Accommodation During Kanchenjunga Trekking

Lying in the Easternmost north of Nepal, Kanchenjunga Mountain is the world’s third-highest peak. And the Kanchenjunga trekking goes around the mountain, almost making a circle. Kanchenjunga trekking was opened for foreigners almost half a century back and remains one of the toughest and most rewarding trekking routes in Nepal.

Due to the tough geography of Mt. Kanchenjunga, this trekking region has remained a camping trek of Nepal for many years. However, Kanchenjunga Trekking accommodation has now been upgraded to teahouse accommodation.

This means you get to stay in the comfortable guest house at the end of the trek. The teahouses provide basic sleep and food services. However, there are only a handful of teahouses at each stop during the 20-day Kanchenjunga Trek Itinerary.

Let’s learn about accommodation availability as per Himalayan Masters Kanchenjunga base Camp trek Itinerary.

What kind of hotels should I expect in Kanchenjunga Trekking?

Firstly, you should know what a teahouse is. These are the small guest houses owned by the locals.

Often, the teahouse has 4-5 bedrooms with two or three twin beds. The rooms are cozy, separated by a wooden plank. They provide you with a mattress, pillow, bed sheet, and a small blanket. Sometimes, you get an extra blanket, and sometimes, you don’t (so always carry your sleeping bag).

The bathroom is available on a sharing basis. Almost all teahouses have two or three bathrooms that have Indian-style seats. You won’t find a private bathroom above Taplejung. For the hot shower, you will have a geyser in the lower region or get a bucket of hot water at a higher altitude.

For Mt. Kanchenjunga Trekking accommodation, the teahouse will have a central dining hall that is often heated with fire. You can stay in the dining hall for interaction and a firing experience. Food in Kanchenjunga is provided per the menu, and the menu is similar almost throughout the trek trail.

Kanchenjunga Trekking Accommodation

Trekkers can stay from basic, simple teahouses to good quality, luxurious hotels during Kanchenjunga trekking. Accommodation in major places like Bhadrapur, Taplejung, and Illam is comfortable, providing all kinds of modern facilities. While in remote places like Sekathum and Ghunsa, it is basic, with limited services.

Hotel and Guest house in Bhadrapur

Bhadrapur is a large city in Jhapa, Nepal’s easternmost district. It is the starting and ending point of our tour, from where we will catch a flight to and from Kathmandu.

There are hundreds of great hotels in Bhadrapur. You can pick one that suits you most, and the cost ranges from $15 to $25 for a double room. Also, the option for food is unlimited, and you can enjoy a lavish dinner in any restaurant you want.

Accommodation in Taplejung

Taplejung is the commencing point of our trek. As we are staying in a city area, there is a great option for a hotel in Kanchenjunga. You can get rooms for NPR 500 to NPR 700. Rooms costs make up only a small part of your Kanchenjunga trekking cost.

Even in Taplejung, you can find hotels with private baths and comfortable facilities. It’s suggested you have your food in the hotels where you stay.

NOTE: From Taplejung, you must have your dinner and breakfast in the teahouse at Kanchenjunga trekking, where you stay. Otherwise, the owner adds about $10 to the cost of your hotel room.

Hotels in Sekathum

The trekkers can also stay at Sekathum or in Japantar, which is only 10 minutes from Sekathum. Both places have one Kanchenjunga Mountain accommodation and cost NPR 200 to NPR 300 per person.

Hotel in Amajilosa

In Amajilosa, you can find two guesthouses. The one above the road on the left is newly built and better than the one at the end, which is always noisy. The first Kanchenjunga guesthouse has 1-2 double rooms and costs NPR 200 to NPR 300 per person. The views from the hotel make it among the best treks in Nepal.

Hotel in Gyabla

Gyabla has only three guest houses, and you can stay in either one of them during the Kanchenjunga climb. The facility is quite basic, and the hotel looks like a hut. The cost is similar to that at Amajilosa. They also serve quite good food here.

Hotel in Ghunsa

Ghunsa is among the largest settlements you can see on the Kanchenjunga trek. In this large Tamang village, you can see about nine Kanchenjunga teahouses with many bedrooms.

Since most tourists stop here for two days, the villagers have made an effort to make comfortable hotels here. So, your two nights of stay in Ghunsa are going to be quite comfortable, and the cost is NPR 200 per person. If you don’t like the teahouse, you stayed at on the first night, we can switch to another one on the second night.

Hotel in Khambachen

Khambachen is a great stop for the Kanchenjunga trekking. We stay here for two nights in a comfortable teahouse. This yak pasture has four teahouses run by the locals. The settlement here is also quite beautiful.

The teahouses here serve great food prepared by an expert chef. Here, the price for a triple room is NPR 800 to NPR 1000. The cost for a double or single room is relatively low.

Hotel in Lhonak

Now, we will be trekking in the most remote land, where you will find only the small huts for Kanchenjunga Trekking accommodation. If you have carried camping equipment, you can start building your camps from this point. If not, you can stay in the Lhonak Guest House, which is on the right side of the village.

The cost of rooms is a bit higher (NPR 500 per person), but the hotel is clean and comfortable. There are only four double bedrooms here.

Now, we can stay at Pangpema during the day tour at Kanchenjunga North Base Camp. However, there’s only one hut here, and it’s not very clean. The cost is around NPR 500 per person. Instead of staying in Pangpema, you can get back to Lhonak for the night’s stay.

Hotel in Sele Le

Crossing Sele Le Pass is one of the hardest parts of the Kanchenjunga trek and is also the most difficult landscape here. In Sele, there are 2 small huts. However, the hotel in Sele is slightly bigger with five rooms. Here, the cost is NPR 500 per person, and food is served inside the hut.

