Do you want to feel the full power of pristine nature and majestic mountains? Do you want to completely break away from civilization and test yourself in hiking conditions? Then our Kanchenjunga Trek via Selele Pass is what you are looking for.
Come and join us today as we will be heading to the Kanchenjunga North (5143 m) and South base camps (4730 m) to see the snow-white Himalayas, mystical villages and monasteries shrouded in many secrets and legends. We will go through snow-covered passes of Selele, Sinion La, Mirgin La, and Sinelapcha La and also walk through the fascinating national park of Kanchenjunga.
We will walk through such route of Kanchenjunga Trek via Selele Pass which boasts sensational views of numerous snow dusted Peaks. Such as Sobi Thongje, Langpo Glacier, Jannu Himal, Ghabur Peak, Drohma Ri, Phole Peak, Baruntse, Chamlang, Langpo Glacier, and Makalu. Thus it is well under the advocacy of the World Wide Fund For Nature.
Accessible to travelers since 1988, the Kanchenjunga Trek via Selele Pass also offers a unique experience at high elevations, where even the Sherpas, the authentic mountain inhabitants, choose to live only in the summer months.
In addition, we will also encounter traditional villages inhabited by the Limbus and Rais, who are part of the Kiranti tribe, as well as the Sherpa community, known for their Buddhist heritage. This trip will also give us the opportunity to taste authentic Ilam tea and experience its unique atmosphere during our overnight stay.
We won’t lie, our Kanchenjunga Trek via Selele Pass is going to be challenging with long transitions and several passes, but there will also be many scenic spots to enjoy making this trip sure to be memorable.
How does our journey begin?
After a day of preparation for the trip, we will take a panoramic 45-minute flight to the Terai city of Bhadrapur. Then two-day drive will take us through Phidim and Sekathum from where our walk begins to Amjilosa, Gyabla, Ghunsa, Khambachen, and Lhonak.
After exploring the Pangpema base camp, we will walk back to Lhonak and advance to the southern camp after we tackle the Selele Pass, Sinion La Pass, Mirgin La Pass, and Sinelapcha La Pass.
Taking a different route, we will travel the villages of Ramche and descend to Hellok from where a jeep will return us to Bhadrapur, from where a small plane will fly us back to Kathmandu.
Welcome to the medieval yet modern city of Kathmandu. Our representative with the company name will meet you at the exit of TIA and take you to the hotel in the capital.
Please take your time to restore your energy and recover from the jetlag. If you have time, you can take the first taste of the city’s lively atmosphere by roaming around Thamel or Durbar Marga.
Our tour leader will reach out to you at the hotel lobby after you have your breakfast. Then, we will get to know each other, and our group members after which our tour guide will explain about the Kanchenjunga Trek via the Selele Pass trip program.
Then our team after receiving your documents will prepare for tomorrow’s departure by flight and will also issue the permits necessary for the trip.
Then the remnant time will be dedicated to visiting the important historical sites of the capital including Kathmandu Main Square, Swayambhunath, Pashupatinath, and Boudhanath.
If someone needs to buy more equipment, there will be time for it. Please sleep early as our next day will start early morning.
We will drive to TIA to take an early morning flight to Bhadrapur. In 45 minutes, we will fly over the cherished Kanchenjunga and Lhotse Himals ultimately landing at the small airport of Bhadrapur town.
Our friendly team with a warm smile welcomes us and arranges our luggage. Then, we will head off for the small town of Phidim in a comfortable four-wheel transport.
Driving along the remarkable Mechi Highway, we will get a brief glimpse of hilly Illam decorated with its rich green tea gardens. Then the dense bamboo jungle will guide us towards Nepalthok.
Bumping and crossing the three hilly passes of little less than 2500 m, we will drive down to Phidim enjoying the impressive views of Kumbhakarna/Jannu Himal and Kanchenjunga itself.
Once we eat our breakfast, we will again get into our transport and drive following the Mechi Highway. We will arrive at the beautiful town of Taplejung known for the famous Pathibhara Temple. We can take a brief detour of the temple on the way.
