Kanchenjunga Trek Transportation

All trekking transportation fees and arrangements are included in your package when you book with us.

 

Kanchenjunga Trek Accommodation

Tea house hotels are scattered all along the lesser-known, less-frequented route to Kanchenjunga Base Camp, meaning that no camping or cooking supplies are required. This trek can be done similarly to other well-known hiking routes; however, the lodging is not as luxurious as in the Annapurna or Everest regions due to the relatively untouched nature of the Kanchenjunga region. You can expect to share a bathroom with a squat toilet, depending on the tea house. When available at lower elevations, you may purchase a hot shower, but it will cost significantly more than on other more frequented trekking routes.

 

Kanchenjunga Trekking Meals

You will be eating at the tea houses where you’re staying for breakfast and dinner and stopping for lunch at tea houses along the route. Menus usually show both local and Western dishes; however, choosing local cuisine is recommended for the freshest, most filling food. Dal Bhat (rice, vegetable curry, and lentil soup) is at the top of the list, a local favorite that is recommended for its unlimited refills. You can also choose fried rice or noodles, Mo Mo (local dumplings), Thukpa (Tibetan noodle soup), spring rolls, or western dishes like pasta, pizza, and potatoes.

For breakfast, you can enjoy local chapati or Tibetan bread with curry or go for more familiar eggs, porridge, muesli, or pancakes. This trek is vegetarian and vegan-friendly, but if you have any other dietary restrictions, you can let us know, and your guide will communicate with the kitchen staff.

 

Telephone Service in Kanchenjunga Trek

Due to the remote location, there is limited mobile reception in the Kanchenjunga region. Some tea houses have a satellite connection for emergencies. NCELL and Nepal Telecom are our two major SIM card providers in Nepal; however, NCELL is recommended for internet service in the Kanchenjunga region. You can purchase an NCELL SIM card in Kathmandu when you arrive.

 

Wi-Fi service in Kanchenjunga Trek

In the Kanchenjunga region, a select few tea houses offer Wi-Fi for their guests, although at times it may not be reliable due to weather and other issues. Wi-Fi can cost quite a bit in this region, so having your own internet package is recommended.

 

Device charging in Kanchenjunga

Electricity is not guaranteed along the remote trekking route to Kanchenjunga. When available, you can expect to pay an extra fee for electricity in select tea houses. Tea houses are powered by electricity or solar power at higher elevations. Carrying a power bank is highly recommended in the Kanchenjunga region.

 

Porter

Our tailor-made packages do not include a porter, so you can make the decision based on your own needs and preferences. Although not necessary, having a porter can make a massive difference in the enjoyment of your trek. For trekking in the Kanchenjunga, we highly recommend having a porter due to the challenging nature of the terrain and altitude.

 

Kanchenjunga Trekking Gear Checklist

• Raincoat, poncho, or combination jacket and trousers
• One down jacket or Gore-Tex jacket
• Windproof trouser
• Two pairs of hiking pants
• One pair of shorts
• Three pair T-shirts
• One fleece jacket
• One or two pairs of base layers
• Two to three pairs of hiking socks and a couple of pairs of thicker socks
• Two pairs of gloves—one pair light fleece, the other waterproof/windproof
• Undergarments

 

Footwear

• Ankle-supporting water resistance trekking boots
• Flip-flops for leisure time around camp or one pair of sneakers

 

Other Equipment

• Sunglasses, sunscreen, lip balm, a sun hat, a woolen or fleece hat, a first aid kit, a Swiss army knife (optional), a luggage cover, a headlamp, trekking poles, a gaiter (optional), crampons, water purification tablets or steripen, extra batteries, an adapter, a power bank, water bottles/camel bags/thermos, washing powder or multi-purpose soap, shampoo, a small towel, antiseptic hand wash, toiletries, female hygiene products, wet wipes, whistle, mosquito spray (optional), earplugs, reading books, playing cards, or chess
• Sleeping bag rated to minus 10–20 degrees Celsius extreme temperature depending on trekking seasons
• Backpack (50–60 liters)
• Daypack (20–30 liters)

 

Travel Insurance

It is one of the most important things you’ll need overseas, particularly when trekking in Nepal. A policy that covers loss and theft, medical and hospitalization, evacuation from high altitude, and adventure activity coverage are among the basics you’ll need. A wide variety of policies are available, so make sure to shop for the best possible options. You need to have a policy that’s specific to the maximum height on your trek, bearing in mind that a number of companies place restrictions on that score—look closely at the fine print so that you’re sure to get the right coverage, especially in the event of an emergency such as altitude sickness—helicopter evacuations are horrendously expensive.

Also note that most medical treatment and facilities in Nepal, such as hospitals, require payment upfront or approval from your insurance company, so it’s wise to choose a policy that pays the bills directly rather than lumping the burden on you and leaving it till later for the insurer to reimburse you.

 

Nepalese Currency and Payment

The currency of Nepal is the rupee. The ideal currencies for exchange are those of the USA, Australia, Great Britain, Canada, and Singapore, as well as the Euro, any of which can be readily exchanged in either Kathmandu or Pokhara.

Credit and debit cards such as Visa, MasterCard, and American Express are accepted in major tourist-class hotels, restaurants, airlines, and larger stores in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Patan, Pokhara, etc. A surcharge of 3.5% is typically levied on all purchases or payments.

ATMs are also very common in Kathmandu and Pokhara, with Thamel being a particular area of focus for their use. Some ATMs only allow a daily maximum of Rs 10, 000 to be withdrawn, while others allow for as much as Rs 35, 000. A charge of USD $4 is usually applied per transaction, on top of which your own bank may also apply a fee of its own.

 

Can I get an on-arrival visa in Nepal?

On arrival in Nepal, you can obtain the requisite visa at Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu, or you can choose the alternative of applying for it at the Nepalese Embassy or Consulate in your home country before departure. The visa is also available at land-based points of entry such as Birgunj, Kakarbhitta, Bhairawa, Belhiya, Nepalgunj, Dhangadi, and Mahendranagar. The Kodari Pass is the access point from Tibet where the visa can be obtained.

While you can use different modes of payment at the visa fee counter, we advise you to bring cash in the following currencies: US dollars, euros, Swiss francs, pound sterling, Australian dollars, Canadian dollars, Hong Kong dollars, Singapore dollars, and Japanese yen. Credit card payments are also available nowadays.

As per a recent update, the visa fee costs you the following amounts:

• Multiple entries for 15 days—USD 30 or equivalent
• Multiple entries for 30 days—USD 50 or equivalent
• Multiple entries for 90 days—USD 125 or equivalent
• You should also have a minimum of six months of validity remaining on your passport.
• Visa extensions are available from the offices of Nepal Immigration in Kathmandu and Pokhara.

For more details, please go through the Nepal immigration website.