Kanchenjunga North Base Camp Trek (Short)

Kanchenjunga stands on the border of Nepal and India and is the third-highest mountain in the world. This route runs through the northern valley of the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area, one of the most remote trekking districts in Nepal. After demanding road logistics the group climbs through Amjilosa, Gyabla, Ghunsa and Kambachen to Lhonak and the Pangpema northern base camp.

The main objective of the programme is Pangpema at 5,388 m, which opens the northern side of the Kanchenjunga massif. The route is shorter than the full circuit around the mountain: after base camp the group returns down the northern valley and does not cross the Sele La, Mirgin La and Sinelapche Bhanjyang passes to the Yalung Glacier.

The region differs noticeably from the popular trails of Everest and Annapurna. Settlements are further apart, the infrastructure is simpler, and at Pangpema the shelter is basic.

The acclimatisation day at Kambachen, at about 4,100 m, is kept in the short programme too. It is needed before the night at Lhonak at 4,800 m and the walk out to Pangpema. Participants must know the signs of altitude illness in advance and study the guidance on preventing altitude sickness.

The source programme mentions a possible outing to an unnamed peak of about 5,900 m. This is not a guaranteed part of the tour: the exact objective, the nature of the terrain, the technical equipment required and whether the outing is permissible at all are confirmed separately. The main result of the programme remains the safe completion of the trek to Pangpema and back.

The route suits participants with experience of multi-day walking, steady physical condition and a readiness for damp forest, landslide-prone sections, moraine and long descents. If both sides of the massif matter to you, choose the full circuit around Kanchenjunga instead. A Mountain Guide team leader accompanies groups of four participants or more; a group of up to three people is led by a Nepali guide.

If Kanchenjunga will be your first trip to the Himalaya, study the practical advice for a first journey to Nepal in advance. It will help you prepare for the flights, the trekking routine and the altitude, without replacing the route briefing.

Day 1. Arrival in Kathmandu.

Participants fly into Kathmandu independently, where a team representative meets them and takes them to the hotel. After check-in there is an introduction to the guide, an equipment check and a briefing. The day is needed for recovery after the flight and for preparing for the early domestic flight. Night at the hotel.

Day 2. Flight to Bhadrapur and drive to Taplejung.

Early in the morning the group flies from Kathmandu to Bhadrapur; the flight lasts about 45 to 50 minutes. Local transport meets participants at the airport, after which the drive to Taplejung begins and takes about eight to ten hours. The actual time depends on the state of the road and the weather. Night at the confirmed accommodation.

Day 3. Drive to the start of the trek and walk to Amjilosa.

The second part of the journey in off-road vehicles takes about three to four hours. On the way the team passes a permit check at the entrance to the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area. The walking part then begins: about 9 km with a gain of roughly 200 m to Amjilosa. The day combines road logistics with the first full stage. Night at a lodge.

Day 4. Trek to Gyabla.

The trail passes through dense forest, close to waterfalls and along a remote section with no permanent settlements. An encounter with a red panda is possible only with luck and is not guaranteed. An even pace helps everyone adapt to the daily load. Night at a lodge.

Day 5. Trek to Ghunsa.

For about five hours the group follows the forest trail to Ghunsa, the main settlement of the northern valley. Altitude continues to increase gradually. After check-in participants rest and prepare for the harder section towards Kambachen. Night at a lodge.

Day 6. Trek to Kambachen.

The route crosses landslide-prone ground, so the final line and the pace are set by the guide. Views of Jannu open along the way. On arrival the group stays at Kambachen for two nights, to prepare the body for the further gain in altitude. Night at a lodge.

Day 7. Acclimatisation in Kambachen, about 4,100 m.

Participants stay at the same altitude and make a short outing to an accessible viewpoint or glacier. The direction depends on the weather and the state of the trail. The main task of the day is adaptation before the night at Lhonak, and an assessment of how each participant feels. Night at a lodge.

Day 8. Trek to Lhonak, 4,800 m.

The group moves over glacial and moraine terrain, passes the area of the Ramdang monastery and reaches Lhonak in about six hours. At this altitude the pace is set by safe acclimatisation rather than by fitness. On arrival participants rest and prepare for Pangpema. Night at a lodge.

Day 9. Pangpema northern base camp, 5,388 m.

