Overview
Kanchenjunga trekking is considered by many to be one of the finest trekking routes in Nepal. The 28 days long trek takes us to the remote mountain ranges in the border regions of Nepal with Sikkim and Tibet. The best time to complete the trek is during the months of March -May and September- December. The strenuous trek, to an elevation of 5140 m, is one of the most exciting trips to uncover the secrets of Nepal.
The highlight of the trek is Kanchenjunga (8586 m), the 2nd highest mountain in Nepal and 3rd highest mountain in the world. In Tibetan language, Kanchenjunga means “five treasure houses of snow” for the five glorious peaks of the mountain. The trip in the eastern part of Nepal requires permits as the trek was opened only after the 1980s.
The trek includes natural beauty of the farmlands, traditional villages, valleys and other landscape. The traditional people with their unique cultures and lifestyles add to the cultural experiences. Sherpa, Limbu, Rai, Tamang, and other ethnic groups welcome us with warm hospitality.
The trek is equally famous for its biodiversity. Kanchenjunga Conservation Area (2035 sq.km.) is dedicated to protecting different species of birds, animals, and plants. The demanding trip requires physical fitness, technical knowledge, and determination. We climb with proper rest and acclimatization to reach the high altitude destinations.
The trek is marked by rugged trails, scattered settlements, and monsoon downpours. The trek travels the forested lowlands and hills to the mountains of the region.
The highlights of the trek include:
- Mountains vistas including Kanchenjunga,
- Yalung glacier and other high passes
- Monasteries, chorten temples and prayer walls
- Traditional Sherpa villages with unique cultures
- Himalayan Black Beer, Assamese Macaque, Musk deer, Red Panda, snow leopards and other animals
- Rhododendrons, orchids, lilies, primula, and other flowers.
Itinerary
Our representative will receive you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel. You can take rest and roam around the Thamel district.
We spend the day visiting different tourist sites in Kathmandu. The guided tour will take you to the following :
– Pashupatinath: It is a holy site for Hindus all over the world. The pagoda-styled temple of Lord Shiva is visited by thousands every year.
– Boudhanath Stupa: An important pilgrim site for Buddhists and Hindus, it is one of the largest Buddhist shrines in the world.
Swoyambhunath Temple: Another famous holy site, it is also called the Monkey temple.
– Kathmandu Durbar Square is also famous for its cultural and architectural temples and palaces.
We take a morning flight (45 minutes long) to Bhadrapur and then drive to Ilam. Ilam is famous as Nepal’s largest tea plantation area. We stay overnight in Ilam.
From Ilam, we drive for hours to reach Taplejung where we spend our second night.
From Taplejung onward, we trek along the lush green mid-hills of Nepal along rivers and steep ridges. We pass through traditional villages with mud houses, paddy fields, fruit trees, and terraced farms. We walk down to Tamur River and follow it upstream through some remote villages. After a while, we reach the Tamang village of Sinuwa where we stay overnight.
After the village, the valley narrows and we pass through landslide debris and boulders. Then we descend to Thiwakhola and cross it over a wooden bridge. After a few up and down trails, we reach the Chiruwa market. From there, we will again follow Tamur River to finally get to Taplethok.
On this day, after climbing a spur we descend to SimbuaKhola. We cross the bridge over the river formed by the Yalung glacier. After another ridge, we reach GhunsaKhola Valley. Once we reach the confluence of Tamur and GhunsaKhola, we walk for a while and set up camp beside the river.
From Sakathum, we trek northeast along the banks of GhunsaKhola. We gain altitude as we move towards Kanchenjunga Base camp. The trek passes through exposed terrain with steep, uphill climb to Amjilosa. It is a Tibetan village where we stay overnight.
We will pass through rhododendron and bamboo forests. After an ascent, we will come across a big waterfall on the side of the river which points to our destination Gyable, one of the best places with gorgeous views of the surrounding.
From Gyable, the trail crosses a large meadow, a village, and a hill. Then, we descend and cross a river to reach the village of Gunsa. Gunsa is a large Tibetan village with wooden houses, a school, a health post, and a micro hydropower plant. It also has Kanchenjunga Conservation Area and few Gompas where people share their travel stories. We stay in the largest and last village of the valley.
