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Kangchenjunga from Pangpema (north base camp)

Eastern Nepal

Kanchenjunga

The great wild trek of the east: the Tamor and Ghunsa valleys up to the north base camp, with the option of crossing the passes to the south side.

  • Walking days 10–14 days
  • Highest point 5,140 m
  • Level Very demanding
  • Permits 3,000 NPR (≈ €17) + from 20 USD (≈ €18)
  • Start Taplejung
  • Agency and guide mandatory

At a glance

From Sekathum, at the end of the road from Taplejung, you follow the Ghunsa valley up through Amjilosa and Gyabla to the Tibetan village of Ghunsa, then Kambachen and Lhonak, at the foot of the north-west face. The north base camp (Pangpema, 5,140 m) faces Kanchenjunga (8,586 m).

On the way back, you can cross the Sele La and Mirgin La passes to Tseram and Ramche, to see the south side from Oktang: this is the full circuit, about three weeks, for experienced walkers.

Highlights

  • Kanchenjunga (8,586 m) and Jannu, two of the most spectacular faces in the Himalaya
  • Tibetan villages (Ghunsa) and untouched forests
  • Very few trekkers, even in season
  • The full north + south circuit over the passes

Drawbacks

  • Long and remote: about two weeks for the north base camp, three for the circuit
  • Special permit and agency mandatory
  • Long access (flight to Bhadrapur then 7 to 10 hrs by road)
  • Simple lodges; Pangpema shelter often closed

In pictures

The Kangchenjunga Glacier near base camp
The Kangchenjunga massif (8,586 m)

Route

Out and back to the north base camp with a day at Ghunsa; or the full circuit over the passes to the south base camp.

10 daysof walking
5,140 mhighest point
107 kmD+ 4,280 m D− 4,290 m
Track (jeep)KambachenGyablaSekathum — 1,600 mAmjilosa — 2,440 mGhunsa — 3,430 mLhonak — 4,780 mPangpema — 5,140 mSekathum — Start: Sekathum · Finish: SekathumYamphudin — Finish: Yamphudin (via the passes and south base camp)SekathumYamphudinPangpema 5,140 mAmjilosaGhunsaLhonakTaplejungKanchenjunga 8,586Jannu 7,710Kabru 7,412KambachenGyablaStart : SekathumStartMove to change your finishing pointFinishN
  • Track (jeep)
  • Chosen route
  • Other possible trails
  • Possible start or finish

Drag the “Start” and “Finish” labels to another served point, or tap a point. The “+” buttons add a side trip. Zoom with + and − (or Ctrl + scroll wheel), then drag the map to move around.

How do I use it in a hiking app?

The file contains the route you chose on the map (start, finish, side trips), with altitude, and a marker for each night, pass and viewpoint.

  • Organic Maps or Maps.me (free, offline): download the Nepal map before you leave, then open the GPX file from your phone and choose the app.
  • OsmAnd: menu “My places” → “Tracks” → “Import”.
  • Komoot, Gaia GPS, Wikiloc, Garmin: use the app's or website's “Import a GPX file” feature.

With no signal, your phone's GPS still works: you can see your position on the track. The track is indicative: on the ground, waymarks and advice from the lodges come first.

Itinerary
  1. D 0Sekathum1,600 m
  2. D 1Amjilosa2,440 m+840 m8 km870 m100 m
  3. D 2Gyabla2,730 m+290 m7 km480 m200 m
  4. D 3Ghunsa3,430 m+700 m10 km730 m20 m
  5. D 4Ghunsa rest and acclimatisation3,430 m±0 m
  6. D 5Kambachen4,080 m+650 m10 km690 m30 m
  7. D 6Lhonak4,780 m+700 m9 km680 m30 m
  8. D 7Lhonak via Pangpema 5,140 m4,780 m±0 m15 km440 m440 m
  9. D 8Ghunsa via Kambachen3,430 m−1,350 m20 km20 m1,340 m
  10. D 9Amjilosa via Gyabla2,440 m−990 m18 km240 m1,230 m
  11. D 10Sekathum1,600 m−840 m8 km130 m900 m
Distances and elevation gain estimated from OpenStreetMap and a terrain model.
  • Sekathum — Flight Kathmandu → Bhadrapur (45 min), then 7 to 10 hrs by road to Taplejung, and jeep to Sekathum (4 to 6 hrs). Direct bus Kathmandu → Taplejung: 20 to 24 hrs.
  • Sekathum — Back the same way, then jeep to Taplejung.

