Kanchenjunga
Trek is now slowly becoming a beautiful teahouse trek with few stone huts on
necessary campsite. Since very few people go for Kanchenjunga Trekking those
teahouses are mostly closed during off-season so camping is needed. It shares a
border with India and Tibet so instead of Nepal most people they go for tour in
Sikkim for view of Mount Kanchenjunga. Unlike other mountain there is two
different base camp of Kanchenjunga that is quite popularly know as
Kanchenjunga South and Kanchenjunga North Base Camp. In local language South is
often known as Yalung Base Camp or Ramche and North as Pangpema. Sele Le Pass
bridge two different base camp in Kanchenjunga with in elevation frame less
than five thousand meter. Comparatively north side is more remote but consist
of some beautiful village like Ghunsa. During mid winter Sele Le Pass is almost
impassable so very few people trek isolated north base camp.
Hiker on shadow at Kanchenjunga Base Camp |
Tibetan
refugee settlement can be found on northern hemisphere of Kanchenjunga where
they offer handmade Tibetan Handicraft for souvenir. Tragic helicopter crash is
story that you can hear from local most of the time in Ghunsa. There is small
hydro electricity plant in Ghunsa. Normally there are basic home stay on lower
part of Kanchenjunga Region and primitive stone huts on upper part. Apart from
winter it is not recommended to explore Kanchenjunga North Base Camp during
monsoon as there are several places within Ghunsa to Pangpema that are prone to
frequent landslide. Trail might be completely destroyed by landslide with in a
night and guide need to figure out the alternative trail from riverbank. Very
flat pastureland can be found on both base camp areas that spread very wide
with big rock boulders. Normally Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek is choice for most of
trekkers as it explores both base camps that are followed by North Base Camp
Trek and South Base Camp Trek. Being restricted region one need to issue some
special permits and must be accompanied by local government authorized license
holder trekking guide in Nepal. Since it is very long one need to manage almost
one whole month for circuit trekking.