Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek: 19 Days to the Foot of the World's Third Highest Peak

Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek (19 Days), What You Need to Know

Arrival and Welcome

When you land at Tribhuvan International Airport, our representative will be waiting with a sign showing your name. You'll be welcomed with a traditional marigold garland or khada and driven to your hotel in a private car. We ask that you arrive in Kathmandu by 4 pm the day before your trek departs, this gives us time for final preparations. On trek day, we'll collect you from your hotel.

From Kathmandu, the trek begins with a 45-minute domestic flight to Bhadrapur in the eastern Terai, followed by a long jeep day, eight to ten hours on winding mountain roads through tea-growing country and up into the foothills, to Taplejung and the Suketar trailhead. It is a long travel day. The road itself is part of the experience, this is a corner of Nepal almost no other trekkers see.

Accommodation

During the trek, you'll stay in local lodges or traditional teahouses, simple, family-run places that give you a real taste of mountain life. Along the way you'll find facilities like hot showers, electricity for charging devices, and sometimes Wi-Fi. These services aren't included in the package price and come at a small extra cost. Kathmandu accommodation isn't included in the itinerary, but we can help you arrange hotel bookings before and after the trek.

Meals

At altitude, your body works harder and needs proper fuel, plenty of carbohydrates, protein, and hydration. Despite the limited menus at higher elevations, we'll make sure you eat well throughout the trek. Expect a mix of Nepali, Asian, and Western dishes. We strongly recommend garlic soup, fresh vegetables, green tea, hot lemon, and ginger tea. For a hearty, filling meal, try the local favourite: Dal Bhat Tarkari (lentil soup, rice, and vegetable curry). Personal extras like alcohol, snacks, and drinks between meals aren't included.

Luggage

We provide one porter for every two trekkers. Each person's luggage allowance is 10 kg, so a porter carries no more than 20 kg total, we never overload our porters. Pack your gear in a duffel bag of over sixty litres and team up with a fellow trekker. You'll still carry a small daypack for your valuables, water, and camera. Extra bags can be stored free at your hotel or our Kathmandu office.

Facilities and Essentials

Water

You can buy bottled water from shops along the trail or drink boiled or filtered water at lodges. We strongly recommend bringing a reusable bottle and refilling it with boiled water, this cuts down on plastic waste and saves money. Never drink untreated tap, river, or well water. For extra safety, carry water purification tablets (available at shops along the trail). Staying well hydrated is one of the most important things you can do at altitude.

Communication

We'll provide you with a SIM card in Kathmandu and show you how to set up data and top up credit. Mobile signal can be patchy at higher altitudes, but our lead guide stays in daily contact with all trekking teams.

Travel Essentials

Visa

All foreign nationals need a visa to enter Nepal (Indian citizens are exempt). Most nationalities can get a visa on arrival at Kathmandu airport, the current fee is USD 50 for 30 days, payable in cash. Citizens of China and SAARC countries receive free visas. We also recommend registering your visit with your country's embassy or consulate in Nepal.

Permits

Kanchenjunga is a restricted area. Two permits are required: a Kanchenjunga Conservation Area entry permit, and a Restricted Area Permit issued through the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu. We handle both for you, please send a passport copy and your travel insurance certificate within a week of booking so we can lodge the permit application in time. The Restricted Area Permit cannot be issued for solo trekkers; the regulation requires a minimum of two on every departure.

Travel Insurance

This is a long, remote trek reaching serious altitude, travel insurance is mandatory. Your policy must cover medical expenses and emergency helicopter rescue up to 5,500 metres (18,045 ft). Please send us your insurance details within a week of booking, in an emergency, we'll use them to arrange rapid evacuation and hospital transfer.

Currency Exchange

The Nepali Rupee (NPR) is the local currency, roughly 130 NPR to one US dollar. ATMs are reliable in Kathmandu but disappear once you head east, there are none in Taplejung or anywhere along the Kanchenjunga trail. Bring all the cash you will need for the trek before you fly out of Kathmandu, plus a buffer for tips, snacks, hot showers, and any souvenirs in the lower villages. Credit cards are not accepted on the trail.

Extra Expenses

While the package covers most trek costs, you'll need to budget for some personal items: meals and accommodation in Kathmandu, visa fees, snacks on the trail, hot showers, personal gear, and tips for the crew. We recommend roughly USD 20 per day for these extras during the trek.

