Kanchenjunga North Base Camp Trek is the trek that you might be dreaming for; in the least disturb area away from other trekkers and from modern civilization in a complete wilderness of remote areas of Himalaya.
View Nepal Treks has the right and perfect adventure holiday around Far East Nepal Himalaya, to Kanchenjunga North Base Camp Trek with isolated villages.
This is an unique adventure more of an exploration in the hidden corners of Himalaya, where trekkers seldom visit North of Kanchenjunga, where ancient Trans-Himalayan Caravan route to Tibet still exists.
Starting this trip with the sweeping panoramic flight to warm areas of South East Nepal and then overland to famous tea gardens of Ilam town, and then to Sukhetar at Taplejung where this adventure begins.
Walk leads through unspoiled remote villages on the mid hills with interesting culture through beautiful rhododendron forest to North of Kanchenjunga around Holung / Walungchung - Gola and Lumba Sumba villages.
After exploring villages of Bhotias tribe with its old Tibetan Buddhist culture including views of world highest Mt. Kanchenjunga and adjoining peaks, this wonderful concludes at warmer areas of Arun valley in Tumlingtar town, after crossing high pass of Lumba-Sumba at 5,160 m. Ending this fantastic North of Kanchenjunga trek taking a scenic flight to Kathmandu with great guidance and service of View Nepal Treks.
Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu and transfer to hotel.
Day 02: Fly to Bhadrapur 3000 m and drive to Ilam town - 04 hrs.
Day 03: Drive to Sukhetar -04 hrs walk to Mitlung 921 m- 04 hrs.
Day 04: Trek to Chirwa 1,270 m - 06 hrs.
Day 05: Trek to Lungthang 1,576 m - 06 hrs
Day 06: Trek to Holung / Walangchung-Gola 3,200 m - 06 hrs.
Day 07: Rest day at Walangchung - Gola.
Day 08: Trek to Lumba Sumba 4,450m - 08 hrs.
Day 09: Cross over Lumba Sumba la 5,160m - 08 hrs.
Day 10: Trek to Thudam 3,600m - 06 hrs.
Day 11: Trek to Kharka 2,850m - 05 hrs
Day 12: Trek to Chyamtang 2,190m - 07 hrs.
Day 13: Trek to Hongoan 2,320 m - 06 hrs.
Day 14: Trek to Hatiya 1,585 m - 06 hrs.
Day 15: Trek to Gola 1,128 m - 05 hrs.
Day 16: Trek to Gadhi-Danda 1,180 m - 06 hrs.
Day 17: Trek to Num 1,560 m - 03hrs.
Day 18: Drive to Tumlingtar 950 m - 04 hours.
Day 19: Fly to Kathmandu and transfer to hotel.
Day 20: In Kathmandu free day.
Day 21: International departure homeward bound.
At Kathmandu international airport, View Nepal guide / staff receives you for a short drive to respective hotels around Thamel area, a tourist hub of Kathmandu. After rest and getting refreshed our guide will provide orientation program regarding hotel, Kathmandu and North of Kanchenjunga trekking with evening welcome dinner in an authentic Nepalese restaurant with culture programs.
Morning as per the flight time transfer to Kathmandu domestic airport for scenic 45 minutes flight to Bhadrapur, low lands of Eastern Nepal from here drive to hill town at Ilam famous for teas and huge field of tea garden.
After an interesting time at Ilam with huge tea garden, few hour drive to Sukhetar as the ride leads through farm villages and towns, crossing Kabeli Khola (Small River) on rough road reaching at Sukhetar village in Taplejung. From Suketar start walk on downhill path with few short ups in between to reach a small farm village of Mitlung at 921 m for overnight stop.
Morning walk follows long downhill to Tamor River with few short ups and downs to reach Sinwa village. From here descends to Tawa village crossing several streams and walking past scattered farm villages, then reaching our overnight camp at Chirwa. A moderate size village of mix tribes includes mostly Rai (Kirat tribe) some Magar, Tamang and Hindu Chettries, Brahmins with Dalits.
From Chirwa morning walk to Sukathum village, on reaching a river bank with mix terrains and cultivation of cardamom fields in the shade of thick trees, from here walk higher up over farm fields with short descend to overnight camp at Lungthang, a small farm village where air is much cooler with dramatic change of culture of Tibetan Buddhist religions.
Walk leads to one of our destination at Holung located on-route Tibet border; this is a large village with high mountains around, Walangchung - Gola also called Holung, here with 2 overnights, to explore this interesting and impressive high remote village.
A nice place for rest with excursion around village, houses are built with stones, the people here are of Bhotia’s tribe with Tibetan Buddhism culture. People around still do trade with Tibet on this old caravan route exchanging and trading goods from both sides. Here visit the village and old monastery.
After a great time at Holung village and Wangchungo-la, morning walk to Tamor Khola and at confluence of Dinsangba River which later joins Tamor river way down. From here cross a small wooden bridge with a climb for 3 hours to reach Lumba Sumba ridge top, into rhododendron, pines, oaks and magnolia tree forest, From the top downhill to Dinsangba Khola and again climb passing several yak pasture called kharka to reach a large green valley, continue walk over black rock band to another valley and complete the day walk with overnight stop on the grazing meadow.