The Highway soon transforms into a steep path running parallel to the amazing Tamur Khola. The steep trail will guide us through the rural settlements of Mitlung, Sinuwa, Tawa, and Chirwa.
The beautiful fragrance of Cardamom meets us as we enter the Taplethok. The checkpost here will examine our permits after which we will now step into the beautiful National Park of Kanchenjunga.
The road continues to rise sharply as we head to Sekathum passing through Lelep.
Today, our walking part of the route begins. Our walking trail will wind along the northern bank of Ghunsa Khola, leading us ever closer to the goal of our trekking. We will overcome a steep climb to Ghayabari (2150m), which resembles a stone staircase above a steep cliff.
At the top, a cascading waterfall awaits our visit. We will now proceed downward making our way past the Jongim and Solima slopes. From here, the road rises but not sharp so we will steadily climb the grassy Chanjalung Danda (2530m), from where we will see the first panorama of the snow-capped Himalayas. We will now go down towards our lodge at Amjilosa.
Today we have an easy transition with a gentle and picturesque ascent. As we make our progress along the route, we will notice the tropical forest is slowly being replaced by alpine paddocks.
The Thanyani village will receive us along the route thus guiding us towards the gushing waterfalls. Then, walking along the ups and downs route, the Sherpa Village of Gyabla will finally be at the horizon surrounded by thick bamboo groves. Don’t forget to look up for the cute pandas resting and eating the bamboo leaves.
After eating our breakfast, we will follow the descending road that will take us to the river. Then we will climb a local ridge where a wooden monastery is beautifully seated which we will explore of course.
Now, our guiding road passes through the deciduous forest towards 3250 m high Phale Village which serves as the summer dwelling for the residents.
Next, we will walk over the long steel bridge to cross the raging Ghunsa Khola stepping into the Upper Tamur Valley. The winter settlement of Ghunsa is finally arrived which gives us the feeling of a small Tibet. The small villages have large shops and small hydroelectric plant. On its border is the checkpoint.
Today, we will mainly focus on our acclimatization to an altitude of more than 3500 m. We will climb the 3950 m high Viewpoint near Ghunsa where we can admire the beautiful sparkling peak of Jannu.
We will also visit the local Lepasan La Gompa and walk around the village, its shops, and the hydroelectric power station.
The path after the lodge in Ghunsa will lead us along the southern shore of the Ghunsa Khola. Under the cover of juniper and larch trees, we will slowly walk up to the top of the 3720 m high Rambuk Kharka.
What a view from up here! The remarkable Himals of Phole, Jannu, Ghabur, and Sobi Thongje are some of the illuminating peaks that will urge us to spend some time at the top.
Now, a shaky metal bridge will walk us over the Ghunsa Khola and lead us down along the loose pebbles and stones. We have reached Khambachen, a nice place to rest our feet for the night.
The stubborn rising path will not stop until we climb up towards rocky peaks covered in eternal ice. On the way, numerous Buddhist Chortens will be encountered as we keep on walking upward towards the 4350 m high Ramtang pasture. The Chang Himal shows its beautiful face here.
Next, the route passes alongside the side of the Kanchenjunga Glacier. After we cross the small river to the mouth of the Lhonak glacie, we will reach the Lhonak Village standing on the shore of the Lhonak Lake.
There are several stone houses surrounded by rugged rocks but the views are astounding. Gimmigela (6415 m), Mera, Kirant Chuli/Tent Peak (7364 m), and Kanchenjunga are specifically enchanting.
Today, we have a sensational journey to the base camp of the third peak of the world. We will head along the glacial and slippery trail along the ridge till we reach the leveled alpine paddock. The route is now almost stable but we have to pass the loose stone so a caution is needed.
We are now at North Base Camp known locally as Pangpema. The uprising Himals of Yalung Kang (8510 m), Chang Peak (6750 m), Taple Shikar (6,341 m), Langpo Glacie, Ramtang Peak (6700 m), Drohma Ri, and the esteemed Kanchenjunga itself will captivate us with their beauty.
