What kind of flora and fauna is seen on the Kanchenjunga Basecamp Trek?

The Kanchenjunga trek begins from Taplejung, a subtropical region. Ascending through forests of maple, birch, and chestnut, you'll walk on the lower hills. In the upper trail, from Chitre onwards, rhododendron, pine, fir, and orchid forests are seen. You'll walk on high pastures and cross two mountain passes. Ghunsa and its surrounding area have a subalpine climate, and it gets rocky & icy towards the base camp. Wildlife like Himalayan Asian black bears, snow leopards, red pandas, etc. is native to this region.

What ethnic groups live on the Kanchenjunga Basecamp trail?

The Kanchenjunga region is shared with Sikkim and Tibet, along with Nepal. Therefore, you expect diverse ethnic groups along the trail. On the Nepal side, Rai and Limbus, along with Bhote & Sherpa, are seen. Tibetan Buddhism is followed by the majority of the locals.

Where is Kanchenjunga?

Mt. Kanchenjunga is the third-highest mountain in the world, situated in the Great Himalayan Range, on the border between eastern Nepal and Sikkim (India).

How long is the Kanchenjunga Basecamp Trek?

Kanchenjunga North Basecamp Trek is usually 18 to 22 days long, depending upon the itinerary.

Can anyone go to Kanchenjunga?

Yes, anyone can go to Kanchenjunga, but people traveling to Kanchenjunga must follow the rules set by the government of Nepal. They cannot go alone or with an independent guide. The travelers have to be in a group of at least two people and trek with a locally registered company.

Is the Kanchenjunga Basecamp trek harder than the EBC trek?

Yes, the Kanchenjunga North Basecamp Trek is harder than the Everest Basecamp Trek in every regard. The Kanchenjunga North Basecamp Trek is not for the beginner trekker, but the EBC trek welcomes new trekkers. The terrain, facilities along the trail, remoteness of the region, etc. Everything is extreme in the case of the Kanchenjunga.

Is it necessary to have travel insurance for the Kanchenjunga Trek?

Yes, it is necessary to have travel insurance for the Kanchenjunga trek. Trekking without travel insurance is not recommended, given the remoteness of the trail.

How cold does it get at night?

At night the temperature can fall below 0 degrees celsius depending upon the season and weather conditions. During the day, you can expect a temperature between 8 to 15 degrees Celsius.

Kanchenjunga North Basecamp Trek | Remote & Off-the-Beaten-Path Adventure

The Kanchenjunga North Base Camp Trek is a spectacular off-the-beaten-path journey that takes you through some of Nepal’s most remote and pristine landscapes. This trek offers breathtaking views of Kanchenjunga, the world’s third-highest mountain, along with Yalung Kang (Kanchenjunga West), glaciers, and high-altitude moraine trails. Along the way, you’ll pass through lush sub-tropical valleys, rhododendron and pine forests, and traditional Tibetan-influenced villages, where centuries-old culture and customs remain largely untouched. Trekking through the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area and the Sacred Himalayan Landscape, you may encounter rare wildlife such as red pandas, snow leopards, and Asian black bears, as well as a variety of Himalayan birds. This trek is perfect for experienced trekkers with good fitness, offering a challenging yet profoundly rewarding adventure in the far eastern Himalayas.

Mt. Kanchenjunga is the third-highest mountain in the world, with five peaks. Among them, three are located on the border of Nepal & India, and the other two are situated entirely in Nepal. Kanchenjunga was believed to be the highest peak in the world up until the mid-1800s. On our Kanchenjunga North Basecamp Trek, you'll trek through Kangbachen, located at an elevation of 4,050m and the North Basecamp (Pang Pema) of the main peak at 5,143m. Kanchenjunga trek is by far the most challenging venture in the Himalayas. Kanchenjunga North Basecamp Trek was opened in 1988. Trekking through the subtropical lowlands, the trail joins lush rhododendrons & other alpine forests. Enjoying the wilderness of Kanchenjunga Conservation Area, you will hike following the high pastures and the trail of the moraine of Kanchenjunga glacier. The Kanchenjunga North Basecamp Trekking route is extremely remote and strenuous, so only recommended to experienced trekkers. Due to the lack of basic tourist infrastructure (unlike the famous trails of the Everest Region and the Annapurna Region ) and long time commitment, only a handful of trekkers do Kanchenjunga North Basecamp Trek. The trail is unspoiled, and the landscapes are unbelievable. The trail is off-the-beaten and also passes by numerous landslide-prone areas. Kanchenjunga is a restricted area, under the controlled tourism policy, the Nepal government has prohibited solo trekking in Kanchenjunga. Throughout the trek, you must be accompanied by a registered trek guide. Trek to Kanchenjunga North Basecamp traverses the far east side of Nepal which is Located just behind the majestic Mt. Everest. Kanchenjunga North Basecamp trek offers mesmerizing landscapes and tranquility unseen in any other trails in the Himalayas. Unspoiled Mountain panoramas backed by the Tibetan Buddhist cultural heritage of the locals and unbeatable views trek is really worth it. Likewise, the scenery from the North Basecamp and other viewpoints along the trail are equally enchanting.

