Kanchenjunga Trek Difficulty

Hey Folks, are you bored with your daily routine and want a break, want to pass time in trekking some where in Nepal, Kanchenjunga Trek is good to go for you. But if you are afraid about how it difficult will be, then I will share with you from difficulty level to how to deal with it.

The Kanchenjunga Trek is one of the toughest and most remote trekking routes in Nepal located at 4000–5000m. Even though it’s not as famous as Everest or Annapurna, adventure lovers are starting to discover this hidden gem.

Walking 8-9 hours through the challenging terrain treats trekkers to rewarding vistas because they get to see snow-topped peaks while walking through forests and untouched natural beauty.

Located in the far northeastern part of Nepal, the Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek takes you through rough and steep trails in the Himalayas. The journey is long, and the high altitude makes it even harder.

This isn’t a simple walk in the mountains - it requires strong physical fitness and determination.

Experienced hikers can successfully complete the trek after implementing the necessary preparation with guidance from experienced guides.

The Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek becomes achievable through excellent training along with appropriate equipment combined with expert guidance.

Traveling on the Kanchenjunga Trek provides participants with an unforgettable combination of breathtaking views and genuine wilderness encounters.

Here in this blog, we will cover how difficult is the Kanchenjunga Trek and how to complete the journey in an easy way so no confusion is left in your mind.

How Difficult is the Kanchenjanga Trek?

Experts categorize treks as Easy, Moderate, or Difficult, and trek to Kanchenjunga falls into the Difficult category.

A journey of long duration leads you upward from lower regions until you reach extreme elevation points while demanding steep climbs and descents. 

When you consider that few travelers reach this distant area, it becomes evident that the trail becomes especially demanding to hike.

Special authorization from Nepalese authorities is required to enter Kanchenjunga since it holds restricted status.

The main obstacle during this trek comes from crossing high mountain passes where adequate strength, along with stamina and expertise, is required.

The paths can be rough, icy, and very steep, so trekkers need to be well-prepared. 

Specific trail parts demand the use of mountain equipment that includes crampons and trekking poles.

Those who are experienced trekkers and thrive during adventurous outings, along with proper preparations, will find the Kanchenjunga Trek an unforgettable journey.

What Factors that makes Kanchenjunga Trek Difficult?

The Kanchenjunga trek stands among the most demanding treks in Nepal. The trekking experience contains various challenging factors that affect each person on a different level.

Some people find the long distance and walking hours exhausting, while others struggle with the rough mountain trails. 

Kanchenjunga trek proves harder to climb than the Everest Base Camp Trek because it exists in a remote area with an uncertain climate and high altitude.

Trekkers need complete preparation for the Kanchenjunga region because the area lacks development in comparison to popular trekking sites and offers minimal conveniences, plus long walking days.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the main challenges of this trek.

Distance of the Kanchenjunga Trek

The main challenge on this trek path is the long distance of travel. The difficulty of the kanchenjunga Trek covers a total distance of around 200 km, making it one of the longest base camp treks in Nepal. Completing the trek requires almost three full weeks due to its long duration.

Trekkers usually start their journey from Taplejung before spending 14 days to get to Kanchenjunga Base Camp. They must walk between 15 and 20 km daily for 6 to 8 hours during the duration of the trek. 

The walking distance per day during this trek stays comparable with other famous treks, but the extended time required turns this experience into a physically challenging one. Participants need adequate training along with stamina buildup to succeed at this expedition.

Height of the Kanchenjunga Base Camp 

The Kanchenjunga Base Camp trek demands a major difficulty because it takes place at a high altitude. The trek in Kathmandu is 1,400 meters, but as trekkers move higher altitude, they climb between 500 to 1,000 meters each day. The Kanchenjunga North Base Camp stands at the highest elevation point of the trek at 5,140 meters which increase the difficulty level. The oxygen concentration becomes markedly low at this elevation, which results in low breathing functions.

For people who have never been to such high-altitude trek before, the low oxygen levels can cause altitude sickness. The body develops altitude sickness after it cannot adjust properly to low oxygen pressure in the atmosphere. Symptoms of altitude sickness include:

• Headache

• Nausea (feeling sick) or vomiting

• Shortness of breath

• Dizziness or fainting

• Feeling tired very quickly

Medical professionals should treat patients with severe altitude sickness with caution because this disease can become dangerous. Participating trekkers sometimes need to move down the altitude to recover from sickness symptoms. 

Adequate acclimatization is an essential requirement for the Kanchenjunga Trek since it helps people adjust to the altitude gradually.