Unfortunately, after some notable moments, we will have to walk back to our lodge in Lhonak taking us around 3 to 4 hours more.
An easy transition awaits us today as we make our way down towards Ghunsa. Traversing the known villages of Ramtang and Khambachen, we will walk on an easy route to reach Ghunsa where we will once again rest in the small stone house.
Slowly, we are approaching the Kanchenjunga south base camp. But to reach the southern base camp, we will have to overcome four passes in total which are not too challenging but they are prominently high.
However, today, we will have a monotonous climb of about 800 m. First, we will go through a beautiful forest, and then the path opens up and leads us to the ridge from which the Ghunsa Khola Valley opens up in front.
We will then climb downward towards the Sele Le Base Camp which has some stone houses serving as a tea house for the guests. Sele La in the warmth and sunlight looks like a paradise. When the climate is stable, we can see Makalu, Manaslu, and a small part of Everest as well.
Today is the toughest phase of our Kanchenjunga Trek via Selele Pass as we will be conquering not one, not two, not three, but four high passes. Starting from Selele Base Camp, we will climb along the challenging rocky and snowy path to finally summit the 4480 m high Sele La Pass.
Now, one by one, we will climb up and down the three Passes namely Sinion La at 4646 m, Mirgin La at 4480 m, and the final pass of Sinelapcha Bhanjyang at 4830 m. The route leading to these Passes goes through the icy moraines and here and there, we will also meet the thickets of junipers and rhododendron bushes.
The views from all these Passes are however extremely lavish with Jannu, Chamlang, Kanchenjunga, Makalu, and even Everest.
After the extraordinary views, we will have to tackle the most difficult section as we have to overcome the steep descent from the last pass to Tseram losing 800 m over 2.5 km.
It’s time to complete our circuit trek around Kanchenjunga. The steady climbing trail runs side by side of the Simbua Khola. There are many Mani Prayer walls and small pyramids of ritual stones signifying the spiritual meaning of the place.
Next, we will follow the Yalung Glacier which guide us towards Ramche Village. Don’t forget to give a glance at the beautiful panorama of Kabru Himal and Rathong Himal.
The route again climbs slowly to the Oktang Observation Deck from which we can see the Kanchenjunga South Base Camp sitting quietly on a glacier.
Now following the eternal ice, we will move on to the south base camp from where the harmonious picture of its southern wall of Kanchenjunga (8586 m) smiles at us at picture-perfect position. The other two peaks of Kanchenjunga massif at 8420 m and 8474 m are also visible from here.
There are no lodges in the south base camp, if you want to spend the night here, we will have to do so in tents. So after admiring the cherished Peak, we will now walk back to our lodge at Ramche enjoying the solitude, silence, and originality of the place.
Our downhill walk today is short but incredibly beautiful: the blooming rhododendrons amaze with their colors. Marching downward, the route will lead us to the gorge. We will cross the gorge and reach the Y-shaped junction point where the right path runs to the Sele Le Pass.
Obviously, we will take the left turn and walk parallel to the Simbuwa River. We will pass the Anda Phedi from where it is a few hours down hike toward Tortong- a restful village for the warm night.
Most of the trekkers from Tortong favor the path through Yamphudin. But we will take a shorter route bypassing the village to reach Hellok. The descent can be pretty tough as we have to lose almost 1300 m altitude within 6 to 7 hours.
The road again follows the Simbuwa Khola but this time the landscape will be richer with bamboo and rhododendron trees. Hiking down along the scenic trail will take us about 5 hours to reach Yasang Village from where Hellok is only 2 to 3 hours far.
Finishing up the walking part of our Kanchenjunga Trek via Selele Pass tour, we will now set to start the comfortable return trip in a jeep along the scenic Highway towards Ilam. Passing by Phidim and Nepalthok, we will eventually arrive at the expansive tea gardens of Ilam – a delightful village to spend the night.
