Kanchenjunga Trek

Day 1: Kathmandu Arrival
Day 2: Kathmandu to Bhadrapur (Flight) to Ilam (Drive)
Day 3: Transfer to Taplejung (1820m): 5hrs
Day 4: Taplejung to Chirwa (1270m): 6hrs
Day 5: Chirwa to Lelep (1860m): 7 hrs
Day 6: Lelep to Amjilosa (2510m): 5hrs
Day 7: Trek to Gyabla (2730m): 4hrs
Day 8: Gyabla to Ghunsa (3595m): 4hrs
Day 9: Acclimatization Day
Day 10: Ghunsa to Kambachen (4100m)
Day 11: Acclimatization Day
Day 12: Kambachen to Lhonak (4785m): 5hrs
Day 13: Day Trip to Kanchenjunga North Base Camp (4785 m): 8hrs
Day 14: Lhonak to Ghunsa (3595m)
Day 15: Ghunsa to Sele Le (4390m)
Day 16: Sele La Pass to Cheram (3870m): 8hrs
Day 17: Day Trip to Kanchenjunga South Base Camp (3870m): 6hrs
Day 18: Trek to Torongding
Day 19: Trek from Torongding to Yamphuding
Day 20: Trek to Khebang
Day 21: Khebang to Khamdime
Day 22: Transfer to Bhadrapur 
Day 23: Bhadrapur to Kathmandu (Departure Day)

Day 1: Kathmandu Arrival

After you arrive at Kathmandu airport, Quest Himalayan Trek and Expedition representatives will pick you up and escort you to your pre-booked hotel. After check-in, you can choose to either rest for the entire day or stroll around the city. In the evening, there is a meeting hosted for you guys where you get detailed information about upcoming adventure days. After the meeting, enjoy your welcome dinner at a renowned Nepalese restaurant and get a taste of Nepalese food.

Day 2: Kathmandu to Bhadrapur (Flight) to Ilam (Drive)

After enjoying your breakfast, our team representative will transfer you to the airport to catch a flight to Bhadrapur. After your arrival in Bhadrapur, get transferred to Ilam, the heart of the tea plantation area in Nepal. Enjoy your journey from Bhadrapur to Illam, getting a glimpse of the village lifestyle along your way. You will spend your night here in Ilam.

Day 3: Transfer to Taplejung (1,820m): 5hrs

After enjoying your breakfast, we will get on a private tourist vehicle to go to Taplejung. Taplejung is our final destination for today where we will spend our night. After reaching Taplejung, you can get time to explore the interesting place with many ancient Buddhist gompas. At one of these gompas, you can also see the butter lamps which have been burning continuously for 400 years now.

Day 4: Taplejung to Chirwa (1,270m): 6hrs

Today, we will start our proper trek to Chirwa. It’s a long day of mainly downhill but we will stop for a while at the village of Sinwa to catch our breath before continuing further. We will spend our night at a tea house in Chirwa.

Day 5: Chirwa to Lelep (1,860m): 7 hrs

Today is another long hiking day of about 7 hours. Today on our journey ahead, we will pass through Tapethok and enter the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area. Here, we will check our permits before crossing the suspension bridge and then ascend towards Lelep; our final destination. We will spend our night comfortably at a tea house in Lelep.

Day 6: Lelep to Amjilosa (2,510m): 5hrs

As we trek towards Amjilosa, we will pass through several beautiful waterfalls and suspension bridges on our way. Moreover, we will also visit our first Sherpa village on the trek where we will stay overnight. The village of Amjilosa is mainly used during the time when sheep and yaks are in the pastures so there are only a few house settlements here.

Day 7: Trek to Gyabla (2,730m): 4 hrs

After enjoying your breakfast, you will head towards your destination; Gyabla. On the way to Gyabla, you will pass through different forests of pine, rhododendron, bamboo, and oak. Here you can notice the lifestyle of people living here is more like Tibetan people. You will be amazed to see the natural beauty of the place, animals like sheep, yaks and not to mention the diversity of birdlife found here. After enjoying your lunch, you will continue your journey up through the dense forest and pass a wooden bridge. We finally reached our destination, Gyabla. We will spend our night here at a teahouse.

Day 8: Gyabla to Ghunsa (3,595m): 4hrs

Today, our trail takes us through forests and we pass through Phale Village, which was a Tibetan refugee camp. Our today’s destination is a winter settlement village; Ghunsa.We will reach the village of Ghunsa when there are some handicrafts for sale. Ghunsa is the largest village in this area with a health post, police station, Kanchenjunga Conservation Office, internet service, etc. We will spend our night comfortably here at a tea house after enjoying our dinner.

Day 9: Acclimatization Day

We are now at a higher altitude aiming to go further. And, we might get altitude sickness, so to avoid that, it’s a day to relax here in Ghunsa. You can explore the Ghunsa village or even climb a ridge. From the ridge, you can get mesmerizing views of Jannu Peak; worth the 5 hours plus trip. Quest Himalaya Trek recommends you climb the ridge and get the habit of higher altitude.

