24-Day Kanchenjunga North and South Base Camp Trek

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Today, your tour begins after breakfast at the hotel. You will be visiting four places in the valley which are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. You'll drive to Pashupatinath Temple and explore this Hindu temple and the site of the sadhu cremation. You'll stop at the largest Buddhanath stupa and Swayambhu temple. You'll finish the day at Kathmandu Durbar Square and you may get a glance of the living goddess "Kumari".

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After breakfast, you'll transfer to Kathmandu airport for a 45-minute scenic flight over Ariel Mountain with views of Mount Everest. Then, you'll take a four-hour bus ride to Ilam, past rice terraces and tea gardens. On arrival, you'll take a tour of the Ilam Estates, the oldest tea estate, which produces a dark, smoky-flavoured black tea. In the evening, you'll watch a glorious sunset on Jannu Himal and Mount Kanchenjunga.

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It is a six-hour scenic drive from Ilam to Taplejung. Upon arrival, you'll have some free time in Taplejung which has a rich cultural heritage. There are many Buddhist gompas (monasteries). One gompa has a life-size statue of Avalokiteshwara and a butter lamp at the altar has been burning here uninterrupted for 400 years. Outside the gompa is a small stream continuously spinning twelve prayer wheels with the prayer "Om Mane Padme Hum" inscribed on them

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This morning, the scenic drive starts from Taplejung through the jungle, villages and rice fields to Siwan on the bank of the Tamor River. You'll then trek two hours to Chiruwa to your mountain lodge. After checking in at this very basic accommodation, you'll visit the small fishing village Chiruwa across the suspension bridge.

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The trekking route begins from Chiruwa village passing cardamom farms. Upon arrival at Thapethok, you'll check Kanchenjunga conservation area trekking permits then cross the bridge and gradually climb uphill to Lelep. The main trail continues to Olangchu Gola and you'll take the branch trail past rice terraces and crossing the Tamor river to Japantar.

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The wilderness trekking route begins after breakfast and continues alongside the river with an ascent on a grassy hill and a stop at an impressive waterfall. Along the trek, the route passes two teashops and a suspension bridge. You'll stop at Jaubari, where a simple Nepalese lunch is prepared by a Limbu family. From here, you'll again cross an iron bridge then follow a steep uphill trail to Amji Losha. Only a few Sherpa family live here permanently living from yak and sheep pasturing.

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Today, most of the time is spent walking into the forests of bamboo, pine, rhododendron and oak trees with a little climb and descent. North of Amji Losha, you have a fine view of villages, the valley, and mountains. On the trail, you often meet yaks, sheep and goats. As you trek into the dense jungle, there is an opportunity to see other animals and birds. You'll have a lunch break at Thyangyam then ascending through dense forest to Gyabla and crossing the wooden bridge.

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Now entering to Upper section of Kanchenjunga conservation area, the path onwards descends into the thick forest with along the Tamor River. After a lunch break at Phale, a winter settlement for Ghunsa villagers, the gentle trail goes along the mountain stream to Ghunsa, the largest village in the upper section of Kangchenjunga Base Camp, set on the foot of boulder rocks and Himalayas. You'll have free time to explore this large village for the rest of the day.

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Before you enter the alpine valley, you'll spend an extra day at Ghunsa and take a side trek to a nearby hill station. This extra day at Ghunsa helps you with the acclimatisation. You'll visit a monastery at the foot of the mountain, which offers views of the picturesque Ghunsa village and the towering mountains. You will also visit Ghunsa village school with about 200 students.

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The Kanchenjunga Base Camp route towards the northeast of Ghunsa village gradually ascends into the rhododendron and pine forest and crossing streams. You'll pass the ancient mani-wall and chortens before reaching today's lunch spot. This route offers mountain scenery of Jannu and several other snowy peaks. Further on, you will get awesome views of the waterfall and seldom spotted blue sheep. You'll cross a landslide section of the path to reach Kangpachen.