The trail climbs gradually over moraines to the northern base camp of Kanchenjunga. On reaching Pangpema the group settles into a basic shelter. This is a high, remote overnight stop with minimal comfort, so the guide monitors everyone’s condition closely. Night at the shelter.

Day 10. Possible high-altitude outing and descent to Lhonak.

If the weather, the state of the route, the equipment and the readiness of participants allow, the guide may propose an outing to a point at about 5,900 m. The exact objective is not named in the source programme and must be confirmed before the trip. Taking part is not compulsory. After the outing, or after resting, the group descends to Lhonak. Night at a lodge.

Day 11. Descent to Ghunsa, 3,600 m.

The group returns along the familiar trail to Ghunsa. Losing altitude aids recovery, but the long descent over moraine and uneven ground demands attention to knees and balance. Night at a lodge.

Days 12 and 13. Descent to the start of the trek.

Over two days the group continues down the northern valley to the point reachable by off-road vehicle. The specific overnight stops depend on the state of the road, the state of the trail and the actual pace. These stages complete the walking part without a sharp increase in the daily load.

Day 14. Drive to Bhadrapur.

The group travels by jeep to Bhadrapur. The long drive takes about eleven hours and depends on the state of the road. On arrival participants check into a hotel and rest before the domestic flight. Night at a hotel.

Day 15. Flight from Bhadrapur to Kathmandu.

Participants take a morning flight with a local airline. On arrival a team representative arranges the transfer and hotel check-in. The rest of the day is for rest and for preparing for the international flight. Night at a hotel.

Day 16. End of the programme.

At the agreed time there is a transfer to the international airport. Participants check in independently. The international ticket must be chosen with a margin in case the domestic flight or the road logistics change.

• A Mountain Guide team leader with groups of four participants or more
• A Nepali guide for groups of up to three participants
• Meeting and seeing off at Kathmandu airport
• Accommodation in a 4* hotel in Kathmandu – two nights
• Accommodation in lodges and in the base camp shelter on the trek
• Group equipment – first aid kit and satellite navigator
• A duffel bag for personal belongings – provided on site
• The permits, authorisations and entry fees required for the confirmed route

Whether the jeep transfers in the programme are included, and what they cost, must be confirmed before booking: the source tariff assigns this service neither to the included nor to the additional items.

• International flights
• The domestic flights Kathmandu – Bhadrapur – Kathmandu
• Entry visa where required for your nationality, payable separately at the current authority tariff
• Medical insurance covering trekking to at least 5,900 m, search and rescue and helicopter evacuation
• Lunches and dinners in Kathmandu
• Meals during the trek
• A personal porter for participant baggage – $30 a day including transport. In a trekking group one porter may carry the belongings of two participants
• Single occupancy
• Early check-in, late check-out and additional nights
• Tips for the local team
• Costs arising if you leave the programme early
• Additional costs caused by road conditions, flights, weather or a forced change to the programme

書類:

• パスポート
• 航空券
• ヘリコプター避難をカバーする医療保険

個人装備:

• バックパック 30〜50リットル
• 個人荷物用ダッフルバッグ（現地で当社チームが提供）
• 寝袋（快適温度 －5℃）
• トレッキングポール（リング必須）

衣類と靴:

• トレッキングシューズ（事前に防水剤をしっかり染み込ませておくこと）
• スニーカー（街歩き用）
• 防水メンブレン層 — ジャケット＋パンツ
• フリース上下
• 上下のベースレイヤー（保温インナー）
• フード付きダウンジャケット
• 厚手の手袋
• 薄手の手袋
• バンダナまたはバフ（谷では日除けとして、高所では顔や喉の保温として使用可能）
• 帽子
• 暖かいトレッキングソックス

その他:

• ヘッドランプ（12時間以上点灯可能なもの）
• Powerbank
• サングラス
• レインコート
• バックパック用レインカバー
• 水筒またはサーモス — 1リットル
• ゲイター
• 日焼け止めクリーム SPF50
• リップクリーム SPF10–15
• 個人用救急セット
• 弾性包帯および／またはサポートバンデージ
• 歯磨き粉、歯ブラシ、石鹸、シャンプー、サンダル
• タオル
• トイレットペーパー（途中のロッジで購入可能）