Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek

Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek has one of the toughest trails in the Himalayas. Due to its remote, gravel terrain, difficult passes, steep routes, and many ascents and descents, the route can be considered as difficult.  Also, the unpredictable weather in this region can cause the difficulty level to increase. Your degree of fitness and previous trekking experience will also affect how challenging the trip is for you.

High physical fitness is required for this challenging trek because it takes three weeks to walk nonstop with a small bag. But don’t worry, you may successfully overcome this Kanchenjunga Base Camp trek with the right acclimatization, physical preparation, and organized plan.

Permits Required for the Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek

You will need a special permit and entry permit to enter the Kanchenjunga area. Since the area is restricted, you also need to have a registered trekking guide along with you while trekking in this area. Altogether you will need two permits to trek in this region.

Kanchenjunga Conservation Area Project Entry Permit (KCAP)= Roughly nrs 2,000 per person.

This permit has no expiration date.

Kanchenjunga Restricted Area Permit (RAP)= Should pay Per week 10 USD per person.

Information Regarding Flights in the Mountain Region

Mostly, twin otters are the most common means of air transportation in the Nepalese sky, and during flights in the Himalayan region of Nepal, the flight schedule is canceled and changed from time to time due to poor visibility, weather conditions, and many other technical problems.

In such a case, we would charter a helicopter for our guests regarding the schedule of their international flight and for the different problems that arise in the trek. The charter cost should be paid at the head office of Tourist Link Trek at Thamel, and later on, you can claim it with your travel insurance.

As per Nepal Civil Aviation rules, the helicopter will fly if the visibility is up to 1500m, and visibility should be 5000m for flying a Twin Otter in Nepalese sky.

Volunteering Hand of Life Himalaya Trekking

Ganesh Himal Community Foundation is a voluntary organization run by Life Himalaya Trekking for the development of people’s lifestyle, education, and villages in the rural village of Dhading district Nepal. An amount of 10% of every trip booking at Life Himalaya will go into the account of the Ganesh Himal Community Foundation. So this shows that we are liable for the social development of Nepal along with the tourism business.

The main job of the Ganesh Himal Community Foundation is to construct the school and libraries in the rural areas of Nepal, in the needed places after proper study. Conduct programs for skill development, health, sanitation, and village development with a joint effort of local people.

Best Season for Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek

For our Kanchenjunga Base Camp trek, we suggest the Spring months of March to May and the autumn months of September, October, and November.

The monsoon rain subsides from September allowing clear blue skies to shine clearly with incredible views of the massive mountains. In addition, the serene atmosphere and the pleasant temperature from 4 to 25 degrees Celsius make the long hours of hiking charming and comfortable. The wildlife of the protected area of Kanchenjunga wakes up and roams around the beautiful trail occasionally giving us their glimpses.

In spring, the rhododendron flowers turn dark red and pink seemingly turning the forest like in a fire. The snow melts and fills the rivers with tranquil water. In autumn, the forest changes into a yellowish-orange haze paint.

The months of June, July, and August are the period of monsoon when the morning starts with dense clouds hiding even the third highest mountains inside. Heavy rainfall often becomes the cause of heavy landslides and muddy trails. In addition, the foresty trail is infested with leeches creating a nuisance during our long hour hikes. We therefore do not recommend the summer or monsoon season for this trek.

Likewise, the winter months of December, January, and February, bring in the bone-chilling temperature generally dropping to minus degrees. The thick snowfall covering the trail often blocks the path to the higher altitude of Kanchenjunga Base Camp. The tea houses or the lodges are often closed due to harsh cold so staying in tented camps becomes quite hard. but the use of crampons, winter hiking shoes, and warm clothing can make the winter trek to Kanchenjunga Base Camp possible.

Altitude Sickness During Kanchenjunga Trek

We begin our 19-day Kanchenjunga Base Camp trek with a flight to Biratnagar and Suketar. Our trek then ascends gradually gaining more and more altitude each day. We will be traveling through some ancient villages of Ghunsa and Kambechan taking us to an elevation of more than 3000 m. Finally, we will arrive at Kanchenjunga Base Camp which stands tall at an elevation of more than 5000 m above sea level.

We have planned our itinerary such that your body will gradually adapt to the thin air of the higher elevations. We have separated adequate acclimatization days and accommodations at villages nestling at higher altitudes.

Still, the probability of suffering from altitude sickness is quite high on this trek. Although it may differ from person to person, most of trekkers often encounter mild symptoms of headache, nausea, fatigue, dizziness, loss of appetite, and sleep.

In such cases, descending to a lower altitude is the right measure to alleviate these symptoms. If you ask for the best home remedy, consuming hot garlic soup and increasing fluid intake are the best preventive and therapeutic measures.

For quick relief from headaches, paracetamol or ibuprofen administration is advised. Taking half to one pill of Diamox also relieves the symptoms but you must drink plenty of water as the drug is a diuretic medicine.

We also advise you to stay away from alcohol intake and smoking as they will increase the chance of altitude sickness. Also, don’t push your body to its limits, always listen to what your body is saying to you and walk slowly at your pace.

What to Expect at Kanchenjunga Trek?

This 19-day Kanchenjunga Base Camp trek offers something special to each trekker from unspoiled nature to the thrill of reaching the foot of the third highest Himalaya in the world. This is an exciting trip for those who wish to walk on the off-beaten tracks of Nepal.

