Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek – 25 Days

Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu (1,300 m)

Today starting the day of our trip, we send our organization agents to pick you up at Tribhuwan International Airport. You will be heartily welcomed with greetings and shifted towards a tourist standard hotel. We additionally plan for meeting at our office for a discussion about the upcoming trek.

Day 02: Kathmandu sightseeing and trekking preparation

Kathmandu Valley is the real spot to sight major cultural and historical sites. Early morning, we step forward for sightseeing some historical spots which are on UNESCO World Heritage Sites. After spending some hours exploring these locations, we return for finalizing our trekking equipment, which is required during our trek, and this night we spend at the fine hotel in Kathmandu.

Day 03: Fly from Kathmandu to Bhadrapur (2,420m) and drive to Taplejung (45 min flight & 9 hours drive)

From Kathmandu, we get on a morning flight to Bhadrapur which is located in the Mechi Zone of southeastern Nepal, and then drive to Taplejung.

Day 04: Taplejung to Lalikharka (2265m) 4- 5 hrs trek

Today we will head to Lalikharka for 5 hours of trekking. Lalikharka is a beautiful village in Panchthar District in the Mechi Zone of eastern Nepal. It is a simultaneous ascent and descent on a trail that mostly passes through lush green forests to Lalikharkha

Day 05: Lalikharka to Khesewa (2120m) 5-6 hrs trek

We begin our trek to Khesewa after breakfast. It is mostly an easy descent until Phundrawa. From here we begin our ascent. It is a steep climb until Yangpang from where we climb steadily up until Phumphe Danda followed by another ascent to Khesewa. Our trek will be through forests and small villages. Overnight in Khesewa

Day 06: Khesewa to Mamankhe (1785m) 5-6 hrs trek

After breakfast, we begin our trek towards the Kabeli Khola. Next, we walk on a trail that passes through forests before crossing a small stream. On the way, we enjoy amazing views of the Himalayan peaks while also passing through several beautiful small villages. Overnight in Mamankhe

Day 07: Mamankhe to Yamphudin (2080m) 4-5 hrs trek

Today’s trek will be mostly uphill on an easy trail whereby we mostly walk alongside the Kabeli Khola. During the walk, we also admire the beautiful ridge behind the stream. We continue our walk and admire a beautiful waterfall nearby. After walking for some time, we cross a small suspension bridge. We pass through small settlements before reaching Yamphudin to spend the night.

Day 08: Yamphudin to Tortong (2,995m) 7-8 hrs trek

We begin our walk on a path commonly used by the villagers and pass through terraced farms and green meadows. Along the way, we have the constant company of the Himalayas to enjoy. Our walk will be on a trail along the Amji Khola. We also cross a pass at Lassiya Bhanjyang before reaching Tortong. Overnight in Tortong

Day 09: Tortong to Cheram (3,870m) 2-3 hrs trek

We begin our steady climb to Cheram after breakfast. Our trail is right at the side of the Simbuwa Khola. We enjoy walking in the beautiful Lalung Valley and have Tuplung Peak for our company for most of today’s journey. We pass through the thick rhododendron forest and enjoy the magnificence of the Yalung Glacier. Overnight in Cheram

Day 10: Acclimatization and rest in Cheram

We spend a day in Cheram which will help us acclimatize to the high altitude. We can spend the rest of the day resting and taking part in small hikes. We can explore the areas around the Yalung Glacier. There is also a viewpoint for Kabaru and Rathong peaks. Overnight in Cheram

Day 11: Cheram to Ramchaur (4,580m) 3-4 hrs trek

We begin our short trek after breakfast. From Cheram, we ascend for some time before reaching the snout of the Yalung Glacier. It is a beautiful walk on a valley trail. We also cherish the views of several Himalayan peaks. We pass through a small settlement of Lapsang before reaching Ramche. Overnight in Ramche

Day 12: Ramchaur to Yalung Base Camp (4500m), back to Cheram 3-4 hrs trek

From Ramche, we walk further up the valley. We then follow a stream before climbing on the moraine top until confronted by Kanchenjunga’s southern face. We walk further ahead for a glimpse of the Jannu Himal. We continue our trek further toward the Oktang Monastery. From here, we climb further up and reach the Yalung Base Camp. The views from the base camp are extraordinary. Kumbakarna (Jannu), Nyukla Lachung and other Himalayan peaks are close by. We descend and spend the night at Cheram.

