Kanchenjunga Circuit trek (Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek from North)

We fly to Biratnagar and drive a jeep to Taplejung, from where a magnificent trek to Kanchenjunga Base Camp starts and is the large settlement of Limbu people. The journey to Taplejung is the scenic drive offers the glimpse of Mt. Kanchenjunga and Mt. Jannu. We get to see pasture land and small villages. The name Taplejung is derived from the name Taple and the word jung. Taple was the medieval Limbu king who used to rule the area and Jung in the Limbu language means fort. Literally, Taplejung means Fort of King Taple. Taplejung is a bustling town with narrow streets.
Overnight at hotel

Leaving Taplejung behind the broad trail steadily and take a gradual steep descends towards the Tamur and Mitlung. The path continues through large cardamom plantations and several small communities before reaching the river at Mitlung.
Overnight at teahouse

Leaving Mitlung the trail is reduced to single track footpath winding between the paddies, cardamom plantations and barely fields. After passing approximately one hour there is abridge spanning the Sisne Khola. Crossing the bridge and continuing along the eastern bank of Tamur river we reach Sinwa bazaar. Sinwa bazaar is a small market and we will see Limbus settlement, high school, hospitals, and a police checkpoint. We continue to follow Tamor River for one and half hours and stop at Tawa village for lunch. After lunch, we walk on a zigzag path for about 1 hour that leads to Thiwa Village after that we make a climb before crossing a suspension bridge at Thiwa. The upper path climbs higher before descends into Chirwa.
Overnight at teahouse

The trail follows the Tamur valley all day to Sukathum. The trail passes through a varied landscape, we trek uphill and downhill passing dense forest. After a couple of hours, we arrive at Taplethok where our trekking permit will be checked and doorway to Kanchenjunga Conservation Area. We traverse the suspension bridge over the river and walk on the west bank along with the cardamom farm. After crossing the Khakshwa Khola the easy path goes around the hillside above Temewa. The trail passes the Simbuwa Khola and the path arrives at the bridge across to Sukethum.
Overnight at teahouse

The day gets tough as the route climbs higher on a narrow trail. The Tamur is left behind as the route follows more imposing canyon-like gorge of the Ghunsa Khola. We continue our trek crossing a suspension bridge and enter dense forests of bamboo trees, Utis trees and varied types of trees. We then cross another suspension bridge over Ghunsa Khola and reach Jaubari. You can see a beautiful waterfall here. We continue to follow Ghunsa Khola that takes you to Lamatar where we stop for lunch. After lunch, we walk through the zigzag trail and enter into dense forests. After that, we cross one more suspension bridge and gradually ascend around 2hr of walk through straight trails will take us to our camp at Amjilosa.
Overnight at teahouse

Leaving Amjilosa behind we trek from the river bank all the way through thick bamboo and rhododendron forest to traverse the ridge. Then we walk down on the way to Ghunsa Khola where we will see many houses made up of stones. Walk further through several ascend and descend after a short climb before passing a large waterfall. Eventually, we will arrive at Gyabla after a steep ascent. Gyabala is a beautiful village with a Tibetan settlement where we overnight here.
Overnight at teahouse

We descend down the river as the valley widens. The trail passes through rhododendron, camellias and azaleas, bamboo and cardamom. We will reach Phole, Tibetan settlement where you can buy handicrafts handmade by the locals and visit the monastery. Leaving the village, we trek further through pine forest to Ghunsa. Ghunsa is a charming Tibetan village; prayer flags flutter from the wooden houses and there are two monasteries, a welcome sight after the many days of wilderness.
Overnight at teahouse

We will spend a day in Ghunsa for acclimatizing and explore the village. A day hike will be organized to a close-by monastery called Lapsang La Pass. From the pass, we will see the beautiful view of Ghunsa peak and several other unnamed peaks. We will hike towards the Laspsan-La monastery through the lush green forest. We will return back and get some rest, we will stay overnight in Ghunsa.
Overnight at teahouse

