Kanchenjunga Trek North & South Base Camps Itinerary
Kanchenjunga Trek North & South Base Camps Itinerary
The Kanchenjunga North & South Base Camp Trek is one of Nepal’s most spectacular and remote Himalayan adventures. This demanding journey takes you deep into the eastern Himalayas to experience both sides of Mount Kanchenjunga (8,586 m), the third-highest mountain in the world. Unlike Nepal’s more popular trekking destinations, the Kanchenjunga region offers a quieter, wilder, and more authentic experience, with remote mountain villages, dramatic valleys, glaciers, high passes, and extraordinary views.
The trek is designed for adventurous and physically prepared trekkers who want to explore beyond the established routes. Visiting both the North Base Camp at Pangpema and the South Base Camp area at Oktang provides an opportunity to experience two very different perspectives of the Kanchenjunga massif in a single journey.
Kanchenjunga North & South Base Camp Trek at a Glance
The journey normally begins with travel from Kathmandu toward eastern Nepal, followed by road transportation toward the Kanchenjunga trekking region. Depending on the selected itinerary and current road conditions, the walking section may begin around the lower Kanchenjunga settlements.
The trail gradually climbs from green hills and subtropical forests into dense rhododendron and conifer forests, alpine valleys, and eventually the rugged landscapes surrounding Kanchenjunga's glaciers and high peaks.
The northern section generally passes through villages such as Amjilosa, Gyabla, and Ghunsa, followed by higher settlements including Kambachen and Lhonak. From Lhonak, the trail continues toward Pangpema, the North Base Camp area, at approximately 5,140–5,143 m.
After exploring the northern side, the trek returns toward Ghunsa and crosses the high mountain terrain toward the southern side. Depending on the route, the Sele La passes provide the connection between the northern and southern valleys. The trail then descends toward Tseram and Ramche before entering the spectacular Yalung Valley and continuing toward the Oktang area.
The complete journey is physically demanding and requires proper acclimatization, good preparation, and flexibility.
You can also check north and south base camp trek package
Or Only South Base Camp Package
Or Only North Base Camp Package
Kanchenjunga Base Camp & Circuit Trek Itinerary (22 Days)
Altitudes are overnight heights unless marked as a high point. Distances and times are approximate.
Day | Route | Altitude | Distance | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Arrive in Kathmandu | 1,400 m | – | – |
2 | Kathmandu: permits and trek briefing | 1,400 m | – | – |
3 | Fly to Bhadrapur, drive to Taplejung | 1,820 m | 213 km drive | 8–9 h |
4 | Drive Taplejung to Sekathum | 1,640 m | – | 4–5 h |
5 | Sekathum to Amjilosa | 2,510 m | 10–11 km | 5–6 h |
6 | Amjilosa to Gyabla | 2,725 m | 9–10 km | 5–6 h |
7 | Gyabla to Ghunsa | 3,415 m | 11–12 km | 5–6 h |
8 | Acclimatization day in Ghunsa | 3,415 m | – | – |
9 | Ghunsa to Kambachen | 4,145 m | 10–11 km | 5–6 h |
10 | Kambachen to Lhonak | 4,790 m | 10–11 km | 5–6 h |
11 | Lhonak to Pangpema (North Base Camp) and back | 5,143 m high point | – | – |
12 | Lhonak to Ghunsa | 3,415 m | 18–20 km | 6–8 h |
13 | Ghunsa to Sele La Camp | 4,300 m | 7–8 km | 5–6 h |
14 | Cross the Sele La passes to Tseram | 3,870 m | 10–12 km | 7–9 h |
15 | Tseram to Ramche | 4,580 m | 8–10 km | 4–5 h |
16 | Ramche to Oktang (South Base Camp) and back | 4,730 m high point | 12–14 km | 7 h |
17 | Ramche to Tseram and Tortong | 2,995 m | 15 km | 5–6 h |
18 | Tortong to Yamphudin | 2,080 m | 13–15 km | 5–6 h |
19 | Drive Yamphudin to Ilam | 1,208 m | – | 8–9 h |
20 | Drive to Bhadrapur, fly to Kathmandu | 1,400 m | – | 5–6 h + 50 min flight |
21 | Spare day in Kathmandu | 1,400 m | – | – |
22 | Departure | – | – | – |
Day 1: Arrive in Kathmandu (1,400 m)
Our team meets you at Tribhuvan International Airport and drives you to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to recover from the journey. If you arrive early enough, you can meet your trekking guide this evening.
Overnight: Kathmandu, hotel · Meals: None included
Day 2: Permits and Trek Briefing in Kathmandu (1,400 m)
Your guide goes through the route day by day and checks your gear against the packing list. We handle the restricted-area permit, the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area permit and the TIMS card. You need your passport and passport photos for these. Use the free afternoon to buy or rent anything missing: there are no gear shops after Kathmandu.