Day 13: Cheram to Sele La (4290m) 6-7 hrs trek

We begin our trek after breakfast. We cross four passes today beginning with Sinelapche Bhanjyang. After crossing the pass, we continue to the Mirgin La pass. We continue trekking and reach the Sinion La pass which is not very far. From here, we ascend to Sele La Pass. There are prayer flags strung across one of the steeper sections of the trail which is very near to the Sele La pass. We cross the pass. Overnight in Sele La

Day 14: Sele La to Ghunsa (3,595) 2-3 hrs trek

We begin our trek after breakfast. We walk towards the north with Tangbgharma Danda nearby. We reach a chorten marked by prayer flags which marks the start of a steep trail. We descend through rhododendron, birch, and pine forests before reaching Ghunsa. It is a beautiful village with houses with dark and weathered pine walls and Buddhist prayer flags. Overnight in Ghunsa

Day 15: Ghunsa to Kambachen (4,050m) 5-6 hrs trek

From Ghunsa, we trek further north along the river bank which presents us with magnificent mountain scenery. We pass through meadows filled with beautiful wildflowers, then cross rhododendron and pine forests. We cross a bridge at Rampuk Kharka, continue past a waterfall, and cross the tricky section of a landslide. After crossing the landslide area, we begin to see the spectacular view of Mt. Jannu. Further exploring and tackling the tricky mountain trail we finally arrive at Kambachen and spend the night.

Day 16: Kambachen to Lhonak (4,780m) 5-6 hrs trek

Today will be another challenging day, and an early start is needed. We trek through rocky fields and large boulders on the hillside along the riverbank and arrive at a waterfall. We then cross a bridge to Ramtang monastery. We then come across a landslide section which we must pass through at a steady pace before descending to the river and finally arriving at Lhonak. Overnight in Lhonak

Day 17: Kanchenjunga base camp (5,143m) 6-7 hrs trek

From Lhonak, we trek toward the Kanchenjunga Base Camp. Our trail is alongside the gigantic Kanchenjunga Glacier. After passing Pangpema, we descend towards the Kanchenjunga Base Camp. The view from the base camp is extraordinary. Mt. Kanchenjunga, Jannu Himal, and other Himalayan peaks are ours to admire. We descend back to Pangpema to spend the night.

Day 18: Pangpema to Lhonak 3-4 hrs

From Pangpema we trace back our steps to Lhonak. Overnight in Lhonak

Day 19: Lhonak to Ghunsa (3475m) 6-7 hrs

From Lhonak, we descend to Ghunsa via Kambache. It is the same route we took when we were climbing up.

Day 20: Ghunsa to Amjilosa (2,308m) 5-6 hrs trek

From Ghunsa, we descend towards Phale. We pass through several Manes and a monastery nearby. We walk through Juniper forests and reach Phale. From here, it is a steady descent to Gyabla. We cross a bridge over Chhundatangka Khola to reach Gyabla. As we continue our trek, we see a waterfall nearby. We also cross a suspension bridge over Sumbung Khola before reaching Amjilosa. Overnight in Amjilosa.

Day 21: Amjilosa to Chirwa (1,270m) 6-7 hrs trek

After walking for a while, we see a beautiful waterfall nearby. We continue our trek and pass a small settlement of Solima before crossing a suspension bridge over Ghunsa Khola. We cross another suspension bridge over Ghunsa Khola and reach Sukathum. Our trail passes through several villages and is beside Thunsa Khola at first followed by Tamor Nadi before reaching Chirwa. Overnight in Chirwa.

