, taking 6 hours of walking.Overnight and dinner are at the tea house or tent in Ghunsa village.

As you are already above 3,000m, your body must adjust to changed surroundings to reduce the risk of altitude sickness.Thus, day seven is the acclimatization day/ rest day, which lets you rest and cope with your body at a higher elevation.However, acclimatization doesn’t mean you will only rest by lying on a bed; instead, you’ll go for a short hike and keep your body moving.During the day, you can also visit the area, which is the largest settlement with a health post facility, police station, and an office in the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area.Whether you roam around the village or go for a short hike to Ghunsa viewpoint or Dhunkunda, you’ll return to Ghunsa, your previous day’s accommodation point, for a night stay.

After an acclimatization day, you’ll continue your trek from day eight.After breakfast at Ghunsa, the trail to Khambachen commences via an open pine forest.However, today’s trail will be more uneven and rocky than earlier, so prepare for challenges.Likewise, you should be ready to walk through landslide-prone areas.It takes 7 hours to get to Khambachen from Ghunsa, covering 10.6 km/6.6 miles.The day’s overnight point is at Khambachen‘s tea house or tent.

Today’s trek takes you closer to your final destination.After breakfast at Khambachen, you’ll make your way to Lhonak.The day’s trek gives you the feeling of being on a challenging journey through the Himalayas, as you’ll trek over the moraine from the Kanchenjunga Glacier to reach Lhonak.The journey offers you a first glimpse of the Kanchenjunga clearly, making your hardware worthy.Moreover, the trek from Khambachen to Lhonak is 6 hours, covering 9.2 km / 5.7 miles.Overnight at Lhonak’s lodging point.

Day tenth is the most awaited day in your journey.Early in the morning, with a headlamp, you’ll make your way towards Kanchenjunga North Base Camp from Lhonak village.Walking through the glacier moraine of Kanchenjunga, you’ll reach the base of the third-highest mountain in the world, Mount Kanchenjunga.You’ll reach the ultimate destination by the time of sunrise.Thus, you can appeal to your eye with the mesmerizing rising sun over the peaks of Mount Kanchenjunga and Jaanu Peak.Likewise, you can also appreciate the views of Twins Peak, Wedge Peak, Mera Peak, and Nepal Peak.

After spending a pleasant time at the Kanchenjunga Base Camp and feeling accomplished, you’ll return to Lhonak.Due to the harsh weather conditions at base camp, you can’t spend an overnight, so you must descend to Lhonak for an overnight.

Good morning, Champion.As you have successfully completed the trek to the North face of Kanchenjunga, North Base camp, it’s time to return.However, if you want to extend your trip to the Kanchenjunga Circuit trek that includes the journey to Kanchenjunga South Base Camp, you will continue your ascend; if not, you’ll start your descending trip.The eleventh day’s descent takes you to Ghunsa village, passing through the same settlement you passed a few days ago.It takes 7 hours to get to Ghunsa from Lhonak, covering 19.8 km /12.3 miles.Overnight at Ghunsa.

Have your morning meal and start your downhill walk to Amjilosa.As today’s walk will be longer, trekkers will start the day’s trek early.The trail to Amjilosa follows Ghunsa Khola and passes through several settlements before reaching the day’s destination.On the day, you’ll walk for 8 hours to reach Amjilosa from Ghunsa, covering 18 km / 11.1 miles.Overnight and supper at the tea house or tent at Amjilosa.

Day thirteenth marks the end of the trekking journey in Kanchenjunga North Base Camp.After breakfast at Amjilosa, the trek begins with a descent to Sekathum.As the day’s trek is mostly downhill, your knee may hurt, so take care of it.It takes 6 hours to descend from Amjilosa to Sekathum, covering 7 km/4.3 miles.Overnight at the tea house or tent at Sekathum.

Your drive from Sekathum begins early after breakfast.Today, you’ll drive for longer hours in a mic of paved and unpaved sections.After 8 hours of driving, you’ll reach Bhadrapur, passing through Taplejung.The distance from Sekathum to Bhandrapur via Taplejung is 258 km /154 miles.Overnight at Bhadrapur.

• Attraction of the day: Thamel tourist market

Saying goodbye to the Kanchenjunga journey, you’ll fly back to Kathmandu from Bhadrapur.The flight takes 45 minutes and offers a beautiful view of mountains from the plane’s window.We’ll drop you off at your hotel as you land at Kathmandu’s airport.Overnight at Kathmandu.