Things You S
Should Know Before You Book the Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek
- You should not trek alone at all. Independent trekking is restricted.
- You should hire a licensed trek guide for this Kanchenjunga Circuit trek.
- You should have permits for this trek.
- High physical fitness and high-altitude trekking experience are needed.
- The major accommodation is the teahouse.
- Possess high-altitude risks.
- You need to put extra attention on cardiovascular and strength training
- Purchase travel insurance for this trek.
- Pack only items that are essential.
- Carry water purification tablets alongside you.
PASSPORT
A valid passport is a must if you’re looking to do trekking in other countries. You need to have your passport ready and make sure it has at least 6 months of validity. Before you head for the trek, check all the information.
VISAS
Visa processes need to be carried out in advance. Normally, the visa processes can take around 2-3 weeks to complete. All of the foreign nationals who are keen to be part of the trek activities should have a Nepal visa.
If you’re from another country, a visa is a must to visit this country unless you’re from India, Bangladesh, or Malaysia. Citizens from these countries don’t need a visa to enter Nepal.
Don’t worry if you’re not aware of these visa processes, as Access Nepal Tour and Trekking takes care of it fully. All you have to do is send us a copy of your passport and a passport-sized photo.
Needed Permits for Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek
There are two different types of permits required for the Kanchenjunga Circuit trek. These are:
- Kanchenjunga Conservation Area Permit (KCAP)
- Restricted Area Permit
1) Kanchenjunga Conservation Area Permit
The Kanchenjunga Conservation Area Permit is needed, as you will be trekking in the conservation area. In all the conservation areas, you need a permit to enter and do the trekking activities. It costs USD30 per person to obtain this permit.
The collected fees will be distributed for the conservation and preservation of the area.
2) Restricted Area Permit
The Restricted Area permit is another mandatory permit for foreign trekkers. If you’re trekking in any restricted area, you need such restricted area permits. Kanchenjunga being a restricted region, this permit is needed.
It costs USD 20 per person per week for the first four weeks. If you’re staying for more than four weeks, the costs will be even higher.
These permits can only be obtained through a registered Nepali trekking agency. And these permits are issued to a minimum of two international trekkers.
Required Documents for These Permits
- Valid passport with 6-month validity
- Nepal visa
- Passport-sized photos
Distance of Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek
The Kanchenjunga circuit trek distance is approximately 160 km. In order to complete the trek, you need to manage around 21 to 25 days. Here’s the distance breakdown as per the route:
Trek from Taplejung to Sekathum – 16 km
Trek from Sekathum to Amjilosa – 12 km
Trek from Amjilosa to Gyabla – 9 km
Trek from Gyabla to Ghunsa – 15 km
Trek from Ghunsa to Kambachen – 12 km
Trek from Kambachen to Lhonak – 10 km
Trek from Lhonak to Kanchenjunga North Base Camp – 17 km
Trek from Lhonak to Ghunsa – 23 km
Trek from Ghunsa to Sele Le – 13 km
Trek from Sele Le to Cheram – 20 km
Trek to Kanchenjunga South Base Camp and return to Cheram – 14 km
Trek from Ramche to Torongding – 11 km
Trek from Torongding to Rani Pul – 9 km
Guide & Porter for Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek
Guide and porter are an essential part of any trek. To make the trek successful, these two play a pivotal role. Similarly, their crucial help and support will be handy in this trek, which goes above 5000m.
Since the Kanchenjunga region falls in the restricted areas, a licensed trekking guide is mandatory. Guides are the backbone of treks, providing you with crucial help when needed and showing you the pathway. They make sure you are safe and sound throughout the journey.
They also make you aware of the route, key places, cultural insights, information about the region, etc.
Porters equally play a crucial role in helping to carry the heavy weights for you and walk in the higher altitudes. They are also physically strong in nature, which makes their job a bit easier.
Access Nepal Tour and Trekking offers 1 licensed, English-language-proficient guide for a maximum of six travelers. And 1 porter for a minimum of two trekkers. This will be included in all our trek packages. Just to let you know, our porters can carry 15 kg easily, including the backpack and gear.
Transportation Facilities on This Trek
Our Kanchenjunga circuit trek package makes your journey relaxing and comfortable with the medium of transportation for transfers between routes.
First of all, we will arrange the flight tickets from Kathmandu to Bhadrapur. And then another flight from Biratnagar to Kathmandu. These flights are conducted in the morning because of the weather conditions.
We will also arrange a private four-wheeler vehicle for domestic airport transfers. In between the trekking journey, there will also be a jeep drive from Bhadrapur to Fikkal. There will be another drive on Day 3 from Fikkal to Taplejung, followed by the drive from Rani Pul to Taplejung.