An early morning tea and breakfast in greenly painted Ilam is unexplainable in words. The Mechi Highway delights us again as it takes us to the Bhadrapur Airport within 3 hours. We will now once again fly over the snow-dusted peaks to reach TIA. We will leave you in your hotel where the coziness of your room make your exhausted bodies relax after a long trip.
Every remarkable journey must come to an end and so does our journey. Today, you will be leaving Nepal and going back to your home. We sincerely hope we have served you well throughout the trip. We will see you off at TIA and hope to see you again.
We also operate private trips.
If you ask us the most ideal time for the Kanchenjunga Trek via Selele Pass, then we suggest you the autumn period from September to November. The days last longer, the weather is milder, and the passes will be without snow, making their crossing easier.
However, if you can’t make it in the autumn, you can also undertake this trip in Spring from March to May. The spring time is slightly less popular than autumn due to the high probability of snow on the passes and cooler weather. However, it is in spring that the number of tourists is minimal, and you can see the flowering of rhododendrons – the calling card of Nepal.
In winter (December to January), most lodges will be closed, and the main part of the track will turn into an autonomous mountain hike with a tent, self-cooking, snow, and temperatures well below zero. The summer season (June to August) is also questionable due to monsoon rains and a large number of mud flows and rockfalls along the route.
The Kanchenjunga Trek via Selele Pass covers a total distance of 220 km and requires a minimum of three weeks to complete. The first part of the journey will lead us to the North Kanchenjunga base camp, which is also the highest elevated point of our trip at 5143 m.
The next stage will take us to the South base camp of Kanchenjunga, standing at 4730 m. Our highest overnight resting spot will be at Lhonak village, situated at 4780m. Our expedition begins from Bhadrapur, which is 297 km farther from Kathmandu and can be reached by a short 45-minute flight. The trek officially starts from Sekathum, which is 245 km farther from Kathmandu.
The Kanchenjunga trek via Selele pass is a 20-day journey, with 13 days dedicated to hiking. We will traverse through diverse landscapes including vertical ascending and descending, and walking through thick jungles. Every day, we will walk for approximate 5 to 6 hours, covering 15 to 20 km.
The easiest day is on the fifth day when we travel from Sekathum to Amjilosha, while the most challenging day will be the 11th day when we walk for 7 to 8 hours to North base camp of Kanchenjunga from Lhonak, followed by a return to the village after exploring the camp.
The Kanchenjunga trek via Selele Pass is undeniably a challenging and demanding journey leading us to the secluded Kanchenjunga region of Nepal. It is a tea house trek but the route leading to the two base camps of the Kanchenjunga Peak traverses through the rugged landscapes of Nepal, which requires multiple steep ascents and descents and overcoming some of the high passes of the region.
Although the crossing of the passes may not be overly difficult, but all of them are above 4000 m altitude thus we will definitely feel the altitude. However, we have scheduled a rest day at Ghunsa and carefully planned minimal walking duration throughout the trip to facilitate gradual acclimatization.
No, we don’t advise first-timers to undertake the Kanchenjunga trek via Selele Pass for their introductory high-altitude trek in Nepal. Please gain insight into the high mountain altitude trek in Nepal through Everest or Annapurna Trek first which are comfortable and considered moderate hiking adventures suitable for newcomers in Nepal.
This trip not only involves rugged and difficult terrain but also crossing of the four high mountain passes each standing above 4000 m. In addition, the overnight resting spot will be very basic and most of the nights will be spent at the villages standing above 3000 m. On the other hand, the harsh mountain air at base camps will not make the trip easy.
An active life with a regular exercise routine is definitely a plus for our Kanchenjunga trek via Selele pass. Activities like treadmill walks, walking, running, swimming, biking, squatting, and several other endurance and strength-building exercises will certainly help you to walk for longer hours in a day.
