16 DAYS KANCHENJUNGA NORTH BASE CAMP TREK

Today we will pick you up from your hotel and take you to the airport for your flight to Bhadrapur and then we will drive to Suketar, a seven to eight hour drive. We will stay overnight at Suketar.

Leaving Taplejung we trek through the flourishing green lower level hills passing by river-sand trekking along some steep ridges. Along the way we pass through some traditional villages with their unique mud houses, rice fields, fruit trees, and terraced farms before heading down to the Tamur River where we head upstream passing along the way some out-of-the-way villages. We eventually reach the Tamang village of Sinuwa where we stay the night.

After leaving Sinuwa Village the valley narrows as we traverse remnants of landslides and boulders before descending to Thiwakhola and then cross over a wooden bridge. The trail continues and follows the natural, but undulating, the contour of the terrain before reaching the market at Chirwa. Overnight stay at Chiruwa.

After first climbing a spur we then descend to Simbuwa Khola and cross the bridge over the river – with its origin the Yalung Glacier. We again head along another ridge before reaching the Ghunsa Khola Valley. Once we reach the convergence of the Tamur River and Ghunsa Khola we continue on for a short time before making camp beside the river for the night.

After leaving Sakathum we trek northeast alongside the banks of the Ghunsa Khola and then climb higher in the direction of Kanchenjunga Base Camp. The trek takes us across an exposed landscape and a steep ascent to the Tibetan village of Amjilosa, where we spend the night.

Today the trail takes us through rhododendron and bamboo forests. Climbing higher we come to a huge waterfall on the side of the river that signals our path us to our objective – Gyable, with its magnificent views of the surrounding landscape.

After leaving Gyable the trail takes us through a large meadow, a small village, and a small hill. We then head downhill, crossing a river before reaching Gunsa Village, a large Tibetan village with traditional wooden houses, a school, health post, and its own hydroelectricity power plant. The village is within the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area has several Gompas (Buddhist fortifications) where people rest and exchange tales of their journey. Tonight we stay in Gunsa, the very last village in the valley.

Ghunsa is an ideal location and at a high enough altitude for us to acclimatize. It is recommended that during the acclimatization period we do not remain idle. In order to do this we trek across the river to an altitude of 400 metres above the village, taking around 4 hours return. For the remainder of the day we will wander around this Tibetan village, chatting to the locals and absorbing their rich culture.

After leaving Ghunsa we trek for five to six hours through stunning pine and rhododendron forests taking the south bank of the Ghunsa Khola and its, with numerous chortens and mani walls. Trekking across several slopes and glacier moraines we reach Kambachen - today’s destination, a tiny Tibetan village with only a few houses, but encompassed by mountains. Tonight we stay in this quaint village.

After reaching the source of the Ghunsa Khola, we trek along the north side of the Kanchenjunga Glacier and then take the trail on flat terrain past the Lhonak Glacier until we reach today’s destination, Lhonak. At this elevation the air is crisp and cold, but we are compensated with awesome views of Wedge peak, Mera peak, Nepal peak, and Twins, that will leave you spell-bound!. Tonight we stay at Lhonak.

After leaving Lhonak we head in an easterly direction still staying close to the Lhonak Glacier on the northern ridges until we reach Kanchenjunga Base Camp at Pangpema where photo opportunities abound of the huge surrounding mountains. After this breathtaking experience we return to Lhonak for the night.

Today we return to Ghunsa following the same route we took to reach Kanchenjunga Base Camp. This should take us between five and six hours. We will stay at Ghunsa for night.

After an hour’s trek we descend to Phale, home to several monasteries and juniper forests until arriving at a grassy hillside where the tiny village of Amjilosa lies. In total the trek today should take about five to six hours. We stay here in a guest house tonight.

We begin the day with a short ascent and spend the rest of the day descending down a steep trail that eventually takes us to Taplejung. After some time we reach the junction of the Tamur and Ghunsa Khola (rivers). We eventually reach Sakathum from where we take a jeep to. Taplejung and stay the night here in a guest house.

The nine to ten-hour road trip takes us through many small valleys and through villages until we reach Bhadrapur where we stay in a guest house for the night.

Today we have a 30 minute scenic flight back to Kathmandu and have our final glimpses of the majestic snow covered mountains. Sherpa Expedition and Trekking will take you back to your hotel.