The South Base Camp route is the shorter, slightly easier sibling of the North BC trek — 13 days instead of 16, max altitude 4,730 m at the Oktang viewpoint. The views are different: south face of Kanchenjunga and the Yalung Glacier, with Jannu (Khumbhakarna, 7,710 m) dominating the southern horizon.
Why this trek
- Shorter and less expensive than the North BC route, with similar trail isolation.
- Restricted-area permit + minimum group of two.
- Yalung Glacier viewing from Oktang — Kanchenjunga's south face is rarely photographed but as dramatic as the north.
- Same start and end points as the North BC route, making the two combinable into a 22-day Kanchenjunga Circuit.
We recommend South BC over North BC for trekkers with less time, or those who want the Kanchenjunga experience without the longer commitment.