Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek

The Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek is one of the more wild, unexplored treks in Nepal and trekkers will need to make their way through a variety of terrain, which can include snow, ice, rocky paths, mud, landslides, suspension bridges, and many ascents and descents. Although no climbing or scrambling experience is necessary, a decent level of fitness is required to complete the Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek in 18 days. But don’t worry, there is an option to make the trek longer or take extra rest days if necessary. There are multiple days of over 7+ hours of walking at high altitudes.
Due to spending time at high altitudes, there is always a possibility of developing symptoms of AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness commonly known as altitude sickness). These symptoms can include headache, nausea, breathing problems, and loss of appetite. If you stick to our carefully created itinerary, this will reduce the chance of experiencing any symptoms. In the rare event of a trekker suffering from the symptoms of AMS, our guides are fully trained to handle the situation and will know what best to do to help you recover and continue your trek as safely as possible.
The teahouses on this trek are quite basic, especially as you get to the higher sections of the trek. This means that comforts such as a hot shower, electricity to charge during the night, comfortable bedding, and Western toilets are not always available. In our opinion, this makes the trek even more of an adventure!
Due to the remoteness of this trek, there will be no internet connection during the entire trek, and WIFI in the area is unreliable and quite often not available. Your guide will have a phone signal for 80% of the trek so in case of emergency, or even if you would just like to stay in touch with friends and family to let them know you are safe, then calls can be made to the office in Kathmandu and messages can be passed on to loved ones.
Physical Fitness & Preparations for the Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek
As mentioned before the trek can be quite physically and mentally demanding, with many days spent at high altitudes over 4000m. A decent level of fitness is required, but the trek can be made easier by adding extra days onto the itinerary, or through the hire of a porter.
We suggest that if possible you do as many long walks or runs as you can, in the lead-up to your trekking experience. The main focus of your training should be on cardio and endurance but some strength is required as you will be carrying your bag (unless using a porter), and at high altitude, this can be tough, as you will find yourself running out of breath quicker than at sea level.

The best time to enjoy the Himalayas is during the 2 trekking seasons. These are Spring (March-May) and Autumn (September – November). The weather is more stable during these 2 seasons so they have become popular for trekkers to come and enjoy the trails. Winter trekking is also possible but will require further planning and preparation.

If you wish to enjoy the Rhododendron bloom, then spring is your best choice for your trip, whereas autumn is best known for its good weather and crystal clear views. Of course with the mountains, the weather is always unpredictable, but this is the general rule for these seasons.

The tea houses on the Kanchenjunga circuit are very basic, and the facilities are very minimal. It is recommended that you bring a sleeping bag or sleeping bag liner, depending on the time of year, as it can get cold in the mountains, especially at night. Buckets of warm water will be available for a small charge should you wish to wash up. Electricity can be very temperamental and mostly relies on solar power, so if the sun has not been out during the day, you may not be able to charge electronic appliances during the evening.

Menus are available in most places, but can be very basic. For example, a typical menu will contain noodles, fried rice, or dal bhat, and for breakfast, porridge, omelet with chapati or Tibetan bread. We recommend that you eat a vegetarian diet whilst on your trek to avoid the risk of stomach upset. We also recommend that you eat at least 1 dal bhat a day, as this meal comes with free refills, and will provide you plenty of energy for the following day. As the saying goes, ‘Dal bhat power, 24 hours!’