Kanchenjunga Trek - 24 Days

Duration: 24 days

The actual trek is for 19 days, and the rest of the days will be spent travelling and making trek permits, preparation for the trip, travelling and back up day.

Elevation: 5,140 m

Grade: Demanding

This is a long hard trek which involves walking in a long stretch of steep up-and-down terrain, gains altitude and crosses high passes with snow. This can prove physically tiring, especially as the altitude increases and it puts a lot of stress on your knees. You need to be physically and mentally fit.

Altitude Problem:

This trek goes up to an altitude of 5,140 m a zone which is highly susceptible for high altitude problem.

Altitude sickness can affect anyone in the elevation beyond the safer limits of 2500m above sea level. As you ascend higher into the atmosphere, the oxygen content of the air decreases, making it more difficult for the body to adapt to the new altitude and perhaps leading to altitude sickness. Altitude sickness can happen very quickly. It can be lethal if it’s not treated on time.

If you have a headache, cough, racing heart or trouble breathing, difficulty in sleeping, weak you might be affected by altitude problems. In such case you need to consult with your guide and stop ascending to higher elevation. The only remedy for altitude problem is descending to lower elevation immediately.

Who Can Undertake Kanchenjunga Trek?

 Graded as demanding this trek is ideal for those who are into adventure and have a good experience in high altitude trek. This is purely a trek and not a climbing a trip so no rope or climbing is involved.  For the novice, pregnant women, people with heart problems or other long health issue we do not recommend it.  To undertake this trek one needs to be in good shape of health.

Preparation For the Kanchenjunga Trek:

Since this trek is graded demanding reaching up to an altitude of 5,140 m a proper preparation, planning needs to be done in order to have a safe and enjoyable trek.

Mental Preparation:

• First check the program and make sure that this trek is right for you.
• Your health conditions should be good. Recommends you to check with your GP/Doctor. Dental problem can be nasty when in stress so do make sure it is good.
• Meditation practice which will strengthen your brain which might need it during trek in times of difficulties.
• Good trek gears are required to undertake the trip.

Physical Preparation:

Since this trek is recommended to regular trekkers who has an experience trekking in the rough terrain and high altitude so not much preparation is required. But still, we suggest preparation and training before the expedition as it will make you fitter and stronger, allowing you to enjoy the trek without additional stress or injury.

• Start hiking covering 9 – 12 kms per day with bit of weight 5-15kg. Try this quite frequently and increase the distance. This will slowly build strong muscles in your legs and body, also help as to how you move on the trail. Practice with the hiking boots that you plan on taking in order to avoid blisters during the trek.
• Also you can build up your strength, endurance, stability and self-assurance doing a stair walking. You can start slowly and then gradually prolonged it for bit longer period.
• You can work on with treadmill as it will strengthen your calves and Achilles tendons and improves your cardio and leg endurance. This can be done by increasing the incline each week till you can tolerate 45-60 m at a 15% incline.
• Other fitness activities like swimming, cycling, jogging are all helpful

Type of Trek:

• FULL PACKAGE TRIP: We organize everything for the trip right from the permit for the trek, guide and porters, accommodation, provide meals and arrange transportation where required.

Season:

Weather plays an important role for having an enjoyable trek in the Himalayas because without the view of the snowy peak the trek can be bit incomplete.

Though the trek can be done almost throughout the year with the exception in the Monsoon season but in order to enjoy the trek fully the ideal time is autumn between mid-October till mid-December where most of the time you can have unobstructed view of the lofty Himalayas. The trek also becomes pleasant as it is not too hot but in from November weather can be colder.

Springtime between mid -March till end of April is another good time to trek in the Himalayas. But during this time weather can be bit hazy and also sometimes you can have rain. But since the weather pattern is changing its hard to be precise, we just have to count on our luck as well.

Access:

Flight:

Although some of the days there are direct flights to Sukhetar/Taplejung which is near the trek starting point but due to unreliability of the operation of flight we have based our flight to Bhadrapur airport which is little further away from there.

The flight to Bhadrapur is regular with several flights in a day starting right from the morning till afternoon.  Capacity of the seats are much larger compared to Taplejung flights and weather does not disrupt the flight that much.

