Kanchenjunga Circuit Trekking Difficulty:
That depends on who is asking the question. However, if you are physically healthy and strongly desire to accomplish something exceptional, this walk may be for you. The Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek is an incredible journey on a trail less traveled and off the radar of the majority of tourists who visit Nepal.
It is one of the most difficult high-altitude treks in Nepal. Trekkers must cross 4000-5000 meter passes and climb for several days along remote high-altitude trails, with the highest point reaching 5143 meters. Altitude can be a huge issue on the Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek if you do not properly acclimatize; it can be risky. While the trail's infrastructure is improving, don't anticipate fancy meals; Dal Bhat (rice and lentil soup with veggies), potatoes, Tibetan bread, Chapati, Mo Mo, and quick noodles are likely to be the dishes of the day. In addition, the trails can be deceptive at times, especially when covered with snow. Trekking itineraries typically run between 18 to 24 days, not including time spent in Kathmandu.
While hiking across rural terrain, communication at higher altitudes remains limited (but improving). There are multiple challenging ascents and descents, and the difficulty appears to double as the elevation increases with the thinning air. To summarize, if you are willing, fit, and enthusiastic about the challenge, you are already invincible.
Kanchenjunga Circuit Trekking Preparation Tips:
You are going to undertake the adventure journey to the third-tallest mountain, Kanchenjunga Base Camp, along with the rewarding Selele Pass. So, good preparation plays a huge role in an enjoyable and successful trip. Nepal Trekking Experts advise the following tips below:
- Train regularly, such as in cardio, gym, trail run, trekking, or hiking with a backpack, before visiting Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek.
- Choose a professional organizer along with a local guide who has deep knowledge, good English-speaking, experience, good decision-maker, and has a nice sense of humor.
- Trek slowly and steadily.
- Be hydrated all the time (drink 3—4 liters of water every day).
- Hike higher, sleep lower.
- Well-acclimatize (do not rush your itinerary).
- Balancing meals.
- Proper gear.
- Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol during the ascent.
- Hire a porter to carry your backpacks.
- Trek the best season, such as March to May and mid—September to November.
- Carry a first-aid box.
Kanchenjunga Trekking Transportation:
All trekking transportation fees and arrangements are included in your package when you book with Nepal Trekking Experts. To commence your journey, you will catch a gorgeously scenic domestic flight from Kathmandu to Bhadrapur (45 minutes). Then, depending on your personalized itinerary, you can drive a few hours to Phikkal Bazaar, Birtamod, or Ilam for the night or continue to your starting point in Taplejung. The beautiful drive to Taplejung will take approximately 12 hours via Jeep from Bhadrapur, which can be shortened if you stay overnight along the way. Once you have completed your incredible trek, you will take another long jeep ride (12 hours) from Khebang to one of the above-mentioned towns and stay overnight. The next day, you will take a short drive to Bhadrapur airport and catch another flight above the mountains back to Kathmandu.
There is the option of taking a bus from Kathmandu to Bhadrapur and back. It takes approximately 18 hours either trip. However, I recommend taking a flight rather than driving because driving may be an unpleasant and stressful experience.
Kanchenjunga Trekking Accommodation:
Tea houses are scattered all along the lesser-known, less-frequented route to Kanchenjunga Base Camp, meaning that no camping or cooking supplies are required. This trek can be done similarly to other well-known hiking routes; however, the lodging is not as luxurious as in the Annapurna or Everest regions due to the relatively untouched nature of the Kanchenjunga region. Rooms are simple and without heating, so we provide you with a clean -20°C sleeping bag to keep you cozy and warm. You can expect to share a bathroom with a squat toilet, depending on the tea house. When available at lower elevations, you may purchase a hot shower, but it will cost significantly more than on other more frequented trekking routes.
Kanchenjunga Trekking Meals:
You will be eating at the tea houses where you're staying for breakfast and dinner and stopping for lunch at tea houses along the route. Menus usually show both local and Western dishes; however, choosing local cuisine is recommended for the freshest, most filling food. Dal Bhat (rice, vegetable curry, and lentil soup) is at the top of the list, a local favorite that is recommended for its unlimited refills. You can also choose fried rice or noodles, Mo Mo (local dumplings), Thukpa (Tibetan noodle soup), spring rolls, or Western dishes like pasta, pizza, and potatoes.
For breakfast, you can enjoy local chapati or Tibetan bread with curry or go for more familiar eggs, porridge, muesli, or pancakes. This trek is vegetarian and vegan-friendly, but if you have any other dietary restrictions, you can let us know, and your guide will communicate with the kitchen staff.
Your package with Nepal Trekking Experts includes dinner in Kathmandu before you leave for your trek and three meals a day (with tea or coffee) every day of the trek, including travel days. We recommend carrying your snacks with you for the majority of the trek because they can be harder to find (and more expensive!) the deeper you trek into the Himalayas. At lower altitudes, you can purchase extra snacks, desserts, or alcoholic beverages.
Telephone Service in Kanchenjunga Trek:
Due to the remote location, there is limited mobile reception in the Kanchenjunga region. Some tea houses have a satellite connection for emergencies. NCELL and Nepal Telecom (NTC) are our two major SIM card providers in Nepal; however, NTC is recommended for better reception in the Kanchenjunga region. You can purchase an NTC SIM card in Kathmandu when you arrive.
WIFI/Internet service in Kanchenjunga Region:
In the Kanchenjunga region, a select few tea houses offer wifi for their guests, although at times it may not be reliable due to weather and other issues. Wi-Fi can cost quite a bit in this region, so having your own internet package (or completely disconnecting!) is recommended.
