Our Kanchenjunga north base camp trek has a slow itinerary, perfect for those looking to spend a long time in the mountains. Unlike our Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek, it's more on the affordable side. The trek is led by expert guides, so you'll have a safe journey. We recommend Kanchenjunga north base camp trekking to seniors as well who are capable of walking at least 6 hours a day.
If you are looking for the best budget-friendly off-the-beaten trek in Nepal, then Kanchenjunga north base camp trek 16 days is the ideal package for you. You explore the far eastern part of the Himalayas and get to see jaw-dropping mountain panorama during the trek.
Kanchenjunga region is a restricted area that houses the third highest mountain in the world, Mt. Kanchenjunga. It is also home to some of the most exclusive wildlife & flora. Protected under Kanchenjunga Conservation Area, the trekking route has different climatic zones and ascends through sub-tropical lowlands to lush rhododendron forests that further go to alpine forests and open up to glaciers.
The Kanchenjunga base camp trek ascends to Pangpema (5,100 m), following the moraine of Kanchenjunga Glacier. You pass by beautiful remote villages resided by welcoming locals living a simple lifestyle. The off-beat trail and isolation of this region from other famous trails around the Himalayas have successfully preserved the essence of true wilderness trekking.
Mountain views during the trek
Kanchenjunga north base camp trek offers the best mountain views of Mt. Kanchenjunga (8,586 m/28,169 ft), Janu Himal (7,710 m/25,300 ft), Everest (8,849 m/29,032 ft), Makalu (8,463 m/26,247 ft), Tharpu Chuli (5,695 m/18,684 ft), Kabru (7,412 m/24,318 ft), etc. Likewise, along the way, you get to see gorgeous landscapes. There are pastures and rivers with yaks grazing on them, backed by snow-capped mountains. In the lower part of the trail, you mostly witness the scenery of dense forested hills and rivers with a glimpse of mountains.
Flora & Fauna
As we said, you’ll be trekking in the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area, so there's a high chance of you coming across exotic animals like Asian black bears, snow leopards, red pandas, etc. Similarly, if you love birds, then Kanchenjunga base camp trekking offers a great opportunity for you to see different species of birds, including snow cock, blood pheasant, golden-breasted fulvetta, etc.
Places you will embark on Kanchenjunga North Base Camp Trek:
Taplejung
Taplejung is at an elevation of around 1820m.|5971ft. in the country's eastern region, close to the borderline with Sikkim, India. The townlet is the starting point for the Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek and other treks in the Kanchenjunga region. The attractions in and around Taplejung are the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area, Phurumbu Danda, and the Phurumbu Monastery. The village is also home to several local markets and shops where you can purchase souvenirs and other items. If you are planning to embark on the Kanchenjunga North Base Camp Trek, on our first day we will travel to Taplejung from the Bhadrapur airport.
Chirwa
Chirwa is a village situated at 1185m.|3887ft. above sea level in the Kanchenjunga region of the eastern Himalayas. Chirwa is a popular stop on the Kanchenjunga North Base Camp Trek, as it has a few lodges where trekkers can stay overnight. The journey to Chirwa involves a steep climb through dense forests and high alpine meadows. Now that roadways have evolved in the region, we can skip a couple of days of hiking by jeep ride directly from Taplejung to Sekathum.
Sekathum
Located at an elevation of 1650m.|5413ft. Sekathum is a hamlet in the high Himalayas nearby Lelep and Lungthung villages. Sekathum lies above the intersection of Ghunsa Khola and Simbuwa Khola. The trekkers who want to spend long days on the Kanchenjunga trek can hike through the bank of Tamor Nadi, passing through Chirwa, Tapethok, Hellok, and Lelep, reaching the hamlet of Sekathum. According to our itinerary, we will drive from Taplejung to Sekathum, as the roadways have advanced to the village. We can reduce our days of trekking by driving to Sekathum.
Ghunsa
Ghunsa is a tiny permanent settlement at the height of 3415m.|11204ft. in the Kanchenjunga region. You can stay at Ghunsa for acclimatization to Kanchenjunga Trek. You can find incredible places for the short day hikes, such as Dudh Pokhari (Milky Lake) and Ghusa Viewpoint.
Khambachen
Khambachen is at an elevation of 4145m.|13599ft., with a couple of tea houses on the track to Kanchenjunga North Base Camp. If you want to explore the Kanchenjunga for more days, we suggest keeping a day extra at Khambachen. Khambachen is considered one of the great locations for acclimatization day. You can go on a side trip from Khambachen to Nupchu Pokhari or Janu Viewpoint.
Lhonak
Lhonak, at an altitude of 4792m.|15721ft., is the final place to stay before reaching Kanchenjunga North Base Camp. From Lhonak, we can take in the spectacular panorama of snow-covered Mt. Kanchenjunga and several peaks bordering Tibet and Sikkim. We head towards the Kanchenjunga North Base Camp, also known as Pangpema, our final destination of the Kanchenjunga Trek from Lhonak.
Why trek with Nepal Nirvana Trails?
Our packages are hand-picked, and the itineraries are designed in a way to provide the best trekking to our guests. You can notice we have very distinct packages too. Regardless of our effort to offer something different in the Himalayas, our package costs are minimal and the best in the market.
Our goal behind creating the Kanchenjunga budget trek is to let travelers with low budgets explore the wonders of this region. You trek with the native guides and porters, who are trained in first-aid, remote survival, and rock climbing. They also have extensive knowledge about the trail.
You can rely on us for all your traveling needs in Nepal. We assure you of a safe trip and guaranteed departure. To book the Kanchenjunga north base camp trek 2024/2025, click on our booking button on the package page or get in touch with us.
