Kanchenjunga South Base Camp Trekking

<p>Fly or drive from Kathmandu to Biratnagar which takes about 40 minutes. This morning you fly to Biratnagar in the eastern Terai. It is Nepal's second largest city and an energetic, bustling place. You take the short 30 to 40 minute flight to Sukhetar /Taplejung, where the trek crew will be waiting for your arrival. After landing, you take a little time for refreshments and for the porters to prepare their loads before beginning your walk along the ridgeline above Taplejung village the following day.</p>

<p>Trek from Suketar to Lali Kharka (2220m) which takes about six hours. You then descend to Lali Kharka and your second night's camp in the open pasture land.</p>

<p>Trek from Lali Kharka to Keswa (2100m) and it takes about six hours. From your camp this morning, you can see the entire day's walk in front of you. After traversing the hillside for a short distance, you descend to the village of Pokara on the Phawa Khola and cross a suspension bridge before beginning the steep climb towards Kunjari. Your lunch stop will be somewhere below Kangaroo. The afternoon's walk then takes you up over the crest of the ridge to your campsite at Keswa. From here, you get your first views of Mt Kanchenjunga and you can clearly make out the south and main summits, along with Mt Yalung Kang.</p>

<p>Trek from Keswa to Mamanke (2000m) that takes about six hours. From Keswa, the path traverses the steep mountainside through terraced fields high above the Kabeli Khola, with some ups and downs as you cross several side valleys. There are many shady spots to rest along the way and after lunch at one of these, you pass the village of Anpan, before descending to cross the Khangwa Khola. Finally, you climb again through terraced fields to camp at the village of Mamanke. En route you have your first glimpses of the beautiful Mt Jannu mountain away in the distance.</p>

<p>Trek from Mamanke to Yamphudin (1650m) and it takes about six hours. Beginning with an easy climb, the walk to Yamphudin is along a trail, which contours the hillside above the Kabeli Khola. You cross the ridges and streambeds that make up the valley sides and the trail eventually becomes level with the river a couple of hours before Yamphudin. Along the way, you can stop to bathe in one of the many clear pools in this beautiful river. It is a truly idyllic spot and after lunch by the river, you complete the day's walk to Yamphudin. Yamphudin is the most remote settlement in this area and the last habitation you will see until you reach Gunsa. It is a charming place tucked away beneath the ridge of the Deorali Danda, which you must cross next.</p>

<p>Trek from Yamphudin to Lamite Jungle camp (2920m) which takes about seven hours. Beyond Yamphudin, the trail ascends a steep spur before dropping again to cross the Omje Khola. Walking through beautiful and dense forest, you stop for lunch in a meadow atop this spur, which commands fine views of the valley beyond Yamphudin to the south and of the Omje Khola Valley and Deorali Danda to the north. A steep descent to the river brings you to your campsite in a clearing in the Lamite forest.</p>

<p>Trek from Lamite Jungle Camp to Torontan (3080m) and it takes about five and half hours. From your campsite, you ascend steeply for 3 hours through dense forest to the crest of the Deorali Danda. From the top, Mt Jannu is clearly visible and definitely closer! After crossing the pass, you descend across some fairly steep and exposed screw slopes before re-entering the forest, where you will stop for lunch. After lunch, a steep descent takes you down into the valley of the Simbua Khola and after crossing the 'interesting' wooden bridge, you arrive at Torontan. This campsite lies amongst the towering fir trees of what is now a mainly coniferous alpine forest.</p>

<p>Trek from Torontan to Tseram (3750m) which takes about five and half hours. This morning, you follow the right bank of the river, passing through pine and rhododendron forests. The valley climbs steeply and, as the day progresses, the trees become sparser and more stunted, giving you glimpses of the snow-capped giants ahead and of the massive snout of the Yalung Glacier. Just before Tseram, the towering heights of Kabru and Rathong start to peep over the moraine. You camp at Tseram where the nighttime temperature plummets, reminding you that you are really gaining height.</p>

