On arrival in Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport, you will be met by our staff from Himalayan Envpro Treks. After formal greetings you will be transferred to your pre-booked hotel. Then you will be briefed about your trip. You’ll have rest of the day at leisure. You will also be issued duffel bags, down jackets and sleeping bags following a short briefing and introduction to our trek staff. At the evening there will be a welcome dinner.

Today we will have some briefings and discussions about the trek. You will also meet your trekking guide and other crews. We will also discuss the trekking and accessories That you will need. We can help you to get some travel accessories if you need them. (You can purchase or rent them in trekking gear stores in and around Thamel area near your hotel). We will also apply for your trekking permits. You need conservation area permit and special permit for this trek.

The flight from kathmandu to Bhadrapur takes about 45 mins and we can enjoy the Himalayan panorama. From Bhadrapur we shall drive to Ilam along the undulating countryside with picturesque tea-estates. We shall have lunch on the way in Illam then resume our drive going through the town of Phidim then to Taplejung later in the evening. We arrive around 6 pm. We shall spend the first night either in the camp or in a local hotel in Taplejung.

We drive from Taplejung meandering downhill to the left bank of the Tamor River and pass through various Limbu villages such as Chiruwa, Lelep, Tapethok and finally reach Sekathum in about 5 hrs. and we shall have lunch enroute or after arrival at Sekathum.

We hope the outline of Jannu first thing in the morning at the head of the valley. The first part of the walk this morning is up along the right bank of the Ghusa Khola then at certain point we cross to the left bank. About an hour's walk we then re-cross the river back to the right bank, shortly afterwards we shall stop for the lunch. After lunch we shall walk up the winding path to Amjilass, our camp for the night. We drink no chhang tonight as it is high altitude. Mothers group may approach us for the cultural show tonight.

The trail to Gyapla is a pleasant change from the dangerous mountainsides we had crossed yesterday. First a walk through a rhododendron garden with red, pink and white flowers floating above the gorge of the Ghunsa Khola far below, followed by bamboo thickets which looked as if leopards could be hiding in them somewhere. Many birds will be whistling and singing this morning and every now and again a little stream would cut across the trail and some beautiful waterfalls ending in a clear pool come down the hillside. We may discover a lovely orchid attached to a rock and perhaps take a photo of it. Our lunch stop is well chosen - near a waterfall and rockpool which merges with the wild Ghunsa Khola, now at a higher altitude than before. Rather than go for a swim you may wish to go into the water up to your knees - it is icy. Up to here the weather has been very warm day and night with the odd afternoon shower, although from tomorrow we will be at higher altitudes and things should cool down. There will be talk that the local mothers group will put on a "song and dance" show this evening. We shall see what happens.... At 7.30 p.m. we go into the house to see what the mothers group has arranged. We sit here in a special place and accept cups of chyang. Then the Sherpa girls sing a welcome song while doing a special forward and backward step and then put white katas around our necks. Then the Sherpa style singing and dancing starts, so that the wooden floor shakes below us. We shall of course be asked for a donation and then the dancing continues Nepali style – and naturally we have to join in. The party continues long after we have retired to our tents.

We start off by descending to the level of the Ghunsa Khola and then follow upstream along the bank. For hours we walk through the most beautiful forest we have ever seen, a mixture of Himalayan conifers including many larch trees and leafy trees in their springtime foliage - and rhododendrons in all colors, from darkest red to pink, white, mauve and even yellow. Looking downwards to our side the river races along with incredible speed and pressure around huge rocks and down rapids. Nothing can live in it for more than seconds. The trail then climbs and leads away from the river and forest and just when we think the landscape cannot get more beautiful, we find ourselves on a plateau which can only be described as a "paradise garden". Covered with short grass and dissected by bubbling streams of the clearest water it looks like a carefully designed rock garden planted with rhododendrons in all colors, dwarf azaleas and what looks like cranberry bushes. Hereabout should be our lunch stop in these idyllic surroundings. After lunch we come to the Tibetan village of Phere. After about two hours walking we arrive in Ghunsa, this is typical Tibetan Village with predominantly Sherpa settlements. This is the last settlements along this trail.

Today we rest at Ghunsa.

