Destination Kanchenjunga Base Camp

Trip Difficulty Difficult Trip

Duration 14 Days

Activities Trekking

Accommodation Tea House Lodges

Max altitude 5300 m

Group Size 1-12 Pax

Meals Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Vehicle Bus/Car/Jeep/Flight

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Highlights of Kathmandu to Kanchenjunga Base Camp

Enjoy a scenic flight from Kathmandu to Bhadrapur, followed by a drive to Taplejung to begin the trek.
Visit the North Kanchenjunga Base Camp (Pangpema) Nepal.
Explore the less traversed Eastern mountainous regions of Nepal
Walk past the popular glacial lakes in the region
Amazing time walking through the diverse flora and fauna
Meditate in Ramtang and Oktang Monasteries after your tiring walks
Have an amazing time on the lap of the giant peaks

Overview of Kathmandu to Kanchenjunga Base Camp

Kathmandu to Kanchenjunga Base Camp is a 12 to 15 days trip of flight, drive and trek to Kanchenjunga Nepal. You first take a flight to Bhadrapur and drive by bus/jeep to Taplejung, followed by a multi-day trek to KBC. It is a guided trek to Kanchenjunga Base Camp as it requires a special trek permit. The Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek from Kathmandu admires the stunning views of the north face of Mt Kanchenjunga and the surrounding peaks.

Fly from Kathmandu to Bhadrapur is the quickest way to reach the Kanchenjunga region with a 45 to 60 minute flight from Kathmandu Airport (KTM) to Bhadrapur. From Bhadrapur, you will take a long drive, which can take 6 to 8 hours to Taplejung. It is also nice to stay in Fikkal or other nearby towns before continuing to Taplejung the next day.

Kathmandu to Taplejung by bus is a very long journey, taking around 24 hours, and then trekking to Kanchenjunga Base Camp from Taplejung. The initial days involve trekking through lower-elevation villages and terraced fields, with stops in villages like Sekathum, Amjilosa, and Gyabla, before reaching the Sherpa village of Ghunsa.

From Ghunsa to North Base Camp of Kanchenjunga, you’ll gain altitude trekking to Khambachen and Lhonak. A day hike from Lhonak to the North Base Camp and back. The South Base Camp is an optional itineraries include a traverse to the South Base Camp (Oktang/Ramche), which requires crossing high mountain passes-the Sele La.

Before you trek to KBC, you must secure the necessary permits and arrange for a licensed guide and porters. You will need a special restricted area entry permit for the Kanchenjunga region and a Kanchenjunga Conservation Area Permit(KCAP).

The restricted area rules require a minimum of two trekkers and a licensed guide from a registered trekking agency. These permits are typically issued in Kathmandu by a trekking agency like Mission Eco Trek.

The most favorable times for KBC trek are during the spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November), when the weather is stable and the skies are generally clear with star. The monsoon season, from June to August, brings heavy rainfall and limited visibility, so it is not a good time to trek to Kanchenjunga Trek.

Outline Kathmandu to Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek Itinerary

Day 01: Kathmandu to Bhadrapur and drive to Taplejung.

Day 02: Trek to Sekathum(1570m, 6-7 hours)

Day 03: Trek to Amjilosa(2300m, 4-6 hours)

Day 04: Trek to Gyabla(2730m, 5 hours)

Day 05: Trek to Ghunsa(4780m, 5 hours)

Day 06: Day of Acclimatization in Ghunsa

Day 07: Trek to Khambachen(4050m, 6 hours)

Day 08: Trek to Lhonak(5 hours)

Day 09: Trek to Kanchenjunga North Base Camp(8 hours)

Day 10: Trek to Ghunsa (8 hours).

Day 11: Trek to Amjilosa(9 hours)

Day 12 Trek to Sekathum and drive to Taplejung(6 hours)

Day 13: Taplejung to Bhadrapur by jeep.

Day 14: Bhadrapur to Kathmandu

Detail Itinerary of Kathmandu to Kanchenjunga Base Camp

01:

Day 01:: Kathmandu to Bhadrapur and drive to Taplejung.

