Day 01: Arrive in Kathmandu airport, transfer to hotel.
Day 02: Paper work such as special trekking permit issue by Nepal government.
Day 03: Drivel Kathmandu to Biratnagar or Kathmandu to Dharan.
Day 04: Drive Dharan to Taplejung. O/N Camping Trekking.
Day 05: Trek to Chirwa (6-8 hours).
Here is Chhetri bazaar at Mitlung 880m, where a few wooden tea houses offer the standard mountain menu. Continue along the east bank to Sinwa 980m, which has more tea houses. Descend to the wooden bridge across the Thiwa Khola at 1140m, then wind up and down along the riverbank to Chirwa 1190m, a cheerful village and small lodges.
Day 06: Trek Chirwa to Sakathum (1640m) 6-7 hours.
After breakfast we start our trekking to Olangchunggola 3220, Tamur Bridge and Lelep village. Here is studded with chortens, stupas and mani walls available. This is the largest village of the Walung people, who speak a language derived from Tibetan and share many cultural similarities with the Sherpa continue cross the Nango La pass 4830m near Ghunsa. To reach Sakathum drop down to the Tamur and cross on a new suspension bridge just above the confluence with the Ghunsa Khola, from where we will see first close up views of the spire of Jannu 7710m at the end of the Ghunsa valley.
Day 07: Trek Sakathum to Amjilosa 2490m (4-5 hours walking)
Taking start on the narrow trail you will reach some stone steps that scramble high above the river to a waterfall and the tiny hamlet of Ghaiyabai 2150m. Cardamoms are cultivated along the banks of the Ghunas Khola and there are several alternative trails along the river.
Day 08: Trek Amjilosa to Gyabla 2730m, approx 5 hours walking.
This relatively short day continues to climb along the Ghunsa valley. You will definitely feel the mountains are getting closer as you climb to a flat ridge and meander through a forest of bamboo, rhododendrons and gnarled brown oaks, passing scattered pastures and waterfalls. Eventually, you will come to a large cascade on the Ghusa Khola.
Day 09: Trek Gyable to Ghunsa 3410m (6-7 hours)
The day begins with a steep drop into a ravine, followed by an easy level stage through fir and rhododendron forest along the river bank. It takes all morning to trek to the yak pastures and potato fields of Phole 3210m where the villagers will provide fresh several vegetable. Above Phole, the valley widens and the trail improves as you trek through fields and larch forest, dipping down to the riverbed before crossing Ghunsa. This is the largest village on the trek and Buddhist prayer flags flutter over the rooftops.
Day 10: Acclimatization Day at Ghunsa.
You have new entered serous mountain country and you must prepare your body for the increase in altitude. Ghunsa is an attractive place to kick back for day - may people use this rest day to wash cloths in the river or stroll up to the fading Gompa above the village, but you can also take a rewarding day hike along the trail to Lapsang La.
Day 11: Trek Ghuns to Khamgachen 4150m, 6-7 hours.
Beyond the land slide, the trail climbs gradually the drops down the Khambachen, a Tibetan outpost of about a dozen shingle roofed stone house, wedged into side valley at the confluence with the Nupchu Khola.
Day 12: Acclimatization day.
After a steep ascent previous day, you must take another rest day to allow your body to adjust to the elevation. The view from Khambachen are superb - the peaks of Khabur 6332m and Phole 6645m and Jannu are lined up at the end of the valley to the east, while the snowcapped ridged beyond the Kanchenjunga glacier loom dramatically to the north.
Day 13: Trek Khambachen to Lhonak 4790m (4-5 hours).
Above Khambachen, the trails enter a desolate landscape gouged by the icy fingers of glaciers. The path climbs gradually across the screen slopes if recent landslides to another area of pasture at Ramtang 4350m. To stave off the chill winds that curl down the valley, use lip balm and wear your warmest trekking gear. Above Ramtang, the trail runs along the lateral moraine of the Kanchenjunga glacier, following the north bank of the river to a wooden bridge at the mouth of the Lhonak glaciered. On the east side of Merra Peak 6344m. The views from here are stupendous in every direction. Across the Kanchenjunga glacier, the door wedge summit of Chang Himal (Wedge Peak 6750m) dominates the valley.
Day 14: Trek Lhonak to Pang Pema 5150m 3-4 hours walking.
The end point of the trek is the base camp for ascents to the north race of Kanchenjunga at Pang Pema. It would be passable to make an arduous day trip from Lhonak, but clouds often obscure the views by mid morning, so most people set up a high camp on the exposed, sandy plain at Pang Pema. As soon as the sun leaves the valley, the mercury crashes be prepared for cold, restless night. To reach Pang Pema from Lhonak, ascend gradually across the plain and follow the line of the moraine. The most stable trail climbs onto the ridge before dropping to a pair of lonely looking huts at Pang Pema. If you are lucky, the clouds will part just before sunset for a view of the cascading ridges of the third larges mountain mass in the world.
Day 15: Trek Pang Pema to Khambachen 6-7 hours.
The views are often crisp and clear in the early morning, so rise at dawn to hike up the ridge north of Pang Pema for the kind of views that inspire religions. From a vantage point about 300m up the slope, you will have a panorama of Kanchenjunga, Taple Shikhar 6510, Timmigela Chuli (The Twins Pathibhara). To the east, the iconic summits of Pathibhara Khas (Pyramid Peak 7168m and Kirat Chuli (Tent Peak)7365m rise hike sentries over the border with Sikkim. To the west, the knife edge ridge of Chang Himal towers above the Kanchenjunga Glacier.
Day 16: Trek Khambachen to Ghunsa 4-5 hours.
Day 17: Trek Ghunsa to Amjilosa 6-7 hours.
Day 18: Trek Amjilosa to Chirwa 7-8 hours.
Day 19: Trek Chirwa to Linkhim 6-7 hours.
Day 20: Trek Linkhim to Suketr 6-7 hours.
Day 21: Fly Suketar to Kathmandu if fligh available or Suketar to Biratnagar and Biratnagar to Kathamndu.
Day 22: Free day in Kathmandu.
Day 23: Leave Kathamndu. |
Kanchenjunga North trek climbs slowly along the valleys of rushing rivers to the snow packed north face. Your destination at the end of three strenuous weeks of walking is Pang Pema 5140m, set high amongst glassier below the north face of Kanchenjunga. Wi