Altitude Sickness

If you’re trekking in high-altitude areas like Kanchenjunga, you must be aware of altitude sickness. Human bodies require time to adjust properly to thin air at each successive climbing elevation. The following points provide you with easy tips for staying safe during your adventure:

How to Avoid Altitude Sickness?

• Drink plenty of water: Your daily water consumption should reach 3-4 liters since your body requires this hydration to stay hydrated. Warm water is best, but if you don’t have it, cold water works too.
  

• Take it slow: Don’t rush! Climb gradually and give your body time to get used to the altitude. Your body performs better at adjusting to new altitudes when you go more slowly.
  

• Plan rest days: Your trek must include rest days because these pauses help your body adapt to lower oxygen levels. This helps prevent altitude sickness.
  

• Avoid alcohol: The Human body performs better without consuming alcohol because alcohol consumption worsens the impacts of altitude sickness.
  

• Skip cold baths: Cold bathing should be avoided at high altitudes because it leads to body temperature drop, which raises the chance of altitude sickness. Stay warm instead.

The simple guidelines shared in this text will help ensure your safe and pleasant experience during your trek in Nepal.

What to do If You Get Altitude Sickness?

Even if you follow all the precautions, altitude sickness can still happen. Climbing to high elevations results in harder breathing, as thin air brings forth sickness in some trekkers.

 If this happens, don’t panic. Here’s what you should do:

• Stop climbing higher: Your first step should be to stop climbing higher while you allow your body to rest. Symptoms tend to worsen when people continue to climb higher elevations.
  

• Move to a lower altitude: A descent to lower altitudes which have better oxygen availability will be facilitated by your trekking guide when your symptoms remain unmanageable.
  

• Emergency helicopter rescue: The team will organize helicopter evacuation to a hospital through emergency transport in situations when you fail to improve with rest.

The concern about altitude sickness should be minimal since it does not need too much panic. Generally speaking, most trekkers don’t experience serious symptoms. Trekking agencies like us Himalayan Trekkers provide both safety and preparation for your journey. 

The trained rescue teams possess skills for managing high-altitude emergency situations.

Remote location

Kanchenjunga is one of the most remote trekking zones of Nepal, so it elevates the trekking difficulty. During this trek, you will encounter minimal facilities and basic things like bathrooms and showers together with internet access prove difficult to find.

The development of all necessary supplies becomes important because Kanchenjunga operates as a distant trekking location. Tissue paper and both snacks and medicine prove impossible to source during trail journeys; therefore, obtaining these items in Kathmandu before you start.

During trekking, the available lodging options are basic and straightforward to access. You will sleep in wooden houses known as teahouses that consist of one bed and a supply of a thin blanket.

Teahouse bathrooms provide minimal services and regular cleaning is not always guaranteed. Time spent in these teahouses should not be compared to luxury settings, although the adventure remains crucial to the experience.

One of the best parts of this trek is meeting the locals, who have lived in this remote area for years. The simple way of life teaches you to appreciate nature and embrace the challenge.

If you’re ready to leave behind comfort and experience raw adventure, this trek is for you.

Weather in Kanchenjunga Trek

Weather conditions, together with temperature levels, determine the level of difficulty in this trekking experience. Autumn (September to November) and the spring period (March to May) are the best times and seasons to plan for trekking in the Kanchenjunga Trek.

The climate remains consistent during those seasons, while temperatures remain pleasant with perfect visibility for breathtaking mountain sightseeing.

The summer season from June to August creates dangerous conditions for trekking because of intense monsoon rainfall. Heavy rain during the trek period results in slippery and muddy terrain that poses a danger to the hiker.

During the winter months of December to February, the high elevations become extremely challenging because of harsh freezing conditions and heavy snow accumulation.

Under such conditions, walking in the snow for three weeks straight gets incredibly difficult and draining.

Best time to trek according to travel agencies is possible at any time, but the summer and winter seasons present potential risks for safe and satisfying trips.

Nepal presents visitors with a better option to explore either Mardi Himal Trek or Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek because of dangerous weather conditions that prevail during summer and winter months.

Camping vs. Teahouse Stay During the Kanchenjunga Trek

The experience of camping appears exciting but proves to be extremely difficult in the Kanchenjunga area. The weather in Kanchenjunga proves unpredictable, so setting up a camp becomes challenging when operating in rough territories or adverse weather conditions.

Extension of discomfort occurs when rain or snow becomes present while camping.