For the acclimatization, we hike to the other side of the river to gain about 400m elevation. It takes about 4 hours for the roundtrip. Rest of the day we explore the picturesque Tibetan village and get acquainted with its people.
From Ghunsa, we move through beautiful pine and rhododendron forests, along the south bank of GhunsaKhola, with many chortens and Mani walls. After crossing various slopes and glacial moraines, we finally reach Khambachen. It is a small Tibetan settlement with around a dozen houses surrounded by mountains. We stay here overnight.
Once we reach the source of GhunsaKhola, we will stay to the north of Kanchenjunga glacier. We will hike along a plateau past Lhonak glacier to reach Lhonak. Despite the cold and high elevation, the breathtaking views of Wedge peak, Mera peak, Nepal peak, and Twins will mesmerize us. We will spend the night in Lhonak.
Leaving Lhonak, we will go east following the same glacier on the northern ridges to reach KBC. It is also called Pang Pema, with beautiful mountain views. We will head back to Lhonak to spend the night in lower elevation.
We will retrace our steps back to Ghunsa, where we will spend the night.
We follow a steep, rocky trail through a forest that emerges at High Camp. The Sele la Kharka is just above the high pass where we spend the night.
It is one of the most exciting days of the trek as we walk through two passes: Sele La pass (4480m) and Sinion La (4660m). After the final pass, we descend for about 1000m to reach Tseram where we stay the night.
From Tseram, we pass through the snout of Yalung Glacier into an eroded valley. The peaks of this region span the Nepal- India border. There is a lake and a meadow in Ramche. Blue sheep can also be seen on the grassy slopes. From Ramche, we move through rocky trails and moraines to finally reach Oktang Glacier. From, there we trace the trail back to Ramche.
From Ramche, we trace our steps back to Tseram where we spend the night.
We descend through SimbuwaKhola as we retrace our steps. As the descent is easier, we get enough time to admire the surrounding views and orchids in the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area. We pass through Toronton and then reach LamiteBhanjyang, below Amjikhola. We stay there overnight.
We travel through LamiteBhanjyang which is basically a dense forest of pine trees. We will be accompanied by the singing birds throughout. We cross the AmjiKhola and then descend to Yamphudin where we spend the night.
We make a descend on this day as we walk along the KabeliKhola. There are waterfalls of various sizes throughout the trail. We finally reach Phumphe. We stay here overnight.
From Phumphe, we first climb a ridge and then descend through a series of side valleys past Phun village. After we reach Kesawa, we ascend to Bhanjyang which is a Gurung settlement. From here, the trail traverses a ridge and descends to Kunjari, a Limbu village. We stay the night here on the banks of PhaKhola.
It is the last day of trekking as we go to Suketar of Taplejung. It involves more climbing than descends and hence is an exhausting day. We stay overnight in Taplejung.
On this day, we take a long drive to Birtamod of Bhadrapur. We stay in Birtamod for the night.
We take an early morning flight to Kathmandu. We can enjoy the evening in Thamel, a popular tourist hub.
We will bid you farewell at Tribhuvan International Airport. We welcome you to explore the naturally and culturally gifted Nepal again.
What is Included
- Airport pickup and drop by private vehicle.
- Four nights Kathmandu hotel with Breakfast.
- Trekking lodge (Tea House) and home stay accommodations during the trek.
- Three meals a day during the trek.
- Fresh fruit every evening after the dinner.
- Special Trekking permits, Conservation permits and other required paper documents.
- Bus or public shared jeep transport Birtomood -Ilam- Suketar and again same way back to Britamood after the trek.
- Round trip flight fare Kathmandu-Bhadrapur-Kathmandu) with airport tax and pickup and drop.
- A highly experience, helpful, knowledgeable, friendly, English speaking well trained, Government license holder guide with all his salary, food, drinks, accommodation, transport and insurance.
- Strong, helpful porters with proper equipment (one porter for two people).
- Medical supplies (first aid kit will be available).
- Arrangement of Emergency Helicopter service which will be paid by your Travel Insurance Company.
