| Day |
Route |
Duration |
Highest Point/m |
Grade |
| 1 |
Arrival Kathmandu transfer to Hotel |
All day |
1300 |
Easy |
| |
Meet with our representative at the
airport. Drive to hotel. |
| 2 |
Kathmandu |
All day |
1300 |
Easy |
| |
Sightseeing Day see Kathmandu Day Trips for ideas
of what to do. |
| 3 |
Kathmandu – Basantapur |
7 hours |
1900 |
Easy |
| |
Fly to Biratnagar
in Eastern Nepal then drive to a Tibetan settlement in the
Himalayan mid-hills called Basantapur. |
| 4 |
Basantapur - Chauki |
6 hours |
2900 |
Moderate |
| |
What a way to begin a trek! Our trek
begins with a steady climb through the villages and stunning
rhododendron forests of the Himalaya foothills. The first goal
is Panch Pokhari about 15 minutes from here we are awe-struck
with a wonderful view of Makalu, Everest, Lhotse Shar and Chamlang.
It is now not far to the summer postural settlement of Chauki
and our camp for the night. |
| 5 |
Chauki – Gupha Pokhari - Buje Deorali |
6 hours |
2950 |
Moderate |
| |
Makalu looms in the distance as
we breakfast and then begin an easy trek through Himalayan
meadows and rhododendron forests. It is not long before the
massive Kanchenjunga range begins to appear as we approach
the Mongol Bharai Pass which is lined with Tibetan Mani stones
- before us is Gupa Pokhari and the Mile Danda ridge that
we must cross to our camp for the night and some amazing sunset
views of Kanchenjunga. |
| 6 |
Buje Deorali – Doban |
6 hours |
760 |
Easy |
| |
After enjoying the stunning sunrise
views of Kanchenjunga we have an easy day of downhill. Our trail
winds through rhododendron forest interspersed with some great
views of Kanchenjunga and Jannu. We finally reach the sprawling
village of Doban in the valleys bottom and our camp for the
night. |
| 7 |
Doban – Mitlung |
5 hours |
995 |
Easy |
| |
Today's trail along the Tamur River
is crowded by dense foliage full of bird-life, so typical of
the deep valleys in the mid-Himalaya. Our trail will sometimes
be quite rugged as we follow the river's course to Mitlung,
a small Gurung settlement. |
| 8 |
Mitlung – Chiruwa |
6 hours |
1430 |
Easy |
| |
Our gradual ascent of the Tamur river
valley is through Limbu villages. This region is famous in Nepal
for spawning the Kirati warriors who were the first to try and
unite the many Kingdoms of the Himalaya into a single sovereign
state. Our camp is near Chiruwa, a pleasant bazaar with a few
tea houses and shops. |
| 9 |
Chiruwa - Sekathum |
6 hours |
1735 |
Easy |
| |
It is time we said goodbye
to the Tamur River and our cue is the Simbuwa Khola, a river
formed by the Yalung Glacier - one of our goals for later
in the trek. We climb the ridge above us to meet the Ghunsa
Khola (this river drains the Kanchenjunga Glacier) valley
and our camp on the bank of the river at Sekathum.
|
| 10 |
Sekathum - Amjilassa |
7 hours |
2590 |
Moderate |
| |
This is the toughest day
of the trek so far as the narrow, exposed trail climbs away
from our camp up the valley's side above the Ghunsa Khola.
Our spirits may flag a little throughout the day as trail
steeply ascends and descends, but with perseverance and patience
we will arrive at our evening's camp in the village of Amjilassa. |
| 11 |
Amjilassa – Kyapra |
5 hours |
2730 |
Easy |
| |
We are now deep in the Himalayan
foothills, before us lies the long climb through the outlying
villages of the region to reach the mountain wilderness of
Khanchenjunga Base Camp. Today is a long and steady climb
through mixed vegetation to Kyapar above the Ghunsa Khola.
|
| 12 |
Kyapra - Ghunsa |
6 hours |
2540 |
Easy |
| |
After breakfast we cross
the Ghunsa Khola valley to the Tibetan refugee village of
Phole. Our trail climbs through larch forests before slightly
descending once again to the Ghunsa Khola and the small Sherpa
village of Ghunsa which is dominated by Nango Ma and its ice
covered ridge.
|
| 13 |
Ghunsa |
all day |
2540 |
Easy |
| |
Rest day: Tomorrow is one
of the toughest days of the trek so we take the opportunity
to relax and unwind and ensure that we are all prepared. For
those who can't sit still there are a few day trips to do
here; Sinion La and Lapsang La trails both climb up behind
the village to some great view points at about 4,000m. Alternatively,
you could just set off up tomorrows trail to check it out. |
| 14 |
Ghunsa - Khambachen |
6 hours |
4225 |
Moderate |
| |
Today will whet our taste
buds for views with glimpses of the Jannu Glacier and later
in the day a great view of the north face of Jannu (7710m.)
