Best Season For Trek
For the best value experience of the Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek, the peak seasons like autumn (September to November) and spring (March to May) are the ideal choices. You can expect the climatic conditions to be stable during these seasons, and the temperature is on the warmer side so that you can enjoy a comfortable trekking experience even at higher altitudes.
However, even among the peak seasons, the autumn season is considered to be the best time for the high altitude adventure in the Himalayas. Due to its clear days, the astonishing views of the Himalayan vistas are simply breathtaking; the fresh landscapes washed by the monsoon rain and the unique colorful shades of the fall season add further magic to the expedition. The temperature of the Annapurna region is neither too cold nor too hot during the autumn season; it averages around 10 °C to 18 °C, which makes your everyday trekking a comfortable experience.
As for the spring season, it is known for its enthralling trails that add excitement to your exploration with the stunning visual of the blooming season. The lush landscapes of the spring season that blend well with the clear blue sky and the sparkling snow-clad figurines will make you feel like you have entered a fairy tale. You will also have tons of options to explore the Himalayan wildlife and birdlife during the spring season. The temperature of the region is about 14 °C to 23 °C; thus, you will feel warmer even during your adventure in the alpine environment.
How Difficult is the Kanchenjunga North Base Camp Trek?
Although Kanchenjunga North Base Camp Trek is considered slightly more demanding than other mainstream trekking routes in the Himalayas, you still won’t need technical skills to do this trek. The trek difficulty of this exhilarating Himalayan expedition is at a ‘moderate’ level, even if it is a high-altitude adventure; during this expedition, you don’t have to take on any Himalayan passes.
Still, like other high-altitude trekking adventures in the Himalayas, you will also have to overcome some of the challenges of this adventure, like altitude gain, remoteness, weather factors, trekking hours, etc.
Altitude Gain can be a slightly challenging obstacle for the unprepared trekkers in this adventure. Starting your trekking adventure at Taplejung (1,820 meters), you will move along the high elevation points like Ghunsa (3,600 meters), Kambachen (4,100 meters), Lhonak (4,790 meters) and the highest elevation point Pang Pema (5,143 meters). So, if you are not physically prepared, the experience can be physically draining with potential risks of altitude sickness.
Similarly, you will cover a trekking distance of 6-7 hours on average during each trek day. Overcoming the remote and isolated trails at the rising altitude can be challenging, and you will also have to carry your backpack during your adventure. So, the overall difficulty factors depend on how well you are prepared for this adventure; most of them can be overcome with solid preparation.
Training and Preparation
If you put enough hours into your training and preparation part, you will be able to enjoy a more relaxed adventure and significantly reduce its overall difficulty level. Although you don’t need to be in top shape to do this Kanchenjunga North Base Camp Trek, a basic level of fitness and good health condition are recommended for the best value experience.
You can assess your physical abilities and determine the training programs as well as the duration for effective preparation. Normally, 3-6 weeks of preparation is enough for any high-altitude Himalayan adventure, but you can adjust it depending on your needs. Doing practice hikes at steep landscapes close to you is also one of the effective ways to understand the difficulty and prepare for your Himalayan adventure.
The majority part of your training program should focus on strength, endurance, and cardiovascular aspects so your body can easily adjust to the long hours of trekking. Here are some exercises that you can include in your preparation for the Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek.
Strength and Endurance Exercises: Push up, pull up, plank, deadlift, bicep curl, lunge, bench press, tricep dips, sit up, leg press, squat, etc.
Cardiovascular Exercises: Jogging, cycling, jumping rope, aerobics, burpee, mountain climbing, high knees, cardio, swimming, etc.
Food and Accommodation
You can expect a moderate level of food and accommodation facilities during your Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek. Although the facilities along these trekking trails are not well developed as a mainstream trekking route, you can expect clean accommodation facilities and healthy, nourishing meals during your trekking adventure.
Your food menu primarily consists of tasty local delicacies, Tibetan culture-influenced delicacies, and some continental menus. You can expect the following menus at the teahouses along the trails of the Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek.
For Breakfast: Tea, coffee, juice, bread, jam, butter, oats, eggs, cornflakes, muesli, pancakes, chapati, pies, etc.
For Lunch and Dinner: Dal Bhat Tarkari, dhindo, Gundruk, Momo, Chowmein, sandwich, salad, porridge, soup, potato dishes, meat dishes, Thukpa, Shaphaley, Rildok, tsampa, etc.
**Note: There are also vegetarian and vegan meal options available at the teahouses along the trekking trail**
As for water, you can buy mineral water bottles at the teahouses along the trail, as they can cost up to US$ 5 at higher altitudes, the most cost-efficient way to drink water during your trek is to drink and store boiled water at the teahouses. You are not recommended to drink water from the tap in your trekking trail; you can use purification solutions or tablets to make the boiled water you buy at the teahouses safer.
Accommodation
You can expect a well-furnished room with clean and fresh linen during your Kanchenjunga exploration. The teahouses in the region are run by the natives, so the services here are not as extravagant as chain star hotels, the rooms at the teahouses generally have two to three adjacent beds. You will receive a pillow, blanket, and comfortable mattress during your stay at these teahouses; as for the bathroom facilities, like the rooms, they will also be on a shared basis.