A DAY WALKING THROUGH HEAVENLY GARDEN WITH PRIMULA ON GROUND, RHODODENDRON IN VARIETY OF COLOUR, BEAUTIFUL JUNIPER TREES, GENTLY FLOWING GHUNSA KHOLA AND MOUNTAIN FLANKS ON BOTH SIDES. For most of the morning our walk continues through beautiful larch and rhododendron forest with stands of yellow primula everywhere along the trailside. Birds will be singing, the sun will be shining and the river is flowing below. But then a dramatic change occurs - the hillsides changes to barren scree and boulder fields and we have to pick our way through several landslides. We continue walking, back into the scree slopes it may cloud over and a bitter wind may spring up. The landscape becomes more and more forbidding when we have to skirt a huge glacier moraine, the size of which has to be seen to be believed. The narrow trail climbs to well over 4000 m and then the wind throws cold rain and sleet at us. We shall be glad when Khambachen comes into view and the trail descends a bit. While crossing a little creek on stones if you slip and you will go into the icy water with both feet. In camp we head for the kitchen where we can change our wet socks. The higher altitude will have some effects on us, however with diamox tablet, the effect will be non-existence.

After an early breakfast we trek to the view point of Jannu Himal (7710 m). This mountain is a great attraction for trekkers like Machhapuchhre in Pokhara and Amadablam in Everest region. The sight of the towering Jannu Himal is really breathtaking. We return to our camp for a lunch then in the afternoon hike towards west for further exploration of the area or simply have an afternoon rest.

To get to Lhonak we have to climb 700 m , always following the valley of the Ghunsa Khola. Sometimes the trail leads through neat grassy patches and gorse bushes but mostly over boulder slopes and scree. To get over the boulders you have to jump from the top of one to the next one without falling down, and on the scree slopes it is best to keep moving in case something comes down from the top. When we get to Lhonak where it is colder than in Khambachen we all huddle around the fire in the little kitchen and drink some chhang which unfortunately may be chunky.

We make an early start still continuing up the valley followed by the glacier moraine and now big snow mountains show themselves in the crystal clear air. A powder avalanche comes down high on a facing mountain wall and then all is quiet again. At this altitude the going is tough. Wedge Peak 6750 dominate the skyline directly above the Kanchenjunga Glacier. After five hours we arrive at Pangpema. Hopefully with clear weather Kanchenjunga, The Twins and other huge mountains will be in full view. On the flat ground facing Kanchenjunga is a memorial to a climber who died near the summit in 1985, it is made from stones and hung with prayer flags and a copper plaque tells the story. Looking at it brings tears to our eyes. We shall have some lunch in a shelter against the wind. During the return march the weather may deteriorate, a cold wind may be blowing and fine snow is driven horizontally at us. The only good thing is that we are descending and that it takes much less time to get back. We crawl back into the little kitchen in Lhonak and try to warm up.

The first part is back to Khambachen then negotiate the scree to Rupuk Kharka , soon the beautiful forest reappears, mainly larch trees in their new foliage and cones and the rhododendrons just as lovely. The ground is still carpeted with golden primulas. Every now and again we have to clamber across sections of rocks and landslips and cross rickety bridges. All along the way, all we can think of are all the drinks we shall have when we get to Ghunsa. When we arrive ahead of the others and go straight up into the guestroom of the little lodge where we camp again. Outside it is cold and cloudy but up here a good fire is burning, sometimes giving off some smoke which filters throughthe ceiling. We order chhang, then pepsi, then more chhang. Soon it will be dinner time, and the boys playing Nepalese mandal, a drum for evening entertainment.

We walk up the steep trail through rhododendrons and soon look down into the valleys which we have journeyed through before. The distances and terrain we have covered are impressive. We have come from lowland valleys to high glacier moraines and alpine highlands above 5000 m. Altitude will be no problem. What we are going to do now is to cross several high passes into the easternmost valley leading up to Kanchenjunga South Base Camp. From the high ridgeline the trail is flat and easy along the alpine area. The trail is seen long way ahead and behind. When we arrive at the lodge place, we shall be greeted by our staff and head for a rock overhanging if it is sunny and snowing. After lunch nice easy walk to a lonely hut for the camp and while doing so enjoy the great views, 360 degrees plus. The primula field at Selele Base Camp looks like a mustard field in May.

