Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek Itinerary 2027: 19 Days Day by Day, Permits and Cost

Updated 7 November 2026.

Short answer: our Kanchenjunga Base Camp trek is 19 days from Kathmandu back to Kathmandu. You fly to Bhadrapur and drive to Taplejung on day 1, walk from Shekathum to Ghunsa by day 5, rest at Ghunsa on day 6, climb to Kangpachen on day 7, rest on day 8, reach Lhonak on day 9 and North Base Camp (5,140 m) on day 10. You then cross Sele Le to Tseram, visit South Base Camp at Oktang (4,730 m) on day 15, walk out to Yamphudin and drive to Ilam. It costs from USD 1,720 per person for 2 to 4 people on Budget, USD 3,335 on Standard and USD 5,515 on Luxury. A solo traveller pays USD 2,795, 4,140 or 7,865. Your licensed guide, both flights and all three permits are included.

You book it as our Kanchenjunga Base Camp trek, 19 days. If you would rather not fly, the 21-day road version has the same 15 days on the trail.

Kanchenjunga 19-day itinerary at a glance

Why 19 days, with two rest days

This is the hardest trek we run, graded very strenuous. The North Base Camp is at 5,140 m, the highest point of the trip, and Lhonak at 4,792 m is where you sleep before it. Rest days at Ghunsa and Kangpachen are what make the climb safe, and I would not remove them. The trek is one long loop: north base camp first, then back over the Sele Le ridge to the south side, then out.

Day by day

Days 1 and 2: flight and road

A 45-minute flight to Bhadrapur, then a long drive through tea country to Taplejung. On Budget you travel in shared local jeep seats, on Standard in a reserved jeep for your group, on Luxury in a private jeep. Read the Taplejung guide.

Days 3 to 5: up to Ghunsa

You walk through rice fields and then forest, past Amjilesa and Gyabla to Ghunsa (3,415 m), a Tibetan-style village. See Shekathum, Amjilesa, Gyabla and Ghunsa.

Days 6 to 9: acclimatise and climb

Rest at Ghunsa, walk to Kangpachen (4,145 m), rest again, then climb to Lhonak (4,792 m).

Day 10: North Base Camp

The big day: 7 to 8 hours to North Base Camp at 5,140 m and back to Lhonak. Your guide checks your oxygen every day, and if you are unwell we turn back. Read about the north base camp.

Days 11 to 15: Sele Le and the south side

You go back to Ghunsa, then to Sele Le, where you sleep at 4,290 m, and on over the ridge to Tseram. Day 13 is about 9 hours, the longest. On day 15 you walk to Oktang and South Base Camp (4,730 m) from Ramche. See Sele Le, Tseram and Oktang.

Days 16 to 19: out

Tortong, Yamphudin, a drive to Ilam, then Bhadrapur and the flight home to Kathmandu. See Tortong.

How much does the Kanchenjunga trek cost in 2027?

Prices are per person, in US dollars, for 2027, from our package page on 6 November 2026. The flights are in the price.

What changes between the tiers

A solo trekker on Standard has no porter, because porters are shared between two. Your guide carries up to 10 kg of your bag. On Luxury a solo trekker still has a porter. Budget never has one. You can add a porter on any tier for USD 25 a day plus 13% VAT and the 3.5% bank charge, USD 29.24 a day in all.

What is not in the price

International flights, your Nepal visa (USD 50 for 30 days on arrival), travel insurance bought at home that covers trekking to 5,500 m and helicopter evacuation, your Kathmandu hotel (quoted separately), tips for your team, and on Budget your meals. For the cost breakdown see Kanchenjunga trek cost.

Permits

Kanchenjunga is a restricted area, so you need a licensed guide. We arrange and include three permits: the Kanchenjunga Restricted Area Permit (USD 20 per person per week for the first four weeks, then USD 25), the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area Permit (KCAP, NPR 2,000, SAARC NPR 500) and a TIMS card (NPR 2,000, SAARC NPR 1,000). Please send us a passport copy and your insurance certificate within a week of booking.

Best time

The best months are October to November and March to May. See best time month by month and what changed on the teahouse trek in 2026.

How hard is it?

Very strenuous. Several days are 7 to 9 hours, you sleep above 4,700 m, and the trek is long. You need very good fitness. Read distance and difficulty and Kanchenjunga vs Manaslu.

Questions people ask

How many days is the Kanchenjunga Base Camp trek?

19 days with us by air to Bhadrapur, or 21 days by road. The trail part is 15 days in both.

How much does it cost?

From USD 1,720 per person on Budget, USD 3,335 on Standard and USD 5,515 on Luxury for 2 to 4 people. Solo is USD 2,795, 4,140 and 7,865.

How high is Kanchenjunga Base Camp?

North Base Camp is 5,140 m. South Base Camp at Oktang is 4,730 m.

Which permits do I need?

The Restricted Area Permit, the KCAP and a TIMS card. We arrange all three.

Can I go solo?

Yes, with a licensed guide, since the 22 March 2026 rule change.

How do I book, and what if my plans change?

A 10% deposit confirms your dates, and we cover the 3.5% card charge on it. You pay the balance in Kathmandu in US dollars or euros, cash or card (card carries 3.5%). The deposit is not refunded if you cancel, but you can move your trip free to any date within a year with 72 hours' notice (7 days for restricted areas). If we cannot run the trip, we refund what you paid less taxes, bank and card charges and money already spent.

Next step

Message me on WhatsApp, +977 9810351300 with your dates and how many of you are going, and I will send you a plan and a price. We are a family company, independent since 2016, with three generations of family guides behind us, and a four-time TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice winner (2019, 2020, 2023, 2024). Every booking helps pay the teacher's salary at our Nagarjun Learning Center. The trek page is here: Kanchenjunga Base Camp trek, 19 days.