We are now very close to Kanchenjunga and the border with
India, and we will feel the cold tonight in our camp at Khambachan.
|
| 15 |
Khambachen |
all day |
4225 |
Easy |
| |
Acclimatization Day: although today
is a rest today we expect that everyone will be out taking in
the views of Kanchenjunga, exploring around camp or the nearby
Nupchu Khola valley, and making friends with the local children.
|
| 16 |
Khambachen - Lhonak |
6 hours |
4815 |
Moderate |
| |
Today just gets better and better
as the not-so-hard trail opens up views of Wedge, Nepal, Twin,
Meraa and White Wave Peaks. We trek up to the Kanchenjunga Glacier
and cross the valley to the Lhonak Glacier. We arrive at our
campsite at Lhonak (Kanchenjunga Base Camp) which is a grassy
meadow opposite Wedge Peak. |
| 17 |
Lhonak - Pangpema - Lhonak |
all day |
5140 |
Moderate |
| |
We use today to explore around Lhonak
and to trek up to Pangpema to enjoy the fantastic views of Kanchenjunga,
Mera Peak, Wedge Peak and the Kanchenjunga Glacier. Truly a
great day out! |
| 18 |
Lhonak - Ghunsa |
7 hours |
4225 |
Easy |
| |
We retrace
our steps today to Ghunsa and prepare to cross either the Lapsang
La (5258m) or the Sinion La (4660m) and Mirgin La (4675m) towards
the South face of Kanchenjunga. Of course, our choice depends
on fitness levels and weather.
From here it is possible to return straight to Kathmandu by
trekking down to the airstrip at Suketar - 7 days away.
|
| 19 |
Ghunsa - Mani Bhuk or Lapsang La |
4 hours |
4290 |
Easy |
| |
Assuming
that we cannot cross the Lapsang La we will climb up to the
idyllic summer pasture of Mani Bhuk, just beneath the Sinion
La. If we can cross the Lapsang La then we shall have an extra
day at Oktang. |
| 20 |
Mani Bhuk – Tseram |
6 hours |
4720 |
Moderate |
| |
We have
a fairly tough day today to cross the passes into the Yalung
Valley. Each pass is adorned with Tibetan prayer flags and large
cairns and offer us some great views of Jannu, Makalu and the
Khumbu Peaks. A steep decent to Tseram and our camp site. |
| 21 |
Tseram - Ramze |
4 hours |
4620 |
Easy |
| |
This is
an easy day in a mountain paradise! The natural horseshoe of
the valley formed by Kabru, Ratong, Koktang and the associated
peaks is fantastic! |
| 22 |
Ramze - Oktang - Tseram |
7 hours |
4780 |
Easy |
| |
Our route
today up to the Yalung Glacier where we may see herds of Bharal
(blue sheep) and then the mighty south face of Kanchenjunga
appears - what a view! What a place! We spend some time here
as there are countless photo spots that will all need exploring.
We then head down to Tseram and our camp for the night. |
| 23 |
Tseram – Torontan |
5 hours |
3060 |
Easy |
| |
Now it
is time to head home, and out of the mountains. Our descent
is through oak, birch and rhododendron forests to Torontan. |
| 24 |
Torontam - Yamphudin |
6 hours |
1690 |
Easy |
| |
Our trail
has a few climbs today but the majority is long descents to
Yamphudin, a mixed community of Sherpas, Limbus, Rais and Gurungs
and is the first real village since Ghunsa. |
| 25 |
Yamphudin - Ponphe |
6 hours |
1680 |
Easy |
| |
More downhill
as we descend from Yamphudin to the Kabel Khola and then a mild
climb to Ponphe. |
| 26 |
Ponphe - Pha Khola |
5 hours |
1700 |
Easy |
| |
Back in
to civilisation as we descend through Phun to Kesawa, then on
through the Gurung settlement at Bhanjyang, and then onto the
Limbu village of Khunjari. After all those people we enjoy our
quiet camp on the banks of PHA Khola. |
| 27 |
Pha Khola - Taplejung |
5 hours |
1500 |
Easy |
| |
With trepidation
we head into Taplejung knowing that we must go back to the helter-skelter
world of Kathmandu, but a final-night party will soon distract
everyone's attention! |
| 28 |
Taplejung-Kathmandu |
all day |
1300 |
Easy |
| |
We fly
this morning back to Kathmandu via Biratnagar after an amazing
trek. |
| 29 |
Kathmandu |
all day |
1300 |
Easy |
| |
Final Day
end of trek debrief and departure. |
