Kanchenjunga to Makalu Trek

We meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. In the evening we go over the route and the gear list.

We check your gear and finish the permit paperwork. Your guide explains the route, the passes and what to do if the altitude hits you. Keep this day free in case a document is missing.

We take the morning flight to Bhadrapur in the east. Then we drive up through tea country and hill roads to Taplejung. The road is long and rough in places. The driving time depends on the road and the weather.

We drive as far as the road goes, then start walking on the Tamor valley trail. The first day is short so legs and kit can settle. We camp or use a basic lodge near Chirwa.

The trail climbs and drops along the side of the valley, through fields and forest. It is warm and humid on this part of the walk. We camp near Sekathum.

We follow the Ghunsa river and cross a few suspension bridges. The valley gets narrower and greener. We camp at Amjilosa.

A steady climb through forest takes us to Gyabla. Houses here are local and simple. We sleep in a lodge or a camp, depending on the day.

We pass Phale, where Tibetan-style houses start to appear. The trail follows the river up to Ghunsa, a large Sherpa and Tibetan village. We camp or stay in a lodge here.

We rest and take a short hike up to a view point to help the body adjust. You can visit the monastery and talk with locals. Wash and sort your gear before the high part of the trek.

We walk up the valley through pine and rhododendron forest, then open land with big mountain views. We camp at Khambachen under the Jannu wall.

We walk slowly up along a glacier moraine. The land is bare and rocky. We camp at Lhonak and watch Wedge Peak and the Kanchenjunga range.

A full rest day to adjust to the height. You can take a short easy walk above camp. Drink plenty and eat well.

We walk across the Kanchenjunga glacier moraine to Pangpema, at the foot of the north face. After time at the base camp we return to Lhonak for the night, so we sleep lower.

We go back down the same trail. It is faster on the way down. We camp at Khambachen again.

A gentle walk down to Ghunsa. We spend the night in a lodge or camp. Hot tea and a warm room feel very good here.

We leave the main trekking trail and climb towards the Nango La. There are no villages ahead for several days. We camp near the foot of the pass.

An early start for the pass. We cross the Nango La and then descend a long way on the far side. We camp in the valley below. The exact camp location will be confirmed by the guide.

We drop to Olangchung Gola, an old trading village with Tibetan-style houses and a monastery. We stay in a lodge or camp.

We rest, wash and repack. You can walk around the village and visit the monastery. The crew checks supplies for the next remote stretch.

We climb steadily out of the village towards the Lumba Sumba pass. The trail is faint in places. We camp below the pass.

This is the highest point of the trek. We start early, cross the pass, and descend over rough ground. Weather and snow can change the plan. We camp on the far side.

We follow the trail down towards Thudam, a high Tibetan-style settlement. The area is very remote. We camp or use basic village accommodation.

A rest day in the village. We dry gear and repack. The guide checks the plan for the next section.

We walk down through forest into the Arun valley area, towards Chyamtang. It gets warmer. We camp near the village.

The trail drops steeply to the Arun river and follows it towards Hatiya. There are fields, small villages and many ups and downs. We camp or stay in a lodge.

We cross to the Hongon side and climb into the Makalu Barun area. Local people grow cardamom and millet here. We camp near Hongon.

We climb steadily through forest to open pasture. This part of the route is very quiet. The guide will confirm the camp spot on the day.

A long day. We cross the high ridge and descend into the Barun valley. We camp near Yangri Kharka. The ridge height and crossing time need to be confirmed on the ground.

We follow the Barun river up the valley. The peaks of Makalu region come into view. We camp at Langmale Kharka.

We walk the last part of the valley to the base camp area of Makalu. We camp near the base and stay one night at this height.

A long way down the Barun valley. We camp at Yangri Kharka. We can add a spare day here if the weather or the group needs it.

We walk out through forest to the village of Seduwa. The trail drops a lot. We stay in a lodge.

We cross terraced hills and villages. It is a mix of up and down walking. We stay in a lodge in Tashigaon.

We walk down to Num and take a jeep to Tumlingtar. We spend the night in a simple hotel near the airstrip. The drive time depends on the road.

We take the morning flight back to Kathmandu. The rest of the day is free. Weather delays can happen on this flight, so we keep the day after free if possible.