Day 22: Chirwa to Taplejung via Mitlung (921m) 7-8 hrs trek

After a wonderful time in Chirwa, we head to Taplejung by trekking for 8 hours. The trekking trails along the way to Mitlung offer greenery at its best, floras and faunas, and especially quaint villages always ready to welcome us.

Day 23: Taplejung to Bhadrapur 9 hrs drive

We move toward Bhadrapur from Taplejung by bus. The ride will last for 9 hours.

Day 24: Fly back to Kathmandu

Our amazing journey to the Kanchenjunga circuit comes to an end today. Today, we host a farewell dinner in the appreciated local restaurant, where you can enjoy Nepalese cultural dance and music with great Nepali dishes. Overnight in Kathmandu

Day 25: Departure Day

On the final day of the trip, you can go for collecting some memories for your loved one before the flight time. Our company’s private vehicle will take you to the airport focusing on your flight time for your final departure and our representative wishes for your safe journey and successful forward steps with respect and greetings at the airport.

Visa Information

All visitors are required to arrange a visa to enter Nepal. A Nepalese visa can be easily obtained upon arrival on arrival in Kathmandu at the airport or Nepalese embassy abroad. But nationals from Afghanistan, Iraq, Cameroon, Ghana, Somalia, Swaziland, Palestine, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Liberia cannot secure the Nepalese Visa upon arrival. The Visa can also be secured at entry points at Nepalese borders. A valid passport for at least six months and a recent digital photo (size: 1.5" x 1.5") will be required and you can obtain visas for Nepal from the Nepalese Consulate in your country or upon arrival at Kathmandu Airport. Nepalese visas cost USD 25 for 15 days and USD 40 for 30 days to date.

Official Papers

Some of the required official documents are your valid passport, 4 extra passport-sized photographs (for trekking permits), travel insurance, airline tickets, and luggage tags. Visas can be obtained upon entry into Nepal.

Weather Information

The weather in the mountains is pretty difficult to predict.  Nights are generally cooler and days are warm.  Months of winter (January and February) are a bit colder but the days can be quite beautiful and warm if the sun is out. It snows during January, February, and December in the Himalayan areas.

Best time to travel

Nepal offers diversified geographical regions and so the climatic condition differs from the Himalayas to the plains. The climate varies as per the season. Nepal generally offers 4 seasons amongst which autumn and spring are the two most favorable ones for visiting Nepal. It is always wise to know about the weather and climatic condition of the place you visit. The best time to travel depends on your destination, activities, and season of travel. Our destination specialists will recommend certain travel times after learning more about your preferences. The favorable months for trekking and climbing are usually September – November, and February – April. The monsoon season is June – August.

Physical Fitness

Even though physical fitness plays an important role in trekking you don’t have to be a super athlete or a marathon runner to trek in Nepal.  Many people of good fitness for their age can complete the trek. You can prepare yourself beforehand by doing some yoga which will prepare you for your breathing as you will be going to a higher altitude. Running or hiking on hills, or going for a long walk will also help you. And if you live in an urban area running up the stairs of a tall building will also work better in keeping you fit for trekking. Though these preparations aren’t strictly compulsory, you can do well even when the preparations you do aren’t rigorous like that of some ultra-athletic person. Do these things at a moderate pace for two months or even less.  And you are set to complete any trekking to Nepal.

Travel Insurance

Doing insurance while trekking in Nepal is not compulsory but will surely help you a lot if you do one, as it covers any comprehensive expenses possible to acquire due to medical issues or accidents. Your travel insurance must protect air ambulance, treatment charges, rescue and evacuation, product cancellation and refundable charges, flight delays, and cancellations. We suggest you bring your travel insurance certificate or send us to scan copy and it must be issued from your homeland. We do not arrange or sell insurance so you can find your local travel insurance for this.

