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Kanchenjunga North base camp |
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Nepal opened the Kanchenjunga area to
trekkers in 1988, though people had
trekked in the area in connection with
mountaineering expeditions since the
turn of the century. Kanchenjunga is a
long way from Kathmandu, and the nearest
roads and airports are a long way from
the mountain. You can trek either to the
north or south Kanchenjunga base camp,
but it takes luck, determination and a
lot of time to visit both sides of the
peak. The northern side is particularly
remote; it takes almost two weeks of
walking to get to the base camp at Pang
Pema.
Kanchenjunga is on the border of Nepal
and the India state of Sikkim, so a
circuit of the mountain is politically
impossible. The next best alternative is
to visit both the north and south sides
of the mountain from the Nepal side; you
need to be equipped for a high pass
crossing and have a minimum of four
weeks to spare. If for any reason you
cannot cross the pass, it's a long way
around.
It's difficult to cross either the
Lapsang La or Mirgin La. Bad weather and
snow are often to blame, but more often
it is simply a lack of time. Unless you
have at least four weeks to spare, and
preferably five, you should plan to
visit either the north or south base
camp, not both. If you can get to
Taplejung by either road or air, the
trek can be shortened by several days,
making it a bit more reasonable.
The lowland portion of this region is
culturally intriguing, but there are few
good mountain views. The two treks that
I have described will probably need to
be extended by a few days because of
porter problems, weather, or the need
for a rest day.
The Kanchenjunga region is the home of
the Limbus. Relatives of the Rais,
Limbus dominate the region east of the
Arun Kosi and few live elsewhere. Limbu
men wear a distinctive, tall topi, a
Nepali cap that is much more colourful
than that worn by other Nepalese.
A noteworthy contribution of Limbu
culture is the drink tongba. A wooden
pot is filled with fermented millet
seeds and boiling water. You sip the
dangerously potent mixture through a
special bamboo straw, with tiny filters
to keep the seeds out of the drink, as
the hotelier merrily adds more hot
water. It is often served in a large
plastic mug, but ethnically correct
hotels serve it in a special wooden
tongba pot, which has brass rings and a
wooden cap with a hole for the straw.
Tongba goew down easily, as you might do
yourself when you arise after a lengthy
tongba session. Watch for this
specialty anywhere north of Dharan. |
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Facts
OF
TREK |
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Duration: 23 Days
Trek type: Camping
Max Altitude: 5280 m. |
Minimum Pax: 2 +
Mode of travel: Land
Grade: Strenuous |
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Itinerary
In
Details |
Day
01 :
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Drive from Kathmandu to
Dharan(428m.),
Dhankuta(1158m.),HILLE(1822m.)
to Basantpur by bus,
overnight stay at
Basantpur |
Day
02 :
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Trek from
Basantpur to
Chauki (2400m.)
which takes
about six hours.
The trail
follows gentle
ascent and
descent route as
well. The path
is covered by
rhododendron
forests. If the
sky is clear,
you can enjoy
the panoramic
view of Mount
Makalu and
Kahnchenjunga
himal. On the
way, you can see
some small human
settlements. You
can also see
view of villages
at the distance.
Chauki is a
small village
with few lodges
and Nepali tea
shops.
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Day
03 :
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Trek from chauki
to Gupha Pokhari
(2940m.) to
Gurja
Gaon(2145m.) and
it takes about
seven
hours.While
trekking through
this way, you
pass through
rhododendron
forests. At a
point, you come
across a pass
situated at 3000
meter. There is
a pond at the
Gupha Pokhari
where prayer
flags and
Buddhist mani
wall can be
seen. On the way
from Gupha
Pokhari to Gurja
Gaon, you can
see yaks and
mountain sheep
grazing in the
jungle. You can
observe some
villages at a
far distance.
Gurja Gaon is
occupied by
Buddhist and
Hindus. It is
situated at low
elevation.
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Day
04 :
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Trek from Gurja
Goan to Dovan
(730 m.) and it
takes
approximately
five and half
hours. The
trails descend
upto Dovan. En
route you pass
through jungle
and villages.
You trek through
terraces as
crops grown here
are wheat,
maize, rice,
millet, potatoes
and so on. Dovan
is a village
situated at low
elevation
between two
streams. There
is a small
market in Dovan.
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Day
05 :
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Trek from Dovan
to Mitlung
(921m.) which
takes
approximately
six hours.
Crossing a
suspension
bridge over
Tamur river, you
follow quite
flat route. You
trek along the
bank of Tamur
Koshi through
paddy fields.
From time to
time, you cross
through small
jungles of
cardamom plants
and other
natural
vegetation. You
can see some
small village
stretching at a
far distance.
