Kangchenjunga
Nepal, Trek & Walk, 27 days - from $3,495 (land only)
Holiday Itinerary
Day 1: Rendezvous at the group hotel in Kathmandu. Complimentary airport transfers are provided. KE Land Only package services begin with the evening meal.
Day 2: A free day in Kathmandu. A complimentary half day guided tour of some of the city's most important sights is included. Overnight at the group hotel.
Day 3: We start our journey with an internal flight eastwards to Birantnagar, on the edge of the Indian plains, where we check in to our hotel and have the afternoon free.
Day 4: A morning flight takes us north to the airstrip at Taplejung (2300m). Here, we meet our trek crew and set off on the short trek to our camp at Lali Kharka (2276m). Good views of Kangchenjunga. 3 hours walking.
Day 5: Contour around to Tambawa, with views of the day's walk ahead of us. Descend to a river, then climb via Kunjuri to our camp on the Sinchewa Banjyang ridge (2120m).
Day 6: Negotiating terraced field systems high above the Kabeli Khola, we pass through many small hamlets and cross low ridges. Beyond the Khesewa Khola, we climb to Phonphe Dhara (1845m). Camp. 5 - 6 hours.
Day 7: More ups and downs and more spectacular views. We cross ridges and river valleys to the most remote settlement in this area at Yamphudin (1700m). There are good swimming pools in the river next to our camp. 5 hours.
Day 8: Crossing a spur, we descend to a stream and follow a meandering trail to Darachuk, before climbing to the Dubi Bhanjyang (2540m). We descend to camp beside the Omje Khola (2380m). Free time in the afternoon. 4 hours.
Day 9: Straight from camp, we make a steep ascent through dense forest to the crest of the Deorali Danda (3230m), then trek down to Torontan (2995m) in the valley of the Simbua Khola. 7 hours.
Day 10: Following a riverside trail, we trek through pine and rhododendron forest to Tseram (3870m). There are great views of the Yalung Glacier and of Kabru and Rathong. 5 - 6 hours.
Day 11: Today we have the option to trek up to the south side basecamp for Kangchenjunga at Ramze (4580m) This area beside the Yalung glacier has superb mountain views. Afterwards, we return to camp at Tseram. 7 - 8 hours.
Day 12: A morning for rest and acclimatisation. In the afternoon we climb up to two small lakes at Chhuchung Pokhari (4450m) at the foot of the Sinelapche La (pass). Camp. 2 - 3 hours.
Day 13: A superb day of trekking today, as we cross three passes, including the Sinelapcha La (4640m) and the Mirgin La (4480m ), en route for the north side of the mountain. Superb views, then a descent to camp at Selele (4200m). 5 - 6 hours.
Day 14: Contouring the hillside with more fantastic views, we cross a further two low passes and then descend through rhododendron forest to the Tibetan village of Ghunsa (3475m). 4 hours.
Day 15: Stunning trekking, through pine forest and then open country, with a steep climb and descent to reach the summer village of Kambachen (4096m). Jannu looms above our camp. 5 hours.
Day 16: Easy angle trekking, with incredible views of Wedge Peak, Nepal Peak and many others. Camp at Lhonak (4757m) on a grassy site above the Kangchenjunga Glacier. 5 hours.
Day 17: A short, but slow-paced walk up to our highest camp at Pang Pema (5150m). This is one of the most spectacular places in the world, directly opposite Kangchenjunga's north face. 3 - 4 hours.
Day 18: Time to head down from this remote and beautiful place. We retrace the route of our approach as far as the camp at Kambachen (4096m). 6 - 7 hours.
Day 19: There is the option this morning to visit Jannu Base Camp - a 4 hour return walk - for a sensational close-up of one of the world's largest rock faces. In the afternoon we descend to Ghunsa. 3 - 4 hours.
Day 20: We cross the Ghunsa Khola and follow it downstream through a forest of rhododendron, conifer birch and oak. We pass the Tibetan refugee villages of Phale and Gyabla and follow an undulating trail to Thyangyam (2405m) where we make camp. 7 hours.
Day 21: Contouring high above the river we have fine views today. The trail passes through the village of Amjilasa (2510m) and there are several ups and downs to negotiate landslides as we descend to Sekathum (1650m) at the confluence of the Ghunsa Khola and Tamor River. Camp. 5 - 6 hours.
Day 22: Now following the Tamur River in a much warmer climate our walk today takes us through forest and villages to a riverside camp at Chirwa (1270m). 5 hours.
Day 23: Climbing across several ridges with descents through villages and cultivated fields to deep river valleys, we make our way down the Tamor River to Phurumba (1790m). 5 - 6 hours.
Day 24: It is just a short morning's hike to our camp alongside the airstrip at Taplejung (2300m). The afternoon is free and a chance for the brave to sample the local millet beer or tungba. 3 hours walking.
Day 25: We take the morning flight to Biratnagar and connect with an onward flight to Kathmandu. After checking in at the group hotel and resting, we go out on the town for a celebratory dinner.
Day 26: Free day in Kathmandu for sightseeing or relaxing. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 27: KE Land Only package services end after breakfast. Complimentary airport transfers are provided.
Altitude
This holiday involves going to very high altitude. During the course of your trip you will be spending at least one night above 4000 metres and/or trekking to 5000 metres or above. This is not something that you should worry about; the human body is quite capable of adapting to a very wide range of altitudes, but it is important that we follow some simple rules in order to acclimatise successfully. Before coming on this holiday you should read the advice on trekking at high altitude.
