Trip Overview

Nepal opened the Kanchenjunga area to trekkers in 1988, though people had trekked in the area with mountaineering expeditions since the turn of the century. Kanchenjunga is a long way from Kathmandu and the nearest roads and airports are a long way from the mountain. You can trek either to the north or south Kanchenjunga Base Camp, but it takes luck, determination and a lot of time to visit both sides of the peak. Kanchenjunga is on the border of Nepal and the Indian state of Sikkim, so circuit of the mountain is politically impossible. It is difficult to cross either the Lapsing La or Margin La.

The Kanchenjunga region is the home of the Limbus. A relative of the Rais, Limbus dominate the region east of the Arun Koshi and few live elsewhere. Limbu men wear a distinctive, tall top, Nepali cap that is much more colourful than that worn by other Nepalese.