Kanchenjunga Base Camp

Restricted Area Trek To The Base Camps Of Kanchenjunga (8,586 M), The Third Highest Mountain On Earth, On The Nepal Sikkim Border · Taplejung, Koshi

Kanchenjunga, at 8,586 metres the third-highest mountain on earth, stands on the border between Nepal and the Indian state of Sikkim in the far northeast of the country, and the trek to its base camps is one of the longest, wildest and least crowded in Nepal. Most trekkers visit both sides: the north base camp at Pangpema, at about 5,140 metres, with the enormous north face of the mountain directly ahead across a glacier, and the south base camp at Oktang below the Yalung Glacier. The route passes through subtropical farmland, cardamom plantations and rhododendron forest, Limbu and Sherpa villages, and high yak pastures, over passes linking the two sides. It takes three to four weeks and passes long stretches with basic teahouses or none. Kanchenjunga is sacred, and climbers traditionally stop short of the true summit out of respect. It is a restricted area: foreigners need a special permit, a licensed guide and a group of at least two, which keeps numbers very low. Seen by few, it is one of the great mountain journeys in the Himalaya for those with the time.

Kanchenjunga Conservation Area, Taplejung District, Taplejung, Koshi, Nepal

Seasonal. Best in October to November and March to May. A restricted-area permit and Kanchenjunga Conservation Area permit are required, with a licensed agency and guide, usually for groups of at least two - confirm current rules. Access is by flight to Bhadrapur or Biratnagar and a long drive to Taplejung, or flights to Suketar when running.

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