 Kangchenjunga is the world's third highest mountain situated on the frontier of Nepal and India in the Eastern Himalaya range. It is also the first 8000m Himalayan peak in the Eastern Himalaya range that was attempted as early as 1905 by a British team. The British team succeeded reaching 21,325 feet but abandoned their further effort causing to an avalanche in which an English climber and three of their local companions were killed. Before this mountain was successfully climbed in 1954 by a British team lead by Charles Evans, three expeditions in early 1930's attempted to scale it from the both side of the mountain. Four climbers Joe Brown, George Band, Norman Hardie and Tony Streather reached the summit on this expedition following a route up the South West Face of the mountain.
The government of Nepal opened Kangchenjunga area for trekking in 1998. It has been be declared a protected area and only group treks organized by trek operators are allowed to trek in. As Kangchenjunga from the Indian side is not open for trekking, the best alternative is visit the north and south side of the mountain from Nepal Side. Two high passes: Lapsang La 5110m / 16761ft and Mirgin La 4460m/14628ft bridges the south and north side of the mountain for trekkers to crossover from one side to the other.
 To begin this trip, we first drive to Biratnagar , an industrial town of Nepal situated on the in the South East Terai region of Nepal on the borderline with India. From Biratnagar we take an early morning flight to Suketar 2515m, Taplejung to meet the trailhead. After Taplejung the trail follow the low land Tamor River valley settled by Limbu people up to Hellok and then the high land Ghunsa Khola Valley, inhabited by Bhotia people of Tibet origin, leading to the Pangpema glacier. The Limbu people who wear a hand woven colorful tall topi ( Nepali hat) and big khukuri knife on their waist are known fiercest among the Gurkha soldiers of Nepal. The highest point on this trek is the Pangpema Base Camp, from where we have a great view of the North West Face of Kangchenjunga - a good three and half kilometer above where we stand!
 After visiting the basecamp we descend to Ghunsa, we chose the Mirgin-La pass (4460m/14628ft) route for the crossing to the South side of the mountain. At Tseram we meet the South side of the trail. From Tseram, it is a couple days walk to the Yalung glacier from where we have a good view of the South Face of the Kangchenjunga.
On the return trek to Suketar, from Tseram we take a new trail passing through the Limbu, Gurung villages of Toronton, Yamphuding and Mamankhe. From Suketar, we fly to Kathmandu via Biratnagar.
Itinerary:
Day 1/2: Kathmandu
Day 3: Bus to Biratnagar
Day 4: Fly Suketar,Taplejung and begin trek until day 23
Day 24: Fly Suketar-Biratnagar and drive Biratnagar-Kathmandu
Day 25: International Depatrure-End of Service |
