Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trekking

Mt. Kanchenjunga is situated in the eastern part of Nepal frontier Taplejung District. Mount Kanchenjunga, altitude at 8586 m height. Kanchenjunga is the third-highest mountain peak in the world. It is laid down between Nepal and Darjeeling, Sikkim border. Tibetan call Kanchenjunga means ‘the five treasure houses of snow’, which gives you some idea of what to expect should you visit that area.  

Trekking in Kanchenjunga base camp is attractive because it is less visited by tourist, the rhododendron forests, spectacular and the mountain scenery offers new vistas. A number of glaciers and server high trekking passes originated from Himalaya have no doubt added to the beauties of this region. The Kanchenjunga conservation area that surrounds it extends into protected areas in Sikkim and Tibet, and comprises a beautiful, unspoiled wilderness. That is a Snow Leopard territory, but the reclusive predator shares the unbounded forests with the Himalayan Black Bear and the Assamese Macaque, among others. Cascading waterfalls, lush vegetation and thousands of species of plants await those who take the long trail to Kanchenjunga Base Camp, the main route which has been described as ‘untracked’.

The northern part of Kanchenjunga, inhabited by Sherpa, but the southern lower part is full of ethnic groups such as Rai, Limbu, Magar, Tamang, Braman and Chhartri etc. Mostly evergreen conifers are interspersed with few cold-hardy deciduous species. South-facing slopes are usually treeless or contain pure stands of stunned rhododendrons. North-facing slopes have juniper, fir, willow, birch and rhododendrons. In Ghunsa valley, look out for extensive stands of the spectacular Himalayan larches (Larix griffithiana) that turn the hillsides a golden-yellow in the fall. The Woody vegetation in this zone of moist alpine scrub consists of stunned junipers, roses and rhododendron, gentian and saxifrage abound. Hardy alpine grasses include creeks, juncos and Poe. Look out for herds of blue sheep foraging on hillsides above the tree line. Perhaps, you may see signs of a snow leopard that preys on these sheep.

For those who have less time, there is a direct flight to Taplejung and visit to South side base camp and return the same way to Taplejung (Sukhetar). Otherwise, to cross the high pass Sele Le pass visit northern base camp, returning to Yamphudin “the beautiful village” all the way to Taplejung or Khebang-Medibung catch the local Jeep to Ilam continues drive to Kathmandu.

There are server way to reach Taplejung either you can flight from Kathmandu to Biratnagar or Bhadrapur and drive to Taplejung or you can drive tourist (night or day) bus to Birtamod 10–12 hours and take a local bus or Jeep to Taplejung 7–8 hours.

Asian Hiking Team organizes Kanchenjunga Base camp trekking as a tourist interest and time frame. Here we recommend an itinerary for both base camp over the Sele Le pass, however you can visit one base camp as well.  Asian Hiking Team operates the trekking tea house / guest house for small groups or individuals. If the group size is more than 20 persons, we organize a tented camping. In the high pass base camp called Sele Le fade or Ramche, the team has a very basic tea house or tented house. Every Guest house serves the traditional Nepali meal Dal Bhat Tarkari (rice, curry and lentil soup). All Guest Houses of our routes have a variety of different food items, such as rice, vegetables, noodles, potatoes and soup. Walking in Kanchenjunga base camp requires special trekking permits, the cost for trekking permit per week per person US$ 20. And I need to pay Kanchenjunga Conservation entry permit NRS 3000 per person.