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Kanchenjunga North Base Camp |
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Nepal opened the Kanchenjunga area to trekkers
in 1988, though people had trekked in the area
in connection with mountaineering expeditions
since the turn of the century. Kanchenjunga is a
long way from Kathmandu, and the nearest roads
and airports are a long way from the mountain.
You can trek either to the north or south
Kanchenjunga base camp, but it takes luck,
determination and a lot of time to visit both
sides of the peak. The northern side is
particularly remote; it takes almost two weeks
of walking to get to the base camp at Pang Pema.
Kanchenjunga is on the border of Nepal and the
India state of Sikkim, so a circuit of the
mountain is politically impossible. The next
best alternative is to visit both the north and
south sides of the mountain from the Nepal side;
you need to be equipped for a high pass crossing
and have a minimum of four weeks to spare. If
for any reason you cannot cross the pass, it's a
long way around.
It's difficult to cross either the Lapsang La or
Mirgin La. Bad weather and snow are often to
blame, but more often it is simply a lack of
time. Unless you have at least four weeks to
spare, and preferably five, you should plan to
visit either the north or south base camp, not
both. If you can get to Taplejung by either road
or air, the trek can be shortened by several
days, making it a bit more reasonable.
The lowland portion of this region is culturally
intriguing, but there are few good mountain
views. The two treks that I have described will
probably need to be extended by a few days
because of porter problems, weather, or the need
for a rest day.
The Kanchenjunga region is the home of the
Limbus. Relatives of the Rais, Limbus dominate
the region east of the Arun Kosi and few live
elsewhere. Limbu men wear a distinctive, tall
topi, a Nepali cap that is much more colourful
than that worn by other Nepalis.
A noteworthy contribution of Limbu culture is
the drink tongba. A wooden pot is filled with
fermented millet seeds and boiling water. You
sip the dangerously potent mixture through a
special bamboo straw, with tiny filters to keep
the seeds out of the drink, as the hotelier
merrily adds more hot water. It is often served
in a large plastic mug, but ethnically correct
hotels serve it in a special wooden tongba pot,
which has brass rings and a wooden cap with a
hole for the straw. Tongba goew down easily, as
you might do yourself when you arise after a
lengthy tongba session. Watch for this
speciality anywhere north of Dharan.
Facts of the Trek |
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Duration: 23 Days
Trek type: Camping
Max Altitude: 5280 m. |
Minimum Pax: 2 +
Mode of travel: Land
Grade: Strenuous |
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Itinerary in Detail |
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Day 01 : |
Drive from Kathmandu to Dharan(428m.),
Dhankuta(1158m.),HILLE(1822m.) to Basantpur by
bus, overnight stay at Basantpur |
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Day 02 : |
Trek from Basantpur to Chauki (2400m.) which
takes about six hours.
The trail follows gentle ascent and descent
route as well. The path is covered by
rhododendron forests. If the sky is clear, you
can enjoy the panoramic view of Mount Makalu and
Kahnchenjunga himal. On the way, you can see
some small human settlements. You can also see
view of villages at the distance. Chauki is a
small village with few lodges and Nepali tea
shops. |
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Day 03 : |
Trek from chauki to Gupha Pokhari (2940m.) to
Gurja Gaon(2145m.) and it takes about seven
hours.While trekking through this way, you pass
through rhododendron forests. At a point, you
come across a pass situated at 3000 meter. There
is a pond at the Gupha Pokhari where prayer
flags and Buddhist mani wall can be seen. On the
way from Gupha Pokhari to Gurja Gaon, you can
see yaks and mountain sheep grazing in the
jungle. You can observe some villages at a far
distance. Gurja Gaon is occupied by Buddhist and
Hindus. It is situated at low elevation. |
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Day 04 : |
Trek from Gurja Goan to Dovan (730 m.) and it
takes approximately five and half hours.
The trails descend upto Dovan. En route you pass
through jungle and villages. You trek through
terraces as crops grown here are wheat, maize,
rice, millet, potatoes and so on. Dovan is a
village situated at low elevation between two
streams. There is a small market in Dovan. |
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Day 05 : |
Trek from Dovan to Mitlung (921m.) which takes
approximately six hours.
Crossing a suspension bridge over Tamur river,
you follow quite flat route. You trek along the
bank of Tamur Koshi through paddy fields. From
time to time, you cross through small jungles of
cardamom plants and other natural vegetation.
You can see some small village stretching at a
far distance. The inhabited area of this part is
occupied by Brahmin, Chhetri and Limbu. Mitlung
is a tiny village with few houses and Nepali tea
shops known as Bhattis. |
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Day 06 : |
Trek from Mitlung 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. |
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Day 07 : |
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 |
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Day 08 : |
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. |
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Day 09 : |
Trek from Amjilosa to Gyable ( 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. |
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Day 10 : |
Trek from Gyable 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. |
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Day 11 : |
Rest day at Ghunsa for acclimatization.
A day to rest in order to acclimatize and
excursion in and around Ghunsa. Gunsa is also
rich with Tibetan and Buddhist culture. Ghunsa
is relatively larger town. It is inhabited by
Tibetan people. Mainly the women are involved in
carpet weaving profession. There is run Carpet
Weaving Industry in their home at small scale by
local people. The trekkers come across with few
check point at Ghunsa. There are local shops
where you can buy goods to take along with you
at high altitude. |
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Day 12 : |
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. |
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Day 13 : |
Trek from Kambachen to Lhonak(4780m.) and it
takes about four hours.