Starting the morning walk earlier as today a long day trekking of nearly eight hours on a faint trail heading North West of a stream flowing from high rocky cliff edge, after few hours of nice walk reaching an icy pond, from here climb over a plateau beyond to ridge top of Lumba Sumba-la pass at 5,160 meters. The highest spot of this adventure offering views of Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Khumbakarna Himal and massive Mt. Kanchenjunga range. From the top long downhill loosing 600 meters descend to reach a wide valley and to camp on the large pasture field at 4,500 meters altitude the highest camping spot of this trip.
Today being isolated from human settlement for few days, from this camp walk towards warmer area with gradual descend and a climb for a while and back to pleasant walk with few short ups on route, and into a forest to reach at Thudam, a nice village with Tibetan style as in Holung village built with stone and fine pine woods.
After nice time around remote areas, walk leads into dense forest to camp at Kharka (Sheppard’s shelter), at first following a path through thick vegetation of bushes and tall trees then heading downhill to river and with short climb in between but more or less on downhill path walk to reach an isolated yak herders camp at Kharka for overnight stop.
Today another long walk of seven hours, starting with a short climb to a small village on the mid-hills just above Arun River, from here three hours climb to a small pass and then a long descend on muddy / wet trail to reach Arun River. From here walk across a bridge, which leads to a steep climb to overnight camp at Lhomi village and Chyamtang both village linked together.
Morning walk leads on moderate trail with few short ups and downs passing many scattered farm villages then reaching to a village with a large old landslide section, which damaged many houses and primary schools in 2012. From here a nice walk leads to Hongaon for overnight stop.
From this village, morning walk leads to warmer areas reaching sub-tropical climate zone, journey continues following Arun River downstream fed by the glacier of Mt. Makalu and Barun Himal flowing close at Tumlingtar, later joins Sun Kosi on the flatland of Nepal Terai. Walk leads across many farm lands, villages reaching our overnight camp at Hatiya village, a popular village located on Nepal / Tibet trade route.
After Hatiya walk leads to many small farm villages and cultivated terraces with rice paddies, continues following on the main trail for five hours, then downhill with short ups to reach overnight stop at Gola a farm village.
From here onwards villages with mix people of Kirat Rais, Magar, Gurung, Chettries, Brahmins and few Dalits people, the walk is interesting meeting friendly villagers along the walk passing many villages and finally reaching at Gadhi-danda for overnight stop, offers views of Jaljala rocky peaks of Milke danda area.
Today last walk of this adventure to Num village, on leaving Gadhi-Danda village descend to farm fields for few hours, passing many villages and then end the day walks at Num village located on route Makalu base camp, and this village slowly developing into a town along with the construction of motor road.
After a wonderful time in the mountains, morning after breakfast a jeep ride to Tumlingtar, on reaching at Tumlingtar farewell dinner and celebration among staff, guide and porters.
As per the flight time board on small aircraft for a short flight to Kathmandu, on reaching Kathmandu transfer to respective hotels with rest of the afternoon free to relax after a great adventure to North of Kanchenjunga.
A free and leisure day in Kathmandu after an adventurous journey and tough trekking, on this day if interested book for sightseeing tour around places of interest in Kathmandu-Bhaktapur or Patan with rest of the day free for individual activities and shopping souvenirs.
Today, last day in Nepal with great experience and wonderful time around hidden area of North Kanchenjunga, as per your time for international flight, View Nepal staff transfer you to airport for your final departure homeward bound or to your next destinations.
Starting with moderate walks with up hills and rest along the walk, trek is pleasant but quite tough as it involves climb uphill and steep descend with high altitude to reach at Holung and Walanchung Gola, then leads over high pass of Lumba-Sumba above 5,000 meters high where you might feel short of breathe, as the trek continues one will be acclimatized on this daily walk. We have rest day for acclimatization and with daily trekking helps you to acclimatize with slow rise in altitude gain. The only tough days are climb up to some passes, but taking slow walk everyone can enjoy this trek to North of Kanchenjunga.
Morning and night time are always cold above 2,500 meters with day time are sunny most of the season, spring and summer above 2,500 m 15°-18° C average and minimum of 0° to 5° C, autumn / winter day time 15°-16° C and can get below -5° C during morn / night time. We do not run this trek from mid November to March due to high chances of snow on the pass and most of the lodges and guesthouses will be closed for winter vacation where local migrates to lower area of Nepal.
As this is a moderate with adventurous and as well challenging trek sometimes, one needs to be physical fit with sound health, however after booking this trip one can do short exercise jogging and climbing up and down the steps, aerobic or Jumba exercise will be great exercise preparation for this trek. Upper side of Kanchenjunga and around Holung-Gola area of strong Tibetan Buddhist culture and with Hindu religion at lower altitude, where our guide will inform of the rules while entering holy sites with dress conducts.
As this trek starts with moderate grade of walking as altitude wise as the trek progress leading higher elevation of above 4,000 to 5,000 meters, an adventurous walk with high altitude, if the trails are covered in deep snow including the pass we use the word grade as challenging which is an arduous job to find the safe path to respective destinations. If the pass is completely covered in deep snow we will consider and might re-route the trek to safe area for the welfare, safety of clients including staff and porters.