The world's third-highest peak and the second-highest peak in Nepal after Mt. Everest, Kanchenjunga (8,586 m) is located in the eastern part of Nepal and the northeastern Taplejung district. Three of the five peaks of Kanchenjunga—Kangchenjunga Main (8586m), Kangchenjunga Central (8482m), and Kangchenjunga South (8476m)—are at the border between Nepal and India, while two of the peaks—Kangbachen (7903 m) and Yalung Kang (8505 m)—are located inside Nepal. So the people of Taplejung worship this mountain as the Five Treasures of Snow. Kanchenjunga South Base Camp Trek can do basic tea house trekking.
Kanchenjunga is quite far from the capital city of Kathmandu; air and road are the main access points for this trip. There is a regular flight from Kathmandu to Suketar or you may fly Kathmandu to Bhadrapur and drive about seven to eight hours to Taplejung by private vehicle or public bus via Birtamod too. Another option is to fly Kathmandu to Biratnagar and drive to Basantapur through the Dharan, Chainpur, and Dhankuta. If you are curious to explore more, then you can directly drive from Kathmandu to Birtamod and change the bus to Taplejung. Anyway, Kanchanjangha is a less-trodden trekking trail in Nepal. Beautiful land escapes, amazing mountain views, glaciers, thundering rivers, and people's unique cultures and traditions are the main attractions of this trip. Rare flora and fauna, including the endangered Red Panda, have been conserved by the Kanchanjungha Conservation Area Project (KCAP). Normally, this trek starts from Suketar after a scenic flight from Kathmandu and then goes through the Tembewa, Khesewa, Mamanke, Yamphudin, Tortang, Cheram, Ramche (4580 m), and Yalung Base Camp or Kanchanjangha South Base Camp (4730 m). Or there is an alternative trail from Suketar to Mitlung, Sinwa, Chiruwa, Tapethok, Lelep, Hellok, Lapsetar, and Yasang (need one-night tented camping or stay at Yak Harder’s hut here), then get in Tortang for Kanchanjangha South Base Camp and back to Talpejung via Yamphudin, Phumphe, and Simbu. Different ethnic groups, like Sherpa, Limbu, Bhraman, Chetri, Magar, Rai, etc., live in lower areas and mostly Sherpa and Bhotiya at high elevations.
As Kanchanjangha South Base Camp Trek is in a restricted area, you need a minimum of two people and at least one professional guide to obtain a special permit, which is needed to apply from the immigration office in Kathmandu. This trek starts at the lowest elevation of 75 meters at Jhapa and ends at Yalung Base Camp at 4730 meters. It can also be combined with Kanchanjunga Circuit via Sele La Pass. Kanchanjunga is one of the best tea houses to trek in for its less crowded and amazing natural scenery. As this is a recently opened tea house trekking, trekkers cannot expect many facilities like in other popular tea house treks in Nepal. We at Nepal Mother House Treks are glad to organize your Kanchenjunga trip with an expert local guide and porters according to your requirements. September to November in the autumn and March to May are the best times for this trek. Why are you not getting to Kanchanjungha Base Camp before others do? Mountains are smiling at your warm welcome.