Device charging in Kanchenjunga Circuit:
Electricity is not guaranteed along the remote trekking route to Kanchenjunga. When available, you can expect to pay an extra fee for electricity in select tea houses. Tea houses are powered by electricity or solar power at higher elevations. Carrying a power bank is highly recommended in the Kanchenjunga region.
Permits in the Kanchenjunga Region:
To enter the restricted Kanchenjunga region, you must have a minimum of two people in your group (contact us to join a group), two permits per person, and a trek with a government-licensed guide. When trekking with Nepal Trekking Experts, all permit fees are included in your package. The permit process is more involved in trekking in the Kanchenjunga region compared to others; however, we will process everything and obtain it on your behalf.
- The Kanchenjunga Conservation Area Project Entry Permit (KCAP) costs 2000 Nepali rupees per person with no time restrictions.
- Restricted Area Entry Permit (RAP) for Tapethok and Yamphuding costs 20 USD per person, per week.
Porter:
Our tailor-made packages do not include a porter, so you can make the decision based on your own needs and preferences. Although not necessary, having a porter can make a massive difference in the enjoyment of your trek. For trekking in the Kanchenjunga, we highly recommend having a porter due to the challenging nature of the terrain, many days of trekking over 3000-4000 meters and high altitude. One porter carries the bags of two people (around 20 kg) so that you can carry a small daypack. If you are undecided, we would be happy to discuss porters in more detail when you book your trek.
Kanchenjunga Trekking Gear Checklist:
- Raincoat, poncho, or combination jacket and trousers
- One down jacket or Gore-Tex jacket
- Windproof trouser
- Two pairs of hiking pants
- One pair of shorts
- Four to five pairs of T-shirts
- One fleece jacket
- Two pairs of base layers
- Four pairs of hiking socks and a couple of pairs of thicker socks
- Two pairs of gloves—one pair light fleece, the other waterproof/windproof
- Undergarments
Footwear:
- Ankle-supporting water-resistance trekking boots
- Flip-flops for leisure time around camp or one pair of sneakers
Other Equipment:
- Sunglasses, sunscreen, lip balm, a sun hat, a woolen or fleece hat, a first aid kit, a Swiss army knife (optional), a luggage cover, a headlamp, trekking poles, a gaiter (optional), crampons, water purification tablets or steripen, extra batteries, an adapter, a power bank, water bottles/camel bags/thermos, washing powder or multi-purpose soap, shampoo, a small towel, antiseptic hand wash, toiletries, female hygiene products, wet wipes, whistle, mosquito spray (optional), earplugs, reading books, playing cards, or chess
- Sleeping bag rated to minus 10–20 degrees Celsius extreme temperature depending on trekking seasons
- Backpack (50–60 liters)
- Daypack (20–30 liters)
Travel Insurance:
It is one of the most important things you'll need overseas, particularly when trekking in Nepal. A policy that covers loss and theft, medical and hospitalization, evacuation from high altitude, and adventure activity coverage are among the basics you'll need. A wide variety of policies are available, so make sure to shop for the best possible options. You need to have a policy that's specific to the maximum height on your trek, bearing in mind that several companies place restrictions on that score—look closely at the fine print so that you're sure to get the right coverage, especially in the event of an emergency such as altitude sickness—helicopter evacuations are horrendously expensive.
Also note that most medical treatment and facilities in Nepal, such as hospitals, require payment upfront or approval from your insurance company, so it’s wise to choose a policy that pays the bills directly rather than lumping the burden on you and leaving it till later for the insurer to reimburse you.
Nepalese Currency and Payment:
The currency of Nepal is the rupee. The ideal currencies for exchange are those of the USA, Australia, Great Britain, Canada, and Singapore, as well as the Euro, any of which can be readily exchanged in either Kathmandu or Pokhara.
Credit and debit cards such as Visa, MasterCard, and American Express are accepted in major tourist-class hotels, restaurants, airlines, and larger stores in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Patan, Pokhara, etc. A surcharge of 3.5% is typically levied on all purchases or payments.
ATMs are also very common in Kathmandu and Pokhara, with Thamel being a particular area of focus for their use. Some ATMs only allow a daily maximum of Rs 10, 000 to be withdrawn, while others allow for as much as Rs 35, 000. A charge of USD 4 is usually applied per transaction, on top of which your own bank may also apply a fee of its own.
Can I get an on-arrival visa in Nepal?
On arrival in Nepal, you can obtain the requisite visa at Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu, or you can choose the alternative of applying for it at the Nepalese Embassy or Consulate in your home country before departure. The visa is also available at land-based points of entry such as Birgunj, Kakarbhitta, Bhairawa, Belhiya, Nepalgunj, Dhangadi, and Mahendranagar. The Kodari Pass is the access point from Tibet where the visa can be obtained.
While you can use different modes of payment at the visa fee counter, we advise you to bring cash in the following currencies: US dollars, euros, Swiss francs, pound sterling, Australian dollars, Canadian dollars, Hong Kong dollars, Singapore dollars, and Japanese yen. Credit card payments are also available nowadays.
As per a recent update, the visa fee costs you the following amounts:
- Multiple entries for 15 days—USD 30 or equivalent
- Multiple entries for 30 days—USD 50 or equivalent
- Multiple entries for 90 days—USD 125 or equivalent
- You should also have a minimum of six months of validity remaining on your passport.
- Visa extensions are available from the offices of Nepal Immigration in Kathmandu and Pokhara.
For more details, please go through the Nepal Immigration website or contact us.
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