Kanchenjunga North Trek

Overview

If you want to experience Nepal as it used to be, if you are up for a serious challenge, and if you are interested in going to a remote area with fantastic scenery and a true sense of wilderness, then one of the two Kanchenjunga treks may be just right for you.  Kanchenjunga, the third highest peak in the world, sits on the border between Nepal and India. For that reason it is not possible to circumnavigate the mountain. However, either of the two trek options will give you a real sense of the majesty and size of this mountain massif.  The two treks can also be combined by crossing the Mirgin La pass, which requires an additional two days.

This trek climbs slowly along riverine valleys to the daunting north face of Kanchenjunga. The views are breathtaking and trekkers will encounter few others on this very challenging but rewarding trek. There are two options for starting the trek: you can start from Basantpur or fly to Suketar (Taplejung) and descend for 2 days to meet the main trail at Chirwa.

Itinerary Detail

Kanchenjunga North Trek Itinerary:

Day 01: Arrive in Kathmandu. Overnight at hotel. A representative from WildPath Adventure will welcome you at the airport and take you to your hotel. Free afternoon/evening.

Day 02: After breakfast, enjoy a pleasant morning walk and visit to the ancient Swayambhunath or Monkey Temple, which is a fascinatingblend of Hindu and Buddhist religions. From the top you can see the surrounding Kathmandu Valley. Then visit Pashupatinath, the most important Hindu temple in Nepal. After lunch, visit the famous Durbar Square in Kathmandu. In the evening, we will have a welcome dinner and a chance for you to view traditional Nepali dancing.

Day 03: From Kathmandu, fly to Biratnagar and drive to Basantpur(2200 m./5 to 6 hrs) by public bus or private jeep. Overnight at lodge.

Day 04 : Trek to Chauki (2680m./5 to 6 hrs) Overnight at camp. Climb through rhododendron forests with great views over the Arun and Tamur valleys. On a clear day Everest and Makalu will be visible.

Day 05 : Trek to Gupa Pokari (2890 m./4 to 5 hrs). Overnight at camp.  The day’s trek follows the Milke Danda ridge, through lovely meadows, with good mountain views.

Day 06 : Trek to Nesum. (1620/6 to 7 hrs). Overnight at camp. A long day, mostly descending through forests and cultivated countryside.

Day 07 : Trek to Thumma (760 m./5 to 6 hrs). Overnight at camp. Again descending today, the trail cuts several times across the Tamur Kosi (river) and passes through tropical forest.

Day 08 : Trek to Chirwa. (1190m/6 to 8 hrs). The trail continues to follow the Tamur Kosi, ending in the pleasant market town of Chirwa.

Day 09 : Trek to Sakathum. (1640m./5 to 6 hrs). Overnight at camp. Follow the Tamur Kosi to where it joins the Ghansa Khola river, then climb high above the rivers past the village of Lelep to the Tibetan-like village of Sakathum.

Day 10 : Trek to Amjilosa (2490m./4 to 5 hrs). Overnight at camp. Climbing  on exposed, steep routes today, the trail passes many delightful waterfalls.

Day 11 : Trek to Gyabla (2730m./4 to 5 hrs). Overnight at camp. A fairly short day, the trail climbs through scenic forests of oak, rhododendron and bamboo.

Day 12 : Trek to Ghunsa (3410m./ 6 to 7 hrs). Trek through fir, rhododendron and larch forests, then through pastures and cultivated fields to reach Ghunsa, the larges village on the trek.

Day 13 : Acclimatization day at Ghunsa. Today is a rest day, or it can be used to do a pleasant day hike to Lapsang La.

Day 14 : Trek to Khumbachen. (4150m./5 to 6 hrs). Overnight at camp. Ascend through larch and juniper forest, then traverse a steep, unstable scree slope before reaching the Tibetan settlement at Khambachen.

Day 15 : Acclimatization day at Khumbachen. Another day is spent adjusting to the higher altitude. There are superb views from this village, particularly from the ridge just north of the village.

Day 16 : Trek to Lhonak (4790m./4 to 5 hrs). Overnight at camp. Today the trail enters a serene but desolate landscape, shaped by glaciers long ago. The views from here are even better than from Khumbachen.

