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Day 1
Arrival in Kathmandu and transfer to hotel
If it’s a clear day when you are flying into Kathmandu, then your tour begins right from the skies itself. The sights from the windows of your jet shows us glimmering snow-capped mountain peaks spread out down below us, giving us the first thrills of our just begun vacation, sparking off a whole reaction of unforgettable experiences that stay with us for some time to come. As soon as your plane hits the tarmac of Tribhuwan International Airport, ABC and EBC Treks office representative and driver will be on standby to meet and greet you at the airport and escort you to your hotel. The rep will help you check into your designated hotel, and after going to our rooms and refreshing ourselves we will be briefed about our venture. The rest of your time is free to move around the neighborhood and get familiar with your surroundings. In the evening we will meet our senior trek guide who will brief the group about details related to our trek. Your first overnight in the ancient city of temples, probably the most in the world. Breakfast
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Day 2
Full Day sightseeing of KTM Durbar Square, Swoyambhunath and Boudhanath
After a good night’s sleep and enjoying a hearty b/fast, we proceed for our tour of Basantapur Durbar Square. Recorded by UNESCO as a cultural World Heritage site, Kathmandu Durbar Square is a bunch of medieval temples, palaces, courtyards and streets that date back to the 12th and 18th centuries. within this square we will find Hanumandhoka Palace Museum, Taleju Temple, Kumari Ghar (House of the Living Goddess), Kasthamandap and other temples and buildings as old as the city itself; from here we head for a tour of the famous Boudhanath Stupa {said to be the largest in the world) and a major centre of Tibetan culture in Kathmandu. The stupa is designed to be like a giant mandala (a representation of the Buddhist cosmos).
We next drive down to Swayambhunath {popularly known as Monkey Temple} “Swayambhu” means “self-created” and refers to the myth that the hill sprung up suddenly from a great lake that once covered Kathmandu Valley. Our next destination is Pashupatinath Temple. This temple is dedicated to Hindu deity Lord Shiva and is said to be the most holy Hindu shrine in Nepal. Hereabouts we see a cremation ritual of Hindus at ‘Aryaghat’, the cremation area of the temple. This cremation site is used for the once royal family of Nepal and also for the simple Nepalese people who live within the country. We return back to our hotel, refresh, do some shopping for our trek the next day, have an early supper and retire to bed – Breakfast.
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Day 3
Kathmandu / Biratnagar by airplane and by bus to Taplejung and Suketar 2300m.
After breakfast, we drive to the domestic airport for our flight to Biratnagar. On touching down at Biratnagar we will drive down to Taplejung and then a brief distance further to the airstrip at Suketar. On arrival we meet the trekking crew and then set up our tents for the night. Overnight camping - (B, L, D).
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Day 4
Suketar / Kunjari 1928m. About 7 hours.
After enjoying our first meal of the day, we hit the trails with a cross along the steep route to Pokhara village; captivating terraced farmland unfolds soon after crossing an airy suspension bridge above the Phawa Khola. The route further leads to Kunjari where we haul up for lunch, some rest and after exploring the area, we set up our tents for the night. B. L. D
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Day 5
Kunjari / Mamangkhe 1920m.about 7 hours.
Our path continues its fluctuations up, down, over, or around the big ridges on the west side of the Kabeli Khola, crossing tributaries of the main river on the way. As you pass through terraced fields and forested areas, there is always the anticipation of further views of the high mountains appearing at any time. One great view is of Jannu from the ridge crest at Ponpe Dhara. We continue our descent along a meandering path, as we pass through the village of Anpan and terraced fields along Khangwa Khola. We arrive at a suspension bridge. We cross the bridge and continue descending the undulating mountain passes till we reach the village of Mamankhe for the night. B. L. D
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Day 6
Mamangkhe / Yamphudin 2080m. 5 hours.