Trek Season and Weather

The best windows for the Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek are the clear, dry seasons of autumn and spring. Autumn (late September–November): The ideal season, exceptionally stable weather and clear skies with unparalleled mountain views. Daytime temperatures at lower elevations sit around 10–15°C, while higher camps (above 4,000 metres (13,123 ft)) range from 5–10°C. Nights at altitude can plummet to -10°C or lower. Spring (March–May): Warmer days, with valley temperatures reaching 15–20°C and higher camps seeing 5–12°C during the day. The trade-off is a higher chance of afternoon cloud and occasional snow showers, with nights still freezing. Winter (December–February): Extremely cold, temperatures at high camps consistently between -10°C and -20°C, suitable only for the most experienced and well-equipped trekkers. Summer/Monsoon (June–August): Heavy rain, warm valley temperatures of 15–25°C, but constant cloud cover, slippery trails, and a high risk of landslides.

A Typical Day

An early breakfast kicks off each morning. The day's walking is split into two parts: three to four hours in the morning, a one-hour lunch stop, then a shorter afternoon stretch to your lodge. Dinner is served around 7 pm, when your guide will brief you on the next day's plan. The rest of the evening is yours, relax, explore the settlement, or swap stories with fellow trekkers.

Booking Your Trek

Private Treks

Every trek we run is private, you'll only walk with your own group. We never add strangers to your trip. All itineraries are fully customisable to suit your schedule.

Solo Trekkers and Group Bookings

Our treks run with a minimum of two people. If you're travelling alone and don't have a companion, we can set up a group trek open to others, once you confirm, it goes on our website so other trekkers can join. This way, every trip becomes your own personal holiday in the Himalayas.

Secure Booking

The Everest Holiday is a registered and bonded trekking operator, proud members of the Trekking Agency Association of Nepal (TAAN) and the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA). To confirm your booking, we require a 10% advance payment.

Payment options include the Himalayan Bank online portal (on our website), major credit cards, bank transfers, Wise, and Western Union. You can pay the remaining balance after arriving in Kathmandu. Please send us a copy of your passport within one week of booking, and make sure it has at least six months' validity from your arrival date in Nepal.

Last-Minute Bookings

We recommend booking well in advance for this trek. Kanchenjunga is a restricted-permit zone and the special permit takes two to three working days to process through the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu, so true last-minute departures are rarely possible. If you are within two weeks of your preferred start date, message Shreejan directly on +977-9810351300 or email [email protected] and we will tell you honestly whether the permit timing works.

Our Team

We're a family business with three generations in Nepal's tourism industry. Three generations back we started arranging logistics for Himalayan expeditions in the 1960s, and we have grown into a full trekking agency from there, and we still treat every team member like family. Your guides and porters are experienced professionals from the upper Himalayas who know these mountains intimately. They're trained in wilderness first aid, altitude safety, and speak good English. We cover their insurance, meals, accommodation, and medical care. Don't hesitate to ask them anything, they're there for you.

Flexible Schedule

Your trip dates are entirely up to you. If our listed departure dates don't work, let us know and we'll arrange a trek that fits your schedule.

Trip Extensions

Want to see more of Nepal? We can add activities like a jungle safari in Chitwan or Bardiya, bungee jumping in Pokhara, Bhote Koshi, or Kushma, white-water rafting on the Bhote Koshi, Trishuli, or Seti rivers, kayaking in Trishuli or Pokhara, paragliding over Pokhara, zip flying in Kathmandu, Pokhara, or Kushma, canyoning at Pokhara or Sukute Beach, or hot air ballooning in Pokhara.

For culture and history, we arrange guided tours of the Kathmandu Valley's UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Patan Durbar Square, Kathmandu Durbar Square, Swayambhunath (the Monkey Temple), Boudhanath Stupa, Changunarayan Temple, and Pashupatinath Temple. Sunrise trips to Nagarkot and Dhulikhel are also popular. We can arrange spiritual visits to temples, stupas, monasteries, and meditation centres too. Check our ADD-ON packages when you book.

Ecotourism

We take the health of these mountains seriously. At the start of your trek, every guest receives an eco-waste bag. Please use it for all non-compostable rubbish, snack wrappers, plastic bottles, batteries. Carry it with you as you walk; our guides will show you where to dispose of waste properly at designated collection points. Help us keep the Kanchenjunga region clean for the people who live here and the trekkers who come after you.

After the Trek

Farewell Dinner

Back in Kathmandu, we'll host a farewell dinner where you can share stories from the trail and give us your honest feedback. You'll also receive a certificate of achievement to mark what you've accomplished.

Departure

Let us know your hotel name, room number, and flight details, and we'll arrange your transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport. We hope you'll come back to Nepal for another adventure.

Tipping

Tipping is appreciated in Nepal but never obligatory. The amount should reflect the quality of service, the length and difficulty of the trek, and your overall experience. We recommend tipping the crew collectively at the end of the trek.