<p>Trek from Tseram to Ramche (4360m) and it takes about six hours. You proceed for a relatively short day's walk today to your next camp at Ramche. The scenery is magnificent as you ascend past the snout of the Yalung Glacier and into a series of ablation valleys. A frozen lake, crystal clear streams and views of Kokthan, Rathong and Kabru are the highlights of this walk into Ramche which is situated on a broad, flat ablation zone.</p>

<p>Ramche for Exploration and walk approximately for six hours. Leaving your camp set up at Ramche, you take a packed lunch and set off very early for your first close encounter with Kanchenjunga. Following the valley around its sweeping curve, you are suddenly confronted with the vast southern wall of the mountain. The ridge forms a cirque, which is over 15 kms long and never less than 7500 metres high. Along this ridge lie the three main summits of Mt Kanchenjunga at 8420m, 8586m, and 8474m. It is truly breathtaking. Proceeding further on towards Oktang [4630m], you may then descend onto the glacier and cross it to a point below Talu from where you can see all the mountains of the area in panorama. Especially impressive is the east part of Khumbakarna Glacier flowing from the east face of Jannu [Kumbhakarna being the local name for Jannu]. You then return to your camp at Ramche.</p>

<p>Trekking beyond the Mirgin La (4583m.) which takes about six and half hours. Leaving your campsite, you trek down the valley, passing the small settlement of Lapsang, before turning off towards the Mirgin La - the pass You must cross in order to reach Gunsa and the north side of Kanchenjunga. As you descend from the Mirgin La, the views, in particular of Mt Jannu, are simply magnificent. Your campsite will be somewhere beyond the pass.</p>

<p>Trek from Mirgin La to Gunsa (3475m) and it takes about six hours. A steep descent from your campsite brings you to Lamba Sumba Kharka where there are more splendid views of the awesome southwest face of Jannu. From here, the going is easy, descending on an excellent trail to the village of Gunsa, where you camp in the fields by the river. Gunsa is a Tibetan village with a tiny gompa and prayer flags fluttering from the wooden houses. It comes as a welcome sight after the rigorous walking of the previous days and provides an excellent opportunity to visit a strange local hostelry and sample the 'tongba' [alcoholic beverage fermented out of millet].</p>

<p>Trek from Gunsa to Kyapla (2300m) which takes about six hours. From Gunsa, your route out of the mountains follows the beautiful Gunsa and Tamur Kholas and is through spectacular forests of rhododendron, conifer, birch and oak. The valley sides here are steep and the trail follows the river as it cascades downwards. You pass through Kyapra, the last of the Tibetan villages, and, an hour or so further on, you camp in the forest at a spot called Tang.</p>

<p>Trek from Gyaple to Sakathum (1600m) and it takes about seven hours. Heading for the village of Sakathum, your route follows an undulating trail for the first couple of hours until you reach Amjilasa. From here, there is a long steep descent from which you can see the Gunsa Khola Valley stretched out before us. You camp in the fields of Sakathum.</p>

<p>Trek from Sakathum to Chirwa (1180m) which takes about six hours. Today is an easy day and just beyond Sakathum, you come to the confluence of 2 rivers. Flowing in from your left is the Simbua Khola [which you followed up to Ramche] and from your right, the Gunsa Khola which issues from the still closed Walunchung Gola area. The 2 rivers combine to form the Tamur Kosi which you now follow. There are plenty of spots for bathing in the numerous small tributary streams, which you cross before reaching the village of Chirwa.</p>

<p>Trek from Chirwa to Phurumba (1850m.) and it takes about six hours. You continue walking through ever more populated and cultivated land and your route brings you to lunch at Mitlung. From here the trail starts the long ascent back and up towards your campsite along the valley floor of Phurumba.</p>

<p>Trek from Phurumba to Taplejung to Suketar (2300m) which takes about seven hours. From the valley floor, you ascend the ridge for about 3 hours to Taplejung village. There is time to wander through the fascinating bazaar before the final 2-hour ascent to the airstrip at Suketar.</p>

<p>Fly from Suketar to Kathmandu via Biratnagar and flight takes about 45 minutes. You fly back to Biratnagar and then take a connecting flight to Kathmandu.</p>