- Free rental of Seeping bags, Down Jacket, Duffel bag and Walking Poles
- Nepal Eco Adventure branded t-shirt and cap.
- Guided city tour as per above itinerary with private vehicle.
- Government taxes and official expenses.
- Oxymeter to check your pulse and oxygen saturation and heart rate twice daily (Very useful to check Altitude Mountain Sickness(AMS) symptoms) Which will ensure you trek is in the safest hands possible for all levels of trekker.
- Assistant guide group size above 4+ person.
What is Excluded
- Meals whilst you are in Kathmandu
- Nepal entry visa fee (easily issued upon your arrival at International Airport with 2 passport size photos and $40 dollar for a 30 day visa)
- Your Travel Mountain Rescue Insurance
- International airfare.
- Your personal expenses.
- Drinks (except water refills and tea/coffee during breakfast) and desserts, snacks
- Hot shower, battery charging and use of wifi on the tea houses.
- Tips for guide and driver (tipping is expected).
- Kathmandu sightseeing tour entrance fee.
Departure Dates
Join Our Fixed Trip Starting Date
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Kanchenjunga TrekkingKanchenjunga and Helambu Treks - March 2017
Had a great experience on the tail end of Winter trekking into the remote Kanchenjunga region (which has a great variety of scenery and is much less "touristed" than a lot of other treks). Chhatra and the team at Nepal EcoAdventure made the whole experience as "painless" as possible (apart from the blisters!). Chhatra is very responsive to any and all questions and always open to alternative suggestions and options. Our Kanchenjunga Trek was cut short due to heavy snow, but Chhatra was incredibly accommodating and arranged an alternative trek, transportation etc. at very short notice into the Helambu Region, which gave us an insight into a different area altogether. All of this was done with no fuss and at no additional cost to us either. Our guide (Kul) and porter (Suma) were both fantastic, experienced and went "above and beyond" expectations, which simply made the trip go even more smoothly and added to the enjoyment. I would not hesitate to use the Nepal EcoAdventure team again or to recommend them to anyone contemplating trkking in Nepal (I'm already hatching plans for a possible return to Nepal next year(!). Can't wait!).
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FAQs
Can I get Nepal visa on arrival or online?
Yes, you can get on arrival tourist visa at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. Most of people can obtain visa on entry to Nepal. There are some countries visa will needed to be organize prior to travelling. $25 for 15 days of visa from the date of issue, $40 for 30days and 100US$ for 90 days tourist visa. You need two photos.
You can apply online visa from 1st of March(http://www.online.nepalimmigration.gov.np/).
Does your company pick up from airport on arrival ? is that included pick up and drop?
Yes, our agency airport representative will pick you up from airport. We will be displaying our name card of Nepal Eco Adventure with your name on it. and when you finished you trip we will drop you to airport. Pick up and drop is complimentary from our company.
When is the best time to visit Nepal?
Trekking at Nepal will be best during the seasons of spring and autumn. But according to the will of the trekkers, the trekking and visiting in Nepal can be managed. The trekking at the high altitude should be done during the summer time or September to November and March to May but the trekking at the low lands can be done at throughout the year.
How difficult is trekking in Nepal?
The trekking in Nepal is one of the most interesting things that the visitors in Nepal want to do. The trekking will take the visitors of Nepal to different parts of Nepal. Generally, trekking in Nepal will goes for about 5 to 7 hours per day in every trekking but the toughness of the trekking will differ from its grade. There are different types of trekking grading from the easy, medium, challenging and demanding. Normally in Trekking covers 3000 meters to 8848 meters which has categories in various stage of grade. Expedition is challenging but trekking is normal and easy.
How fit do need to be for trekking? wil i be able to do it?
It depends on you; if you’re reasonably fit and enjoy walking then trekking is certainly for you. Choose the trekking route suites your fitness level. Obviously shorter treks are easier then longer ones, longer and bigger treks require a better standard of fitness. If you are in good physical condition then you do not require any hiking experience for short trekking. But if you are planning for the longer ones then you should try some longer day hikes.
How long will be the trekking?
