Trip Overview

At 28,198 Ft. Kanchenjunga (Treasure of the Snow) is the third highest mountain the world; it was first climbed by the British in 1956. Lying on the Nepal, Sikkim border, the lush, rich landscape of the Kanchenjunga area is an ideal environment for musk deer, blue sheep and the infamous yeti. Few westerners have traveled to this remote area.

We will fly from Kathmandu to Biratnagar and then on over the Terai plain and mountains to the airfield at Teplejung. From here we will begin our trek, following a route along a ridge top towards the Tamur River where will enjoy panoramic views of Makalu (27,825ft) and Chamlang (24,000ft) peaks. We will continue through forests and rhododendron thickets and soon the Kanchenjunga range will appear. Our route will continue up the Tamur River through Limbu villages (where we can share a pot of tongba!) to the terraced mountainside village of Amjilassa and the legendary Sherpa village of Ghunsa (11,400ft). We will visit the monastery there and soon have our first glimpse of the sea of unclimbed peaks including Jannu (25,298ft), known as “Mystery Peak” or “Terror”. We will trek to the edge of Kanchenjunga Glacier and, after crossing the lateral moraine, will come to the junction of Lhonak Glacier (15,680ft) and the valley. We cut across at this junction and arrive at our campsite at Lhonak. There are no words to describe the magnificence of this undisturbed landscape.