Elevation

above 3,000 m: climb slowly1,0002,0003,0004,0005,0006,000D 0 · Sekathum — 1,600 mSekathum 1,600 mD 1 · Amjilosa — 2,440 mD 2 · Gyabla — 2,730 mD 3 · Ghunsa — 3,430 mD 4 · Ghunsa — 3,430 m (rest and acclimatisation)D 5 · Kambachen — 4,080 mD 6 · Lhonak — 4,780 mPangpema — 5,140 mPangpema 5,140 mD 7 · Lhonak — 4,780 mD 8 · Ghunsa — 3,430 mD 9 · Amjilosa — 2,440 mD 10 · Sekathum — 1,600 mSekathum 1,600 mD 12345678910
Altitude of each night, with the day's passes and viewpoints (red dots). Green dot: rest day.

Permits

The Kanchenjunga special permit (restricted area, through an agency) and the conservation area entry fee (KCAP).

Restricted area

Kanchenjunga special permit

from 20 USD (≈ €18)

Obtained through a licensed agency: about 20 USD (≈ €18) per week (some sources say 10 USD (≈ €9)). Since 22 March 2026, issued even to a solo trekker (with a guide).

Conservation area

Kanchenjunga Conservation Area (KCAP)

3,000 NPR (≈ €17)

Arranged by the agency with the special permit, or paid along the way (2,000 to 3,000 NPR (≈ €12 to €17) depending on the source).

Since 22 March 2026, special permits are issued even to a solo trekker, still with a licensed guide and an approved agency. See Permits.

Guide

Agency and guide mandatory

Restricted area: approved agency and licensed guide mandatory.

A guide is also invaluable for the passes on the full circuit, often snow-covered. See Guide and porter.

A guide for this trek? The Guides Nepal directory lists guides, porters and agencies who know this trek, with their licence checked, the languages they speak and traveller reviews.

See guides for this trek

Transport

Getting to the start

Kathmandu → Bhadrapur

Duration 45 minPrice ~150 to 190 USD (≈ €135 to €170)

Several flights a day; then by road to Taplejung (7 to 10 hrs, private jeep ~150 USD (≈ €135)). Flights to Suketar (Taplejung) are rare and irregular.

Taplejung → Sekathum

Duration 4 to 6 hrs

Jeep on the Tamor valley road, via Chirwa.

Getting back

Sekathum or Yamphudin → Taplejung

Duration 4 to 6 hrs

Then by road to Bhadrapur and flight to Kathmandu.

When to go

J: Not advisedF: Not advisedM: PossibleA: IdealM: IdealJ: Not advisedJ: Not advisedA: Not advisedS: PossibleO: IdealN: IdealD: Not advised

IdealPossibleNot advised

Late October–early November and April–May.

December to February: passes often snowbound and high lodges closed. Monsoon: leeches and landslides.

On the trail

AccommodationSimple lodges on both sides, up to Lhonak and Ramche; seasonal shelter at Pangpema.
BudgetAbout 30 to 50 USD (≈ €27 to €45) a day, excluding guide, permits and transport.
MoneyLast ATM in Taplejung (Phungling), unreliable: bring cash.
Signal4G in Ghunsa since May 2026; very patchy elsewhere.

Good to know before you go

Altitude: keep the day at Ghunsa; you then sleep at 4,080 m and then 4,780 m. See Altitude and safety.

What about the visa? A two-week trek plus a few days in Kathmandu and Pokhara quickly adds up to more than 15 days: get the 30-day visa. The calculator on our sister site Visa Nepal shows the cheapest length.

Which visa length?

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Preparing your trek

PermitsPrices, where to buy, documents needed, trek by trek.Guide and porterMandatory or not, region by region, and what it costs.TransportBuses, jeeps and flights to the start of each trek.Altitude and safetyAcclimatisation, altitude sickness, rescue, insurance.BudgetDaily costs, cash to bring, ATMs.FAQThe questions people ask before they go.