Notes
Food On Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek: What To Expect
Kanchenjunga Circuit takes you to the remote region of eastern Nepal. So don't expect the wide variety of menu like in city restaurants. Here you will find a limited food menu in the tea house, which is prepared using local ingredients. Here is the food that you can expect in the tea house menu during the trek:
Breakfast items:
- Tibetan bread (fried or baked)
- Chapati
- Porridge (oat, corn, or millet)
- Pancakes (plain, apple, or banana – availability varies)
- Eggs (boiled, fried, omelet)
- Toast with butter, jam, or honey
- Muesli or cornflakes (limited availability)
- Tea or coffee
Lunch and dinner:
- Dal Bhat (rice, lentil soup, seasonal vegetables, pickle – staple meal)
- Vegetable curry
- Fried rice
- Noodles (veg or egg)
- Thukpa (Tibetan noodle soup)
- Momos (vegetable or occasional meat, depending on area)
- Pasta or macaroni (simple style)
- Potato dishes (boiled, fried, or curry)
- Soup (garlic, vegetable, or noodle soup)
Beverage:
- Black tea/milk tea
- Ginger tea
- Lemon tea
- Masala tea
- Instant coffee
- Hot lemon
- Herbal tea
- Hot water
Accommodation on Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek
The Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek has fundamental accommodation. You will find a limited number of tea houses on the trekking trails. This tea house provides you with rooms that are often shared among the travelers. Inside the room, you will find twin sharing beds, a warm blanket, a pillow cover, a mattress and sharing toilets. There will be no AC or heating system, so to make yourself warm, we suggest you carry a sleeping bag.
Facilities you can find in the tea house:
- WIFI: It works only in the lower Kanchenjunga region. At higher altitude the coverage is spotty or not available. To connect to Wi-Fi in the tea house, you need to pay specific fees of around USD 1-3 per stay.
- Hot shower: You can get the facility of a hot shower only in the lower Kanchenjunga Region. At higher altitude this service is not available due to a lack of electricity, as tea houses depend upon solar or natural sources of fuel.
- Charging: You can get the charging facility in the tea house, but at higher altitude due to limited availability of electricity, we suggest you carry a power bank with you.
- Communicable dining: There will be no separate restaurant. Locals will cook the food in the tea house where you will be staying.
Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek Difficulty
Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek is graded as one of the most challenging treks in the Himalayas, due to the remote region and lack of advance facilites in the trekking trails. To complete this Kanchenjunga Circuit trek, it takes a minimum of 3 weeks. Everyday on the trek, you will be walking for around 6-8 hours, which can be physically and mentally exhausting.
This trek demands a moderate level of fitness from trekkers, so this trek is not for the first time trekkers and beginner trekkers. This trek is suitable only for experienced trekkers who want to enjoy complete wilderness.
This wild circuit trek in eastern Nepal takes you through the wilderness, barren valleys, and high passes such as Lapsang La (5,160m). The chances of having altitude sickness are high due to the high altitude trek. The modern facilities, such as a hotel, restaurant, ATM, Bank, hospital, and medical service are lacking here.
Additionally, due to the unpredictable nature of the weather, trekkers should be prepared for occasional changes in itinerary or trekking strategy. You need to be prepared for heavy snowfall, extremely low temperatures, and sudden weather changes, especially at higher altitudes.
How To Prepare for the Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek:
To make the trek easier, comfortable and successful, we suggest you plan and prepare before you make a booking. Below are some essential factors that will help you prepare thoroughly for the Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek:
Build Fitness level: Do exercise that builds endurance, such as brisk walking, jogging, cycling, or swimming. To add strength, you can do exercises such as squats, planks, push-ups, etc.
Practise high altitude hike: Gain some experience by spending some days at high altitude, like above 5,000m. With this, you will understand how your body works at high altitude. You will learn about acclimatisation and how to prevent altitude sickness.
Pack everything that you need: From important documents to warm clothes, gear and other essentials you need to pack for this trek. You need to be self-sufficient for this trek. Make sure to invest in high-quality trekking boots and gear. If you want to rent, you can do it from the rental shop in Kathmandu as well.
