Kanchenjunga Short Trek is a petite form of the trail that reaches the base camp of the world’s third-highest mountain Mt. Kanchenjunga in the wilderness mountain region, an ultimate for trekkers who enjoy the solitude in the shortest time. Kanchenjunga is located in the isolated north-eastern parts of Nepal, neighbored by Sikkim and 20 Kilometers south of Tibet. Short Kanchenjunga Trek is carefully designed by Nepal Mother House for 13 days starting and ending at Suketar according to the local expert advice and our Guest's recommendation.
Mt. Kanchenjunga is one of the fourteen mountains in the world that are more than 8,000 meters (26,247 ft) towering higher than sea level. Kangchenjunga is the 3rd highest mountain elevation of 8,586 meters, after Mount Everest (8,848.86 m) and K2 (8,611 m). Now a day’s Kangchenjunga spelled Kanchenjunga as degeneration form. It becomes the words KANGCHEN DZO-NGA or KACHENDZONGA, which means "The Five Treasures of Snows". There are a series of five peaks above 8,400 meters: main peak Kanchenjunga itself (8,586 m), West summit (8,505 m), central summit (8,482 m), South summit (8,494 M), and Kangbachen (7,903 m).
Kangchenjunga Short Trek could do camping organized only the past few years, but recently there have built teahouse entire routes for small groups, where you will stay overnight and take meals in tea houses. This helps the locals empower sustainable eco-tourism and minimize the trekking cost. The Kangchenjunga Trekking Routes goes through the remote Nepalese villages, eye-catching Himalayan panorama, and forests full of life, home of the wildlife, natural appealing views, ancient cultures, and the mysterious faith. This is part of the Great Himalaya Trail (GHT), an epic journey of 150 Days from east Kangchenjunga to Humla district west part of Nepal, approximately 1,700 kilometers distance.
This trek begins at Suketar after a 45-minute scenic flight from Kathmandu. As this is a short trek, we are taking a short route to the South Base Camp. Normally, for the Yalung base camp, the trek starts from the south side. But we are driving on the opposite sides, about five to six hours of adventures jeep drive along the Tamor Riverbank to the Sukathum/Ranipul, where you will stay overnight. Now the trail goes through the isolated area in the mountains, there is not any tea house or settlements between Ranipul to Tortang, so you must take a packed lunch and enough drinking water for this day. The next day you will onward to the South Base Camp with a breathtaking mountains view in the wide valley at Cheram. Compare to both base camps, Kanchenjunga Base Camp is one of the best places in the region to see Himalayan scenery in one glance in the shortest time. From where can observe the four peaks of Kanchanjunga and Jannu mountains and natural tranquility. After visiting the Yalung Base Camp (4,500m) from Ramche, you will follow down to the river bank to the Tortong and then take a short route to the Hellok/Sukathum/Ranipul to catch the jeep to the Suketar, where the trek was started. After collecting lifetime experience on the Kangchenjunga Short Trek, you are staying at Suketar after a 5 to 6 hours drive from Hello/Ranipul, and ready for the Kathmandu flight the next morning.
Kangchenjunga South Base Camp Short Trek presents a worthwhile trek throughout lush, low-lying valleys and up through implausible forests, and into the high alpine pastures and glaciers at the base of the Kanchenjunga. Alongside the trail, you’ll pass through villages inhabited by Chhetri, Rai, Limbu, Gurung, Magar, Sherpa, and Tibetan communities, who are following Hinduism and Buddhism.
As this is a recently developed tea house trek, the trail is narrow and very simple accommodation, where visit few trekkers in this remote region. You can’t expect a variety of meals and fancy attached bathroom accommodation like other popular trekking routes; however, you will have organic hygiene meals and a bed for a good sleep in Mt. Kangchenjunga and a lifetime experience with the real Nepali lifestyle, unique cultures, and amazing landscapes.
Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek can be customized as Heli Trek 7 to 10 Days; visit Sele La Pass (4,290m), Sinon La (4,440m), Mirgin La (4,480m) & Sinelapche Bhanjyang (4,646m) from Cheram (3,870m) and visit the Yalung Base Camp/South Base Camp (4500m) from Ramche and fly Back to Kathmandu by Helicopter.
Best Time to Go Kangchenjunga Short Trek:
Kanchenjunga Short Trek goes across such a huge number of atmospheres and their relevant ecosystems. So it is very tricky to forecast accurate weather at all altitudes whole in the year. If you fly to Bhadrapur, it has an elevation of 91 meters while Pangpema is 5,143 meters and North Base Camp is 5,388 meters but in this trek, you will fly Suketar (2,420m). You will find different temperatures every day and the weather will be changeable year-round. Autumn (Mid September to November) is the best time for the Kanchenjunga Trek. This time, the weather is neither hot nor cold with crystal clear mountains panorama and green full landscape, the perfect time for the trek. Likewise, Autumn/Fall is the festive season for major celebrations like; Dashain, Tihar, and Chhath in Nepal.
Similarly, spring is the second most appropriate season for the Kanchenjunga trek due to the best weather for the mountain scenery. During this season the vegetation in the lower hilly region begins to spring out after dry and cold winter and the jungle in the high Himalayas is covered full of blooming, especially; Rhododendron and Magnolia with various colors. Spring is called BASANTA RITU Nepali, full two months span from March to mid-May. This is the best time for mountaineering and expedition; you may have time to talk with mountaineers about their climbing experience on this Kanchanjunga Short Trek.
We at Nepal Mother House suggested avoiding the monsoon (usually beginning June 10th and ending on September 23rd), due to heavy rain and the probability of flood and blocking the trail by a landslide. During the monsoon, flight at Suketar is often canceled due to poor visibility and unfavorable weather. Despite all this, the rain carries all the plans and greenery to life, making for an unfortunate track however a great scene of the region.
