Kanchenjunga Trekking Cost Detail

Kanchenjunga region of Nepal, in the far-east, is home to the world’s third-highest mountain. The name comes from the Tibetan word “Yang-chhen-dzö-nga”, meaning “Five Treasuries of the Great Snow.”

The range is composed of 16 peaks that are over 7,000 meters and many others at lower altitudes. A 20-day Kanchenjunga Circuit trek takes you to this magical land, making a full circle of the mountain and reaching up to Kanchenjunga base camp.

Since this is Nepal’s most rewarding and challenging trekking route, only genuine adventure seekers have set foot in the wilderness of Kanchenjunga.

Two significant routes, i.e., the Kanchenjunga Circuit trek route and the Kanchenjunga Base Camp trek route, are prevalent. Other hikes combined with the Makalu region, such as Lumba Sumba and Milke Danda, are also popular.

Being the longest and the most remote trekking route in Nepal, the Kanchenjunga trekking cost is higher than that of other short treks in Nepal. This article covers different kinds of costs for trekking to Kanchenjunga.

At the end of the article, you can figure out the exact Kanchenjunga trek cost and find an appropriate trek package yourself.

How much does Kanchenjunga Trek Cost?

The Kanchenjunga Trekking Cost with Himalayan Masters is about $1900 per person for the 20-day package. In addition, you will need about $500 to $1000 for your personal expenses like shopping, tips, showers, etc.

From an International Tour Agency

If you use a third-party booking service or international booking agency, the price for the Kanchenjunga Trek Cost will be about $3000 per person. Depending on your Itinerary, length, luxury, and mode of transportation, the price might differ.

For Independent Travelling

Solo or Independent travelling is not permitted in Kanchenjunga as it is a restricted region. However, instead of booking the Kanchenjunga Circuit trek, you can hire a licensed guide and arrange the rest of the things yourself.

For 2 people travelling without packages, the Kanchenjunga trek cost comes out to be about $2000 per person. This will be cheaper if you are in a group of more than 6 people, i.e. you can share the cost of a guide and transportation. In a larger group, trekking to Kanchenjunga yourself can cost about $1500.

Detailed Kanchenjunga Trekking Cost

The overall cost of the Kanchenjunga trek includes the cost of a permit, transport, food, accommodation, and guide and porter. Further, there are other expenses, such as tips for a porter and guide, extra costs for Wi-Fi, hot shower, electricity charging, etc., in the teahouses, and snack costs.

These additional costs should be considered when evaluating the Kanchenjunga Trekking cost.

Nepal Visa Cost for Kanchenjunga Trekking

We all need a travel visa to Nepal, which is issued at the airport upon arrival. The visa costs $30 and $50 for 15 and 30 days, respectively. For Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek, you need to issue a visa of at least 30 days.

Kanchenjunga Permit Cost

Since it is a restricted area, trekkers need to issue a Kanchenjunga Restricted Area Permit. Additionally, they will also need to have a Kanchenjunga Conservation Area Permit for this trek, as the trek traverses through the conservation area.

Kanchenjunga Restricted Area Permit

The cost of a Kanchenjunga Restricted Area Permit (KRAP) is $20 per person per week for the first 4 weeks; after that, it is $25 per week.

This permit is required to enter into a few restricted villages, including Lelep, Yamphudin, Olangchung Gola, and several other villages. KRAP is checked before entering Olangchung Gola village.

The permit needs to be issued by the immigration department in Kathmandu. Before you apply for the permit, you must have hired a licensed trekking guide and be in a group of at least two people.

Kanchenjunga Conversation Area Permit

To protect the rare flora and fauna, the government of Nepal has kept the entire region inside a conservation area. You will need a special entry permit to enter this Kanchenjunga Conservation Area. The permit can either be issued in Kathmandu or at the entry gate while you are on the trek.

It costs NPR 2000 (about $20) for foreigners, NPR 500 (about $5) for SAARC nationals, and NPR 100 for Nepalese citizens.

Trekkers need not worry about any permits for this trek. If you book the Kanchenjunga Trek package with Himalayan Masters, we will arrange all the permits for you.

