Olangchung Gola Trek

Drive from Kathmandu to Hille via Dhankuta. You camp for the night.

Rest at Olangchung Gola. Olangchung (3,200m) in Tamur valley with Kangbachenga (4038) in Ghunsa valley are the highest settlements in the area. The latter was an important trading center between the towns of Darjeeling and Tipta La in Tibet. You camp for the night.

You explore the upper reach of Tamur and cross Nangola (4802m) to reach Gunsa. You camp for the night.

Trek from Ghunsa to Kambachen (4124m.) takes about seven hours. The trail makes a gradual ascent along the south bank of the Gunsa Khola, then crosses a boulder strewn flood plain and crosses back to Rambuk Kharka on the north side of the river. Once on the opposite side, the trail passes a waterfall then makes a short, steep ascent to a very unstable steep slope.

Trek from Kambachen to Lhonak (4780m.) and it takes about seven hours. The trail climbs gradually through open rocky fields to Ramtang at 4240m, then across moraines north-west of the Kanchenjunga Glacier. Lhonak, at 4790m is a dry lake bed on an open, sandy plain. There are no houses, but you can camp among the large boulders to avoid the wind. Terrific mountain views abound in all directions. You camp for the night.

Trek from Lhonak to North Base-camp. From Lhonak, the trail ascends gradually across the plain, and then becomes a bit steeper as it follows the moraine. You can drop off the moraine and follow the bottom of the valley to avoid the steeper section. The views are dramatic, but you cannot see Kanchenjunga or Wedge Peak until you are near Peng Pema. The spectacular main peak of Kanchenjunga, and a panorama of other peaks that make up one of the largest mountain masses in the world, tower over the single roofless hut at Pang Pema. You camp for the night.