Day 10: Ghunsa to Kambachen (4,100m)

The stunning views of the Jannu Himal dominate the skyline today. Gradually walking upward paths we will come to a green glacier valley. Here it is believed to be lucky if we get to see the blue sheep and snow leopards. Then the trail continues on past a waterfall to a landslide-prone area where we must be very careful. Then, we will finally reach our final destination; Kambachen, where we will spend our night.

Day 11: Acclimatization Day

Today is the second acclimatization day of our trek. As we must acclimatize our bodies to the altitude, and prepare ourselves to visit the North Base Camp. Therefore, we will climb another ridge today from where the views of Mount Kanchenjunga are breathtaking.

Day 12: Kambachen to Lhonak (4,785m): 5hrs

Our today’s final destination today is Lhonak. Starting our journey, the trails take us mainly over the moraine from the Kanchenjunga glacier. Walking ahead uphill over larger boulders there are amazing views of mountains on both sides of us. And, as we are deep in the Snow Leopard area we keep our eyes open for capturing this rare animal with our bare eyes. However, this is also an area of summer yak pastures but there are no settlements in this area.

Day 13: Day Trip to Kanchenjunga North Base Camp (4,785 m): 8hrs

After enjoying our breakfast, we again set out across the moraine from the Kanchenjunga Glacier, while gradually climbing upward. At Base Camp, we stand in between the heavenly stunning mountains and drink up the atmosphere completed by Buddhist prayer flags fluttering in the wind. We will then spend our time enjoying the tranquillity and a hot drink, snack, etc. We will return to Lhonak for the night stay.

Day 14: Lhonak to Ghunsa (3595m)

Trekking over pebbles and moraine we reach Kambachen Village. We will enjoy our lunch in Kambachen Village before heading east along the Tamor River. Now we will return to Ghunsa again where we will spend our night.

Day 15: Ghunsa to Sele La Pass (4,290m)

Today, our journey takes us through a forest and along a grassy ridge. From this grassy ridge, we can view Ghunsa and Phole villages as well as Mount Makalu in the distance.

Day 16: Sele La Pass to Cheram (3870m): 8hrs

We will begin our trek early in the morning towards the Kanchenjunga South Base Camp. We will cross the Sinion La Pass (4,450M) and head towards a ridge to Sign Lapcha La Pass (4,830m). From here the views of Mount Kanchenjunga and its valley is breathtaking, so don’t forget to capture the moment for a lifelong memory. Then, we descended down to Cheram, our final destination for today. We will spend our night here in Cheram; the only settlement area in this region.

Day 17: Day Trip to Kanchenjunga South Base Camp (3870m): 6hrs

Today, we will trek to Ramche where we will stop for a while. After some break, we will continue for around 40 minutes to reach our destination; Kanchenjunga South Base Camp. The Base Camp is right on the edge of the glacier, surrounded by Tibetan prayer flags. Then, we make our way back to Cheram for a night’s stay.

Day 18: Trek to Torongding

Today the trail is mostly downhill through a gorge. But as we move forward, there is a steep uphill over a landslide-prone area. You can’t find any settlements until we reach Torongding and spend our night here.

Day 19: Trek from Torongding to Yamphuding

After enjoying our breakfast, we will head off downhill and then it turns to a steep and long uphill hike. We will then pass through a landslide-prone area moving ahead to Lasiya Bhanjyang where there is one tea shop where we will have our lunch. Then the trail takes a steep downhill through more forests until we reach the big village of Yamphuding.

Day 20: Trek to Khebang

The walking is easier now we are back at a lower altitude. We find interesting villages and terraced fields on our route. Then, we continue our journey to Khebang where we will spend our night.

Day 21: Khebang to Khamdime

Today is the final day of our hike. Tomorrow we will take a vehicle to the airport.

Day 22: Transfer to Bhadrapur by private tourist bus 

Today we have a long drive transfer ahead of us. We will reach Bhadrapur in the evening where you will enjoy your delicious dinner with perhaps some beer. You will spend your night here in Bhadrapur and remember the last few days you spent here in the heart of the mountains.

Day 23: Bhadrapur to Kathmandu (Departure Day)

You will get up early in the morning and get transferred to the airport. You will catch a flight to Kathmandu and say goodbye to the mountains. Our service ends here. We hope you enjoyed your trip to Nepal. The Quest Himalayan Trek and Expedition is always here to help you.

• Airport pick-up and transport by private vehicle
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
• Fresh seasonal fruits after dinner
• Transportation: Bhadrapur to Suketar, and Taplejung to Bhadrapur by private tourist vehicle.
• Accommodation: Tea house, lodge during the trek
• Kanchenjunga conservation entry permit
• Domestic flight: Kathmandu-Bhadrapur-Kathmandu
• Experienced fluent English-speaking guide
• All beverages, soft and hard drinks
• Strong helpful Sherpa porters with proper safety equipment and trekking tools
• First Aid Kit
• Arrangement of emergency helicopter service(paid by your Travel Insurance)
• Sleeping bags, duffel bag, down jacket, and walking poles
• All government taxes and official taxes
• Trekking tools, equipment, and map
• Assistant guide for groups of eight or more eight people

• Kathmandu: Accommodation, and meals
• Nepal entry Visa ($25 USD for a 5-day visa)
• Personal travel and medical insurance
• International flights
• All the personal expenses like laundry, and battery charging.
• All the beverages, soft and hard drinks such as coke, sprite, beer, coffee, etc.
• All desserts and sweet things like cake, chocolate, pie, pudding, etc.
• Tips for porters and guide
• Kathmandu sightseeing monument entrance fee($30 USD per person)
• Excess baggage fee for more than 20kg for Bhadrapur flight.