Winter (late November to February) is also not recommended hike in the Kanchenjunga. The tea houses will remain closed due to freezing cold in the high land area like; Lhonak and Pangpema Northside and Yalung Bara, Ramche, and Oktang another side.
Access to Kangchenjunga Short Trek:
There are many choices of the trail for the Kanchanjunga Short Trek. The start point of this trek can be different depending on your trekking dates, trekking duration, and wiling. Kanchanjunga Short Trekking itinerary can be adjusted according to your trip schedule either by air flights or road drive. Here is giving a short brief about main access for the trek as below:
[1] Kathmandu to Bhadrapur Flight:
Taking 45 minutes flight from Kathmandu to Bhadrapur and driving to Taplejung the district headquarters takes almost 8 hours to cross the 245.0 km winding road by regular bus or private Jeep through the Kanyam, Final, and Ilam the most popular tea state of Nepal, then heading to Kanchanjunga South and North Base Camp.
[2] Kathmandu to Taplejung Drive:
Despite the long drive to Taplejung from Kathmandu, you have huge experience of various landscapes in different localities and people cultures sight. Previously, Prithvi Highway and connecting to the East-West Highway at Narayanghat (697 km taking almost 19 hours) is the main access for the Taplejung but there is a shorter route drive to Taplejung via B.P. Highway Khurkot, 18 hours drive for 637.5 km.
[3] Kathmandu to Suketar Taplejung Flight:
Recently there is a direct flight by Sita Air and Nepal Airline from Kathmandu to Suketar every day in the morning at around eight o’clock. It takes 45 minutes scenic flight through the Himalayan scenery. Fly Kathmandu to Suketar and back to Kathmandu is the most suitable route for the Short Kanchenjunga Trek to make a shorter trek. Previously, they conduct only a few flights in a week or charter flights due to insufficient passengers.
Likewise, you can also fly from Kathmandu to Biratnagar and drive to Basantapur Take a 5 to 6 hour by bus, and then walk to Dobhan (2 days) or Taplejung/Suketar (3 days) as an alternative trail. Or Take 34 minutes flight from Kathmandu to Tumlingtar and walk for 4 days to Dobhan or 5 days to Taplejung also.
Kanchenjunga Restricted Area Entry Permit
Kanchenjunga Trek goes nearby the international border, so it is very important due to the politically sensitive area (PSA), thus needing trekking permits to visit. Currently, trekking permits have additional to do with conserving the stunning trek route than international disputes. This trek requires two different permits; Kanchenjunga Restricted Area Permit and Kanchenjunga Conservation Area Permit (KCAP).
Kanchenjunga Conservation Area was established in 1997, the permit can be organized by Nepal Tourism Board before your arrival along with your passport details and a picture. And also it can be bought on the way to Kanchenjunga Short Trek as well. The fee of the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area Permit charges Rs. 2,000 per person.
Likewise, Kanchenjunga Restricted Area Permit is a special permit to enter the Restricted Area. This permit can be applied only after guest's arrival in Nepal through an authorized trekking agency, and then the Immigration Office of Nepal will verify the client’s arrival details and visa number before approving the permit.
Requiring Documents for the Permits:
- Each of the guest's original passports with a valid Nepal visa.
- Three Photos, which you can send us for online submission.
- Coved 19 Vaccination cards and the latest PCR Report.
For the Kanchenjunga Restricted Area Permit on the list, you need a minimum of two people and professional Government a trekking Guide. It takes a few hours to get a permit and they are asking for your original passport while processing the permits. You don’t need to go while organizing the permit; we at Nepal Mother House will do all the process. The trekking permit fees in Nepal are different according to the trekking sector and length of the trek. The cost of the Kanchenjunga Restricted Area Permit is 20 USD per person for the week first four weeks. The restricted area starts from Lelep village on the north side and south side at Yamphudin. Those two permits are required for Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek and Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek as well.
The permit needs to enter at a police checking point in the different places entire trek, so it is better to keep the permits safe as it will be checked. If you don’t have the correct permit, you might be forced to return back.
Physical Fitness Requirement for Kanchenjunga Short Trek:
For every trek, physical fitness is the most priority due to several days of hikes in the high Himalayas. This trek is designed as one of the shortest treks in the Kanchenjunga region; absolutely you need to be good physical fitness and determination. So, trekkers are advised to take training everyday few months prior to the trek. You can do jogging every morning or evening; do regular Yoga, Gyms, do cardiology exercise, do hill hiking with your bag pack, climb stairs exercise regularly, and eat healthy food. You are strongly advised to consult with the doctor a couple of months before departure from Kanchenjunga Short Trek and have pre-existing medical conditions like lung, blood, and heart diseases. Classically, the Kanchenjunga South Base Camp Trek organizes in 17 days but to make the shortest it can do 7 days.
Katmandu to Suketar Flight for Kanchenjunga Short Trek:
Now, there are direct flights available to the Suketar/Taplejung from Kathmandu. The Sita Airline and Nepal Airlines are operating daily flight schedules. It is an enjoyable short flight amazing with a births eye view on 45 minutes by Dornier aircraft. Suketar flight can conduct entire day morning to evening on a clear day but sometimes the weather won’t be favorable for good sight, so flight might be delayed or canceled due to weather. You are suggested to put some extra day to cover up in case not fly in time. In this situation, you can fly to Bhadrapur instead of directly going to Suketar and driving to Taplejung. The Bhadrapur flight can fly any time morning 8 AM to 9 PM except in exceptional cases.