Vaccination for Nepal

All travelers should consult with their physician or update on vaccination requirements before travel. (Your doctor or health-care provider will determine what you will need, depending on factors such as your health and immunization history, areas of the country you will be visiting, and planned activities) For traveling to Nepal; we recommend you take vaccination of Polio, Tetanus, Typhoid, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Rabies, etc, it is not really must but recommended.

Booking Process

While you chose which trip you wanted to go with, contact us at our head office in Thamel Marg, Kathmandu Nepal by email or phone, email is a more easy and clear option, as soon as we get your email or call we will process your booking. We need a 20% booking amount to confirm your booking, the payment can be made through Bank transfer, Credit card payment (Master/Visa card), or online money transfers also Money Gram, Western Unions, or others. After we get the 20% amount we will confirm your booking and you will get the official booking and payment receipt. The final balance for the tour will be paid upon arrival in Kathmandu.

Safety Guidelines

• Do proper research about the company that you are planning to trek with and make sure they are a legally registered travel agency.
• You should be well acquainted with travel health and travel insurance before traveling.
• Have an idea about the climate, geography, temperature, and environment of Nepal before starting your trip.
• Using credit cards instead of cash is a wiser idea.
• The majority of the Nepalese people are nicer but there are a few scammers you will come meet on your way and need to avoid, for example, ‘holy men’ who will try to plant a tika (a red paste denoting a blessing) on your forehead demanding payment for it on streets.
• Be careful while buying medicinal herbs as some may be illegal for you t take home and also be aware of duplicate products.
• Never get involved in doing drugs, trafficking, and sexual relations with children as there is a strict rules for these cases, and might get yourself into a big problem.
• Take copies of your passport, visa, air ticket, and trekking permits and keep them separately from the originals.
• Prepare yourself for altitude sickness and be familiar with its symptoms so that you can follow the guidelines for safe acclimatization.

Where is Nepal?

Nepal is a landlocked country located in the Southern part of Asia sharing the border with China from the north and India from the south, east, and west. It is especially known for its multi-cultural, multi-racial, multi-linguistic, and multi-ethnic diversity in unity. It is a small country with many world's most beautiful mountain ranges, art, culture, and wildlife, no wonder it is a paradise for trekkers from all around the world. Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal is also known for its unique culture and heritage which directly grabs the attention and takes you to the time of old civilization from the 12th century.

What is Nepal known for?     

Nepal is mostly known for Mt.Everest, the highest peak in the world. It is also known as the birthplace of Lord Buddha, who was the pioneer of the Buddhist religion. Eight of the fourteen eight-thousanders are located in the country, either in whole or shared across a border with China or India. Besides that, it is also known as a multi-ethnic, multiracial, multicultural, multi-religious, and multilingual country. Overall, Nepal is known for its hospitality as there is a saying in Sanskrit  “Atithi Debo Bhaba”. (Guest are god).

How can I obtain a Visa?

All visitors are required to arrange a visa to enter Nepal. A Nepalese visa can be easily obtained upon arrival on arrival in Kathmandu at the airport or Nepalese embassy abroad. But nationals from Afghanistan, Iraq, Cameroon, Ghana, Somalia, Swaziland, Palestine, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Liberia cannot secure the Nepalese Visa upon arrival. The Visa can also be secured at the entry point at Nepalese borders. A valid passport for at least six months, a recent digital photo (size: 1.5" x 1.5") will be required, and the following fees either in USD dollars cash or the equivalent local currency:

Is the country politically safe and stable?

Nepal is one of the newly democratic countries in the world with many active political parties, ideas, ideologies, and leaders. Now Nepal has the communist government elected with 2/3 of the majority so, now it has a fully stable government it does not affect the daily life of the residents and the tourist. Life moves on, as usual, unperturbed.

When Is The Best Time To Travel?

Nepal offers diversified geographical regions and so the climatic condition differs from the Himalayas to the plains. The climate varies as per the season. Nepal generally offers 4 seasons amongst which autumn and spring are the two most favorable ones for visiting Nepal. It is always wise to know about the weather and climatic condition of the place you visit. The best time to travel depends on your destination, activities, and season of travel. Our destination specialists will recommend certain travel times after learning more about your preferences. The favorable months for trekking and climbing are usually September – November, and February – April. The monsoon season is June – August.