Trekking in the Himalayas of Nepal needs proper planning and preparation, including packing the right equipment and clothing. Trekking in Nepal’s Himalayas is a wonderful experience, but you must be prepared ahead for what you are going to experience. So the packing list must be prepared carefully. You probably don’t know what to pack and what to don’t, right? Don’t worry we got you. Here in Quest Himalayan Trek and Expedition, we have mentioned the trekking packing list for all the mountain trekking and mountain climbing activities in Nepal. Your trip to Nepal will surely be memorable, and adventurous if you carry all this mentioned equipment with you for the upcoming trekking days. Be sure to check out the equipment list and manage it before you go on your trek to make sure you have everything you need. Also, there might be differences in the items from one area to another, and from season to season.

Therefore, before you book your Nepal trekking or peak climbing, please read this packing list carefully and arrange it with you. The following are the list of equipments that we suggest to you for trekking in the Himalayas of Nepal.

Trekking Boots: You must pack sturdy and comfortable hiking waterproof boots that provide support and protection to your feet and ankles. Also, be sure that you tie and untie the laces with ease and check that the boot has deep-cut traction on the sole.

Backpack: Choose a backpack with a good quality having of capacity 40-60litres to carry all your gear and personal items. Duffle bag or kit bag is necessary to carry gear while trekking.

Sleeping Bags: It is best to carry your own sleeping bags. For trekking in high-altitudes in Nepal, we advise you to carry a warm and lightweight sleeping bag rated to at least -25C.

Clothing: You will need a variety of clothing depending on the season of your trekking. But for any season trekking, always carry quick-drying, moisture-wicking clothes. Also not to forget the layers are very important for adjusting to changing temperatures during trekking days. So, choose the best brands for a base layer, insulation layer, outer layer, trekking trousers, shirts, waterproof jackets, etc.

Trekking Poles: The use of poles during trekking days is very essential as they help to reduce the impact and stress on your joints and make your trekking days easier, especially on steep and rugged terrain.

First Aid Kit: Don’t forget to carry a first aid kit with essentials such as antiseptic, bandages, pain relievers, blister treatments, etc.

Water Filtration System: Rather than buying bottled water in every lodge, or tea house, we suggest you carry a water bottle with a built-in filter or water purification tablets for safe drinking water.

Footwear for Trekkers:

• Trainer or casual shoes, for trekking and/or travelling.
• Warm thermal socks for colder areas.
• Gaiters, in case of rain or snow
• Pair sandals/trekking shoe
• Microspikes
• Socks

Body:

• Choose a variety of T-shirts and long sleeves, ideally not made of cotton.
• Warmer climates need thermal clothing.
• Warm clothing, perhaps fleeces, for colder climates.
• A wool sweater or a fleece jacket.
• Higher altitude outer shell clothing that is wind and waterproof.
• Windproof and watertight down jacket for chilly mornings and evenings

Head/Hands:

• Hat made of wool, fleece, or a balaclava.
• For sun protection while day hiking, use a hat or cap.
• Goggles or sunglasses
• Cozy gloves

Leg Wear:

• Loose-fitting, everyday pants for trekking.
• Leggings for chilly climates.
• Daytime wearable half-pants
• Women’s long skirts as an alternative to pants.
• Waterproof pants
• Heavy-duty clothing for high altitudes (not for the short trek)
• Trousers

Other necessary items:

• Strong rucksack or large hold all to be carried by porters.
• Day rucksack to be carried personally.
• Plastic bags or stuff sacks to store/separate trekking gear inside your main bag.
• Water bottle.
• Personal first aid kit to include essential items.
• Sleeping bag( 4 seasons).
• Torch, ideally headlight.
• Digital Camera and a spare battery and battery charger! – For those not to be forgotten shots of the Himalayas.
• Toiletries
• Hand Sanitizer
• Towel
• Portable Charger
• Large handkerchief/bandana for neck
• Passport/Money
• Water Purification Tablets
• Hand Sanitizer

Optional Items:

• Binoculars
• Books (In your free time you can read books, you love reading)
• Altimeter
• Compass
• Headlamp: A good quality headlamp with extra batteries is essential for navigating trails in the dark
• Playing cards/background/chess set

Note: You can also buy the sleeping bag or rent the sleeping bags in Kathmandu for Nepal Trekking to higher altitudes including the Everest base camp trek, Annapurna Circuit, Makalu base camp trek, and many other treks over 5600m. Pack lightly and bring only the essentials. Furthermore, for any queries related to trek, packing list, bookings, etc, Quest Himalayan Trek and Expedition is always here for you.