Similarly, you should know that there is no need for a TIMS card during the trek. This card was compulsory a few years back, and you might see some websites still saying that you will need a TIMS card.

Kanchenjunga Transportation Cost

Let’s not talk about the cost of flying up to Kathmandu, Nepal, as that depends on where you fly from. We shall discuss all transportation costs to and from Kathmandu.

Cost of Flight to Bhadrapur

We need to fly to the easternmost airport in Nepal, Bhadrapur, Jhapa, on the first day of our trek and on the last day back to Kathmandu. This costs $130 to $200 (2 ways) depending on the season, airlines, and the time that you chose.

Booking once you come to Nepal is cheaper. The one-way flight cost for Nepalese is about NPR 5000, and that for Indians is slightly higher than that for Nepalese.

Cost of Drive to Illam

From Bhadrapur, we drive to Illam on the same day. This costs about NRP 300 or less on a public bus. One can also ride in a private car or share a jeep, which costs up to $50 per person up to IIlam.

The cost is the same when returning from Illam to Bhadrapur on the last day of our trek.

Cost of Drive to Taplejung

You can directly drive to Taplejung from Bhadrapur, but we suggest a one-night stay in Illam, a beautiful tea garden state. You can get a public bus (about NPR 1000) or hire a jeep ($ 160 to 250) from Illam to Taplejung.

Since this is a long ride (about 6 hours), the small seats and noise of the public bus might be difficult. Sharing a jeep with 6-8 people is a good option.

Cost of Drive from Yamphudin to Illam

On the 19th (second last day) of our Kanchenjunga trek, we need to drive from Yamphudin to Illam, which also costs about NRP 1000 on a public bus. The cost of hiring a local jeep is $200 to 250, which can be shared with 6 to 8 people.

NOTE: The cost of flights and driving could go higher during special occasions, such as Dashain and Tihar.

Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek Accommodation Cost

The accommodation cost during the Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek varies with the locations where we sleep. The cost is relatively little expensive in cities as the services provided are better than in remote regions of Kanchenjunga. Also, the level of services plays a vital role in determining the total accommodation cost during this trek.

Accommodation Cost in City

Before the trip, you will be in Kathmandu for a couple of days, and the cost of accommodation in Kathmandu is between $20 and $100, depending on your budget.

A comfortable 3-star hotel room with an attached bathroom is available for up to $200, while a single bed in dorm rooms is available for $5 to $10. The Kanchenjunga trekking cost of the room in Illam is also about $20, and no dorm rooms are available there.

From Taplejung, we shall be staying in local teahouses, which are basically small guesthouses owned by the locals. They have a cozy room with two to three single beds only. In the teahouse, you will be provided with a mattress, a blanket, and a pillow.

Accommodation Cost During the Trek (in the Village)

As you move higher, the facility becomes limited, and the room gets colder. The bathrooms are only available on a sharing basis.

The cost of accommodation in a teahouse for the Kanchenjunga base camp trek is $6 to $8 (rooms for two people). During the off-season, the cost might be even lower.

Now, don’t be excited about getting rooms at a much cheaper price. This doesn’t include the cost of Wi-Fi, phone charging, and a hot shower. The additional costs to be paid during the stay in the Kanchenjunga Hotel are:

About $3 for Wi-Fi in the regions where there is an internet connection. In the highlands, you might be able to use the mobile data from the NTC or NCELL sim card, which is quite cheap.

$2 to $4 for a hot water shower. You will have a geyser or solar-powered hot water shower in the lower region. In the mountains, they give you a bucket of hot water for a shower.

Phone, camera or any electronics charging also costs about $2 per device.

Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek Food Cost

Different kinds of Nepalese and international cuisines are served in the teahouse where you stay. However, as you move towards higher altitude or remote villages in the Kanchenjunga region, the food options might be limited.

You must eat your dinner and breakfast in the same hotel where you stay; otherwise, they will add additional costs for the room. For breakfast, there are tons of options like bread, omelette, pancakes, oats, muesli, and fruits. The cost for breakfast is about $5 to $7.

Then, you have pasta, Mo: Mo, noodles, soup, rolls, and some other dishes for lunch and dinner. However, the best combination is Nepalese dal, Bhat.