Day 17 : Trek to Pangpema (5140m./ 3 to 4 hrs). Ascend gradually from Lhonak to the base camp at Pangpema. Although the views have already been fantastic, nothing can surpass the early morning panorama as seen from the ridge north of the basecamp.

Day 18 : Trek to Khumbachen. (4150m./6 to 7 hrs). Overnight at camp Retrace your route to Khumbachen, following days 15 and 14.

Day 19 : Trek to Ghunsa. (3410m./4 to 5 hrs). Overnight at camp Retrace your route to Khumbachen, following day 12.

Day 20 : Trek to Amjilosa (2490m./6 to 8 hrs). Overnight at camp. Retrace your route, following days 9 and 10.

Day 21 : Trek to Chirwa (1190m./7 to 8 hrs). Overnight at camp. Retrace your route, following days 7  and 8.

Day 22 : Trek to Linkhim (1520m./6 to 7 hrs). Overnight at camp.  You can also retrace your route back to Basantpar, following days 2 to 6, but most people chose to end the trek at Suketar.

Day 23 : Trek to Suketar. (1820m./7 to 8 hrs). Overnight at camp.

Day 24 : Fly to Biratnagar and then Kathmandu.  Overnight at hotel in Kathmandu. farewell dinner in Nepali Restaurant 

Day 25: Final Departure to your destination

Note: This trek can be done as a Teahouse trip or as a Camping trip. If you are interested in a camping trekking, please contact us.

Cost Info

The Trip Cost Includes:

• All hotel transfers
• Guided sightseeing tour in Kathmandu
• 3 nights accommodation in 3-star hotel in Kathmandu (2 before trek, 1 after trek)
• Teahouse accommodation enroute
• Breakfast in Kathmandu
• All meals enroute and boiled water in mountain
• Welcome and farewell dinner
• All ground transportation as per the itinerary by private vehicles
• Salary for all expedition staff.
• All necessary paper work, including trekking permits
• Travel and rescue arrangements
• All government and local taxes
• Duffel bag, t-shirt, trekking map

The Trip Cost Does Not Include:

• Nepal Visa fee
• International airfare to and from Kathmandu
• Excess baggage charges (if you have more than 15 kg luggage, cargo charge is around $1.5 per kg)
• Extra nights accommodation in Kathmandu, Biratnagar or Suketar
• Lunch and evening meals in Kathmandu
• Bottled beverages, including water
• Snacks such as energy bars, candy or chocolate
• Travel and rescue insurance
• Personal expenses such as snacks, laundry, battery recharge, extra porters
• Optional trips and sightseeing
• Tips for guides and porters

Trek Info

Accommodation

Wildpath Adventure has chosen the best accommodation with your comfort and budget in mind. This includes staying in a 3-star hotel in Kathmandu and staying in comfortable, well-run lodges along the trekking route.

All accommodation is based on twin sharing but we will provide a single supplement if there is an odd number of participants. If you simply prefer a single room, this is available by paying an additional single supplement.

Meals

One of the joys of travelling abroad and trekking is the wonderful food prepared for you at each meal at the lodges and hotels. From the first tea of the morning to the last meal of the day, you will be treated to meals that are nutritious, healthy, fresh and suitable for a mountain expedition.

We have chosen lodges and hotels where the food is of the highest quality. Their experienced local cooks will provide meals from a variety of cuisines such as Nepali, Sherpa, Tibetan, Continental, Italian and Indian cuisine. Breakfast and dinner will be taken at the lodges where we are staying, while lunch and tea breaks will be taken at a suitable lodge or teahouse along the day’s route.

Note: Before arriving in Nepal, please advise Wildpath Adventure if you have any special dietary requirements or restrictions such that we can accommodate your request.

A Typical Day on the Trek

Days on the trek start early. After dressing, head to the lodge restaurant for a nutritious and appetizing breakfast, along with a steaming mug of tea or coffee. After packing up your bag for the porters and your daypack, you’ll head out for another day’s adventure. We will trek for a couple of hours, then stop for a welcome tea break at a lodge. Generally we trek for a couple more hours after tea and then we will stop for lunch at a teahouse , often at a scenic spot. You will have plenty of time to relax and take photos as you enjoy the lunch meal.

Throughout the day we will take rest breaks as needed and there will always be time to stop and admire the flowers, the scenery, a village or just to soak in the pleasure of being on an adventure in Nepal.