However, these exercises may not fully prepare you for the challenges of high-elevation hiking. Therefore, we strongly recommend you to engage in trekking in the high mountains first in your familiar surroundings., then join some comfortable trekking trips in Nepal such as Ghorepani trek, EBC, and ABC trek.
This will help you understand the practical implications of high-altitude trekking and mentally and physically prepare you for the journey.
The Kanchenjunga trek via Selele Pass is distinguished by its variability and the ability to either extend or shorten the route depending on your strength and desire. In principle, there are two options: first to the northern base camp and then through three passes to the southern one or in the opposite direction. We have here chosen the first option with a visit to the northern base camp since this part of the trek has more opportunities for good acclimatization.
But you can also trek to the South base camp first and then to the North base camp of Kanchenjunga. However, the route will pose a risk of a quick transition to high altitude.
On the other hand, you can also cut short your trip by trekking either to the North or South Base Camp of the peak.
Altitude sickness is a common occurrence during this trek, almost all trekkers do feel the altitude at some point. It is, therefore, necessary to take acclimatization very seriously, that’s why we have planned two nights at Ghunsa Village.
We must follow the golden rule of acclimatization to prevent altitude sickness. During the acclimating walk, we will ascent 500 m to the nearest Viewpoint and spend some time there, then we will go down for the night.
Also, you should remain active during the acclimatization: move more, so the body can more easily adapt to the altitude. The manifestation of mild symptoms of altitude sickness, such as headache, slight malaise, digestive disorders, and restless sleep, is relatively normal if there is no deterioration with subsequent gain in altitude.
Our team will always have a first aid kit with medications such as Diamox needed to combat symptoms. However, in case of deterioration in health or persistence of symptoms, our team member will immediately take you down where you will feel comfortable enough.
We are a reputable travel and trek agency in Nepal known for reliability and credible services. Our goal is to make your every adventure to Nepal a beautiful memorable journey. When you book any trip with us, you don’t have to worry about managing any logistic details as we will manage all your lodging, travel, and meal expenses.
Throughout the trip, you will have a comfortable private drive from the airport to your hotel and back. We also provide private transportation from Bhadrapur to Sekathum and from Hellok to Bhadrapur. Additionally, we will arrange your domestic flight from the capital to Bhadrapur and vice versa.
Accommodation in Kathmandu will be in three three-star standard hotels with bed and breakfast service. Accommodation throughout the trek takes place in lodges and small guest houses with minimalist conditions. Breakfast, dinner, and lunch are included with tea or coffee with every meal, and fresh fruits every evening.
The choice of food on the trek is not very rich, but no one will go hungry. Mostly Tibetan cuisine, pasta, and potatoes are offered.
When you are in Kathmandu, you won’t have any issues regarding mobile communication and internet. But as the journey progresses, mobile service might become limited. Please get the Namaste network SIM Card in place of NCELL as it has better coverage in the villages of Kanchenjunga. In many lodges, you can also make use of a satellite phone to communicate at extra cost in case of an emergency.
Don’t forget to bring your own power banks for charging and charge them whenever you can at the lodges. As for the internet, please activate the NTC internet data packages as the lodges often lack WIFI connectivity.
We also cover the process of securing the required permits and their associated fees as part of our service. The needed permits are the Restricted Area Entry Permit (Rap) and the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area Project Entry Permit (KCAP) for the Kanchenjunga Trek via Selele Pass.
(Note: first aid kits & medicine will be carried with our company’s guide during the trekking However, we recommend you bring your personal first-aid kit)
The cost of our Kanchenjunga Trek via Selele Pass trip is $2799 and requires a group size of at least 2 people.
We won’t stay in tents since we won’t be spending nights at base camps either north or south.
You will not come across crowds of trekkers and giant caravans of mules and yaks along the route. It’s not a linear route where you have to walk again and again along the same path. But it’s not a circle either, more like an A turned on its side. The local population has not yet been spoiled by tourists, you will not be looked at as a wallet.
The Kanchenjunga north base camp presents a relatively more challenging and lengthier trek than the south base camp.

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