The trail climbs gradually through open rocky
fields to Ramtang at 4240m, then across moraines
north-west of the Kanchenjunga Glacier. Lhonak,
at 4790m, is near a dry lake bed on an open,
sandy plain; water is scarce here. There are no
houses, but you can camp among the large
boulders to get out of the wind. Terrific
mountain views abound in all directions. |
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Day 14 : |
Rest at Lhonak.
From Lhonak, the trail ascends gradually across
the plain, then gets a bit steeper as it follows
the moraine. You can drop off the moraine and
follow the bottom of the valley to avoid the
steeper section. The views are dramatic, but you
cannot see Kanchenjunga or Wedge Peak until you
are near Peng Pema. The spectacular main peak of
Kanchenjunga, and a panorama of other peaks that
make up one of the largest mountain masses in
the world, tower over the single roofless hut at
Pang Pema. |
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Day 15 : |
Trek from Lhonak to pangpema(5152m.) which takes
about 3 to 4 hours.
From Lhonak, the trail ascends gradually across
the plain, then gets a bit steeper as it follows
the moraine. You can drop off the moraine and
follow the bottom of the valley to avoid the
steeper section. The views are dramatic, but you
cannot see Kanchenjunga or Wedge Peak until you
are near Peng Pema. The spectacular main peak of
Kanchenjunga, and a panorama of other peaks that
make up one of the largest mountain masses in
the world, tower over the single roofless hut at
Pang Pema. |
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Day 16 : |
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. |
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Day 17 : |
Trek from Pangpema to Ramtang Valley (4370m.)
which takes about seven hours.
You follow quite descent path passing through
bushes until you reach Ramtang valley. It is
surrounded by mountains. From here you can enjoy
the panorami view of Chang Himal (6750m.),
Ramtang peak (6700m.), Lupche peak (6044m.) and
Dango peak (6250m.). You can see yak pastures
over there. |
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Day 18 : |
Trek from Ramtang Valley to Ghunsa (3468m.)
which takes about eight hours.
You cross several jungles covered with
rhododendron, oak and pine. You descent all the
way to Ghunsa. |
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Day 19 : |
Trek from Ghunsa to Gyable (2730m.) which takes
about six hours.
The trails is descent and ascent respectively
along the shore of Ghunsa Khola. On the way you
pass through forests covered with bamboo shoots,
rhododendron, pine and oak. You can see
Himalayan deer and domestic animals grazing in
fields. People living in Gyable village follow
Buddhist culture. |
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Day 20 : |
Trek from Gyable to Sekathum (1660m.) and it
takes about seven hours.
This day you head downhills passing through
jungles covered with rhododendron, cardamom,
pine and local birds. On the way, you cross
different villages inhabited by people of mixed
community. You can see terraces where people
grow maize, millet, potatoes, wheat and green
vegetables. |
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Day 21 : |
Trek from Sekathum to Chirwa (1270m.) which
takes about six hours.
You follow downhills along the shore of Tamur
river until you reach Chirwa. On the way, you
pass through cardamom plants, terraces and
forests. You find local porters carrying goods
to the local shops. Chirwa is a small village
with a market. The main inhabitants are Limbu,
one of the ethnic community of Nepal. Chirwa
lies at the bank of Tamur river and surrounded
by forests and hills. |
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Day 22 : |
Trek from Chirwa to Mitlung ( 921m.) and it
takes about six hours.
This day's trek moves along the shore of Tamur
river. The supposed path goes ups and down. On
the way, you pass through jungles, farming
terraces and local villages at your distance.
People living around here belong to different
community such as Rai, Limbu, Chhetri , Brahman
and others. Mitlung is a tiny village with few
houses and Nepali tea shops known as Bhattis. |
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Day 23 : |
Trek from Mitlung to Suketar or Taplejung.
If you prefer to fly from Suketar , you will
have trek for eight hours starting from Milung.
The pass goes uphill until you reach Suketar. On
the way you pass through jungles with cardamom
and other natural vegetation. You cross several
local villages and farming terraces. From here,
you will be stunned at the splendid views of
Kanchanjunga Himal (8598m.) and Pathi Bhara
Himal (6837m.).
On the other hand, if you prefer to drive out
you will have to trek for six hours to get to
Taplejung. It is headquarter of Taplejung
district. |
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| Services Included |
National Park entry permit, Trekking permit, all surface transportation to and fro, a guide and required number of porter(s), cook, kitchen helper, sherpas, all meals three times a day (breakfast, lunch, dinner, tea, coffee, fruit, juice, etc.), necessary camping equipments such as tents, kitchen tent, dining tent, toilet tent, mattresses, down sleeping bags, down jackets, cooking utensils, fuel etc. camping charges, rescue help, insurance and equipment for the Nepali staffs. |
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| Services Excluded |
Personal expenses, Insurance, Tips, Emergency evacuation by Helicopter, Alternative transportation in case of heavy rain, landslide, strike, road blockade etc. |
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