After lunch, we will usually trek for another 2-3 hours before reaching the village where we will spend the night. On arrival you will have time to rest and enjoy another welcome hot mug of tea, coffee, or one of the trail favorites, hot lemon. There is usually time to explore a village or Gompa or the surrounding neighborhood, write in your journal, take a shower (sometimes hot, sometimes not) or simply relax. After a delicious dinner, there will be a briefing on the next day’s program before you head off to your bed for a warm and snug sleep. You may be surprised to find that you are sleeping 10 to 12 hours per night, but that is normal on a trek

The Trekking Group

For most treks there will be one guide, one assistant guide per 4 trekkers, one cook, and one Sherpa porter per 2 trekkers. This arrangement ensures that should anybody in the group fall sick, the trip can still go ahead as planned.

The minimum group size is 2 and the maximum is 12. However, if you'd like to make a group booking for more than that, we will be happy to arrange this for you.

What to Know

Fitness Requirements

In order to maximize your enjoyment of this trek, you will need to be in good physical condition and you will need to be prepared for rough conditions. In general, trekking consists of many days of walking for at least 5-6 hours, some of it on rugged terrain. You should also be very comfortable walking with a small daypack and carrying up to 5kg of weight.

In addition to a good level of fitness, we believe you must possess: a willingness to tolerate difficult conditions, a flexible mindset, a sense of humor and good health.

Health & Safety

Your safety and well-being are of paramount concern to Wildpath Adventure. For that reason, the trek leader has the authority to change or cancel any part of the trek if it is deemed necessary for safety reasons. Wildpath Adventure will make every effort to keep to the planned itinerary; however, we simply cannot guarantee it. Changes to the itinerary can occur due to weather conditions, the health of a team member or unexpected natural disasters. The leader will try to ensure that the trip runs according to plan, but please understand that these events are a possibility.

It is imperative that participants with pre-existing medical problems or conditions make these known to Wildpath Adventure when booking. Medical and evacuation expenses are the responsibility of the participant and must be covered by your personal travel insurance. It is also important that you consult your doctor for vaccinations and other medical requirements for your trip. Wildpath Adventure reserves the right to require a medical certificate prior to booking your trip.

Acclimatization

Any trek to high altitude carries with it the risk of Acute Mountain Sickness, or AMS. This is a serious and potentially life-threatening illness, generally caused by going up too fast. The higher the altitude, the less oxygen there is in the air. For example, at 6500m there is only half the oxygen that there is available at sea level.

Your body needs many days to adapt to this less-oxygen environment. Our itinerary is planned to allow sufficient time for acclimatization, by going up slowly and including acclimatization days as needed. It is not uncommon to experience mild headaches, loss of appetite or nausea when ascending, but these symptoms usually disappear with rest...

Although your appetite may diminish as you trek higher, it is very important to eat enough to maintain a good energy level. Similarly it is extremely important to drink sufficient water to stay hydrated. The trek leader will advise you on what is sufficient food and water and we ask that you follow his advice.

We also advise anyone with known heart, lungs or blood diseases to consult their doctor before traveling. Our itineraries are designed to prevent AMS as much as possible, but it is important to remember that some people are more vulnerable than others.

Our team will check very carefully to determine if anyone has a serious problem. If anyone is showing signs of AMS, they will not be permitted to trek higher and will be required to descend to a safe altitude with a member of the team. If the symptoms disappear at the lower altitude, the person may be permitted to rejoin the trek after a suitable rest period.

Please Allow Extra Time

We strongly recommend that you allow a few extra days at either end of your trip. In addition to the reasons mentioned above, flights in Nepal are notorious for being delayed anywhere from a few hours (common) to one week (rare) due to bad weather. This can occur even in the best trekking months.

If all goes well, you will then have extra days to enjoy in Nepal, taking in activities such as sightseeing near Kathmandu , river rafting, or perhaps relaxing at one of the nearby hilltop resorts.

In the event of bad weather, it may be possible to arrange a helicopter evacuation, which can vary in cost from USD $300 to $3500, depending on the demand.