On the latter part of the trek, there will also be jeep transfers, especially from Taplejung to Bhedetar and Bhedetar to Biratnagar.
Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek Difficulty
The Kanchenjunga Circuit trek is graded as a challenging one. Remote adventure, and given a high-altitude a person goes adds up as one of the significant reasons. Another major factor is the rough terrain and the glacier slopes.
Since you will be walking at an altitude of over 5000m, which will be mainly the North and South Base Camps. Given the days you have to walk and the heavy amount of hours will be a toll on your body.
By looking at all these aspects, you need to have a strong physical fitness and have some experience with high-altitude trekking. On top of that, there is also a good chance of getting caught by altitude sickness. You have to be careful when doing the ascent journey, don’t rush, and don’t forget to acclimatize.
Accommodation on the Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek 22 Days
Accommodation during the Kanchenjunga circuit trek will mainly be teahouses, and the secondary one is a hotel/lodge. At the major cities such as Kathmandu, Fikkal, Taplejung, Bhedetar, etc., you will stay in comfortable hotels with two single beds.
The room also features a relaxing mattress, blanket, pillows, and all other essential items. Mostly, the rooms will also have an attached bathroom with a hot shower facility.
As soon as you start trekking, there will be basic teahouses where you have to stay with minimal facilities. The bathrooms may not be attached, but only common bathrooms. These teahouse accommodations are simple yet quite relaxing. Most importantly, rooms are basic, clean, and equipped with basic amenities.
Food on the Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek
Just to let you know, our Kanchenjunga circuit trek provides one course each of breakfast, lunch, and dinner. On top of that, we will also provide tea/coffee, especially in the morning hours. You’ll have options to choose from, as you’ll most likely get Nepali and Western cuisine during your stay.
Breakfast Options:
- Tea & Coffee
- Oats
- Porridge
- Toast
- Eggs
- Muesli
- Cornflakes
- Bread
- Pancakes
Lunch & Dinner Options:
- Momo (Dumplings)
- Noodles
- Fresh vegetables
- Rice
- Dal Bhat (Rice, vegetable curry)
- Curry
- Pasta
- Lentil Soup
- Pizza
Drinking Water
One thing you should always keep in mind is that you have to drink plenty of water. Staying hydrated is key when you’re trekking at such high altitudes. Dehydration can make the journey very difficult.
Therefore, we recommend that you drink around 3 to 4 litres of water each day. The best is to carry water bottles alongside you. Besides that, you also need to carry water purification pills. You can simply buy from the local store in Thamel.
Refill the water bottles at natural water sources during the trek if you want to. However, don’t fill everywhere you can; only refill after consulting with your guide. Don’t forget to use a water purification tablet before drinking the water.
Electricity and Charging of Your Devices
There won’t be any problem with electricity during your stay in the hotel/lodges. There will be plenty of electric plugs where you can easily charge your mobile devices.
On the other hand, when you are trekking at higher altitudes, there will be teahouses, which may be a bit of a hindrance in such facilities. To avoid any problems or obstacles, you can carry a power bank or a solar charger as a backup.
Internet Facilities
- During your hotel stay in the major cities, there will be Wi-Fi services. The connection will also be quite good, allowing you to watch the feeds or talk with your near and dear ones. Internet services won’t be available during the teahouses, so you can depend on the mobile data connection there.
Communication During Trekking
- In order to get in touch with your near and dear ones, you can buy a local SIM card from the streets of Thamel.
- For accommodation in the teahouse, you can depend on the mobile data. Buy a data package to stay connected.
Weather & Climate of the Kanchenjunga region
The weather in the Kanchenjunga region changes rapidly. The climatic conditions can be different in subtropical and arctic areas. The lower-altitude regions experience much warmer temperatures.
On the other hand, on the higher-altitude base camps, the temperatures can fall up to -25 degrees Celsius. Normally, in the trekking seasons like Autumn or Spring, the temperatures reach around 10 to 15 degrees Celsius in the daytime.
At night, however, the temperatures drop significantly, reaching even zero degrees Celsius, which means freezing cold. The weather changes are quite unpredictable at higher altitudes, with risks of avalanches and extreme snowfall.
People and Culture of the Kanchenjunga Region
The Kanchenjunga region falls in eastern Nepal, and the area is pretty much remote and culturally vibrant. Most of the people living here are of the Limbu, Rai, Sherpa, and Tamang caste and ethnic groups.
These people are mainly devotees of the Hinduism and Buddhism religions. Apart from that, it connects with the ancient route towards the Tibetan border. People of this area are warm, cheerful, and greet tourists with immense affection. There are also plenty of small monasteries and the pristine views of Mount Kanchenjunga.