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Beyond Kangpachen village is snow leopard territory. Most of the trekking route from Kangpachen to Lhonak is smooth gradually uphill trekking on the moraine of Kanchenjunga glacier. There is no human settlement between Kangpachen to Lhonak except a summer yak hut at Ramtang and entire trail offers breathtaking views.

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Today, you'll follow a gentle climbing trail on the moraine of the Kanchenjunga glacier and stop at a stone-hut on the Pangpema grassy plateau for light meals and hot drinks. The view of the surrounding mountains and glacier from the Kanchenjunga Base Camp is very striking. KBC is embellished with Buddhist flags on the corner of Pangpema. After spending some time at Kanchenjunga Base Camp, you'll make the return trek to Lhonak.

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This morning, the trek begins after breakfast at Lhonak gradually descending on the moraine on the crumbly and pebble trail to Kangpachen. You'll stop at Kangpachen village for lunch and then follow the trek on the east bank of the Tamor River where the vegetation is getting greener all the way back to Ghunsa. The trek will take around six to seven hours.

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Today's trek from Ghunsa village towards Se Le Le leads you on a rocky trail through the forest then along a grassy ridge. On the ascent, there are fantastic views of Ghunsa and Phale village and Mount Makalu in the far distance. There is no shop or villages up to Se Le Le from Ghunsa, so you need to carry sufficient drinks for this trek. It is very basic accommodation at Se Le Le but you are rewarded with a superb sunset on Jannu Himal.

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The trek starts early morning from Se Le Le towards Kanchenjunga south base camp and continues gently to the first Pass, Sinion La (4,450 metres). The path contours along a ridge with a good sight of Mirgin La Pass (4,470 metres). You'll then climb towards the last pass Sinelapche La (4830 metres). From the summit, you will have spectacular views of Mount Kanchenjunga and its huge valley. Finally, you'll descend on a small path to the guesthouse at Tseram.

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From Tseram, the trail ascends into the forest, then along the moraine of Yarlung glacier. As you climb higher, all the snow peak you see around you include the trans-Himalayan. Often crossing glacier streams, you'll encounter blue sheep and birds to Ramze. You'll stop Lapsang village for tea to get the magnificent view of Mount Jannu, Yalungkang, and south face of Mount Kanchenjunga.

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Today brings another side trek in your Kanchenjunga circuit trek, visiting Yarlung glacier and Kanchenjunga south base camp. You'll trek on the glacier valley on a moraine with magnificent views of Jannu Himal and numerous neighbouring mountains. The trek further up is on the rubble of Yalung Glacier and again, you'll see a spectacular view of the Himalayas. You will return to Ramze before sunset.

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Today you'll follow the trail down into the forest of pine, rhododendron and fir to Tseram village for lunch. You'll then trek gently along the Simbuwa Khola River down to Tortang, where the landscape changes quite a bit. It's more than a 1000-metre drop to Tortong and it feels much warmer at this altitude.

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Today's hike involves around seven to eight hours of trekking to Yamphudin and again back to human settlements. The trek is through tall pine forest with views of green landscapes and Jannu Himal. You'll stop at Yamphudin village with mostly inhabitants of Limbu tribes.

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This is your last trekking day! Today, you are back to milder temperatures walking through Limbu villages, crossing streams and suspension bridges. Today, you'll often see the local people working on rice fields and much more human activity than you have been used to so far on this trek.

It is a ten-hour drive from Ambegudin to Birtamod. The off-road drive begins from Ambegudin to Ganesh Chowk then continues on Mechi highway via Ranke, Phidim, Ilam and Kanyam tea garden. After that, you'll finally arrive at Birtamod.

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Today, you'll travel to Bhadrapur Airport in the morning where you'll catch a flight to Kathmandu which takes around 45-minutes. Upon arrival at Kathmandu domestic airport, you'll meet your driver and transfer to Hotel Thamel Park. You'll enjoy a free afternoon and in the evening, you'll head to a farewell dinner at a typical Nepalese restaurant with a live cultural show.