Kanchenjunga South Base Camp Trek - 13 Days

Kanchenjunga · 13 Days

Kanchenjunga South Base Camp Trek - 13 Days

· Strenuous · Max altitude 4,730m (15,518 ft) at Oktang viewpoint · Max group 2-12 people

Duration

13 Days

Max Altitude

4,730m (15,518 ft)

at Oktang viewpoint

Grade

Strenuous

Lodging

Teahouse / Lodge

Overview

The Kanchenjunga south base camp trek is the shorter, less-walked sister of the north route. Over 13 days it climbs from the tea gardens of Ilam to the Yalung Glacier - the southern toe of Kanchenjunga (8,586m) - via the Limbu, Rai and Sherpa villages of the lower Tamur and Simbuwa valleys. The high point at Oktang (4,730m) gives a head-on view of the south face of Kanchenjunga and its three companion summits, often called the "Three Sisters."

This is one of the quietest 8,000m-mountain-foot treks in Nepal. The trail receives only a few hundred trekkers per year and lodges are simple but spaced reasonably close. The route balances real altitude with a shorter trip length than the north or full-circuit alternatives, making it the choice for trekkers wanting a true Kanchenjunga experience without a three-week commitment.

Highlights

  • Sunrise on Kanchenjunga's south face from Oktang (4,730m)
  • Walk the Yalung Glacier moraine - the southern foot of the world's third highest mountain
  • Pass through Limbu, Rai and Sherpa villages of the lower Tamur valley
  • Cross Lasiya Bhanjyang (3,310m) ridge with a panoramic mountain horizon
  • Possible red panda sightings in the Torangden forest belt
  • Yak meadows and blue sheep above Ramche
  • Exit through Ilam's tea gardens for a varied finish
  • Restricted-area permits and conservation entry handled in advance
  • Acclimatisation profile designed for progressive sleeping altitudes
  • Senior licensed guide and shared porter included

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive in Kathmandu (1,400m)

🍽 Welcome dinner

Airport pickup, hotel transfer and evening trek briefing.

Day 2

Fly Kathmandu to Bhadrapur, drive to Taplejung (1,820m)

↔ 45-min flight + 7-8 hour drive 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Early morning flight, then jeep into the eastern hills. Overnight hotel.

Day 3

Jeep to Taplethok, trek to Hellok (1,420m)

⏱ 3-4 hour drive + short trek 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Drive to the road head and walk across a suspension bridge to the village of Hellok.

Day 4

Hellok to Yasang (2,150m)

⏱ 4 hours 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Climb through cardamom plots and terraced fields to the Limbu village of Yasang.

Day 5

Yasang to Torangden (2,995m)

⏱ 5 hours 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Walk through dense forest and along the river valley. The Torangden area is known for occasional red panda sightings.

Day 6

Torangden to Cheram (3,870m)

⏱ 5-6 hours 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Follow the Simbuwa valley with lunch at Anda Phedi, then a steady climb to Cheram.

Day 7

Cheram to Ramche (4,580m)

⏱ 4-5 hours 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

A gradual climb past yak pastures and blue sheep terrain to the high settlement of Ramche.

Day 8

Ramche to Oktang (4,730m), return and descend to Cheram (3,870m)

⏱ 6-7 hours total ▲ 4,730m 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Pre-dawn climb to Oktang for sunrise on the Kanchenjunga south face and the Yalung Glacier. Return to Ramche for breakfast and continue down to Cheram.

Day 9

Cheram to Torangden (2,995m) via Lasiya Bhanjyang

⏱ 6 hours 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Climb over the Lasiya Bhanjyang ridge with mountain views, then descend through forest.

Day 10

Torangden to Yamphudin (2,080m)

⏱ 5-6 hours 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Walk to the mixed Sherpa-Limbu-Rai village of Yamphudin.

Day 11

Drive Yamphudin to Ilam (800m)

⏱ 5-6 hours 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Jeep across hill country to the tea-growing district of Ilam.

Day 12

Drive to Bhadrapur, fly to Kathmandu

⏱ 3-hour drive + 40-min flight 🍽 Breakfast

Drive through tea gardens to the airport, fly back to Kathmandu. Free afternoon.

Day 13

Final departure

🍽 Breakfast

Airport transfer for international flight home.

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What's included

Included

  • Kathmandu-Bhadrapur return flights
  • Private jeep transfers from Bhadrapur to Taplethok and back via Ilam
  • 2 nights' Kathmandu accommodation (3-star, BB plan)
  • Twin-share teahouse accommodation on the trek
  • All meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) during the trek
  • Government-licensed English-speaking guide
  • 1 porter for every 2 trekkers (20 kg load limit)
  • Kanchenjunga Conservation Area Project (KCAP) permit
  • Kanchenjunga Restricted Area Permit
  • Group first-aid kit and oximeter
  • HHT company duffel bag
  • All applicable government taxes

Not included

  • Nepal entry visa
  • International airfare
  • Travel insurance covering trekking to 5,000m with helicopter rescue (mandatory)
  • Lunches and dinners in Kathmandu
  • Hot showers, Wi-Fi and device charging in teahouses
  • Bottled water and alcoholic drinks
  • Personal trekking equipment
  • Tips for crew and drivers
  • Costs from weather or flight delays

Trek guide

The South Face

Kanchenjunga's south face is the lesser-photographed side of the mountain but arguably its most architectural - a 3-km vertical wall of rock and hanging glacier rising from the Yalung valley. The British 1955 first ascent team approached from this side. Today only the Yalung-Oktang viewpoint is open to non-mountaineering trekkers; the base camp itself sits at the foot of the Yalung Glacier.