We trek along the river bank heading towards the north; the trail offers us amazing views of the mountain. As we continue trekking we pass through meadows with wildflowers, rhododendron and pine forests. Trekking further we reach Rampuk Kharka where we cross a bridge and continue passing the waterfall and a landslide. As we cross the landslide area we will get to see a view of Mt. Jannu. Soon we will arrive at Khambachen which is the Tibetan settlement consist of dozen houses situated in a grassy plain area surrounded by magnificent mountain. We will see an incredible backdrop of the enormous north face of Jannu. We traverse many suspension bridges above the river and go by waterfalls to reach Kambachen.
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We will explore around Kambachen and climb a ridge behind the village and view the beautiful mountains. We will observe the incredible vistas Jannu Himalayan range. There are large boulder and plenty of prayer flags to mark a viewpoint.
Overnight at teahouse

The trail ascends through open rocky fields to Ramtang and then traverses moraines North West of the Kanchenjunga Glacier to Lhonak. We will see magnificent views of Wedge Peak, Mera, Nepal Peak, and Twins. We will see blue sheep and Tibetan snowcock along the trail. We will see the spectacular view of Kambachen, its glacier and Kanchenjunga’s ice formations. Across the stream from the waterfall section, the trail climbs steeply to the top of the ancient lateral moraine, where the gradient eases cross some scrub and grass-covered moraine. On the farside Lhonak Khola, following seasonal bridge we reach Lhonak.
Overnight at teahouse

From Lhonak the trail is easy into the first hillocks of the ancient moraine. The path is easy up to a massive boulder on the right where a glacier can be viewed further over to the south. We trek along the Kanchenjunga Glacier and trek through the rocky trail as there are possibilities of landslides. Trekking further from here we reach Pangema/Kanchenjunga North Base Camp, it is a flat grassy base camp. Walking a bit higher we will be offered with splendid views of Kanchenjunga, Chang Himal, Nepal Peak, and Tibetan Himalaya range. We will then descend back to Lhonak.
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The trail is relatively easy. There is monster landslide before Kambachen. The walk down offers the chance to study the landslide. The southside of Wedge Peak is visible from Ramtang.
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We walk back along the same trail through Kambachento Ghunsa village.
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The trail departs from Ghunsa by the school up beside the hydro pipes. There is a great view over Ghunsa in the dawn light around here. We trek on the steep trail as we pass through dense moss forest, rhododendron and juniper to Sele La pass. After 4hr there is a stream, flag, and view ahead up to a small col. An easy descent around the hillside and after a rocky zone we reach Sele Le Camp.
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Today is the challenging and long trek as we will cross 3 passes. We begin to trek uphill enjoying the south side view of Jannu and Makalu Himal. We will view the Yalung range from Sinion La. We traverse Sinion La and followed by Mirgin La, Sinelapche Bhanjyang after crossing the passes we then make a steep descent to Tseram; it is a small settlement above Simbua Khola.
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We take descend all the way through Tseram and walking all along the shaded rhododendron forest following the Simbuwa Khola to Tortong.
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After having breakfast the trail ascends steeply through mossy wooded area passing the landslide area. Then we arrive at Lamite Bhanjyang where we have a lunch break. We continue the trail that descends steeply to the Imja Khola and descends into Yamphudin. The village has a mixed community of Sherpas, Rais, Limbus, and Gurungs and consists of another Kanchenjunga Conservation Area office.
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The trail descent through the forest, cardamom field and through the Limbu village lead us to Khebang village.
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The trek follows the spectacular path sky walking around the cliffs of the Kabeli Khola. Across the Kabeli river, the trail climbs on a Limbu staircase for a while and then generally contours around through field and houses. Hapu Khola, the settlement is ready a sleazy kind of haunt.
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Crossing the Kabeli Khola bridge on the rough dirt road, a climb ensues to the road before Ganesh Chowk. From here, the road climbs with great views of Kanchenjunga and Jannu. After Phidim it's long high pass to climb with panoramic views. Then a series of ridges eventually lead down to Ilam.
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We will take a scenic drive to Bhadrapur through Nepal’s highway offering different beautiful landscapes. The drive with the beautiful view of villages, hills, and mountains, cardamom garden, the picturesque village can be seen on the way. After reaching Bhadrapur we will take a scenic flight to Kathmandu. After landing in Kathmandu, our representative will transfer you to the hotel. You can spend the rest of the by relaxing or shopping for gifts and souvenirs.
Overnight at hotel