Choose the right itinerary: If you are confused about whether the itinerary suits you or not, make sure to contact the tour operator. They will help you by giving you advice as they are experts in this field.
Mental preparation: Travelling in a remote region where people speak a different language from you is not a joke. Be serious about the trek and be mentally prepared. Hard days will be waiting for you, and you need to beat them with your body and mind.
Follow safety guidelines: You need to follow all the rules and regulations inside the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area. Respect the local culture and traditions, and if you have any confusion, make sure to ask your trekking guide.
How to Prevent Altitude Sickness on the Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek
The Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek is an altitude sickness nightmare because the trail ascends to altitudes above 5,000 meters. AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness) can be experienced by anybody, no matter how fit they are, and the most common signs are nausea, headache, or tiredness. Remaining safe is a combination of walking slowly and at a continuous rate, being hydrated, and taking time to acclimatize.
A Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek itinerary with rest days like this one provided by Highroute Adventure is designed to remain healthy on the trail. It is important not to drink alcohol or take caffeine at high altitude, and also to seek medical advice on whether taking Diamox as a precautionary medication is possible. At this point, your guide is also an important factor: trekking in Kanchenjunga with a guide can be helpful in tracking your symptoms and making responsible decisions in case of changes in its course. This wilderness trek in Nepal can be fully enjoyed when prepared.
High Route Adventure Team for Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek
The right choice of a trekking company will either make or break your trip in the Himalayas. The High Route Adventure staff have years of experience in Kanchenjunga Circuit Trekking Nepal and can arrange well-trained guides with a good knowledge of the area and the terrain, as well as the weather and culture of the region. We are committed to ensuring your security, comfort, and pleasure during the journey.
Our crew, including porters and senior guides, is also respectful of the local culture and the local environment as they adhere to ethical trekking principles. Using High Route Adventure, you will get access to a team of supportive and reliable people who make a difficult trek an enriching experience. Whether you are trekking Nepal wilderness in the Nepal wilderness (or again), it is your first or fifth experience, our quality of service will live up to your expectations with memorable experiences in the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area Trek.
Kathmandu To Bhadrapur Flight Information and Ground Transportation
To reach the eastern part of Nepal for the Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek High Route Adventure will book the ticket for you. From the hotel we will transfer you to the domestic terminal for the flight. From Kathmandu to Bhadrapur the flight duration is around 40 minutes. From the window seat you will enjoy the breathtaking aerial view of himalayan ranges such as Mt. Everest, Lhotse, and Kanchenjunga include rolling green hills, dense forests, terraced landscapes, various rivers, and tea gardens.
Once you reach the Bhadrapur Airport, we will arrange a shared Jeep to take you to Sekathum. The road condition from Bhadrapur to Sekathum is mixed of paved and off-road.
Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek Package Booking from High Route Adventure
Contact High Route Adventure when you are prepared to start one of the most remote routes in Nepal, Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek: a controlled, protected, and experiential journey. In order to make your Kanchenjunga circuit trekking as enjoyable as possible, we have put together all the necessary items such as permits, accommodations, meals, and the local experienced staff in our trekking packages.
Our flexible plans will fit in with your fitness level and your schedule, and you will find it easy to prepare before the Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek. Be it a solo vs group trekking journey in Kanchenjunga, we guarantee expert acclimatization, local knowledge, and cultural experience. High Route Adventure takes care of making your remote tea house trek not only safe and comfortable, but life-changing.
Here is how to book the Kanchenjunga trek with us:
Advance payment: Participants must pay an advance of 20% to make a booking. The rest of the payment you can make after you land here in Nepal.
Payment method: To make a payment, you can use Bank Transfer, Credit/Debit Card, or Online Payment Platforms.
Trip Cancellation policy: The advance payment is non-refundable. However, it can be used as a lifetime deposit for future treks in Nepal. This means the advance payment you make will remain valid indefinitely and can be applied to any future trek.