Hotel in Cheram/Tseram

With two beautiful teahouses, Cheram is quite a good place to stay. The cost of the room is NPR 800. From here, we get to Kanchenjunga’s south base camp and get back to Cheram for the night.

Or we can stay in Ramche if you are tired to go back to Cheram. Ramche has one small stone wall with only a few bedrooms. However, it’s closed in winter and operational in Autumn. The cost is about NPR 500/ person. If possible, please get back to Cheram for a comfortable sleep.

Hotel in Torangdin

Torangdin also has two teahouses where you can get good food and sleep. The price is similar to the one in the Cheram. The owner of the hotel on the left is the same as the hotel in Yamphudin. So, if you stay in this hotel for two nights, you might get some discounts.

Hotel in Yamphudin

Since we are now approaching bigger villages, the Kanchenjunga hotel facility has started to get better. Yamphudin has some good options for teahouse rooms and costs about NPR 500 for a double or triple room. There is also a four-bed dormitory, which is even cheaper. Food in Yamphudin is also great.

Hotels or Guest houses in Illam

Illam is one of the major tourist destinations for Nepalese and international tourists. This means there are many luxurious hotels around Illam. We will stay in a 3-star standard hotel with a private bathroom and hot shower.

This is probably the most luxurious Kanchenjunga Trekking accommodation you can stay in. You can have the food in the hotel itself or in any other restaurant of your choice.

Electricity in Kanchenjunga Base Camp

Teahouses in the Kanchenjunga trekking region generate electricity from local hydropower and solar power. As long as you stay in the teahouses, you get to charge your phone.

However, the rooms might not have the plugs, and you need to charge the devices at the reception desk, which might cost $2 to $3. In the rainy season, solar power is not available, and in winter, most of the teahouses are closed.

For the Kanchenjunga camping trek, carrying solar-charged power is the best option. Also, carry a few extra batteries for your phone and camera. As long as you have your own charging device, you won’t have to rely on others.

Internet service during Kanchenjunga Trekking

Internet is a luxury you wouldn’t find during the trek. The chances are only the teahouses up to Lelep might have an internet connection. That means you might get some kind of Wi-Fi in the lower region, which is basically very slow and unstable.

The owner might charge you a couple of dollars to use the Wi-Fi. Beyond that, even if you stay in the teahouses, you won’t get any Wi-Fi facilities. So, you will be without an internet connection for 15 days or more.

In Kathmandu, Bhadrapur, Taplejung, and Illam, you will get an internet connection at a decent speed.

Telephone in Kanchenjunga circuit trekking

As soon as you land in Nepal, you can issue a local SIM card. NTC and NCELL are the two biggest network services in Nepal. You can issue the SIM with your valid passport or ask your trekking agency in Nepal to get you one.

NTC and NCELL coverage is satisfactory in the lower region of Kanchenjunga. The SIM might be useful to use 3G data in the lower part of the trek. It’s also useful if you separate from the team during another emergency.

Sadly, most parts of the trail in Kanchenjunga Mountain do not have or have weak network coverage. Thus, getting a SIM card will also not solve your internet issue in the Mount Kanchenjunga base camp area. For that reason, it is better to get a satellite phone, which can be really useful during emergencies.

Since this trek is a true adventure in nature, it’s suggested that you don’t bother yourself with an Internet connection and actually enjoy the trek.

Is a Camping Trek Available in Kanchenjunga?

Yes, the Himalayan Masters arranges the camping trek in Kanchenjunga. It’s mostly preferred by climbers for the Kanchenjunga climb.

We can start the camping trek from Chirwa. Here, we will be spending nights in the camp set by the porters. The cook will prepare your food, and you will eat everything that has been carried in your bag.

The freezing temperature, cold weather, basic food, no charging/ shower, and many other difficulties accompany the Kanchenjunga peak camping trek. However, it’s the proper form of adventure and the thrill of camping before the majestic mountain of Kanchenjunga.

If you can, make it a teahouse + camping trek where we can set camps for some nights and stay in teahouses at some stops.

Tips for Choosing the Best Accommodation for the Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek

During any trek, being able to sleep in a comfortable bed and eating healthy is the determining factor for a successful trekking journey. So, you must consider the following factors while choosing the best accommodation for the Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek.

• Research the trek route and the accommodation on the route for better choices.
• Decide which type of accommodation you would like to stay during the trek, and make bookings beforehand.
• It is essential to know about the services and hygiene of the teahouses for a better experience.
• Review the feedback on the teahouses to see if they provide warm and comfortable accommodation and nutritional food.
• Respect local culture and tradition. For example, visitors might not be allowed to enter the local kitchen; they might be offended. So, it is a must to have knowledge of their culture.
• Consult with the experts/guide/travel agency regarding the accommodation and the cost of food and other services.

FAQ about Kanchenjunga Trek teahouse

Should I book my hotel in Kanchenjunga in advance?

Every travel blogger suggests you book your hotels in advance. However, it’s almost impossible to do that by yourself during the Kanchenjunga peak trek as they don’t have any online booking system. So, the only way to book them is via phone call, and you won’t find their name and number on the internet.

How to book accommodation in Kanchenjunga trekking?

Kanchenjunga is a restricted area, so you will need to hire a travel agency or a licensed guide to trek. So, you do not have much to worry about as they will arrange all the accommodation for the trek.

Himalayan Masters will arrange the best available Accommodations

Himalayan Masters have been operating Kanchenjunga treks for several years. We will organize a well-arranged tour for you. So, please send us an email or leave a comment below so that we can guide you to the best tour of your life.