The starting point of this trek is from the Terai plain of Biratnagar to Suketar taking us to the border of Taplejung in the lonely eastern part of Nepal. From here on, the amazing Himalayan rivers of Tamor and Ghunsa will constantly keep us company and show us our way to the Base Camp.

We pass through the century-old villages of Rai, Limbu, and Sherpa where Brahmins and Chhetris also co-exist sharing their custom and tradition. We then take our ascend step by step passing through beautiful enchanting forests of rhododendron, fir, pine, and oak.

Several cultivated lands of rice, millet, potato, and cardamom plantations will also give us a glimpse of local occupation. As the height increases, so does the transformation of the landscape to more alpine in nature. Along our route, we will have the most remarkable spectacle of Nepal Peak, Tent Peak, Mera Peak, and several other mountains. At some point, we will walk along the rocky glacial path to the Base Camp.

The serene atmosphere of the Kanchenjunga Base Camp will take your breath away with the astounding view of the white-grey massive of Kanchenjunga itself. The summit of Yalung Khang is next to Kanchenjunga which is pure adrenaline.

Our Kanchenjunga Base Camp also allows you to experience the beauty of the eastern Terai in Biratnagar where you can take a small tour of the Biratnagar jute Mills and several other temples so Lord Vishnu and Goddess Kali.

In short, in this trek, we will get deep into the Terai plain of eastern Nepal and the fantastic mountain world and see views that are otherwise only reserved for expedition mountaineers.

Travel Insurance

When traveling to Kanchenjunga Base Camp, it is mandatory to take out a comprehensive travel insurance policy. Your insurance policy should cover the risks of emergency medical care, search and rescue activities, medical evacuation, and medical repatriation to the country of residence.

We have kept every possible measure in mind while planning this itinerary. Still, it is quite impossible to calculate and foretell the risk in mountains and higher altitude remote regions. The weather can change unexpectedly and injuries may happen at any time.

In addition, hospitals are often located in the regional centers so in case of accidents or injury, helicopter transportation may be needed. This can add a burden to your pocket. Therefore, it is better that you choose a reliable insurance company with positive customer reviews.

For better support, taking out a travel insurance plan with a standard package of a minimum of USD 50,000 is beneficial. We request you present a copy of your insurance policy when booking our Kanchenjunga Base Camp trip.

Accommodation at Kanchenjunga Region

As a respectable trekking agency in Nepal, we believe in providing the best quality service to each of our guests. We have taken every step to ensure you are accommodated in the best available lodgings during the entire trek.

In Kathmandu and Biratnagar, you will stay in the standard hotel which offers you an attached toilet and bathroom. During the trek, you will spend the nights in the lodge or the teahouses available in the villages where we rest for the night. Our team of guides and porters will ensure the lodge with best comfort and quality.

Still, the lodges in higher altitudes come with basic service with rooms on a sharing basis. The room will come with two beds, a mattress, a pillow, and a blanket. You may have to share toilets with other travelers staying in the lodge. Hot showers can be rare in highly elevated villages but you can still request hot water in a bucket at an additional cost.

When spending the night in Lhonak and Kanchenjunga Base Camp, we will set up the tented camp where you can store your backpacks. Our field staff will set the tent for cooking, for dining, for sleeping, and for latrines.

Our company will provide the best durable camps in terms of comfort, wind stability, and simplicity of construction. Of course, we will also provide all kitchen utensils and cooking equipment.

Food and Drink At Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek

Our Kanchenjunga Base Camp tour package includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner during the entire trekking period. In Kathmandu and Biratnagar, only breakfast is included because, in the cities, you have a wide range of restaurants to select from where you can decide yourself where and what you want to eat.

As the trek starts, dinner and breakfast are provided in the lounge where we retire for the night. For lunch, we will either carry the morning meal in the thermos or we can have the freshly prepared meals in the lounge along the way.

We have a variety of food options to choose from, especially in lower altitudes. But as we gain altitude, the food options may become narrow. We advise you to stick to the vegetarian diet but if you prefer, you can also have non-vegetarian options in the lodge.

For breakfast, bread, chapati, egg, porridge or pancake will be a healthy option. For lunch and dinner Legume soup, white rice and Vegetable (Dal, Vat, and Tarkari) is the favorite option. But you can also order for thukpa, momo, Tsampa, garlic soup, etc.

The lodge also has many options regarding drinks from butter tea, coffee, regular black or milk tea, and tongba to fruit juice. But the cost of drinks is not included in our package. (Please check our included and excluded list).

During our stay in camps in Lhonak and Kanchenjunga Base Camp, our field staff will prepare fresh hot meals from local farm fresh products.

Transportation During the Trek

We will also take care of all your air and ground transportation during this trek. As we begin our incredible expedition to Kanchenjunga Base Camp, we will pick you up from the hotel in the capital and take you to the Kathmandu airport in a private vehicle.

From the airport, we will fly to Biratnagar and then to Suketar in a comfortable small domestic plane. As we complete our trek days, we will again take the same mode of transportation to return to Kathmandu from Suketar via Biratnagar.

We will then end our service after we transfer you to our hotel in Kathmandu. We hope you are satisfied with our service, if any complaints or queries, please contact us via WhatsApp or email or simply fill out the form on our website.