Day 01: Arrive Kathmandu airport, transfer to hotel.
Day 02: Paper work such as special trekking permit from Nepal government office.
Day 03: Fly to Suketar trek to Tembewa 1880m 4-5 hours.
Early morning flight to Suketar. The first stage of your journey partly follows the unfinished dirt road along a rhododendron- covered ridge known as Suke Danda 2580m. At the high-test point of the ridge, a side trail branches north towards the revered Pathivhara Devi who is clan deity of Hindus. The trail on Kanchenjunga winds down through forest to a collection of basic teashop lodges at Lali Kharka 2220m, and them drops amongst terraced fields to the substantial Limbu village of Tembewa 1880m, where groups set up camp for the night.
Day 04: Trek Tembewa to Khesewa 1960m, 5-6 hours.
From Tembewa, the trail strains up to al ridge, then drop steeply through the villages of Shimu and Pokara to a suspension bridge across the Phewa Khola at 1430m. Climb steeply up the east side of the valley to the Limbu village of Kanjari 1700m. Continually Sinchebu Bhanyang 2240m where there is Gurung settlement has several shops and catches your first views of the snowy caps of Kandchenjuga and Kyabru 7412m. Look out for the Peg-like summit of Jannu (Kumbakarna) 7710m to the west of the main ridge. Continue over the pass into the valley of the Kavely Khola and Khesewa 1960m where our staff will settle the camp night.
Day 05: Trek Khesewa to Mamanke 1780m. 6-7 hours trekking.
From Khesewa, it's an easy descent past a series of small waterfalls to a crude bridge over the Nadewa Khola. Just beyond is Phundruwa, which is shown on some maps with the fanciful spelling Phun; Cross the saddle to an enormous papal tree, then turn north towards Yangpang, where you may be able to find restorative cup of tea. The path climbs through forest past a large waterfall, and then descends across a series of gullies to a ridge at 1850m. The stage of the day is a tiring climb past the dotted houses of Pauwa to Manmanke where your staffs settle the camp.
Day 06: Trek Mamanke to Yamhudin 1690m 3-4 hours trekking.
On today's you will meet mixing village of Sherpa, Gurung, Rai, Limbu with some basic lodge, shops and school.
Day 07: Trek Yamphuding to Amji Khola 2340m 3-4 hours trekking.
Today's path is zigzags up through fields of corn and barley to a handful of houses at Darachuk, and continues climbing through meadows to a pass at Dhupi Bhanjyang 2540m. That's the hard work over the final stage of the day is a gradual descent through ferns and forests to the edge of the Amji Khola. An alternative trails runs along the opposite bank of the Amji Khola, but this involves a steep climb on a hard -to-follow path, and you must continue over the Lamite Bhanjyang to find the camp.
Day 08: Trek Amji Khola to Torantan 2990m , 5-6 hours.
From the camp site at Amji Khola, it's another steep climb through bamboo forests to a Kharka at Chitre 2930m, which often resounds to the climbing of yak bells. The final stage up to the Lamite Bhanyang 3410 is less strenuous, passing through a bird-filled forest of pines and rhododendrons. The trail emerges into the open above the churning Simbua Khola; follow it upstream to a wooden bridge and cross to Torontan, where a handful of teahouses offer meals and rudimentary rooms.
Day 09: Trek Torontan to Tseram 3870m 4-5 hours trekking.
Tseram is 900m above from Toronatan, and the climb takes you to an elevation where you may feel the first effects of altitude sickness. From there you are just two days' walk from the Indian border and Sikkim. The hike starts in forest of mixed rhododendrons, then climbs over the scars of old landslides to an isolated gosh at Tsento Kang 3360m. Continue with Spanish moss, with glimpses of the snow peaks between the trees. This is the place to indulge you’re your fantasies of being an early Himalayan explore or a warrior on a World of Warcraft mission. The snow peaks become more imposing as you follow a gravel streambed bowards Tsera, a grassy meadow beside a jumble of mossy boulders. At the edge of the meadow is a single-story shack that doubles as a lodge and shop - most people camp just in front.
Day 10: Trek Tseram to Ramche 4620m, 3 hours trekking.
Above Tseram the trail climbs to the treeing, passing the junction with another small trail to Mirgin La. Above a mani wall at 4040m, alpine meadows slope up the valley towards the peaks of Rathong 6678m and Kabru Dome 6700m. You are now in serious mountain country and there is little shelter from the icy winds that blow off the glacier. The trail climbs alongside the terminal moraine of the Yalung Glacier to a yak pasture at Yalung Bara 4260m. Many groups headed for Mirging La turn off here and climb west for four to five hours to camp site below the pass. For south base camp, continue along the north side of the valley to small, often-frozen lake a Lapsang 4430m. Just beyond Lapsang, a smaller trail turns west along a side valley towards the Lapsang La 5160m the high pass leading to Guhnsa. As you trek through this area, keep an eye out for herds of blue sheep high on the sides of the valley. The view is dominated by the spectacular peak of Rathong, straddling the Nepal India border.
Day 11: Ramche 4360m, Acclimatizatin day.
