Kanchangjungha Base Camp ( North & South) For an all-round trekking experience a visit to either, or both base camp of Kanchanjungha is hard to beat. Kanchanjungha , 8586 meters, is the third highest mountain on earth. Additionally it is surrounded by a number a number of peaks. Lesser is height but no less attractive. The trek is at times arduous but is passes through some wonderful remote villages and is never boring.

To visit both base camps requires a minimum of twenty six days or alternatively, only the northern base camp at Pang Pema can be visited in twenty days assuming that flights are used to and from Kathmandu . Using land transport to or from Basantapur will add a four days to both options.

For completeness the trek starting at Basantapur and ending at Taplejung will be described.

To reach Basantapur a long and tedious trip by road is required. The route is via Dharan and Hille, it can be shortened by flying from Kathmandu to Biratnagar and then traveling by road. The trekking trail leaves the road head bazzar of Basantapur and travels through a number of small communities including Chauki and Gupha Pokhari is particularly interesting being on a ridge top with some spectacular distant views of the Himalaya that include Makalu & Kanchanjungha.

From Taplejung the trail follows the evernarrowing gorge of the Tamur River through a number of small villages, mostly inhabited by Limbu and Chhetri people. Of particular interest is the village of Chirwa where the wooden pots used for drinking the fermented millet drink, Tongba, are made. Along the rocky walls of the Tamur River gorge can be seen many wild bee hives which are harvested by the locals. At the small settlement of Sokathum the trail branches to follow the steeply rising valley of the Ghunsa Khola up progressively less inhabited slopes through the villages of Amjilassa and kyapra to the large settlement at Ghunsa. On the way the trail passes through some dense forest that is home to a variety of wildlife including leopard and deer.

Ghunsa is inhabited by people of Tibetan origin and is interesting for their traditional carpet weaving industry. Also of interest here is a large wooden Buddhist monastery whose form of construction is quite unique. Due to the altitude gain up the Ghunsa Khola, Ghunsa makes an ideal place to spend an acclimatization day. A day hike up on the Yamatori Glacier that runes from the southern flanks of Kumbakama, 7710 meters, is an especially rewarding trip with great mountain views and unspoiled alpine flora.

From Ghunsa it takes three days to reach the north Kanchanjungha base camp at Pang Pema. There are no permanent settlements above Ghunsa but shelter can be found at Kambanchen whwre there is a summer grazing settlement. The landscape changes dramatically shortly above Ghunsa. The forests of pine give way to stunted alpine bushes and eventually even these disappear. The glacial valley that the trail follows gradually clioses in until the mountains are literally looming over the trekkers. The last camp is best made Lhanok, a reasonably sheltered area to the side of the glacier. From here it is only two hours walk up to Pang Pema where, during the climbing season, expedition camps may be found.

To reach the southern base camp for Kanchanjungha, retrace the route down as far as Ghunsa and then cross over the Mirgin La Pass to reach the Yarlung Valley . The crossing, which actually scales three passes, can be a problem during snowfall. An intermediate camp between the second and third pass is required and groups should study the weather patterns carefully before setting off from Ghunsa. Once into the Yarlung Valley the trail heads north for a day before reaching the site of south base camp at Oktang.

To return to Taplejung for a flight back to Kathmandu , head back down valley through Yamphudin before climbing up to the air strip at Suketar. If only Pang Pema has been visited then descend from Ghunsa to Chirwa where a trail climbs over the 3800 meter hill of Pathibhara and then on to suketar