What kind of weather (how cold does it get) can we expect during trekking?

The weather in the mountains is pretty difficult to predict. Nights are generally cooler and days are warm. Months of winter (January and February) are a bit colder but the days can be quite beautiful and warm if the sun is out. It snows during January, February, and December in the Himalayan areas.

Are Vaccinations Required?

Immunizations are not required to visit Nepal. (Exception: if you are traveling from an area infected with Yellow Fever, you must have a certificate.) Depending on the season and region of travel, certain vaccinations and/ or medications are suggested and we will recommend preventative measures. We do encourage all travelers to be current on routine immunizations. Also, we recommend the vaccines for polio, Diphtheria, Tetanus, typhoid, yellow fever, hepatitis A/B, Influenza (Flu), Japanese encephalitis, and Tuberculosis. Meantime, it is better to consult your professional doctor about your travel and he/s might recommend you properly. You can also take the suggestion of local travelers who have traveled to Nepal before and know more about the required precautions. Please note that the protection that can be gained from vaccines varies from 50% to almost 100%. So remember that even if you have taken a vaccine you might still get the disease, although you will have greatly reduced your chances of getting ill.

How fit do I need to be for the trek?

You don’t have to be a super athletic person but despite the ages should be moderately fit. We recommend to running, hiking to hills, and long walks as preparation.

Are ATM booths easily available?

Yes, ATM booths are easily available around the major city area where you can use both credit and debit cards. But there are only a few ATM booths on the way to your trek, so you should withdraw your cash before the trek.

What type of food to expect during the trek? 

Nepal is rich in cultural diversity. Meal habits of the Nepalese vary with ethnicity and geographical differences. Normally, the local has a habit of taking milk/black tea in the morning, before noon taking lunch after mid-day taking light snacks such as Khaja, and having Dinner in the evening. The lunch and dinner comprise Dhido (short of porridge), Dal, Bhat, Tarkari, and Achar (Lentil, Rice, Curry, and Pickles). However, you can have a choice of Indian/Continental/Italian/ Chinese food even in some trekking regions.

Is the drinking water safe while trekking? 

Drinking water should be treated by boiling and water purification by medicine or with filtered. We suggest carrying a water purifier while trekking to be on the safe side.

Is there any tourist police in Nepal?

Of course, there is a tourist police located near the Nepal Tourism Development Board's Office. Also, there are complaint counters at the airport, Basantapur Durbar Square, Thamel, and so many other places. Tourist police are specially trained in English and have detailed local knowledge to assist tourists. For security and travel-related assistance, you can reach any of the officers by telephone at 4-247041, or 4-4268969 from 11 am to 5 pm.

Is Nepal safe? Is a woman traveling alone safe with your company?

Nepal is safe for the traveler. Firstly, Nepal is considered one of the most peaceful countries in the world (chances are it's safer here than in your home country). Secondly, while you're on one of our trips, we take personal responsibility for your well-being, a responsibility we commit very seriously.

What about Time in Nepal?

Nepal is +5 hours 45 minutes ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT: +0545). For example, when it is noon in Kathmandu, the standard time in London is 6.15 am, 4.15 am in Sydney, 1.15 am in New York, and 10.15 pm the previous night in San Francisco. The strange 15-minute difference is said to be a reflection of the exact time at the summit of Mt. Gaurishankar.

Travel Insurance

Doing insurance while trekking in Nepal is not compulsory but will surely help you a lot if you do one, as it covers any comprehensive expenses possible to acquire due to medical issues or accidents. Your travel insurance must protect air ambulance, treatment charges, rescue and evacuation, product cancellation and refundable charges, flight delays, and cancellations. We suggest you bring your travel insurance certificate or send us scan copy and it must be issued from your homeland. We do not arrange or sell insurance so we suggest you do some research on the company and do the travel insurance.