Setting off early we have our first close encounter with Kanchenjunga. Following the ablation valley round its sweeping curve, at Oktang, 4630m, we are suddenly confronted with the southern wall of the mountain. This vast ridge forms a cirque over 15 kms long, nowhere less than 7500m high and with the three main summits of Kanchenjunga at 8420m, 8586m, and 8474m! It is a breathtaking mountain panorama and especially impressive is Jannu (Khumbakarna) and the glaciers flowing from its east face. We then return to our camp at Ramche.
Day 12: Trek to Sallerle over the Mirgin La 4630m
Leaving behind our campsite we trek down the valley, passing the turn off to the high and challenging Labsang La route to Ghunsa and the north side of Kanchenjunga. This pass is rough and dangerous, especially for porters so we take the more southern set of passes, beginning with the Mirgin La. After an initial very steep climb and several false summits we reach the Mirgin La. Apart from the magnificent Jannu, on the horizon are Makalu, Gyakung Kang, Everest, Lhotse and Chamalang. To the south it is possible to see right down to the Terai, a panorama worth the effort. Our campsite will be beyond the pass, after 6 to 7 hours tough walking.
Day 13: Trek to Ghunsa 3475m
Although there four more passes, there is little descent between them, so in effect it is a high scenic traverse. After lunch a short steep descent brings us to Lamba Sumba Kharka where there are more views of the awesome Southwest Face of Jannu. From the Kharka, the going is easy again down a pleasant forested trail to the village of Ghunsa, where we camp in the village. Ghunsa is a picturesque Tibetan village, prayer flags flutter from the wooden houses and there are two gompas, and is a welcome sight after the many days of wilderness. One of the local specialities is 'tongba', a curious alcoholic drink. A jug or large bamboo cup is filled with fermented millet seed and boiling water poured over. The flavour and alcohol seep though and you drink it with a special straw. You might need a drink after the tough 4 to 6 hour walk.
Day 14: Trek to Khambachen 4130m
The trail gently ascends through beautiful pine, larch and rhododendron forests, passing many mani walls and chortens. There are several tricky sections across conglomerate landslides before we stop for lunch by the river at Rampak Kharka. Crossing the Ghunsa Khola the trail climbs and traverses to the summer village of Khambachen. Again, Jannu puts on a show, although not all of the mountain is visible.
Day 15: Khambachen 4130m Acclimatization day.
Soak up the sun, explore the valleys and revel in the mountains, it is your choice for our acclimatization day here. The best daytrip, if you are feeling fit, is to Jannu base camp, or at least to the holy rock en route.
Day 16: Trek to Lhonak 4780m
The trek up to Lhonak is not too strenuous and despite the increase in altitude by now we should be able to hike along easily enough enjoying the breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains, as they reveal themselves. We have two large and tricky landslides to cross though. Our lunch stop is Ramtang Kharka, from where the incredible fluted summit of Wedge Peak first becomes visible and during the afternoon Nepal Peak, the Twins, Mera and the White Wave all come into view. The campsite at Lhonak is on a grassy plain that overlooks the Kanchenjunga Glaciers and is opposite the spectacular Wedge Peak.
Day 17: Trek to Pangpema 5140m.
A short, occasionally challenging 3 hours walk from Lhonak is Pangpema, the north face base camp of Kanchenjunga. We hike up at a leisurely pace with plenty of "photo stops", due to the altitude. Across the glacier is the huge and fearsome north face of Kanchenjunga. We can make this a day trip or preferably stay overnight for a Kanchenjunga sunset.
Day 18: Trek to Lhonak or Khambachen 4040m.
The early morning light is great for mountain photography. For the energetic and well acclimatized we can climb a 6000m hill near Pangpema for fantastic views; this means we stay at Lhonak.
This trek is combined with the Kanchen Gola Wild exploration and this is where the exploratory team - and Jamie, your leader - leave you. The sirdar will take care of everything, no problem, by this stage.
Day 19: Trek to Ghunsa, Phole or Yangswa (Gyabla/Kyapra) 2800m
With the porters lightly loaded and everyone fit, we return to Suketar at a faster pace. We walk more steadily but the days aren't much longer since descending is much less effort than ascending. More descent thru magnificent sections of forest and as long as we make Amjilosa tomorrow it doesn't matter where we stay.
Day 20: Trek to Amjilosa 2460m
Initially we pass thru beautiful forest then this opens out to steep, grassy hillsides where Amjilosa is perched.
Day 21: Trek to Sakathum 1600m.
After a short traverse we begin the steep descent that will take most of the day. We reach the confluence of the Tamur and Ghunsa Kholas, where we camp.
Day 22: Trek to Chhiruwa (Chirwa) 1200m.
Less than an hour down we cross the Simbu Khola, which originates from Kanchenjunga's south base camp, the khola that we followed up from Torontan. It is pleasantly warm at these low altitudes and cardamom grows freely in the moist shaded forest. Crossing numerous small tributary streams we reach Chirwa, a village set among large boulders. We camp in a field out of the village. This is an easier day.
Day 23: Trek to Phurumba
The villages are beautiful today, pure middle hills. We camp at Phurumba school.
Day 24: Trek to Suketar 2420m.
Traversing in an out of minor valleys, we pass thru a succession of picturesque villages on our way to Suketar, we should reach there around lunchtime.
Day 25: Fly to Kathmandu (directly) It will be cleared when you confirm your trek.
Day 26: Free day in Kathmandu.
Day 27: Leave Kathmandu. |
