Kanchenjunga vs Makalu: Which Remote Eastern Nepal Trek Should You Do?
Two giant, near-empty treks in Nepal's far east — the world's 3rd-highest and 5th-highest mountains. Here's how Kanchenjunga and Makalu compare, and which one fits you.
If the spotlight on Nepal's remote treks has you looking east, two giants dominate the choice: Kanchenjunga, the world's third-highest mountain, and Makalu, the fifth. Both are long, wild and gloriously uncrowded — but they are not the same trip. Here is how to choose.
From the trail · Everest
The quick verdict
- Kanchenjunga — longer (~22 days), restricted-area permit, the bigger expedition
- Makalu — shorter (~18 days), national-park permit, intense up high
- Both are remote, near-empty and need real fitness
- Neither requires technical climbing
How they differ
Kanchenjunga is the bigger commitment: around three weeks, a restricted-area permit that requires a registered operator and a minimum group, and a journey to base camps beneath the 8,586m massif on the Sikkim border. Makalu is a touch shorter and uses a national-park permit, but its upper valley is raw and the altitude gain is fierce. Choose Kanchenjunga if you want the longest, most expedition-like trek; choose Makalu if you want something slightly more compact but every bit as wild.
| Feature | Kanchenjunga | Makalu |
|---|---|---|
| Peak | 8,586m (3rd highest) | 8,485m (5th highest) |
| Length | ~20–22 days | ~16–18 days |
| Permit | Restricted area + min group | National park |
| Feel | Long expedition | Intense & remote |
Pick your giant
See the Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek (22 days) or the Makalu Base Camp Trek (18 days). Need help deciding? Read the Makalu guide or just tell us your timeframe.
Source: Travel Himalaya Nepal operations; peak elevations per published records.
Cover photo: Ben Tubby via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0).
Source: Travel Himalaya Nepal
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