Traditions & Lifestyle
The lifestyle is much more traditional and relaxed here in the Kanchenjunga region. The massive influence and the wide presence of the Rai, Limbu, Sherpa, and Tibetan communities. They live in remote villages, with the main economic source being agriculture and animal husbandry.
Recently, the teahouse tourism is shaping up to be the economic development of the region. People here are cheerful, warm, and pleasant. The main attractions of this region include vibrant festivals, aesthetic attire, and the eye-catching Kanchenjunga peak.
In the lower regions, you will see the majority of the Limbu and Rai communities. On the other hand, the higher altitude areas are mostly ruled by the people of Sherpa and Tibetan origin.
Buddhism is the main religion followed here, with plenty of monasteries and mani walls featured in this area. Similarly, the other widely followed religions are Hinduism and Mundum. There is also an interesting fact that the locals here have named Mount Kanchenjunga as the ‘Five Treasures of Snow’.
The locals of this area provide tea and offer trekkers a pleasant stay in family-run teahouses. They mostly eat traditional dishes such as lentils, rice, vegetables, etc.
Major Festivals
- Lhosar or Losar: Lhosar is one of the major festivals of this area, as it is the Tibetan New Year. It is widely celebrated in the high-altitude areas by performing prayers and rituals.
- Futuk Festival: Futuk festival is another popular festival which is celebrated in Olangchung Gola or Walung. This festival is celebrated by performing masked dances resembling the legends of this region.
- Sakela: Sakela is a renowned festival celebrated by the Rai communities. The group dancing in this festival is also quite viral, also known as ‘Sakela Cham’. There will also be other rituals done to remember and honor ancestors.
- Sakadawa & Ngyungnay: This specific festival is celebrated by Buddhist followers. In this festival, the ultimate life of the Buddha, his principles, and his legacy are honored by doing prayers and fasting.
- Dashain and Tihar: Dashain and Tihar are the first and second biggest festivals of Nepal. It is widely celebrated with joy, laughter, and seeking blessings from seniors. Celebrated in all parts of Nepal by the Hindus.
Travel Insurance for this trek
As you’re aware, you have to go beyond 5000m altitude during this trek, so it can be risky at times. Thus, the best thing to do is purchase travel insurance.
The journey won’t be easy, and any unfortunate events or accidents might occur. From our side, we will try our best to provide proper safety throughout the trek. Buying travel insurance gives you the facility of financial coverage throughout the trekking duration. We urge you to buy travel insurance before arriving for the trek.
We remind you that our trek packages don’t include travel insurance. Thereby, you must purchase travel insurance on your own.
When choosing travel insurance for this Kanchenjunga circuit trek, make sure it covers
- Altitude Sickness
- Accidents or Injuries
- Tour Cancellations
- Helicopter Evacuation
Altitude Sickness
The Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek is a high-altitude trek posing an immense threat and risks. Due to the challenging sections, steep climbs, and high-altitude walking, the chances of altitude sickness are high.
Our customized itinerary also shows that you will stay at an altitude of around 3000 to 4000m for numerous days. Keeping all these factors in mind, there is a higher chance of altitude-related problems.
Altitude sickness is experienced once you go above 3000 meters. The problem can be severe, and most importantly, all age groups can suffer from it. The main reason it happens is when you start ascending at a rapid or a quick pace. You should allow your body to adjust to the new conditions or heights.
People usually find it harder to adjust when ascending due to the changing oxygen levels. As you go higher and higher, the oxygen levels also start decreasing. The body can’t resist such transitions quickly; it needs time.
What is Altitude Sickness?
Altitude sickness is a common problem that happens when you are trekking at higher altitudes. This happens when you climb or ascend during the trek at a pace higher than normal. Thereby, it is always suggested to walk at a normal, relaxed pace, giving your body enough time to adapt and adjust.
If you get caught by it, you may feel symptoms such as sleeping problems, breathing difficulties, nausea, vomiting, an increase in heart rate, etc. Symptoms like these, if encountered, must be reported to your guide immediately.
- We follow the strict rules to prevent altitude sickness, which is ‘Climb High, Sleep Low’. Throughout the trekking period, we walk at a normal pace, and there are some extra rest days included as well at different key stops.
Prevention
- You should climb slowly.
- Take your time and allow your body to get used to the higher altitude.
- Acclimatization and rest days.
- Descent to a lower altitude when your body feels uneasy.
- Rest at a lower altitude if any symptoms arise.
- Always listen to your body.
How to Prepare for the Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek
Due to the challenging conditions, remote terrain, and high altitude, the Kanchenjunga Circuit trek is hard to achieve. You need to do rigorous training and be in excellent physical condition. for this trek.