Overnight: Kathmandu, hotel · Meals: Breakfast
Day 3: Fly to Bhadrapur, Drive to Taplejung (1,820 m)
A flight of about 50 minutes takes you to Bhadrapur on Nepal's eastern plains. From there, a private jeep climbs 213 km through the tea gardens of Ilam to Taplejung, the district headquarters and gateway to the Kanchenjunga region. It is a long day on the road, and you watch the plains give way to green hills.
Overnight: Taplejung, hotel · Drive: 213 km, 8–9 hours · Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 4: Drive Taplejung to Sekathum (1,640 m)
The road narrows as it follows the Tamor River and then the Ghunsa Khola up to Sekathum, where the trail begins. Expect a rough, bumpy track. In the afternoon your guide sorts the loads with the porters for tomorrow's start.
Overnight: Sekathum, lodge · Drive: 4–5 hours · Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 5: Trek Sekathum to Amjilosa (2,510 m)
The first walking day follows the Ghunsa Khola gorge, passing waterfalls and crossing several suspension bridges. The last section is a steep climb to Amjilosa, a small settlement on a ledge above the river. Take it slowly: this is the biggest climb of the first three days.
Overnight: Amjilosa, lodge · Distance: 10–11 km · Walking: 5–6 hours · Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 6: Trek Amjilosa to Gyabla (2,725 m)
The trail rises and falls through bamboo and rhododendron forest along the valley side. In April and May the rhododendrons are in full bloom. Gyabla is a small Sherpa village with a handful of lodges.
Overnight: Gyabla, lodge · Distance: 9–10 km · Walking: 5–6 hours · Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 7: Trek Gyabla to Ghunsa (3,415 m)
You pass Phale, a Tibetan refugee settlement with a small monastery. The forest then opens into pine and juniper before you reach Ghunsa, the largest village on the northern route. Its stone houses, prayer flags and monastery show the area's strong Tibetan roots. Ghunsa also has the last reliable shop and the main police and conservation-area checkpost.
Overnight: Ghunsa, lodge · Distance: 11–12 km · Walking: 5–6 hours · Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 8: Acclimatization Day in Ghunsa (3,415 m)
You spend a second night at the same altitude so your body can adjust before the big climb north. Instead of resting all day, you take a short hike above the village to gain height and come back down to sleep. Your guide picks the route based on weather and how the group feels.
Overnight: Ghunsa, lodge · Activity: Acclimatization hike, 2–4 hours · Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 9: Trek Ghunsa to Kambachen (4,145 m)
You leave the last of the forest behind and climb into open alpine country. The trail crosses a landslide section where your guide sets the pace. Jannu (7,710 m) comes into view as you near Kambachen, a summer grazing settlement of stone huts.
Overnight: Kambachen, lodge · Distance: 10–11 km · Walking: 5–6 hours · Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 10: Trek Kambachen to Lhonak (4,790 m)
The valley widens into moraine and boulder fields beside the Kanchenjunga Glacier. You see almost no vegetation from here on. Lhonak sits on a wide, flat plain ringed by peaks and is the last place to sleep before North Base Camp.
Overnight: Lhonak, lodge · Distance: 10–11 km · Walking: 5–6 hours · Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 11: Hike to Pangpema, Kanchenjunga North Base Camp (5,143 m), and Back to Lhonak
This is the high point of the northern route. You start early and follow the glacier's edge to Pangpema, the North Base Camp, where the north face of Kanchenjunga (8,586 m) fills the view. After time at base camp you walk back down to Lhonak for the night.
Overnight: Lhonak, lodge · High point: 5,143 m · Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 12: Trek Lhonak to Ghunsa (3,415 m)
It is a long day, but almost all downhill, retracing your route through Kambachen. Losing 1,400 m of altitude means more oxygen, better sleep and a warm lodge in Ghunsa.
Overnight: Ghunsa, lodge · Distance: 18–20 km · Walking: 6–8 hours · Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 13: Trek Ghunsa to Sele La Camp (4,300 m)
Now you head south. A steep climb through forest brings you out onto open ridges below the Sele La. The lodges at the camp are basic, so bring warm layers for the evening.
Overnight: Sele La Camp, basic lodge · Distance: 7–8 km · Walking: 5–6 hours · Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 14: Cross the Sele La Passes to Tseram (3,870 m)
This is the toughest day of the trek. You cross a chain of passes linking the north and south sides of the range: Sele La, Sinion La, Mirgin La and Sinelapche La. The route reaches about 4,700 m, and on clear days you can see Makalu and Kanchenjunga from the ridges. A long descent then takes you to Tseram in the upper Simbuwa Khola valley. Start before dawn: snow can close the passes from December to February.
Overnight: Tseram, lodge · High point: about 4,700 m · Distance: 10–12 km · Walking: 7–9 hours · Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 15: Trek Tseram to Ramche (4,580 m)
A short climb up the Yalung Valley takes you beside the Yalung Glacier to Ramche, which sits in a meadow below the peaks. The short day gives your legs time to recover after the passes.