Transportation:

Bhadrapur airport is further away from the trek starting point so because of this transportation will also be involved.  It takes around 08 hours’ drive to reach Taplejung. Drive is through gentle hilly region crossing through different villages, tea gardens.

We will also be using a vehicle from Taplejung to starting point of the trek. This road will be bit rough as it will be in a jeep trail road. Even the return from the trek the vehicle will be involved.

From Bhadrapur to Taplejung the transportation will be in a 4 Wheel drive Jeep in a private basis but whereas from Taplejung the transportation will be in a jeep but can be rough as the roads are mostly in a gravel rough mountain terrain.  Even the return journey can be the same in a rough unpaved rough mountain terrain road.

Baggage:

Baggage in the Aircraft: 

Weight allowance for baggage for flight to Bhadrapur is 20 Kgs, excess weight is chargeable at USD 1.33 or more per Kilo (subject to change without any prior information).

During Trekking:

During the trek your main baggage will be taken cared by our porters. You just need to carry a day pack with water bottle, camera, sun-screen, spare jacket, personal medication and etc. For this trip you will need to have small day pack to carry by you during the trek, FAR OUT will be supplying you with the main trekking bag for all your trekking gears but you will also need to carry a small lockable bag for travel clothes or anything that you do not need during trek to store at hotel’s locker room/safe deposit box in Kathmandu for free of charge.

Staff Support:

You will have the support of a Govt. registered trekking guide who can speak Basic English language and well acquainted with the area. All our Guides have received training in basic skills and knowledge about administering first aid and emergency medication.

We provide porters to carry your personal baggage and gear leaving just the day pack to be carried by yourself.  We provide one porter for every two trekkers and one porter generally carries a baggage weighing not more than 30 Kgs, i.e. 15 Kgs per trekker. So you will need to pack your baggage accordingly.

Accommodation:

Your nights, during the trek, will be spent at basic and simple lodges having private rooms partitioned with wooden walls. These rooms accommodate two single beds with cotton pillows and a blanket provided. However, it is always good to bring your own sleeping bag. Most of the lodges have solar lighting system and hence are slightly dim. Bathrooms & toilets in such lodges are usually common.  Some upgraded lodges have popped up in the lower section of the Everest region which provide attached private bathroom and toilets but they are limited and can be arranged at an extra cost.

Meals:

You can find a wide variety of Nepali, Western, Chinese & Indian cuisine.

Breakfast offerings include muesli, a variety of porridges, pancakes and bread with jam or eggs.

For lunch it is worth considering what can be quickly prepared, with veg noodle soup being popular. Pancakes and Tibetan bread are also relatively quick to make. Increasingly toasted sandwiches are on menus too. Apple pie is generally delicious, deep fried in the same way as the spring rolls are.

Dinner you can start with soup, then you can choose the main dish either macaroni, spaghetti, potato, pizza, rice etc.

Most meal choices are carbohydrate-heavy; exactly what trekkers require. All lodges serve tea, coffee, hot chocolate, hot lemon, soft drinks and beer (check its temperature first) and some places even offer wine.

Avoid having uncooked food like salads, meat products during the trek or even in Kathmandu.

Water:

It is recommended to take plenty of water during the trek to avoid dehydration.  Mineral Water is available but we do not advise as the plastic bottle pollutes the region so carry Water bottle with water purifying tablets.  You can fill the water from the restaurant or stream on the trail.

Group Size:

Normally our group size is between 2 to 10 participants – it is always great to have a small group for getting a memorable and insightful travel experience. It allows to interact with each other in a good friendly environment.

Typical Day in the Trek:

Usually, day begins around 6 am with tea or coffee and then washing and shaving.  After you need to get back to your room and pack your gears, followed by breakfast in the restaurant which will be as per your choice. Then we begin our trek it goes around for 3 to 4 hours then we stop for a lunch in a nice spot having nice cuisine, hygienic, and, if it’s feasible, a good view of the Himalayas. We finish the journey for the day after trekking for a further three to four hours. Night will be spent in the simple basic mountain lodge.  Dinner will be in the lodge restaurant where you get a menu to choose your meal.