After breakfast, we hit the trails with a cool climb; our hike down to Yamphudin is along a path which contours a hillock above the Kabeli Khola. We cross ridges and hop, step and jump stream beds that make up the valley sides and the trail finally gets level with the river a couple of hours before Yamphudin. Along the way, we can haul up to bathe in one of the many clean pools in this lovely river. It is a truly a relaxing spot and after lunch by the river, we complete the day's walk to Yamphudin. Yamphudin is the most remote settlement in this area and the last human environment we will see until we reach Gunsa. Nevertheless, it is a charming place tucked away beneath the ridge of the Deurali Danda, which we must wade across the next day. We set up our tents at Yamphudin for the night. B. L. D
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Day 7
Yamphudin / Amjekhola 2460m. About 6 hours.
From Yamphudin our trail climbs through slushy forest to the pass at Lamite Bhanjyang and then descends to the Amje Khola. After crossing the Dubi Pass and we descend down directly to Amjekhola. This village is a wonderful grouping of different ethnic communities of Sherpas, Rais, Limbus and Gurungs and we also come across the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area office. We haul up for the night in our tents – B. L. D
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Day 8
Amjekhola / Toronde 2890m. About 5 ½ hours
After breakfast, we leave our campsite to ascend steeply for 3 hours through thick forest to the crest of the Deorali Danda. From the top, Mt Jannu is wonderfully seen. After crossing the pass, we descend across some pretty steep and exposed scree slopes before re-entering the forest, where we will haul up for lunch. After lunch we rest up a bit and then from our camp, we trek down to Toronde at (2890m) in the valley of the Simbua Khola. We set up our campsite amidst tall fir trees which is now a mainly coniferous alpine forest. Reckon it’s a good place to haul up for the night – B. L. D
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Day 9
Toronde / Tserma 3870m. About 5 hours.
After checking out from Toronde, we trundle along a riverside trail, trekking through pine and rhododendron forest to Tseram (3870m). There are fantastic views of the Yalung Glacier and of Kabru and Rathong from hereabouts. We set up our camps at Tserma, where night-time temperatures tend to dip, reminding us that we are slowly but surely gaining height. B. L. D
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Day 10
Tserma / Ramche 4580m. About 6 hours.
Our day begins with a refreshingly brief day to our next camp at Ramche. The scenery is just awesome as we ascend past the snout of the Yalung Glacier and into a series of ablation valleys that seem to be feeling the effects of global warming. A frozen lake, crystal clear streams from melting snow and views of Kokthan, Rathong and Kabru are the centers of attraction of this walk into Ramche, which is situated on a broad, flat ablation zone. We stop in Ramche for the night – B. L.D
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Day 11
Ramche / Yalung B.C. 5400m. About 6 ½ hours
This extended off-track route will lead us to the higher elevations of the trek. We need to be determined and enjoy the spirit of adventure, as tough as it gets. The crossing of high passes needs good weather, and of course ideal logistical support. Today gives us some good acclimatization with the higher altitude. Overnight in our tented camps B. L. D
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Day 12
Yalung BC / Ramche 4580m. About 5 hours.
After breakfast, it’s a pretty brisk day's hike to our next camp at Ramche. The scenery is awesome as we ascend past the snout of the Yalung Glacier and into a series of ablation valleys. A frozen lake, with sparkling clear streams and views of Kokthan, Rathong and Kabru are some the central attractions of this walk into Ramche which physically sits on a broad, flat ablation zone. B. L. D
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Day 13
Ramche / Toronde 2890m. About 7 hours.
As we descend from Ramche to Toronde, we initially run into two trails. One trail is the one we took while descending down from Sele Le. However, we get of this route and descend further down to the path alongside the Simbuwa Khola. We enjoy the lush rhododendron forest along the way till we reach Toronde after a pretty lengthy hike. We set up our tents and get set for the night – B, L. D
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Day 14
Toronde / Amjekhola 2460m. About 6 hours.
From Toronde our trek now continues into lush glens and steadily climbs its way for several good hours. After the steady climb, the trail now heads into another valley with verdant green forests and a very steep climb finally brings us to Amjekhola for an overnight crash out in our tents – B. L. D
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Day 15
Amjekhola / Yamphudin 2080m. About 5 hours.
