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View more photosPrice includes round-trip flights, Jeep tranports, permits, guide, porter, meals, and teahouse accommodation.
This trip is fully customizable
Head out with Above and Beyond Trekking on an adventure looping around Mt Kanchenjunga (8,586 m / 28,169 ft). The Kanchenjunga Circuit trek is designed into a 22-day package in Nepal. During the trek you’ll be exploring the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area in Nepal’s far eastern Himalaya. Being remote means also less crowded than the commercial treks in Nepal.
During the Kanchenjunga Circuit trek, you can enjoy the trail in privacy and expect to see the best of the region in peace. You’ll trek and visit both North and South Base Camps of Mt Kanchenjunga, letting you experience both sides of the world’s 3rd largest mountain! Besides that, you’ll also face and cross three high altitude mountain passes, navigate across glacial moraines and trek through the alpine forests. The region is mostly inhabited by the Kirat communities of Rai and Limbu as well as Sherpa villages.
To reach the Kanchenjunga Circuit you’ll start with a scenic flight from Kathmandu to Bhadrapur. From here you drive across the famous tea covered hills of eastern Nepal towards Taplejung. This is the entry point of the Kanchenjunga trekking region. You start the Kanchenjunga Circuit trek from here and trek through lust forested hills following the Ghunsa Khola. Overnight and pass by traditional villages such as Amjilosa, Gyabla and Ghunsa. As you approach the region, the first major peak to appear is Jannu (7,711 m / 25,299 ft), also known as Kumbhakarna, which dominates the skyline from Kambachen.
Above and Beyond Trekking makes sure you are properly acclimatized during the trek and organizes acclimatization hikes up to Jannu Base Camp, and Pangpema for incredible views of Kanchenjunga’s northern face. The return trek crosses three high altitude passes leading you to the south side of the mountain. From the famous Oktang viewpoint you get the best views of the south face of the mountain and the Yalung Kang.
You spend the remaining days trekking back down via Tortong and Yamphudin before leaving the Kanchenjunga Circuit trail and driving to the tea farms of Kanyam. Once back in Kathmandu via a return flight from Bhadrapur you’ll have nothing but memories of the mountain and the conservation area. The perfect mix of Himalayan trekking, adventure, culture and the views of the mountains. Book your Kanchenjunga Circuit trek of 22 days today with Above and Beyond Trekking and trek in one of Nepal’s last off the beaten trails!
The Kanchenjunga Circuit trek is rated as a strenuous and challenging trek. It is more demanding than the Everest Base Camp and Annapurna Circuit treks, requiring excellent physical fitness, stamina, and previous high‑altitude experience. The trek involves long walking days (4‑7 hours), high altitude (up to 5,143 m / 16,873 ft), and crossing three passes in a single day. The trail is remote, with limited teahouse facilities. This trek is recommended for experienced trekkers who have previously trekked above 4,500 meters.
The best seasons are spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) . Spring offers blooming rhododendron forests and pleasant temperatures. Autumn provides clear skies, stable weather, and the best mountain views after the monsoon rains have cleared the air. Winter (December to February) is extremely cold with snow blocking the passes. The monsoon season (June to August) is not recommended due to rain, mud, and limited visibility.
You stay in basic teahouses. These are simple, family‑run accommodations offering basic facilities. At lower elevations, the teahouses are more comfortable, with attached bathrooms and hot showers. At higher elevations like Lhonak, the teahouses are more rustic, with basic rooms and limited amenities. All teahouses provide warm meals and a place to sleep. Above and Beyond Trekking arranges the best available accommodation along the route of the Kanchenjunga Circuit trail!
No. The Kanchenjunga Circuit trek is not suitable for beginners. It requires good fitness, previous high‑altitude experience (above 4,500 meters), and the ability to handle long walking days and remote conditions. The crossing of three passes in a single day is challenging and requires good physical condition. Above and Beyond Trekking recommends prior experience on other high‑altitude treks before attempting this one.
The Kanchenjunga Conservation Area is home to a variety of Himalayan wildlife. You may spot Himalayan Thar grazing on steep slopes, musk deer, and the elusive snow leopard and red panda (though sightings are extremely rare). You can request your Above and beyond Trekking guide to help spot wildlife. Birdwatchers can look for the Himalayan monal (Nepal's national bird), griffon vultures, and ravens. The best chances for wildlife sightings are in the quieter sections of the trail, especially in the early morning or late afternoon.
Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu
Day 02: Trek briefing and preparation day
Day 03: Fly to Bhadrapur and drive to Fikkal or Kanyam
Day 04: Drive to Taplejung
Day 05: Drive to Sekathum
Day 06: Trek to Amjilosa
Day 07: Trek to Gyabla
Day 08: Trek to Ghunsa
Day 09: Acclimatization day in Ghunsa
Day 10: Trek to Kambachen
Day 11: Acclimatization day in Kambachen
Day 12: Trek to Lhonak
Day 13: Hike to Pangpema (North Base Camp) and return to Lhonak
Day 14: Trek back to Ghunsa
Day 15: Trek to Sele La Camp
Day 16: Cross Sele La, Sinion La, Mirgin La and trek to Tseram
Day 17: Trek to Ramche and hike to Oktang viewpoint
Day 18: Trek to Tortong
Day 19: Trek to Yamphudin
Day 20: Drive back to Kanyam
Day 21: Drive back to Bhadrapur and fly back to Kathmandu
Day 22: Departure
Outside the arrival section of the airport, you’ll find a representative from Above and Beyond Trekking awaiting you. He’ll assist with your luggage and drives through Kathmandu to your own booked hotel. The remainder of the day is spent at leisure, and you make plans to meet the next day after breakfast at your hotel for your Kanchenjunga Circuit trek trip briefing.
Overnight: Your own booked hotel in Kathmandu
Meet your Above and Beyond Trekking guide after breakfast at your hotel. Together you’ll go through the entire Kanchenjunga Circuit trek itinerary, go over safety rules and check your gear. Kathmandu is much cheaper than the remote mountain regions and has a wide variety of shops. Spend the afternoon stocking up on your favorite snacks and necessities you might need during the trek. During the trek brief you can ask any questions to your guide as well, he will assist you as best he can.
Overnight: Your own booked hotel in Kathmandu
Drive: 3‑4 hours
Your adventure starts today! Take a morning flight with the guide from Kathmandu to Bhadrapur. Take in the air, now much cleaner than the congested Kathmandu. Drive north from here across the scenic tea-filled hills to Fikkal or Kanyam. Both provide better access to Taplejung and the entry point of the Kanchenjunga Circuit trek. After check-in take some time to enjoy the scenery and try the local tea! Have dinner at the lodge and prepare for overnight. Tomorrow, you head closer to Kanchenjunga!
Overnight: a teahouse/lodge in Fikkal or Kanyam
Drive: 4‑5 hours
Depart from the tea gardens of Kanyam or Fikkal and drive north toward the Himalayas. The road winds along the Mechi Highway, passing through hillside towns like Phidim (1,195 m / 3,921 ft) before reaching Taplejung Bazaar, also known as Phungling. The drive offers changing landscapes from terraced farmlands to forested ridges with glimpses of the eastern Himalayan peaks. After arriving at Taplejung check in to the local teahouse and roam around the bazaar.
Overnight: a teahouse in Taplejung Bazaar
Drive: 4-5, Trek time: 1-1.5 hours
Today will be your last day of driving! The road now becoming more rugged passes through forests, remote villages before descending to the Ghunsa Khola River. Sekathum marks the official end of the road and the exciting start of your trekking trail into the Kanchenjunga wilderness. You check into a local teahouse and take a well-deserved rest. Before or after dinner you go over the Kanchenjunga Circuit trek itinerary once more with your Above and Beyond Trekking guide.
Overnight: a teahouse in Sekathum
Trek time: 5-6 hours
You set your first steps on the Kanchenjunga Circuit trail. Follow the Ghunsa Khola River, crossing it via multiple suspension bridges. The path is narrow in places, carved into the hillside, with dense bamboo and oak overgrowing the edges. Waterfalls fall from cliffs above, sending a cool fog across the trail. After a steady climb, you reach Amjilosa, a small village of stone houses placed on a ridge. Chec
Overnight: a local teahouse in Amjilosa
Trek time: 5-6 hours
Today the trail continues alongside the river, but you notice the gorge begins to widen. The forest changes, and oak and rhododendron trees start to appear everywhere, their branches draped with hanging moss. You cross several more bridges, each one offering a different view from the river below. Head further until reaching Gyabla, a village of flat‑roofed stone houses with prayer flags hanging between them. The influence of Tibetan Buddhism is clear here, as you see mani walls line the path, and the sound of prayer wheels spinning greets you as you enter the village!
