Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek (XXL)

Kanchenjunga stands on the border of Nepal and India and is the third-highest mountain in the world. The Nepali route runs through the remote valleys of the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area and shows the massif from two sides. The group first climbs the northern valley through Amjilosa, Gyabla, Ghunsa, Kambachen and Lhonak to Pangpema, then returns to Ghunsa and crosses the passes to the southern valley.

The Pangpema northern base camp at 5,388 m gives a close view of the northern side of the massif. The programme does not end there: through Sele La and the passes that follow, participants cross to Cheram and make an out-and-back walk through Ramche and Oktang to the Yalung Glacier. That link makes the route considerably more complete than the shorter programme, but it requires several more days and resilience against accumulated fatigue.

The region is known for its small number of visitors and its simple infrastructure. Do not expect the lodge standard of the Everest or Annapurna regions here: accommodation depends on the season, and at Pangpema the shelter is basic.

An acclimatisation day at Kambachen, at about 4,100 m, is necessary before Lhonak and Pangpema. The possible high-altitude objective near base camp is given in the source programme as a peak of about 5,900 m, but it is not named. That outing is therefore not part of the promised result: its exact line, its technical requirements and whether it is permissible at all are confirmed by the guide against the actual conditions.

The route crosses landslide-prone sections, glacial moraine and several passes up to 4,646 m. Stage times depend on the state of the trail and the weather. Participants need experience of multi-day walking, knees well prepared for descents and discipline at altitude. Before the trip you should study the prevention of altitude sickness.

Anyone who wants only the northern section and fewer days is better served by the short programme to Pangpema. 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.

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 on the remote route. The day is needed for recovery and for preparing documents for the 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 takes roughly 45 to 50 minutes. Participants then transfer to jeeps and reach Taplejung in eight to ten hours. The duration depends on 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 jeep journey takes about three to four hours. On the way the team passes a permit check at the entrance to the conservation area. The walking part then begins: about 9 km with a modest gain in altitude to Amjilosa. The day combines complex logistics with the first trekking stage. Night at a lodge.

Day 4. Trek to Gyabla.

The trail runs through dense forest and a remote section with no permanent settlements, passes close to waterfalls and gains altitude gradually. A sighting of a red panda is possible only with luck and is not guaranteed. The group moves compactly and keeps an even pace. Night at a lodge.

Day 5. Trek to Ghunsa.

For about five hours the group continues along the forest trail to the main settlement of the northern valley. The stage forms the next acclimatisation step. After check-in participants rest and prepare for the harder landslide-prone section. Night at a lodge.

Day 6. Trek to Kambachen.

The route crosses landslide-prone ground, so the pace and the spacing are set by the guide. Views of Jannu open along the way. On arrival at Kambachen the group stays for two nights, which makes the further gain in altitude safer. 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 purpose of the day is adaptation before the night at Lhonak at 4,800 m, and an assessment of each participant’s readiness. 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. Altitude becomes the main limiting factor, so the pace stays slow. Rest on arrival and preparation 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 and assesses the weather and everyone’s condition. This is a high, remote overnight stop where comfort is minimal. 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 is 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 leaves the northern base camp and returns along the familiar route to Ghunsa. Losing altitude eases breathing, but the long descent over uneven ground demands attention. The day is used to recover before the series of passes. Night at a lodge.

Day 12. Over Sele La, 4,290 m, to a camp at 4,130 m.

The route gains altitude again and reaches the Sele La pass. Teahouses on this section may operate only in the main season, so the availability of accommodation is confirmed in advance. After the stage the group rests before the next multi-pass day. Night at a lodge.

Day 13. Sinion La, Mirgin La and Sinelapche Bhanjyang, descent to Cheram, 3,870 m.

In four to five hours the group covers about 13 km over three high points: 4,440 m, 4,480 m and 4,646 m. Accumulated acclimatisation helps, but the weather and the state of the trail can change the timing substantially. After the passes the descent to Cheram begins. Night at a lodge.

Day 14. Out-and-back walk to the Yalung Glacier via Ramche and Oktang.

Participants cover about 15 km in six to seven hours to see the southern side of the Kanchenjunga massif and the Yalung Glacier. The walk is done with light packs, returning to spend the night at Ramche. The guide may shorten the outing on grounds of weather or the condition of the group. Night at a lodge.

Day 15. Trek to Tortong, 2,995 m.

The group covers about 18 km, descending gradually through rhododendron forest. Despite the lower altitude, the length of the stage and the accumulated fatigue call for an even pace. At Tortong participants recover before the next long descent. Night at a lodge.

Day 16. Descent to Lelep, 1,650 m.

The stage takes about seven to eight hours and covers roughly 15 km. On the way the group passes a checkpoint and completes the exit formalities for the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area. A substantial loss of altitude closes the mountain part of the route. Night at a lodge.

Day 17. Drive to Bhadrapur.

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

Day 18. Flight from Bhadrapur to Kathmandu.

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

Day 19. 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
• ヘリコプター搬送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（現地で当チームが提供します）
• 寝袋（快適温度 -5℃）
• トレッキングポール（必ずリング付き）

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
• ベースレイヤー上下
• 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（太陽よけに加え、谷では防寒用として首や顔を温めるのに使用可）
• 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
• 魔法瓶またはボトル — 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
• 伸縮性包帯 および／または サポート用バンデージ
• 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（道中のロッジで購入可能）