Get Kathmandu to Bhadrapur flight(1 hour) in the morning and drive by jeep to Taplejung(8/9 hours). Overnight stay at Taplejung.

Day 02: Trek to Sekathum(1570m, 6-7 hours)

Breakfast and drive by sharing jeep to Sekathum through a narrow, winding road with small village and forest accompanied by chirping sounds of birds and roaring river. Overnight stay at a hotel in Sekathum.

Day 03: Trek to Amjilosa(2300m, 4-6 hours)

Breakfast and ascend trek towards Amjilosa with steep ascent and descent through forests along stream with rocky trail and crossing suspension bridge. Overnight stay at the Hotel in Amjilosa.

Day 04: Trek to Gyabla(2730m, 5 hours)

Breakfast and trek in the beautiful Kanchenjunga conservation area, witnessing unique flora and fauna, and you may see red panda if you are lucky. Stay overnight at Gyabla in tea house.

Day 05: Trek to Ghunsa(4780m, 5 hours)

Breakfast and trek towards Ghunsa, following the path of lush various terrain with steep ascends and descents through narrow trails with cascading waterfalls and snow-capped peaks via Phale, a small village famous for its carpet factory. Ghunsa is a picturesque village known for its Tibetan culture and hospitality. Stay Overnight in Ghunsa.

Day 06: Day of Acclimatization in Ghunsa

Exploration around Ghunsa village, interacting with locals to learn their culture, and their way of living in the Himalayas with the ancient Buddhist monasteries.

Day 07: Trek to Khambachen(4050m, 6 hours)

Breakfast and trek towards Khambachen, following Ghunsa Khola through forests of rhododendron and pine, passing chortens and mani walls with prayer wheels and flags. You will see beautiful closet mountains throughout the trek from Ghunsa to Khambachen. Stay overnight at the tea house of Khambachen.

Day 08: Trek to Lhonak(5 hours)

Breakfast and trek towards Lhonak following Ghunsa Khola via Ramtang village, known for the ancient Ramtang monastery. The trail is full of diverse landscapes of alpine meadows, alpine terrain, and moraines with yaks and mountain goats and the view of Mera Glacier, Ramdang Glacier, and Kanchenjunga Glacier. Stay Overnight at Lhonak guest house.

Day 09: Trek to Kanchenjunga North Base Camp(8 hours)

Breakfast and trek to the north base camp of Kanchenjunga, the third highest mountain in the world with pack lunch. You will get a scenic views of the surrounding areas of rocky landscapes and rough terrain to Kanchenjunga Base Camp. KBC is mesmerizing with snow-capped peaks, glaciers, and pristine alpine surround you. Enjoy Mount Kanchenjunga (8586m), and 360 views of Kangbachen (7903 m), Ramtang Peak (6601 m), Taple Sikhar (6341 m), Nepal Chuli (6910 m), and Kirat Chuli (7365 m) with Ramdana glaciers, then return to Lhonak for overnight stay.

Day 10: Trek to Ghunsa (8 hours)

Breakfast and trek descend to Ghunsa on the same trail via Ramtang and Khambachen. Stay overnight at Ghunsa.

Day 11: Trek to Amjilosa(9 hours)

Breakfast and trek down towards Amjilosa via Phale and Gyabla village. The journey is entirely descending. Your overnight stay is at the Amjilosa Lodge.

Day 12: Trek to Sekathum and drive to Taplejung(6 hours)

Breakfast and trek down to Sekathum for 4 to 5 hours, lunch and get a scenic jeep drive to Taplejung for 5 to 6 hours. You’ll have an overnight stay at the hotel in Taplejung.

Day 13: Taplejung to Bhadrapur by jeep.

Breakfast and drive by private jeep to Bhadrapur for 7 to 8 hours. Stay night in Bhadrapur, also possible to get late afternoon flight to Kathmandu.

Day 14: Bhadrapur to Kathmandu

Breakfast and transfer to Bhadrapur airport to get your flight back to Kathmandu. The trip ends here.

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Includes / Excludes

What's Included ?