Most hikers choose teahouse accommodation when traveling through Kanchenjunga because it provides them with a more comfortable experience.

The accommodation facilities at teahouses include a comfortable place to sleep and provide simple food along with minimal protection from external factors.

Teahouses provide better comfort than tents when considering shelter in the cold Himalayan evenings.

Those who want to experience the true camping feel should divide their nights between teahouse and stable-weather camping nights.

You will experience camping in the wilderness through outdoor adventure, coupled with easier trekking routes.

How to Make the Kanchenjunga Trek Easier?

Among Nepal's trekking routes, the Kanchenjunga Route stands as one of the most scenic regions that receives minimal human visitation.

Camping within this remote wilderness area presents difficulties to trekkers, but don’t worry, the right preparation together with a proper mindset, enables you to have a trouble-free journey.

These easy suggestions that make the trek easier and provide essential guidance for the safe and comfortable completion of the trek.

1. Use a Pulse Oximeter

A pulse oximeter is a compact device that monitors both oxygen levels and heart rates within your body.

A pulse oximeter proves helpful under thin air conditions at high elevations since breathing grows difficult. A drop in your oxygen level indicates both rest time and descent to lower terrain.

People are aware of the uses of pulse oximeters and those who want to monitor their health condition. A pulse oximeter functions well as a lightweight design with simple usage and protection against altitude sickness while hiking.

2. Take Time to Acclimatize

Acclimatization stands as the most crucial factor for those who wish to explore Kanchenjunga's high-altitude region. Your body needs time to adjust to a low oxygen level for proper adaptation.

Several steps will lead to proper acclimatization, which are as follows:

• Walk slowly: Don’t rush. Walk at a comfortable pace. It reduces trek's difficulty.
  

• Limit daily trekking hours: Trekking each day should not exceed six hours during the expedition.
  

• Take rest days: Rest days need to be planned in your travel itinerary for at least two occasions.
  

• Follow the golden rule: Stick to the 500-meter daily climb limit according to the golden rule.

Spend adequate time for your body to adapt to altitude changes because it will lower your chance of sickness and elevate your trekking experience.

3. Pack Smart

Since Kanchenjunga is a remote trek, you can only use what you carry with you. The absence of significant stores and markets during the trek requires you to pack your supplies carefully.

Before your trek, talk to your guide to get a detailed packing list. The key items during your adventure should include those mentioned below:

• Warm clothes: Your elevation determines whether you need warm clothing since temperatures decrease as you rise.
  

• Good trekking boots: Enjoy comfortable trekking boot usage because they will enhance your experience.
  

• Water bottle and purifier: The necessity of pure drinking water requires both a water bottle and a water purifier system.
  

• Snacks like chocolate bars and dry fruits: These give you quick energy.
  

• Tissue paper and wet wipes: It will probably not be available on your trek trail.

To have an easier and more pleasurable trek experience you need an organized packing plan.

4. Eat the Right Food

Trekking requires a high consumption to maintain physical stamina and energy. When you reach an elevation, your body requires additional calorie intake because high altitudes affect human body functions.

1. Best food options:

• Dal Bhat: A traditional Nepali meal of rice and lentils, rich in calories.
  

• Healthy stews and soups: They act as two important elements for maintaining body temperature and fluid balance.
  

• Fruits and vegetables: Provide essential vitamins.

2.  Foods to avoid:

• Meat: The storage of fresh meat becomes troublesome because altitude conditions make it hard to preserve proper meat freshness.
  

• Heavy, oily food: Consuming heavy food that is high in oil content might cause digestive problems for mountain climbers.
  

• Too much coffee or tea: Intake of excessive coffee or tea leads to dehydration in your body.

Your health and strength, alongside hydration, remain the foundation for tackling the upcoming days of exploration when you choose easy, nutritious meals.

Conclusion

You should book your trekking plan with a trusted travel agency like Himalayan Trekkers. Your trekking guide is your best friend on the Kanchenjunga trek, which is provided by the agency.

Your guide has extensive trail experience, together with knowledge about local weather, which allows them to ensure your safety.

Obey every piece of advice your guide provides regarding your speed and nutrition while waiting for rest periods, alongside instructions about altitude sickness.

Inform your guide right away if you start experiencing tiredness along with dizziness or any illness. Any small symptom should not be ignored because it might develop into a serious medical condition.

Please trust your guide to understand what you need because they will guide you correctly through situations that ensure your security. So, enjoy your journey as this trek offers many things that will be memorable for you.

Thank You for Reading!