The inhabited
area of this
part is occupied
by Brahmin,
Chhetri and
Limbu. Mitlung
is a tiny
village with few
houses and
Nepali tea shops
known as Bhattis.
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Day
06:
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Trek from
Mitlung to
Chirwa(1171m.)
and it takes
about seven
hours. The path
to follow is
quite narrow and
passes through
jungle mainly
covered with
cardamom plants
and other
vegetation. You
can also see the
small gardens of
orange on your
way. You cross
through some
small streams
while trekking.
This day your
trek is through
ascent and
descent paths.
You walk along
the more flat
land. Chirwa is
a small town
where you find
small lodges and
camping site
with local
shops. The
people are
mainly engaged
in agricultural
activities.
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Day 07 :
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Trek from Chirwa
to
Sekathum(1635m.)
which takes
about six hours.
Your trek passes
through a small
jungle along
with the bank of
river. You find
the plants of
cardamom and
other different
vegetation. The
trail normally
ascends and
descends as
well. You cross
a small hanging
bridge before
you reach
Sekhathum. You
spend overnight
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Day 08 :
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Trek from
Sekathum to
Amjilosa (
2510m.) and it
takes about five
hours. The first
one and
half-hour you
trek through
normally flat
land. Then your
trail goes
steeply ascent
up to Amjilasa.
Amjilassa is
small village
with few houses
and yak herds
with local shops
where you find
minimal
supplies. These
shops are also
called Bhattis
and teashops.
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Day 09 :
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Trek from
Amjilosa to
Gyable ( 2730m.)
which takes
about seven
hours. The trail
is quite flat in
the beginning
and gently
ascent to Gyable
passing through
jungle. There
can be seen
human settlement
at Gyable.
People living
here follow
Buddhist
culture. You
stay overnight.
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Day 10 :
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Trek from Gyable
to Ghunsa
(3468m.) which
takes about six
hours. Your
trails pass
through jungle.
You can see
Gunsa river down
the trail. The
trail passes
through few
human
settlements and
it is clearly
visible that
their life style
and culture has
been inherited
from Tibet. You
pass through
terrace fields
where are grown
potato, wheat,
barley, buck
wheat and so on.
The local trader
are involved in
export-import
business in
Tibet. The
traders go to
India for trade
activities
during the
winter season.
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Day 11 :
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Rest day at
Ghunsa for
acclimatization.
A day to rest in
order to
acclimatize and
excursion in and
around Ghunsa.
Gunsa is also
rich with
Tibetan and
Buddhist
culture. Ghunsa
is relatively
larger town. It
is inhabited by
Tibetan people.
Mainly the women
are involved in
carpet weaving
profession.
There is run
Carpet Weaving
Industry in
their home at
small scale by
local people.
The trekkers
come across with
few check point
at Ghunsa. There
are local shops
where you can
buy goods to
take along with
you at high
altitude.
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Day 12 :
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Trek from Ghunsa
to Kambachen
(4124m.) which
takes about six
and half hours.
The trail makes
a gradual ascent
along the south
bank of the
Gunsa Khola,
then crosses a
boulder strewn
flood plain and
crosses back to
Rambuk Kharka on
the north side
of the river.
Once on the
opposite side,
the trail passes
a waterfall then
makes a short,
steep ascent to
a very unstable
scree slope.
It's a passage
across the
slide, with
loose footing, a
steep fall to
the river and
lots of tumbling
football-sized
rocks. Beyond
the slide, the
trail drops to
the single
locked hut at
Lakep, then
traverses to
Khambachen, a
Tibetan
settlement of
about a dozen
houses at 4040m.
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Day 13 :
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Trek from
Kambachen to
Lhonak(4780m.)
and it takes
about four
hours. The trail
climbs gradually
through open
rocky fields to
Ramtang at
4240m, then
across moraines
north-west of
the Kanchenjunga
Glacier. Lhonak,
at 4790m, is
near a dry lake
bed on an open,
sandy plain;
water is scarce
here. There are
no houses, but
you can camp
among the large
boulders to get
out of the wind.
Terrific
mountain views
abound in all
directions.
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Day 14 :
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Rest at Lhonak.
From Lhonak, the
trail ascends
gradually across
the plain, then
gets a bit
steeper as it
follows the
moraine. You can
drop off the
moraine and
follow the
bottom of the
valley to avoid
the steeper
section. The
views are
dramatic, but
you cannot see
Kanchenjunga or
Wedge Peak until
you are near
Peng Pema. The
spectacular main
peak of
Kanchenjunga,
and a panorama
of other peaks
that make up one
of the largest
mountain masses
in the world,
tower over the
single roofless
hut at Pang Pema.