Overnight: a local teahouse in Gyabla
Trek time: 5-6 hours
As you leave Gyabla the valley starts to open. The forest thins out but the river is still there. The sound of water rushing starts to slowly fade away as you trek further. You pass through a few small settlements before reaching Ghunsa, the largest village in the region. Ghunsa, known for its wooden houses, carved windows, and colorful prayer flags that flutter from every rooftop. The monastery at the top of the village is worth the short climb, offering views of the peaks that surround the valley!
Overnight: a local teahouse in Ghunsa
Trek time: 5 hours
A rest day at Ghunsa helps your body adjust to the altitude. Follow your Above and Beyond Trekking guide on an acclimatization hike up to Lpasan Kharka (4,100 m / 13,451 ft). This is a grassy plateau above the village. The trail climbs steadily, offering views back down the valley and across to the surrounding peaks. At the top, you can sit on a rock and watch the clouds move across the sky. The air is thin and cool, and the silence is broken only by the occasional call of a bird of prey. In the afternoon you hike back down to the lower elevation at Ghunsa.
Overnight: a local teahouse in Ghunsa
Trek time: 5-6 hours
For the first hour on today’s trek, the landscape is still recognizably the world of Ghunsa. Meaning scattered juniper, birch forest, the occasional stone wall marking an old yak enclosure. Prayer flags cross the trail at intervals, their colors faded by wind and sunlight. After about two hours of trekking, the tree line ends. Replaced by a landscape of rock, grass, and lateral moraine. The wind, which the forest dampened, arrives with its full high-altitude force. Then the valley widens. And there, filling the northern horizon with an incline so steep it looks engineered, is Jannu (7,711 m / 25,299 ft). This is a mountain of ice and granite with near-vertical walls on three sides. Kambachen sits below this mountain, a few stone buildings on a flat terrace above the river. It is the last settlement before Kanchenjunga North Base Camp!
Overnight: a local teahouse in Kambachen
Hike Time: 4-5 hours
Take an optional but highly recommended hike to Jannu Base Camp (4,400 m / 14,436 ft). This provides a stunning closeup of the famed "Peak of Terror" and prepares your body for the trek tomorrow to Lhonak. The trail climbs through rocky terrain, with views of Jannu's massive north face. Fewer than 1,500 trekkers reach Kambachen in a typical year. Most of them, when asked later what they remember, mention this place, the moment they trekked into this valley and saw Jannu for the first time! By the afternoon you’ll reach back at Kambachen and have dinner and overnight at the same teahouse.
Overnight: a local teahouse in Kambachen
Trek Time: 5-6
Today you ascend gradually over glacial moraines along the magnificent Kanchenjunga Glacier! The landscape becomes more desolate and windswept as you reach the high‑altitude settlement of Lhonak, surrounded by towering peaks like Wedge Peak (6,750 m / 22,146 ft). The village has a few basic teahouses. The air is thin, and the views are far and beautiful. Check-in to the teahouse and prepare for dinner and overnight. Get an early sleep as tomorrow you make the hike up to North Base Camp!
Overnight: a local teahouse in Lhonak
trek Time: 7-8 hours
Get an early start that will lead you to the mainhighlight of the Kanchenjunga Circuit trek, Pangpema (North Base Camp). The trail follows the Kanchenjunga Glacier's moraine, climbing steeply through rocky terrain. From Pangpema, enjoy the awe‑inspiring northern face of Mt. Kanchenjunga (8,586 m / 28,169 ft). Base camp sits above the glacier and provides breathtaking views of Yalung Kang (8,505 m / 27,903 ft) and the north face of Kanchenjunga. On a clear morning, the light hitting the glacier is something else entirely! After taking in the views, return to Lhonak for the night.