The trekking at the different parts of Nepal will be different according to the distance of the trekking destinations. Generally, there are different places where one can go for trekking and the duration of the trekking will generally goes for about 1 to 4 weeks. But the trekking at the different places like in city tours will be short but the trekking towards the base camp of the high hills will be generally long.
What is teahouse and camping trekking in Nepal?
In Nepal, generally we can do two types of trekking. In the teahouses trekking, we will do the trekking by resting the night at the lodges or the teahouses at different places of the trekking trails. The teahouses trekking at Nepal will be comfortable than the camping trekking because the trekkers should not have to take any tensions regarding the accommodation and foods. But besides the teahouses trekking, camping trekking in Nepal is also equally popular. The camping trekking will be based on the trekking where the night will be resting at the camps, where we will set up our camps at the different parts of the trekking trails for our convenience. We will have our meals at the camps and will rest the night at camps. As compared to the lodging trekking, camping trekking is a bit difficult.
What types of food will be served during the trekking?
While trekking in Nepal, meals are prepared in tea houses, good standards of hygiene, fruit and vegetable soaked in iodine water before cooked. The food along the trail will be simple and a mix of local and international cuisine. If the trekking is camping trekking, then the trekkers will mainly be served with the local foods of Nepal and as well as continental and western foods. Due to the lack of electricity and refrigerators along our trekking route you will eat a largely vegetarian diet. In Kathmandu you will find meals in good quality tourist restaurants. Most of lodges serve boiled and filter water which is safe. It is also possible to buy the bottle of mineral water in the trek.
Does your company organize domestic flights, hotel booking
and other services?
Yes. Since we are Nepal based company we refer to arrange your international flights from your home. But domestic flight ticket, Kathmandu city tour, and you accommodation will be included in our package. If you like to organize individually river rafting, sightseeing tour, mountain flight, jungle safari can be organized according to your interest.
Do I really need trekking guide?
While visiting to Nepal, trekking guides is almost mandatory to trekking in Nepal for everyone. When you hired one your trip will lot more informative and memorable. You get lots of knowledge about country. But if the trekkers is well experienced and have visited at different places of Nepal many times then s/he may not need the trekking guides. But trekking guide can play big role to make your trekking They will provide information about the trekking destination along with its surroundings. Similarly, if any problems will arise during the trekking, then the guides will solve it easily and it will be rather difficult for the trekkers themselves to solve them.
Is trekking and travel safe in Nepal?
Yes Nepal is safe to Travel. Safety during the trekking or travel in Nepal is one of the prime concerns that every trekker or traveler want to know. In the past, Nepal has experienced political unrest, however since November of 2006, the signed Nepal Peace Agreement, between the Government of Nepal and the Nepal Communist Party (Maoists) has brought this unrest to a close. but now there is the situation of peace and tranquility in the field of trekking as well as in whole Nepal.
Besides, the trekking stakeholders in Nepal are also forwarding several steps for the safety of the trekkers. Now after election democratic parties will lead the government and rule the nation that’s why the huge possibility has seen in safety. Yes. . There are pick pockets here, as you find in other countries so keep your belongings safe at all times. You need to take usual precautions as you would traveling anywhere in the world.
Do I need insurance for travel and trek in Nepal? Can I get it there?
You should buy medical and mountain evacuation insurance for trekking up 5500m. General travel and medical insurance for travelling in to Nepal. we suggest you buy insurance policy in your country. we don´t have mountain rescue insurance over here in Nepal. Check with worldnomad.com they have good policy for Nepal.
Is there any telephone/internet facilities, when we are on the mountain?
In the way in most villages along the popular trekking routes you can find telephone for international call. Popular trekking area like Annapurna, Everest and Langtang area there good coverage of cell phones. and there internet cafe some lodges have wifi service.
What doI need to carry on trek?
A porter will carry your luggage and that belonging to your room-mate. Your clothing and sleeping bag must be placed in plastic bags inside your rucksack which must not weigh more than 25 pounds (12 kg) in total. You will be able to leave clothes and other baggage at our hotel in Kathmandu while away on trek.
Each trekker will carry a small day-sack, fleece jacket, water proofs, warm hat, sunhat, sun-cream, water bottle (or camel back system), first aid kit and water purification kit.