As a trekker, you must focus entirely on cardio and leg strength training, especially for this trek. Intense training for a few months is needed.
The average walking hour for a day is around 5 to 8 hours, so trekkers must be in good shape and form, enough to walk easily for long hours.
Apart from physical fitness, some high-altitude trekking experience is also needed for this trek. It is not an ideal trek for beginners. Some of the exercises that you should do on a regular basis are walking, running, jogging, swimming, cycling, etc.
To focus on leg muscles and strengthen them, you can do exercises such as lunges, squats, and planks.
Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek Best Time
The best season for the Kanchenjunga Circuit trek is spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November). If you trek in the Kanchenjunga region during these months, you will experience more ideal weather conditions and crystal clear skies.
In the spring season, especially from March to May, the temperatures will be pretty warm, not too hot nor too cold. The trails will be filled with colorful rhododendron flowers. Similarly, in the autumn season, the months of September to November, the weather conditions will be perfect for trekking.
The air gets crisp with clear visibility and stunning panoramic mountain views. Overall, the spring and autumn seasons provide great visibility and clear skies.
Packing List for the Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek
In order to make the Kanchenjunga trek successful, smart packing should also be considered. For your comfort and safety, your gear and equipment list is crucial. The list of gear and equipment you will need is.
Upper Body
- Waterproof Jacket/windproof shell jacket
- Down Jackets
- Raincoat
- Layered warm clothing
- Thermal base layers
- Fleece mid-layers
- A couple of shirts
- Woolen hat
- Neck gaiter
- Sports Bra (for women)
Hands
- Waterproof gloves
- Insulated gloves/mittens
Lower Body
- Waterproof pants
- Trekking pants
- Around 4 pairs of underwears
Feet
- Multiple pairs of wool or synthetic socks
- Trekking boots
- Sandals
Toiletries
- Soap
- Shampoo
- Toothbrush
- Towel
- Toothpaste
- Toilet paper
- Hand Sanitizer
First Aid
- Water purifying tablets
- Anti-nausea medication
- Mosquito and insect repellent
Gears & Other Items
- Duffel Bag (complimentary gift)
- -20 Degree sleeping bag (available upon request)
- Backpack (30 to 40L) for daily items
- Water bottles (We provide free water purification tablets)
- Moisturizer
- Sunglasses or glacier goggles
- Sunscreen/high-SPF lip balm
- Camera
- Two-pin charging plug
- Personal Medication
- Trekking poles
- Headlamp with extra batteries
- Power Bank
Essential Documents/Materials to Carry
- A passport (with validity for at least six months)
- Carry some passport-sized photos
- Tourist Visa
- Photocopies of the Passport
- Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek Permits (We take care of these for you)
- Travel Insurance paper
- Booking Confirmation
- Copy of flight tickets with date of arrival and departure
Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek Cost
Our Kanchenjunga Circuit trek package is all-inclusive and has a price of USD per person. The package is all-inclusive, meaning we take care of every essential in this trek. It covers visa, permits, guides, porter, accommodation, meals, etc.
The cost depends on the group size and preferences.
How to Book the Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek Package?
The booking process of the Kanchenjunga Circuit trek is quite simple and easy. To make a booking and grab a seat in advance, make sure to contact Access Nepal Tour and Trekking. You can get in touch via email, WhatsApp, or simply from our website.
To secure the booking, you have to pay a 10% deposit of the total trip cost. The rest of the payment can be made within 24 hours of your arrival in Nepal. We accept online payment by credit card or bank transfer.
Once we get the deposit, the booking will be confirmed along with the flights, permits, accommodations, etc. After booking the Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek package, the trip is guaranteed to operate on the estimated dates.
Benefits of Booking the Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek with Access Nepal
Access Nepal Tour & Trekking provides an all-inclusive package along with a customizable option. Our Kanchenjunga circuit trek itinerary is especially designed to provide safety and comfort to all trek lovers. Access Nepal Tour and Trekking is a reputable local company with decades of experience. Some of the benefits of booking with us are listed below:
- Highly experienced, English-speaking guides who are also government licensed.
- We take care of all the required permits and government charges.
- All logistics taken care of, including accommodations, meals, transportation, etc.
- We do airport transfers, both arrival and departure.
- We take care of hotels in Kathmandu and all trek meals.
- Personalized attention and priority in safety.
- Our guides are trained in first aid.
- Guaranteed departure dates.
- Top-notch customer service.
If you’re more interested in remote region trekking in Nepal, then we have similar trek packages as well, including the Upper Dolpo Trek and Dhaulagiri Circuit trek. These treks will provide you with stunning landscapes, panoramic mountain views, and other immersive experiences.