Some other famous basecamp treks in Nepal are the Everest Basecamp Trek, the Annapurna Basecamp Trek and the Mardi Himal Basecamp Trek. You can easily book the Kanchenjunga North basecamp trek 2026/2027 with us. Early booking will give you ample time to prepare for the trek and get strong. Our flexible booking system and transparent policy let you make bookings to secure upcoming trips with us. We do not have hidden charges or any hidden terms against our guests. For the best experience, we advise you to go through our booking & cancellation policy on our terms & conditions page. You can tailor-design the Kanchenjunga north base camp itinerary and make other changes to the package too.

Kanchenjunga North Basecamp Trek Difficulty

Among the south and north base camps of Mt. Kanchenjunga, the north base camp is tough to reach. The Kanchenjunga north base camp route is challenging but offers the best panoramas. The highest point you'll touch during the Kanchenjunga north base camp trek is Pang Pema at 5,100 meters. The trek covers approximately 175 km and involves 9-11 km of walking daily (6-7 hours). Starting the trek from Taplejung, you'll ascend on trodden trails, gaining 500 to 700 meters in elevation each day. The route is demanding and requires solid physical fitness to keep going, and you have to be extra careful while ascending and descending. Dealing with the strenuous trail will require physical fitness, but your mindset plays a huge role. It would be best if you were determined to keep going, and your willpower should be strong.

Acclimatization & Altitude Sickness

Now comes the altitude and the altitude sickness. As you go above 2,000 meters, you become vulnerable to altitude sickness. The oxygen level gets low in general, causing difficulty in breathing. Well, it doesn't have a considerable effect and barely gets noticed until you begin to see the symptoms of altitude sickness, such as headache, nausea, dizziness, fever, vomiting, insomnia, etc. Therefore, acclimatization is essential during the Kanchenjunga trek. And to make sure our guests all the time to acclimatize & of course, enjoy the surroundings, we have multiple rest days and fantastic side excursions in our Kanchenjunga north base camp itinerary.

Best Season

If the weather is stable and the climate is pleasant, the Kanchenjunga North Basecamp trek automatically becomes much more fun & safe. Hence, you have to pick the right time to do this trekking. March to April and October to November are the best months, weather-wise, to do Kanchenjunga North Basecamp trekking. You'll have the best weather conditions and offer best mountain views in those months. It also means these two seasons, spring & autumn, also attract hundreds of trekkers. But this is not the case for the Kanchenjunga North Base Camp trek. Very few travellers go on this particular trek, so the trail is clear even during peak trekking Season. Spring is perfect if you love snow and want to see the wildflowers bloom. However, autumn is great for trekking if you love nature's tamed colour and prefer the fresh earthy smell enchanting the trail.

Accommodation & Meals During The Trek

The accommodation on the Kanchenjunga North Basecamp trail is tea houses. The most simple accommodation on the Himalayan trail is a teahouse. The services are limited to bed and meals. You may get a few other facilities like hot water for showering, charging, wifi (only in some villages) by paying a few extra bucks. These are your expenses, so our package does not cover them. The washrooms are shared and expect both squat and flush toilets. The rooms are equipped with comfortable beds and a table but not guaranteed in all tea houses. The meal options are straightforward on this trek. We highly suggest you pack enough snacks and bars for this trip. Food is very basic in Kanchenjunga. In most places, they do not have a menu in every place. Dal bhat and Thukpa are the most common foods. In a limited number of places, you can also get momo, macaroni and pasta.

Internet, Charging, & ATM On The Trail

You can buy a Nepali SIM card with data to use the internet while trekking. It is the best way to use the internet while trekking in the Kanchenjunga North Basecamp Trek. The region is very remote, so it's better not to have high hopes for a sturdy network all the time. There are charging stations in the tea houses that you use to charge your electronics, paying a few bucks. A solar charger, spare batteries, or a power bank will help significantly. So recommend carrying it. There is no ATM on the Kanchenjunga North Basecamp trail, so we suggest to withdraw money in Kathmandu.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is compulsory for the Kanchenjunga North Basecamp Trek, and you cannot join the trek without travel insurance that covers emergency air evacuation. As we have mentioned many times, how remote and isolated the Kanchenjunga region is, any medical emergency that cannot be solved with first aid will need an immediate airlift to Kathmandu. It's for your safety.

Kanchenjunga Trekking Permit

Kanchenjunga is a restricted area. This means you need a special permit and a registered trek guide to enter this area. Walking with a guide is advisable both for safety and for gaining valuable cultural and local insights. You will need a Kanchenjunga Conservation Area Project Entry Permit (KCAP) and a Restricted Area Entry Permit. The permit Cost for (KCAP) is Nrs 2,000 per person, and the Kanchenjunga Restricted Area Permit (RAP) is USD 20 per person/ week (for the first 4 weeks) and USD 25 per person /week ( beyond 4 weeks). For more information, please follow the link Permit Fee.