Overnight: Ramche, lodge · Distance: 8–10 km · Walking: 4–5 hours · Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 16: Hike to Oktang, Kanchenjunga South Base Camp (4,730 m), and Back to Ramche
You walk along the moraine of the Yalung Glacier to Oktang, the South Base Camp. From here you see the south face of Kanchenjunga, a different view from the north face you saw at Pangpema. With both base camps behind you, you return to Ramche for the night.
Overnight: Ramche, lodge · High point: 4,730 m · Distance: 12–14 km · Walking: about 7 hours · Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 17: Trek Ramche to Tseram and Tortong (2,995 m)
You go back down through Tseram and drop steeply into forest along the Simbuwa Khola. Tortong is surrounded by rhododendron and pine, and after a week above 4,000 m the air feels warm.
Overnight: Tortong, lodge · Distance: about 15 km · Walking: 5–6 hours · Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 18: Trek Tortong to Yamphudin (2,080 m)
This is the last trekking day. You cross the Lasiya Bhanjyang ridge and descend through forest to Yamphudin, a farming village of Limbu, Sherpa and Gurung families. Spend the evening celebrating with your guide and porters.
Overnight: Yamphudin, lodge · Distance: 13–15 km · Walking: 5–6 hours · Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 19: Drive Yamphudin to Ilam (1,208 m)
A long jeep ride takes you out of the mountains and down to the tea-growing hills of Ilam. The road is unpaved for the first few hours and can be slow after rain, so plan for a full day.
Overnight: Ilam, hotel · Drive: 8–9 hours · Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 20: Drive to Bhadrapur, Fly to Kathmandu (1,400 m)
You drive down to Bhadrapur for the flight of about 50 minutes back to Kathmandu, then transfer to your hotel. Enjoy a hot shower and a celebration dinner in Thamel.
Overnight: Kathmandu, hotel · Drive: 5–6 hours · Flight: about 50 minutes · Meals: Breakfast
Day 21: Spare Day in Kathmandu (1,400 m)
This is a buffer day in case weather or road conditions delay you in the east. If everything ran on time, use it to visit Boudhanath, Pashupatinath or Patan Durbar Square, or to shop in Thamel.
Overnight: Kathmandu, hotel · Meals: Breakfast
Day 22: Departure
We drive you to Tribhuvan International Airport in time for your flight home.
Meals: Breakfast
Best Time for the Kanchenjunga North & South Base Camp Trek
The best seasons are generally spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November). Spring brings warmer conditions and blooming rhododendrons, while autumn often provides clear mountain views and stable trekking conditions.
Winter can bring very cold temperatures and snow at higher elevations, while the monsoon season can bring heavy rainfall, muddy trails, landslides, and transportation difficulties in eastern Nepal.
Weather in the mountains can change quickly, so the actual conditions should always be considered when planning the trek.
How Difficult Is the Trek?
The Kanchenjunga North & South Base Camp Trek is a challenging high-altitude trek. The difficulty comes from several factors:
- Long trekking days
- Rugged and remote trails
- High-altitude sections
- Crossing the Sele La passes
- Limited facilities in remote areas
- Reaching elevations above 5,000 m
- Changing mountain weather
- Long transportation sections
Good physical fitness and previous high-altitude trekking experience are strongly recommended.
Most importantly, the itinerary should not be treated as a race. Proper acclimatization, a steady pace, adequate rest, and flexibility are essential.
Why Trek with Kanchenjunga Guides Nepal?
Kanchenjunga is a remote region where local knowledge makes a real difference. Kanchenjunga Guides Nepal provides experienced local guides who understand the trails, mountain conditions, villages, accommodation, and logistics of eastern Nepal.
We assist with:
- Trekking permits and documentation
- Transportation arrangements
- Experienced local guides
- Porter services
- Teahouse and lodge accommodation
- Acclimatization planning
- Route planning
- Trekking equipment advice
- Emergency support and coordination
Our goal is to provide a well-organized trek while allowing you to experience the natural beauty and local culture of the Kanchenjunga region.
Final Thoughts
The Kanchenjunga North & South Base Camp Trek is much more than a journey to two base camps. It is a complete Himalayan experience through one of Nepal's most remote regions. From the forests and traditional villages of the lower valleys to the glaciers of Pangpema, the high Sele La passes, the Yalung Valley, and the spectacular Oktang area, the trek reveals a remarkable variety of landscapes.
For experienced trekkers seeking remote trails, dramatic mountain scenery, authentic Himalayan culture, and a true wilderness adventure, this is one of the most rewarding trekking journeys in Nepal.
Pangpema and Oktang offer two different perspectives of Kanchenjunga—but the journey between them is what makes the complete trek truly unforgettable.
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