Overnight: a local teahouse in Lhonak
Trek Time: 6-7 hours
An easier day today, as you retrace your steps down the valley, back through Kambachen. As you descend, you'll notice the air becoming richer again, leading you back to the comforts of the larger settlement in Ghunsa. You pass through familiar villages and forests, noticing details you may have missed on the way up. The descent is easier on the lungs but harder on the knees, so trek slowly but steadily!
Overnight: a local teahouse in Ghunsa
Trek Time: 5-6 hours
Today after breakfast in Ghunsa you start by leaving the main trail and climbing steadily through moss‑covered forests of rhododendron and juniper. Along the way you may see views of the Himalaya through the forest openings. The trail becomes rocky as you reach the high‑altitude Sele La Camp, situated at the base of the mountain passes. The views of the surrounding peaks are stunning and breathtaking! Settle into a local teahouse in Sele La Camp and take an early sleep as tomorrow you’ll have to cross not one but three mountain passes!
Overnight: a local teahouse in Sele La Camp
Trek Time: 6-7 hours
Arguably the most challenging day of the entire Kanchenjunga Circuit trek. Cross the three high passes: Sele La (4,290 m / 14,075 ft), Sinion La (4,440 m / 14,567 ft), and Mirgin La (4,480 m / 14,698 ft). The trail climbs through rocky terrain, with views extending to Makalu and Everest on clear days! From Mirgin La, you get breathtaking panoramic views of Jannu and the distant Makalu. After successfully crossing the passes, a steep descent into the Simbuwa Khola valley leads you to Tseram. The views from the passes are unforgettable and will remain with you forever! Check-in to the teahouse and prepare for dinner and overnight.
Overnight: a local teahouse in Tseram
Trek Time: 5-6 hours
A steady ascend today through the Yalung Glacier’s moraine, brings you to Ramche. After checking in, take an afternoon hike to the Oktang Viewpoint (4,730 m / 15,518 ft) for a magnificent view of the south face of Kanchenjunga and the Yalung Kang (8,505 m / 27,903 ft). The view from Oktang is a just reward for the effort! The south face of the world's third‑highest peak rises in a wall of ice and rock, with glaciers spilling down into the valley below! Afterwards you hike back to Ramche for dinner and overnight.
Overnight: a local teahouse in Ramche
Trek Time: 6-7 hours
Now you begin the long descent from the alpine heights back into the tree line. The trail leads downhill through lush rhododendron and dense pine forests, crossing the Simbuwa Khola River via sturdy wooden bridges before reaching the village of Tortong. The air feels warmer as you lose altitude. You check in and have a well-deserved dinner.
Overnight: a local teahouse in Tortong
Trek Time: 6-7 hours
Today you trek in the Kanchenjunga region for the last time. As you reach your final day of trekking you already start to miss the mountains! The trail starts by crossing the river below the teahouse, followed by a gradual climb to the top of the hill for about 1.5 hours, then descends straight into Yamphudin. This village is home to a mix of Sherpa, Rai, and Limbu communities. You'll pass through traditional farmlands and farm terraces as you return to lower elevations.
Overnight: a local teahouse in Yamphudin
Drive: 7-8 hours
After your last Himalayan breakfast in Yamphudin, board a jeep for the long drive back to Kanyam. The road takes you through the beautiful hills of eastern Nepal, passing back through the scenic tea gardens that fill up the landscape. Upon arrival back in Kanyam, you check into the teahouse. The tea gardens offer a peaceful setting to reflect on the completion of the Kanchenjunga circuit. Dinner and overnight in Kanyam.
Overnight: a local teahouse/lodge in Kanyam
Drive: 3 hours, Flight: 1 hour
After breakfast in Kanyam, take a short drive to Bhadrapur airport. Flying in the afternoon gives you buffer time for potential travel delays from the remote mountain roads the day before. The flight back to Kathmandu offers final scenic views of the Himalayas below. After arriving and transferring back to your own booked hotel, take a good rest. In the evening we meet up for your review on the completion of your Kanchenjunga Circuit trek.
Overnight: Your own booked hotel in Kathmandu
An Above and Beyond Trekking driver arrives three hours before your flight to help with bags and take you to the airport. We hope you have enjoyed this amazing Kanchenjunga Circuit trek in Nepal and wish you a safe and pleasant flight ahead.
