A three-week restricted-area trek in far eastern Nepal that reaches both Kanchenjunga base camps, Pangpema in the north and Oktang in the south, joined by the Sele La pass crossing.
- Days
- 20 days
- Maximum altitude
- 5,143 m
- Difficulty
- Challenging
Kanchenjunga Regionचेराम
Tseram
A small lodge stop at about 3,870 m in the Simbuwa Khola valley, base for Ramche and the Oktang viewpoint on the southern side of Kanchenjunga.
- Altitude
- 3,865 m*
- Best months
- Mar-May, Oct-Nov
- Type
- Trek stop
- District
- Taplejung, Koshi
- Permit
- Restricted-area permit
Why go
Tseram, also spelled Cheram, is a cluster of lodges at about 3,870 m in the upper Simbuwa Khola valley on the southern side of the Kanchenjunga region. Below the snout of the Yalung glacier, it is the base for the walk to Ramche and the Oktang viewpoint, which look onto the south face of Kanchenjunga.
On the full circuit, trekkers arrive here after the long crossing of the Sele La passes from Selele, and many spend two nights to visit Oktang. On the South Base Camp trek, Tseram is reached from Yamphudin via Tortong after three or four days of forest walking.
History and culture
Tseram is a seasonal herding and lodge site rather than a permanent village; families from lower villages run the lodges in the trekking seasons. The Yalung side of Kanchenjunga is the route by which the mountain was first climbed in 1955, from a base camp near the Yalung glacier, and expeditions to the south-west face still use this valley.
Things to do in Tseram
Day walk to Oktang
Walk up the ablation valley to Ramche (about 4,500 m) and on to the Oktang viewpoint facing the south face of Kanchenjunga, about 7-8 hours return.
Rest after the passes
Recover from the Sele La crossing before the long descent to Tortong and Yamphudin.
Weather and the best time to visit Tseram
Weather in Tseram
Forecast for 3,865 m. Conditions change fast in the mountains.
Weather data: MET Norway, licensed CC BY 4.0. A forecast, not a guarantee.
Best time to visit
Mar-May, Oct-Nov
- Jan
- Feb
- Good month: Mar
- Good month: Apr
- Good month: May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Good month: Oct
- Good month: Nov
- Dec
- Autumn (Sep-Nov)
- October and November bring the clearest skies and are the main trekking months; September can still be wet lower down.
- Winter (Dec-Feb)
- December to February is very cold, many upper lodges close and snow can block the high passes.
- Spring (Mar-May)
- March to May is the second season, with rhododendron flowers in the forests and more afternoon cloud.
- Monsoon (Jun-Aug)
- June to August is wet, with leeches, landslides on the access roads and cloud over the peaks.
Where to stay
Teahouses
A few basic seasonal lodges.
No partner stays are listed here yet. List a property.
Getting there
Reached on foot, either over the Sele La passes from Ghunsa or up from Yamphudin via Tortong.
Nearest hub: Taplejung (Phungling)
- trekSelele to Tseram over the passes, about 7-9 hours.
- trekYamphudin to Tseram via Tortong, about 2-3 days.
Permits and fees
Restricted-area permit
This part of the Kanchenjunga region is a restricted area. You need a restricted area permit, issued only through a registered trekking agency for trekkers with a licensed guide, and a Kanchenjunga Conservation Area entry permit.
- Kanchenjunga restricted area permit (Taplejung): Arranged by a registered agency through the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu.
- Kanchenjunga Conservation Area entry permit: Checked on the trail; check the current fee.
- Guide rule: Restricted-area trekkers must go with a licensed guide; group-size rules have been reported to change, so check the current rule.
Verify before travel: permit rules and fees change. Checked 2026-10-06 against Department of Immigration, Nepal: trekking route and permit fee.
On the trail
On the Kanchenjunga Circuit (North and South Base Camps), Kanchenjunga South Base Camp trek.
- Previous stop:
- Selele (circuit) or Tortong (south side)
- Next stop:
- Ramche and Oktang, then Tortong
- A typical day:
- From Selele about 7-9 hours over passes up to about 4,800 m, then a steep descent; from Tortong about 5-6 hours gaining roughly 900 m.
Practical tips
- Above about 3,000 m, a widely used guideline is to raise your sleeping altitude by no more than about 500 m a day and to rest every 3 to 4 days; know the signs of acute mountain sickness and descend if they get worse. This is general information, not medical advice.
- Mobile signal is weak or absent.
- There are no ATMs beyond Phungling; carry enough Nepali rupees for the whole trek.
- Lodges may close outside the main seasons; confirm with your agency.
Treks through Tseram
Questions about Tseram
How high is Tseram?
About 3,870 m.
How do I get from Tseram to Kanchenjunga South Base Camp?
Walk up the Yalung valley via Ramche to the Oktang viewpoint and back, usually a long day of 7-8 hours.
Is Tseram the same as Cheram?
Yes, the names are two spellings of the same place.
More in Kanchenjunga Region
All of Kanchenjunga RegionViewpoint · 5,140 m
Pangpema (Kanchenjunga North Base Camp)
The North Base Camp of Kanchenjunga, a grassy shelf at about 5,140 m facing the mountain's north-west face.
Trek stop · 3,475 m
Ghunsa
The main village of the upper Kanchenjunga valleys, a Tibetan-heritage settlement and the hub of the North Base Camp trek.
Trek stop · 4,100 m
Kambachen
A seasonal herding settlement at about 4,100 m facing the north side of Jannu, the second acclimatisation stop on the way to Pangpema.
Trek stop · 4,785 m
Lhonak
A high, sandy plain at about 4,785 m beside the Kanchenjunga glacier, the last overnight stop before Pangpema.
Town or village · 1,820 m
Taplejung (Phungling)
The hill town headquarters of Taplejung district, where Kanchenjunga treks start and finish.
Trek stop · 2,080 m
Yamphudin
A farming village of several communities at the southern gateway to Kanchenjunga, and the restricted-area checkpoint for the Oktang route.
Nearby
National park or conservation area
Kanchenjunga Region
A remote trekking region below the world's third-highest mountain, with Limbu and Sherpa villages, two base camps and a restricted-area permit.
Editorial draft: facts are being checked against the sources below. Last checked 2026-10-06. Sources: Kanchenjunga Conservation Area, Wikipedia, Tseram, OpenStreetMap, Kanchenjunga Circuit itinerary (UK trek operator)