Kanchenjunga

[mtncanyon]

Kanchenjunga

Namaste. I have been researching the feasability of doing this trek with just a porter guide. According to the agency I am in contact with it is possible to do this trek staying in simple lodges, local homes, shelters and a tent for a night or two if you want to stay overnight in the higher elevations. It looks like an incredible trek with spectacular scenery if your willing to rough it a bit and dont need well stocked teahouses every night. . I thought Id post some email excerpts here for those who may be interested. If youve done it and would like to comment on how this sounds. your advice would be welcome. Thx..Avsfan
http://www.mountainsoftravelphotos.com/Kangchenjunga/Main.html
http://www.mountainsoftravelphotos.com/Kangchenjunga/Main.html
http://www.mountainsoftravelphotos.com/Kangchenjunga/2004-10%20Kangchenjunga/South/slides/Kangchenjunga%2007%2005%20Ramche%20Camp%20with%20K abru,%20Ratong%20and%20Koktang.html
http://www.mountainsoftravelphotos.com/Kangchenjunga/Main.html

Regarding Costs

Yes you right Kanchenjunga is less expensive than other trekking area for foods and accommodate, so in my think 1000 Rs or bit less will be covering your accommodate and foods by that price, about the accommodations, most of place has lodge now, and rest of place also you able to get home and bhatti, so even Lonak has tea shop now, if you have a tent please bring with you, that will be good too when you hike on the pangpema glacier, also please bring some dry food with you which is good for pangpema camping time, there are small bhatti in the pangpema but better to accommodate is tent that night, for porter don’t worry he will bring his own dry foods, About foods is you able to get from menu when you stay in the hotels till Ghunsa, if you stay in the home only dal bhat, it is cheap, for one dal bhat, is 150 nepal, accommodate is 100 to 150 normally,



Kathmandu to Biratnagar air tickets U$S 116 for you

Kathmandu to Biratnagar air tickets U$S 65 for porter guide,

Biratnagar to Basantapur by bus U$D 20 for you both,

After finish trek, fly back to kathmandu via biratnagar,

Taplejung to Biratnagar, U$D 101 and biratnagar to Kathmandu116 for you


And for porter guide, Taplejung to Biratnagar, U$D 35 and biratnagar to Kathmandu U$D 65,

Pick up and drop is U$D 14,total cost is U$D 1109, per person for your kind exceptional,

If there are anything more you want to know about same please feel free to write me at any time,


Well, about trekking permits you need to pay U$D 10 per week

But for porter guide just U$D 15 per day, in that cost his food accommodations, wages, insurance everything are includes, you have to pay your own foods, Accommodations,

well, porter guide means not like a professional guide please don’t expect too much be clear, he know the trail, hotel place to place, and he speak English but not fluent in all, he do carry your back packs etc, but we are very sore he is very strong for carry



Kanchenjunga trekking permits U$D 40 for 30 days, 10 $ per week,

Porter guide wage, accommodations, insurance etc U$D 420 for 28 days trek,

Hotel 3 night in secret valley 3*** per night U$D 20, totals, U$D 60,

Kathmandu valley full day sight seeing car, guide is U$D 57,

total cost is U$D 1109, per person for your kind exceptional,

If there are anything more you want to know about same please feel free to write me at any time,

[Lars]

Kanchenjunga
http://www.mountainsoftravelphotos.com/Kangchenjunga/Main.html
http://www.mountainsoftravelphotos.com/Kangchenjunga/Main.html
http://www.mountainsoftravelphotos.com/Kangchenjunga/2004-10%20Kangchenjunga/South/slides/Kangchenjunga%2007%2005%20Ramche%20Camp%20with%20K abru,%20Ratong%20and%20Koktang.html
http://www.mountainsoftravelphotos.com/Kangchenjunga/Main.html

I have not been anywhere near Kanchenjunga, but it sure looks very interesting.

There seems to be something wrong with your links. Three of them leads to
the same website.

[Boulia]

I did North and South Kanchenjunga in Novemeber 2008. I had camping equipment and staff and used it when local teahouses were not available. It would be possible to do as you suggest but the quality of accomodation and limited menu is much less than major routes. I see from your post there maybe some changes since 2008. I posted some notes on TI but recall there was no 'menus' except Ghunsa where you can buy more stocks of food but it was expensive. There was nothing at Oktang and the 'hut' at Pangperma locked. Higher up each valley, ie Lonak and Ramche had local huts open but like all this trek at that time if you arrive when a big camping group does there staff quickly take all available space. I walked in from Basantapur and up the river from Dobhan to Mitlung and flew back from Setukar(thats where the strip is). Planes were 2 per week then and not easy to get a change in ticket - only done by walking down to Taplejung. Note you will need to pay for a second permit cost as the permits are only issued for groups, min size 2 unless your agency has another group going close to that time and can link you with that.

Hope that helps.

[Oli]

Now I really want to go back to Kanchenjunga.

Some nice photos on that linked page. Jannu is a very impressive mountain, that route up the north face looks epic. A few years ago I was luck enough to go to a lecture by George Band where he told us of the first ascent of Kanchenjunga.

[mtncanyon]

Thx for the replies. The links were for individual photos, all of which can be accessed of the main page of the link. Sorry for some reason the link doesnt work like it should. Oli, thx for your help. It looks like an incredible trek. Id like to check Jannu Base Camp out if possible. I finally heard from your contact. They wanted about $400 more. Im probably going to go with the agency I dealt with. They have been very helpful and answered lots of questions. As for the final outcome, I wont know till I try it. Im hoping the porter guide will be adequate, there will be spaces available at the higher elevations, the locals will not price gouge, items left in tent will be safe. This trek has lots of unknowns except for the fact that it will not be as comfortable as the main teahouse treks. The agency seems to be legitimate. Definitely the most adventurous thing I have ever done.

[marcy]

Jamie knows the region well and could probably answer some q's for you.

[kegarne]

Good on you mtncanyon I hope you have a great time!

I think some of the books exaggerate how bad the accom is in some of these places. Sure it isnt as good as Annapurna or Everest but it is absolutely adequate and there is really no discomfort at all. I found on the Tumlingtar to Lukla trek there was teahouse accom in every place we stopped and in most of them it was really quite good ! Prior to the trek I had read that it was very very basic which I felt was a bit harsh. I imagine that the trek to Kanch would be much the same.

[mtncanyon]

thx Kegarne. Thats good to know. I dont need too much comfort. The only thing I want to avoid would be bed bugs. Imagine getting them on the first days of a long trek.