Kanchenjunga South Base Camp Trek: 12 Days Complete Itinerary and Guide

You arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport, where our team welcomes you and transfers you to your hotel in Kathmandu. After checking in, you can rest from the international journey or walk around the nearby streets of Thamel.

Later, you meet your guide for a briefing about the Kanchenjunga South Base Camp Trek itinerary. The guide covers domestic flights, jeep transfers, permits, accommodation, meals, expected trail conditions, packing, altitude safety, and the daily walking plan.

You take a morning domestic flight from Kathmandu to Biratnagar in the eastern plains of Nepal. The flight normally takes around 35 to 40 minutes and provides a quick connection between Kathmandu Valley and Koshi Province.

After landing, you meet the jeep driver and begin the long road journey to Taplejung. The road leaves the flat Terai and climbs through river valleys, market towns, terraced hills, forested ridges, and winding mountain roads before reaching Taplejung.

The day starts with a drive from Taplejung toward Rani Pul, passing hill roads, terraced farms, and small settlements. Rani Pul works as the road access point before the walking section begins. From there, you start the trail toward Yamphuding through green hills, village paths, and farmland.

Yamphuding is an important stop on the southern approach to Kanchenjunga. The village gives you your first real feel of the lower mountain communities before the route climbs higher. You reach Yamphuding, a large village surrounded by terraced fields, forested slopes, and river valleys.

You leave the cultivated hills around Yamphuding and enter a quieter forest route. The path passes small streams, wooden bridges, damp forest sections, and slopes covered with bamboo, oak, and rhododendron.

The trail rises steadily toward New Jhoroni, a small overnight stop within the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area. Facilities are basic, but the forest setting provides a peaceful place to rest before the steeper climb toward Cheram.

You continue uphill through rhododendron, pine, oak, and bamboo forests. Waterfalls and small streams run down the surrounding slopes, while the vegetation becomes thinner as the route gains height.

The final section leads into colder alpine terrain before reaching Cheram, also written as Tseram. The large altitude gain makes this one of the harder days of the itinerary, so the group walks slowly and takes regular breaks.

You spend the day at Cheram so your body can adjust before moving above 4,000m / 13,123ft. The morning can be kept relaxed, with enough time for hydration, warm meals, gear checks, and rest.

Depending on the weather and group conditions, your guide may lead a short hike above the settlement before returning to Cheram. Gaining some height during the day and sleeping at the same lodge supports acclimatization for the walk toward Ramche and Oktang.

You leave Cheram early and follow the upper Yalung Valley toward Ramche. The forest gradually disappears as the path enters open alpine ground, rocky moraine, glacial terrain, and broad mountain basins surrounded by snow-covered ridges.

From Ramche, you continue toward Oktang Viewpoint, commonly treated as the Kanchenjunga South Base Camp viewpoint. After spending time near the Yalung Glacier and viewing the southern side of Kanchenjunga, you return to Ramche for the night.

You may wake early for another look at the high peaks before beginning the long descent. The trail returns through the open valley toward Cheram and then drops into thicker rhododendron, pine, and bamboo forests.

The route continues beside streams and waterfalls until you reach Torongding, also written as Tortong. Although breathing becomes easier as you lose height, the long downhill sections can place pressure on the knees and thighs.

You continue descending through forested slopes, river crossings, and lower hill terrain. The air becomes warmer as you leave the alpine zone and return toward cultivated land and permanent villages.

After several climbs and descents, the trail reaches Yamphuding. You spend the final trekking night here and can rest with your guide and porter team after completing the high section of the route.

You leave Yamphuding by jeep and travel through the rural hills of eastern Nepal. The route passes farms, forests, roadside settlements, river valleys, and sections of rough mountain road before joining better roads toward Ilam.

You continue to Fikkal, close to the tea-growing area of Kanyam. After checking into the hotel, you can rest, take a short walk, or enjoy views across the green tea-covered hills.

You drive from Fikkal through the tea-growing hills and descend toward Bhadrapur Airport. The road passes Kanyam, market areas, forested slopes, and the warmer plains of Jhapa District.

From Bhadrapur, you take a domestic flight to Kathmandu. After landing, our team transfers you to your hotel, where you can rest, arrange laundry, shop for souvenirs, book a spa session, or join a farewell dinner.

Our team transfers you from your hotel to Tribhuvan International Airport according to your international flight schedule. The drive normally takes around 25 to 30 minutes, though traffic may add more time.

You leave Nepal with memories of Taplejung, Yamphuding, Cheram, Ramche, the Yalung Glacier, Oktang Viewpoint, and the remote southern side of Mount Kanchenjunga.