Today we set off with down jacket and mitten and snow gaiters. Ensure that you have a good pair of sun glass. We approach the first of three passes at about 4500 m and cross. The view of Jannu Himal is really great. The trail leads across boulders with a snow covering at places, up and down but mainly up. The next pass appears and is left behind and then we labor up to the steepest and highest: Mirgin La (4800 m). We take photos on the top as all passes are marked by strings of prayer flags and a bit further on we see some graves, probably of people who were defeated by bad weather or altitude and had not made it any further. With weather permitting, we shall have outstanding views of nearby mountains, as well as far away Makalu. After the last pass crossing we come to a point where the ground drops away sharply towards the valley where we shall finally head home. We shall see range after range of blue hills and further to the north appears part of the Yalung glacier, our destination. We may also see the many creeks which start from glaciers and then cut across the rocky terrain. Below us is a little valley with a cold looking lake. To make it into camp we still have a long way to go. Lacking suitable stopping places our crew will not make lunch along the way for us today, so we shall have a packed lunch. We may be all rather done in, underfed and tired if not careful. It is rather steep to descend all the way down to the campsite. Care should be taken not to slip. We shall reach the campsite by four.

Soon after we start, we reach the easy and gently rising trail parallel to the Yalung glacier. Yellow primulas are seen. Unseen birds are twittering. Ahead huge shimmering mountain, Rathong, and parts of other mountains can be seen. We pass Lapsang, the place where we would have emerged if we had taken the route over the higher and more dangerous Lapsang La the previous day. We walk past strange looking little lakes, very shallow and in flat depressions of pink looking sand, and near another such lake which seems to be steaming, the lodges appears. We shall enjoy the relaxing afternoon with great mountain views around us.

Wake-up call is at 5 a.m. and it is cold and unfriendly. Today's aim is to go up far enough along the Yalung Glacier to see all 5 peaks of Kanchenjunga, or the five treasures from the south. After a quick breakfast we start walking. To the left and right shimmering ice faces become visible and as we round a bend - there it is - Kanchenjunga from the south and more beautiful than we imagine. Our cameras are working overtime. To get an even better viewpoint we climb up on the top of the glacier moraine where we can look down into the glacier with its little pools in shades of turquoise and pea green. Overlooking the glacier is an impressive mountain range with ice flutes and ice falls; only we do not know its name. At the far end of the moraine we reach a little shrine, decorated with offerings of flowers and money in copper vases which people have left there. It makes a lovely picture with Kanchenjunga right behind and then starts moving down in the direction of Tseram, accompanied again by cold wind and sleet. First we retrace our steps to near our previous camp, and then descend through a lovely natural garden - a forest of juniper trees hung with moss - yellow primulas on the ground everywhere and the whole area criss-crossed by little streams of crystal clear water. You never knew something like this existed. At the campsite at Tseram we shall stop for lunch and by 1230 hrs we will move to our camp at Torongding. The route passes through primeval forest. The rhododendron in April and May will be in full flowers with many red and pink splashes coloring the trail. We arrive at Torongdin, a small community of three tgea houses deep in forest. If it is difficult to find the campsite we shall stay in a lodge.

Soon after leaving Torongdin we cross the river and have a long climb back up through forest to a high pass at 3500 m called lashi Bhanjyang (Lamite Bhanjyang). We descend a little and reach a lonely tea house in a flat clearing and we shall have our lunch here. After lunch we have an enormous descend of over 1200 m to village of Yamphudin, upper part of the village consists of wealthy Sherpa houses, but the homes in the Rai part ddown by the river is a little poorer. In the afternoon we will chill-out in the wonderful garden of the lodge for a bottle of Sanmiguel Beer to cherish the great trail.

We start from Yamphudin at 0715 hrs for a day filled with variety. It begins with a descent to cardamom plantation in the valley floor. Then it is up and over two passes. The first of these is through the shade of forest in humid conditions. The second pass is not so pleasant either we ascend in hot sun and may have to share the trail with mules. After the pass we walk along a staircase of stone steps to the village of Khebang.

Through the forested trails and lush green hills, walking past water falls we will head towards Happu Khola. The trail heads south and reaches Pedang. Shortly after, we arrive at the confluence of the Tawa and the Kabeli River to reach the Happu Khola. After lunch we will drive to Ilam. We can visit the area in Ilam if time permits. Ilam, a hilltop station is famous for its green hills, fertile lands, and the cool temperate climate. So Ilam is also known as Queen of hills.

After beautiful sunrise of the Himalayas seen from this Queen of Hills we have our breakfast and depart along the picturesque mountainous ridgeline of tea estates down to the low land of Terai to Bhadrapur. The journey will take about 3 hrs so to catch the first flight to Kathmandu which is scheduled to depart at 1005 hrs, we need to be at Bhadrapur airport by 0905 hrs latest. In the evening we shall have our farewell dinner enjoying traditional cuisines and cultural show.

Depart Kathmandu on Saturday. We shall have our breakfast in the hotel and then our representative will drop you at the airport.