Trekking Equipment:

For trekking in the Kanchenjunga region, you will need a good walking boot, sleeping bag (4 seasons), waterproof jacket and trousers, fleece jacket, warm hat and gloves, sunglasses, water bottle, sun cream and day pack. Complete list of equipment will be forwarded upon confirmation of the trip.  Most of the gears can either be bought or rented out in a different trekking shop in Kathmandu.

Health, Medical & Vaccinations:

Atleast 08 weeks before you begin your journey have a basic health check-up, consult with your GP/Doctor about your travel plan and the vaccination you might require.

Medical facilities in Nepal although has improved a lot but still not at par with many countries abroad. Kathmandu has several big hospitals with quite a good medical facilities but serious illnesses, however, often require evacuation to the nearest adequate medical facility in a neighboring country.

One needs to be careful with water, we advise you to drink only boiled or bottled water.  Also please avoid raw or undercooked food. Infectious diseases such as parasitic, foodborne, and waterborne infections are quite frequent in Nepal. They consist of cholera, hepatitis, and typhoid.

Nepal reported its first dengue case in a traveler returning from India in 2004. Since then, dengue has been endemic in Nepal.

First Aid Kit:

It is important to bring your own medication while traveling to Nepal as some of the medication might not be available or match with the one you are taking. While bringing the medication please bring along the prescription and good to check with Nepal Embassy if that medicines is allowed in Nepal or not.  Because some of the drugs even though prescribed by the doctor out there might be illegal in Nepal.

Insurance:

Whether it is a short easy trek or difficult one Insurance is a ‘MUST’ if you’re planning a trek in the Himalayas.  Trek in the Himalayas although exciting but due to difficult terrain potential health risk is involved.  In case of emergency Insurance plays an important role covering you with helicopter evacuation which is very expensive, your medical bills or sometimes your accommodation and upgraded air journey.

But make sure that a policy that covers your health, travel, medical treatment, accidents, loss of property, theft as well as emergency helicopter evacuation.

Electricity:

Most of the teahouses in this region have electricity or the solar power facilities.  But as a backup it is always good to carry a power bank or solar charger in case of electricity problem, this trek zone is in the mountainous region of Nepal. Charging of the electronic device in some places will cost you extra.

Communication:

Internet access and mobile connection is available in most of the places in the Everest region but due to mountainous terrain some areas the connection can be poor.

Visa Requirements:

All foreigners require a visa for entry into Nepal. You can get from a Nepalese embassy overseas or on arrival in Nepal. Most people will obtain their visa on arrival to Kathmandu airport.  For obtaining the visa your passport should have atleast 6 months validity on the day of departure and the right amount of visa fee on US $ cash. To get it done bit quicker you can fill up the online visa submission form Online Services (immigration.gov.np) and present the print slip to the Immigration but this needs to be done between 15 to your arrival days.

15 days USD$  30 or equivalent convertible currency

30 days USD$  50 or equivalent convertible currency

90 days USD$120 or equivalent convertible currency

Permits:

You only require two different permits — One is Restricted Area Permit, and the other one is Kanchenjunga Conservation Park Permit.

For Restricted Area Permit there need to be 2 participants for the trek. Initially you will need to send a scan copy of the passport where all the details are mentioned i.e. Name, Date of Birth, Expiry date with pp photographs. These details are required for making the trek permit. Later when you reach Kathmandu we will need your passport for a day so that we can take it to the Trekking issuing office and obtain the permit.

Also, during the trek, you will need to carry the passport.

About Adventure Travel:

The concept of mountain trekking in itself is ‘adventure traveling’ which can be unpredictable most of the times. While traveling through the remote mountainous regions of Nepal, please do not expect standards you are used to at home, since these areas are still underdeveloped.

The posted trek itinerary should be seen as a guide only. Situations like inclement weather, forces of nature and circumstances beyond our control may convince us to alter the itinerary. Therefore, you are advised to be flexible, positive and eager to take on the challenge if the need arises. In case of uncertainty regarding the suitability of this trek for you, please do speak with your trekking agent.