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Day 15 :
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Trek from Lhonak
to
pangpema(5152m.)
which takes
about 3 to 4
hours. From
Lhonak, the
trail ascends
gradually across
the plain, then
gets a bit
steeper as it
follows the
moraine. You can
drop off the
moraine and
follow the
bottom of the
valley to avoid
the steeper
section. The
views are
dramatic, but
you cannot see
Kanchenjunga or
Wedge Peak until
you are near
Peng Pema. The
spectacular main
peak of
Kanchenjunga,
and a panorama
of other peaks
that make up one
of the largest
mountain masses
in the world,
tower over the
single roofless
hut at Pang Pema.
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Day 16 :
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Trek from
Pangpema to
Kanchanjunga
(North) Base
Camp (5280m.)
and trek back to
Pangpema and it
takes
approximately
eight hours. The
trek goes upward
until you reach
Base Camp. Here
you can enjoy
the snow capped
mountains and
Kanchenjunga
glacier. There
are gorges of
mountain glacier
where water
flows all the
time. During the
middle of the
day, the scene
of falling
avalanches
captivates you
completely.
While trekking
back you climb
down till
Pangpema. On the
way you can see
yaks and
mountains
grazing in the
pastures.
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Day 17 :
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Trek from
Pangpema to
Ramtang Valley
(4370m.) which
takes about
seven hours. You
follow quite
descent path
passing through
bushes until you
reach Ramtang
valley. It is
surrounded by
mountains. From
here you can
enjoy the
panorami view of
Chang Himal
(6750m.),
Ramtang peak
(6700m.), Lupche
peak (6044m.)
and Dango peak
(6250m.). You
can see yak
pastures over
there.
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Day 18 :
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Trek from
Ramtang Valley
to Ghunsa
(3468m.) which
takes about
eight hours. You
cross several
jungles covered
with
rhododendron,
oak and pine.
You descent all
the way to
Ghunsa.
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Day 19 :
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Trek from Ghunsa
to Gyable
(2730m.) which
takes about six
hours. The
trails is
descent and
ascent
respectively
along the shore
of Ghunsa Khola.
On the way you
pass through
forests covered
with bamboo
shoots,
rhododendron,
pine and oak.
You can see
Himalayan deer
and domestic
animals grazing
in fields.
People living in
Gyable village
follow Buddhist
culture.
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Day 20 :
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Trek from Gyable
to Sekathum
(1660m.) and it
takes about
seven hours.
This day you
head downhills
passing through
jungles covered
with
rhododendron,
cardamom, pine
and local birds.
On the way, you
cross different
villages
inhabited by
people of mixed
community. You
can see terraces
where people
grow maize,
millet,
potatoes, wheat
and green
vegetables.
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Day 21 :
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Trek from
Sekathum to
Chirwa (1270m.)
which takes
about six hours.
You follow
downhills along
the shore of
Tamur river
until you reach
Chirwa. On the
way, you pass
through cardamom
plants, terraces
and forests. You
find local
porters carrying
goods to the
local shops.
Chirwa is a
small village
with a market.
The main
inhabitants are
Limbu, one of
the ethnic
community of
Nepal. Chirwa
lies at the bank
of Tamur river
and surrounded
by forests and
hills.
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Day 22 :
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Trek from Chirwa
to Mitlung (
921m.) and it
takes about six
hours. This
day's trek moves
along the shore
of Tamur river.
The supposed
path goes ups
and down. On the
way, you pass
through jungles,
farming terraces
and local
villages at your
distance. People
living around
here belong to
different
community such
as Rai, Limbu,
Chhetri ,
Brahman and
others. Mitlung
is a tiny
village with few
houses and
Nepali tea shops
known as Bhattis.
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Day 23 :
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Trek from
Mitlung to
Suketar or
Taplejung. If
you prefer to
fly from Suketar
, you will have
trek for eight
hours starting
from Milung. The
pass goes uphill
until you reach
Suketar. On the
way you pass
through jungles
with cardamom
and other
natural
vegetation. You
cross several
local villages
and farming
terraces. From
here, you will
be stunned at
the splendid
views of
Kanchanjunga
Himal (8598m.)
and Pathi Bhara
Himal (6837m.).
On the other
hand, if you
prefer to drive
out you will
have to trek for
six hours to get
to Taplejung. It
is headquarter
of Taplejung
district.
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Services
Included
National Park
entry permit,
Trekking permit,
Land
transportation
to and fro,
Accommodation in
lodges during
the trek, Food:
three meals a
day, A guide &
required number
of porter (s),
Essential
equipment.
Services
Excluded
Personal
expenses,
Insurance, Tips,
Emergency
evacuation by
Helicopter,
Alternative
transportation
in case of heavy
rain, landslide,
strike, road
blockade etc.
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