Yalung Glacier and Oktang

Oktang is a small Buddhist shrine at 4,730m on a moraine ridge above the Yalung Glacier. It is the highest accessible viewpoint on the south route and the classic sunrise vantage for the south face. The walk from Ramche takes roughly 45 minutes pre-dawn.

Restricted Area

Like the north route, the south Kanchenjunga trail requires a restricted-area permit, mandatory licensed guide and minimum group of 2. We process permits in Kathmandu before departure.

Climate Zones

  • Days 1-3: Sub-tropical. Cardamom, banana, terraced rice.
  • Days 4-5: Temperate. Oak, rhododendron, red panda habitat.
  • Days 6-7: Sub-alpine. Birch, juniper, dwarf rhododendron, yak pasture.
  • Day 8: Glacial. Yalung moraine.

Acclimatisation

Sleeping altitudes progress steadily - Cheram 3,870m, Ramche 4,580m, then the climb-high day to Oktang 4,730m followed by descent to Cheram. This sleep-low-after-high profile suits trekkers without prior 4,000m+ experience.

Best Season

  • Spring (April-May): Rhododendrons in flower, longer days, warmer nights
  • Autumn (October-November): Driest skies, clearest mountain views, colder above 4,000m

We do not run this trek in monsoon (June-September) due to leech-heavy forest and landslide-prone roads. Winter is possible but lodges may close.

Fitness

Strenuous. 4-6 hour days, basic lodges and altitude above 4,700m. 3-4 months of cardio and leg-strength training. Prior multi-day trekking experience strongly recommended; high-altitude experience helpful but not essential.

Packing list

Clothing: Down jacket -10C, fleece mid-layer, waterproof shell, soft-shell trousers, 3 trekking shirts, 2 trousers, base layers, 5 pairs hiking socks, beanie, sun hat, buff, insulated and liner gloves

Footwear: Waterproof high-ankle trekking boots, gaiters, camp shoes

Accessories: 40L daypack, 65L porter duffel, -10C sleeping bag, trekking poles, headlamp + spare batteries, polarised sunglasses, 2L water capacity, water purification, power bank, adapter

Documents: Passport with Nepal visa, insurance certificate, 4 passport photos

Medical: Diamox 250mg, painkillers, antihistamines, blister care, SPF 50+ sunscreen, lip balm, rehydration salts

Frequently asked questions

How does this compare to the north base camp?
Shorter (13 vs 16 days), slightly lower peak altitude (4,730m vs 5,143m), but technically and culturally similar. The north has the more iconic moraine viewpoint at Pang Pema; the south has the head-on view of the south face from Oktang.

Can I do both north and south?
Yes - the 19-day Kanchenjunga Circuit links them via the Sele Le pass.

How fit do I need to be?
Strenuous. Real altitude, basic lodges and several long days. 3-4 months of cardio and leg work before the trek; multi-day trekking experience strongly recommended.

Is a guide mandatory?
Yes. The Kanchenjunga south route is in a restricted area and requires a licensed guide and minimum group of 2. We arrange both.

What permits are needed?
Kanchenjunga Restricted Area Permit and Kanchenjunga Conservation Area Project (KCAP) permit. Both arranged in Kathmandu.

How are the lodges?
Basic but adequate - plywood rooms, foam mattresses, simple dal-bhat menus. Hot showers occasional below 3,000m, rare above.

How cold does it get?
-5 to -10C at night at Ramche in autumn. A -10C bag is sufficient in season.

Will I see red pandas?
Possibly. The Torangden forest belt is one of Nepal's most likely places to spot them, especially in spring. Sightings remain uncommon.

Is the Bhadrapur flight reliable?
Yes, more reliable than Lukla. Bhadrapur has a paved runway in the lowlands and weather closures are rare.

Can the itinerary be shortened?
Marginally. The trek length is largely fixed by required walking time and altitude profile.

Still have questions? Talk to a guide →

Why book this with us

Senior local guides. Small groups. Honest pricing.

  • Departures led by a guide who grew up in the region.
  • Max 8 trekkers per group — no convoys.
  • 100% Nepali-owned. Profit stays in the valleys.
  • Free cancellation up to 30 days before departure.
  • Permits, internal flights and TIMS handled by us.
  • 24/7 in-country support during your trek.

From $1950

per person

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