What to Bring

The following list is a guideline of what you should bring with you for the trek. Please note that clothing for Kathmandu and other non-trekking destinations is not included in this list. While you can bring everything from your home country, it is also possible to rent or purchase almost everything in Kathmandu. Most of the gear for sale in Kathmandu is manufactured locally and thus considerably cheaper. However, it is also possible to buy brand name clothing and equipment at quality and prices that are comparable to home country prices.

At lower elevations on the trek it is likely to be very warm and the lightest of layers can be worn. However, at altitudes above 4000m it may be bitterly cold and windy, particularly after the sun disappears. The secret to staying warm and comfortable is to layer your clothing and to avoid cotton, as it becomes very cold when wet and is slow to dry. Pack with a minimalist view, as the load limit per person for porters and on domestic flights is 15kg.

Treks in Nepal are tough on gear and clothing. We recommend that you bring well-used items that can stand a fair bit of abuse. Many people bring gear that can be given away at the end of the trek to the porters or guides. Please check with Wildpath Adventure if you are uncertain about what to bring – we will be happy to advise you.

During the trek the porters will be carrying most of your gear. On the trail you can expect to carry in your daypack item such as 1 to 2 liters of water, your camera, a jacket for rest stops, sunscreen, tissue paper, a route map and binoculars.

CLOTHING

• T-shirts – 2 or 3, long-sleeved and short-sleeved, quick-drying
• Hiking shorts or capris
• Lightweight Long Hiking pants
• Lightweight thermal inner layer – top and bottom
• Fleece pants and jacket
• 2 pair inner liner socks
• 2 pair outer socks, wool, medium to heavy weight
• Shirt with collar

OUTERWEAR

• Lightweight gloves
• Heavyweight gloves or mittens and waterproof outer shell
• Wind-Stopper jacket (optional)
• Waterproof, breathable jacket
• Down jacket
• Waterproof, breathable shell pants
• Warm hat or balaclava
• Gaiters (for high-elevation treks and passes)

FOOTWEAR

• Hiking boots
• Sneakers or Teva-like sandals
• Down booties (optional, but very nice at high altitude)

MISCELLANEOUS

• Camera and extra battery and card
• Sun hat or bandana
• Sunglasses with UV protection
• 4 season sleeping bag (rated to -15 to -20 degree centigrade. Down is preferable)
• Sleeping bag liner (optional, but very useful)
• Trekking Bags/Duffel bag *
• Headlamp with spare bulbs and batteries
• Small lock
• Basic First Aid Kit (Wildpath Adventure staff will also carry a team First Aid kit)
• Daypack (approximately 2500 to 3000 cubic inches)
• Trekking Poles
• Water bottles (2) or camel back
• Ear Plugs
• Sewing and repair kit
• Sarong (optional, but very useful when washing)
• Energy bars, chocolate, candy
• Water-purifying tablets or water filter pump

TOILETRIES

• Sunscreen with high UV protection
• Lip balm for altitude (e.g. Labazan)
• Face and body moisturizer
• 1 medium sized quick drying towel
• Tooth brush/paste (preferably biodegradable)
• Multipurpose soap (preferably biodegradable)
• Deodorant
• Nail clippers
• Feminine hygiene products
• Small mirror
• Wet wipes
• Toilet tissue
• Ant- bacterial hands wash

FIRST AID AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES

All of the items listed here can be purchased in Kathmandu, however you may prefer to bring trusted brands from home. Note also that Wildpath Adventure will carry an extensive first aid and medical kit, so please bring the minimum required. There are many good books and websites which carry extensive lists of recommended drugs and medical supplies. We suggest that you review this material before making any purchases.

• Plasters/Band aids
• Moleskin
• General-purpose antibiotic such as Cipro
• Headache medicine – (not Codein-based)
• Anti-inflammatory pills
• Antibiotic cream
• Eye drops
• Rehydration salts such as ORS
• Multi-vitamins
• Throat lozenges
• Anti-diarrheal medicine
• Anti-constipation medicine

And if your pack is still light:

• Binoculars
• Journal
• IPOD (note that recharging may not always be possible)
• Reading material
• Travel game or cards
• Photos from home

Travel Insurance

All participants in a Wildpath Adventure must have travel insurance. This will protect you against the risk of comprehensive expenses which may result due to medical emergencies or accidents. This insurance should include air ambulance, helicopter rescue, and treatment costs. Please be noted that we don't arrange or sell insurance and it is best to arrange this in your home country.