Airport transfer
Kathmandu/Bhadrapur/Kathmandu Flight Cost
Bhadrapur to Taplejung to Sekathum to Taplejung to Bhadrapur by sharing jeep transfer.
English Speaking guide and all his expenses like salary, meals, transfer, insurance and accomodation.
Kanchenjunga Conservation Area Entry Permit.
Restricted Area Permit.
Teahouse or homestay accommodation
Three times Meals-Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.
Company Service Charge and Government taxes.
Trekking Map
All the government taxes and company service charge.

What's Excluded ?

Hotel Accommodation in Kathmandu
Lunch, dinner and Kathmandu sightseeing tour in Kathmandu.
Travel insurance for Heli rescue and medication in case of emergency.
Personal Trekking Equipment
Porter to carry your luggage
Tips for guide and porter
Drinks like coke, fanta, beer, whisky, tea and coffee.
Hot Shower and Wifi
Other expenses not includes in the above cost

Note: We operate private trip everyday.

We can operate private trip for solo, group, family, students as per your requirements.

Trip Information - Kathmandu to Kanchenjunga Base Camp

Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek Duration

Plan for approximately 12 to 25 days trek to KBC, including travel and rest days.

KBC Trek Difficulty

This is a challenging trek requiring a good level of physical fitness and mental endurance due to rugged terrain and high altitude.

Kanchenjunga Base Camp Altitude

The trek reaches a maximum elevation of about 5143 meters. Acclimatization is critical to prevent altitude sickness. Take the trek at a slow, steady pace.

Best Season for Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek from Kathmandu

The most popular times to trek to Kanchenjunga Base Camp trek from Kathmandu are spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November).

Permits for Kanchenjunga Base Camp Hike

Permits are mandatory and will be organized during your preparation days in Kathmandu. The three permits-Kanchenjunga restricted area entry permit, Kanchenjunga Conservation Area Project Permit and TIMS card are necessary for the KBC trip.

Accommodation on Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek from Kathmandu

You can trek with lodges or tea houses along the way, but it’s essential to book accommodation in advance, especially during peak season. The teahouse and home stay accommodation is neat, clean, simple and basic during the trek.

Trek Meals on Kathmandu to Kanchenjunga Base Camp

The three times meals-breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included in the KBC package cost. Drinking water, soft drinks, beer, hot drinks-tea or coffee and extra food are not included and you should pay directly to the teahouse. The breakfast and dinner are taken in the teahouses where you sleep, and lunch is taken on the trail at a smaller teahouse.

Drinking Water on the trek

Please do not drink the tap water or natural spring water untreated or unfiltered. Purifying drops or tablets can be added to the water which will then make it safe for drinking.

You can also bring a LifeStraw from home as a backup and to filter out any unwanted particles. It is not guaranteed there will be bottled water in the teahouses. Boiled drinking water is available, but you have to pay for that. We recommend that even if bottled water is available, in order to preserve the countryside, you do not purchase it. Getting rid of plastic bottles is a challenge in mountain areas.

To avoid dehydration, drink 4 litre of water per day. Hot newly boiled water will be a treat in the cold mornings as you start your trek. Your stainless steel water bottle full of hot water will warm you in bed at night and can be drunk cold during the day.

Breakfast Options-Porridge, Tibetan bread, Eggs, Pancakes, Muesli, Tea, Chapatis, Garlic Omelets, Oatmeal Porridge, Boiled Eggs, Boiled Potato, Swiss Rosti

Lunch and Dinner Options-Dal Bhat, Rice, lentils and veggies, Momo, Tibetan dumplings, Thukpa, Noodle soup, Chowmin, Fried noodles, Macaroni/Pasta with egg or vegetables, Soups, Vegetable, garlic, Spring Roll with Egg, tuna or potato, Fried Rice with egg, vegetables, or tuna, Noodles with Vegetable, Egg Spaghetti with Tomato Sauce, egg/vegetable/potato curry,

Food Safety Tips

Buy snacks in Kathmandu like power bars and protein powder bring from home. Tell the teahouse to keep hot spices to a minimum, you do not want to upset your stomach. Eat the meals offered. It is easy to skip them when you are exhausted, particularly at high altitude. But you need the energy.

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