While descending from Amjekhola to Yamphudin we pass through Lasiya Bhanjyang which integrates our hiking up through trees and areas of landslides. The terrain changes after every monsoon but by the middle of October it should be dried up with a route through. Walking further down we reach the village of Yamphudin, a village inhabited by Sherpas, Limbus and Rais, interesting and friendly ethnic communities. Overnight in our tents – B. L. D
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Day 16
Yamphudin / Mamangkhe 5 hours.
As we head out of Yamphudin, we go by an adventurous route to Nandeva Khola. After crossing the river, we trudge along the glaciated mountain passes. Further ahead, the route winds through dense forest and the village of Loppoding. We come across shady areas where we can rest for a while after strenuous trekking. The winding trail then takes us to the right bank of the Kabeli Khola. After a while, terraced fields reappear and the village of Anpan comes into view. We continue ascending till we reach Ponpe Dhara. There are shady areas on the way where we can haul up for a breather. As we proceed along the trail, we see several hamlets and terraced fields stretch along the crest of the ridge. There is a rest area where we can pause for a while to bask in the captivating sight of Mt. Jannu. We continue our descent along the winding path, as we pass through the village of Anpan and terraced fields along Khangwa Khola. We arrive at a suspension bridge. We cross the bridge and continue descending the undulating mountain passes till we reach the village of Mamankhe. Overnight in our tents – B. L. D
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Day 17
Mamangkhe / khesewa 2120m. About 6 hours.
On checking out of Mamangkhe, we traverse the hillside by a short way, and then descend to the village of Pakora along the Phawa Khola, crossing a suspension bridge before beginning the steep climb up towards Kunjari. We haul up for Lunch someplace below Kunjari. The afternoon's walk takes us on a short distance over the crest of the ridge to our campsite at Khesewa. We get our first views of Kanchenjunga, and reckon we should be able to clearly make out the south and main summit along with Yalung Kang. Overnight in our tented camps - B. L. D
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Day 18
Khesewa / Suketar 2300m. About 7 ½ hours
After breakfast, we hit the trail by descending to the Pha Khola and then we climb steeply through Pokhara and Shimu villages to Thenbewa. It then continues through forest to Lali Kharka and onto a ridge from where it descends gradually to the airfield at Suketar. All in all, we have now accomplished a gripping journey around the Nepalese side of Kanchenjunga! It’s then an overnight in tents – B. L. D
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Day 19
Suketar / Biratnagar and Katmandu by airplane
After breakfast, a 4- 5 hours drive from Suketar will bring us to Biratnagar and then we take a flight to Kathmandu and Transfer to our hotel and a warm soft bed. Overnight at our hotel in Kathmandu - breakfast
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Day 20
Free day in Kathmandu
This is spare day is reserved for contingencies incase the flight to Kathmandu is delayed. We have the option to extend our trip to continue onto Chitwan for a jungle safari, rafting adventure, a Kathmandu valley shopping tour, scenic Everest flight, mountain biking or any other activities you’d like to do. At eventide, we will have a farewell dinner at a traditional Nepalese restaurant with cultural dance performances performed by the local belles. (Your guide(s) and an office staff will accompany you.) Overnight at a hotel in Kathmandu – Breakfast and a complimentary supper
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Day 21
Drive to the Airport to head back to that lovely place we call ‘home’’
After b/fast, our rep and office vehicle will be on standby at our hotel to transfer us to the airport for our connecting flight home. Serving you was a wonderful joy and pleasure, we at ABC and EBC Treks will cherish the bonds of our relationship created over the time you spent with us and we thank you for choosing us as your travel partner and for visiting this amazing country Nepal. We are sure that trekking in this beautiful area of the Kangchenjunga region will give you lifetime memories of a vacation well enjoyed. Farewell friends! Till we meet again. Breakfast