What in case of altitude sickness?
Altitude sickness is one of the major problems while you will trek high altitudes trekking destination of Nepal. But there are certain measures that can be applied while trekking at the high altitudes which help the trekkers to avoid the altitude sickness. Besides, if it will affects to any trekkers then there are several provisions for the first aid and other medicines to recover. If the condition of the trekkers gets worst, then he will immediately transfer to the nearby hospitals.
What happens if there is an emergency?
Our guides are trained with first aid and have basic knowledge about the physical problems that may arise during trekking. If an emergency occur then we will cover initial expenses of rescue operation as these expenses will need to be recovered from your insurance company. For minor cases there are health posts established by foreign doctors and many are staffed by overseas personnel.
You can bring power bars, cereal bars and similar high energy foods, powder Gatorade is also recommended to fight dehydration.
Do I need to bring First Aid Kit?
Our Guides carry a comprehensive medical kit. But you should bring your own personal kit and carry it with you when on the trek. It should contain antiseptic cream, throat lozenges, headache pills, diarrhoea treatment, re-hydration salts eg Dioralite, Lemsip, plasters and Compede for blisters.
How safe Women traveling alone with your company?
we are aware about safety of female travelers. we completely guarantee the safety of the women travelling or trekking with us. We will give you a personal room on lodge and personal tent for camping while trekking. we provide female friendly guide and porter. we are female friendly Company.
what currency should I bring to Nepal?
We advise you to bring US dollars /British pound s/Euros to pay for your visa, trip cost and other expenses. most major currencies are usually accepted also. It is always better to travel with US dollars.
Does Nepal has good quality banking facilities?
Nepal has reasonable banking facilities having branches of some international local commercial banks Almost all foreign currency along with credit card such as Visa and Master card are broadly accepted. ATM is widely available in Kathmandu and pokhara. There are some ATM in bigger town on treks. when you go remote area idea to carry enough cash. some trekking area has bank and ATM, they might not be reliable.
How early should I book my trip?
We recommend you to book your trip in few month advance. Even you arrive and want to organize your trip we accommodateLAST MINUTE BOOKINGS. However, for Trekking like Everest region we need to reserved the flight so we highly recommend earliest is best for us.
What are your payment terms?
You need to pay 25% of total price as advance deposit to confirm reservation before arriving to Nepal and remaining balance of the payment shall be paid when you arrive to kathmandu.
What essential documents/items do I need to bring with me?
You must bring a valid passport (must be valid for up to 6 months, keep an extra photocopy just in case), a copy of your travel insurance, cash, flight tickets, emergency contact numbers of insurance and family members and any medications.
How much extra spending money should I bring?
This depends on the destination you will travel or trek. There is something you spend your money on throughout the trek other than the alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks, Hot shower on the trek, Tipping and shop round on the trek. On the other hand Kathmandu is a shopper’s paradise.. Frequently purchased items include hand-woven Tibetan carpets, hand knit woollen goods, hats, outdoor clothing and equipment, cashmere clothing, shawls, pashminas, Buddhist memorabilia, carved masks, puppets, wood carvings and jewellery etc. we suggest you to bring $200-$350 US dollar. You can only buy Nepalese Rupees in Nepal. There are ATM’s in Kathmandu where you can withdraw Nepalese Rupees Credit cards can be used to purchase expensive items but there will be an additional charge for this service.
Is Nepal Eco Adventure guides/porters insured?
Yes our company trekking staff including guides, porters, cooks, Sherpas all of them are insured. we have bought insurance for all our staff from Neco Insurance. Their insurance cover up to $5000 USD.
How much should I tip to my guide and porter?
Tips do not form any part of thewages of guides,porters and other trekking crews. but they are expected by the porters, guide, Sherpa and cook. it is a nice way of saying thank-you to someone who will play a large part in your trekking experience and who will prove invaluable to you on this trip. Our porters and guides will be paid more than working for other big tour and trek companies. we suggest to tip 10-20% of total trip cost. This amount must be given in Nepalese rupee. The porters live in small hill villages several days walking from the nearest bank or money changer. I will suggest you to be generous about tipping job they have done for you.
