The south side of Kanchenjunga feels quite different from the north. From Ramche, a yak pasture with a small lake and a couple of basic lodges, the trail climbs onto the lateral moraine of the Yalung Glacier and follows it east. Kabru, Rathong and Koktang line the right side of the valley, and blue sheep often graze on the slopes above.
After about two to three hours you reach the prayer flags and chorten at Oktang. The south-west face of Kanchenjunga, the side climbed by the British team who made the first ascent in 1955, rises at the head of the glacier. Some groups continue further along the moraine for a closer view, but the trail beyond becomes loose and unmarked, and our guides decide on the day.
We return the same way and, depending on the group's strength, sleep again at Ramche or continue down to Tseram at about 3,870 m, which helps with sleep after several nights high.
Good for
- Photographers
- Groups
- Solo
Questions travellers ask
Is Oktang the Kanchenjunga south base camp?
Trekkers call the Oktang viewpoint the south base camp. Expedition base camps on the south side sit further up the Yalung Glacier. For trekkers, Oktang at about 4,730 m is the usual turnaround.
Can I do only the south base camp?
Yes. A southern-only trek via Yamphudin, Torontan, Tseram and Ramche takes about 12–14 days from Kathmandu. It is shorter but misses Ghunsa and Pangpema.
Which base camp has the better view?
Pangpema gives the more dramatic, closer view of a single face. Oktang offers a wider glacier panorama with Kabru and Rathong. Doing both, linked by the passes, is the classic circuit.