The unlimited Buffet of Nepalese Khana has steamed rice, lentil soup, vegetable curry, spinach, and some pickles. Also, you can find some desserts like pudding and chocolates.

Lunch and dinner cost $7 to $9 as per your choice, while dessert is about $3. The cost of food in Kanchenjunga is about $25 to $30 per day, depending on what you order.

Tips to save money on food

• Order only one item that is high in calories and very fulfilling to your stomach.
• Carry some instant coffee, tea, instant noodles, chocolates, cookies, juices, and an energy bar so that you don’t have to buy them in the mountains for a higher cost.
• Don’t spend your money on any alcoholic beverages. They are not just bad for your pocket but also make you extremely dehydrated and might be deadly.

NOTE: The taste of other international cuisines might not be as good as you expect; the chefs in these teahouses are not the expert cooks. So, ordering Nepalese and Indian food is always safer.

Trekking in the mountains is a wonderful chance to hunt local food. We suggest that you must try Tibetan bread, Gundruk Dhindo, butter tea, Thukpa, yak cheese, and Nepali curd. You can ask the teahouse owner if they can prepare anything special for you, or you can even learn to make it yourself.

Water Cost during the Kanchenjunga trek

A bottle of water can cost $1 to $2 in the higher mountains. When you buy 3 to 4 bottles each day, this adds a lot of cost to your trek. So, it’s wise to carry a hard plastic water bottle and some sterilizer pills to purify the water. The bottle can be refilled on the trek route or at the teahouse.

Cost of Guide/ Porter to Kanchenjunga

Now, this makes a major part of your Kanchenjunga Trekking cost. Since this is a restricted region, you will need to hire a licensed trekking guide to Kanchenjunga.

The cost of the guide ranges from $20 to $30/day. These English-speaking guides are very familiar with your trekking route and come in handy during an emergency.

Having a good relationship with a travel guide makes your journey even better. They will help you build a better relationship with the locals, find a hotel, and order food. Our guides at Himalayan Masters are also trained in first aid and emergency conditions.

Next, you will need a porter. Since Kanchenjunga Trek is a completely remote hike route, you need to carry everything you need for the journey. This makes your bag very heavy, and hiring a porter is an easier way to deal with the load.

You can hire one or two porters of your choice. The Kanchenjunga expedition cost of a porter is about $20 to $25 per day.

Now, multiply the Kanchenjunga expedition cost by the number of days, and there, you get the cost for the guide and porter.

Tips on Hiring Guide and Porter

• One porter often carries the bag of two people if it’s not that heavy. A porter can carry up to 26 kg.
• If you are trekking with Himalayan Masters, we provide a licensed, experienced guide and porter for the trek, included in the Mount Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek 20-day Itinerary package.
• Even if you want to trek solo, with just a guide, we can still help you with the arrangements.

Insurance cost

Before you book your trip to Nepal, having travel insurance that covers the cost of high-altitude rescue is compulsory. Since trekking to Kanchenjunga, above 5000 meters, is a very risky task, you might not know when things turn out bad. So, add the insurance cost to your total travel cost.

Cost of Gears

We have only been talking about the cost while you are on the trek. However, a large portion of the money goes for shopping for trekking gear. Check our packing list for Kanchenjunga and find out what you already have and what you need to buy.

Some essential trekking gear, like a sleeping bag, down jacket, trekking bag, trekking boots, etc., can be rented in Thamel for $1 to $3 per day.

Tips and donation

Tips from the hotel owner and restaurants are all your choice. The guide and porter will also expect some tips for their service, ensuring your safety and successful trekking journey.

So, if you are satisfied with their work, you can tip about $100 or 10% of their rate. Some donations to temples and monasteries might also be needed.

Cost of Money Exchange

Every time you make transitions through an ATM, you will need to pay 3.5% extra, which is not a wise choice. So, we advise you to exchange your money for cash in Nepali currency.

You can exchange money in any of the money exchange booths in Kathmandu. Although money exchange is available in Bhadrapur and Illam, it is better that you exchange them in Kathmandu to be safer.

Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek Cost Depends Upon

Apart from the expenses on transportation, food, accommodation, and so on, there are other factors that the Kanchenjunga base Camp Trek cost depends upon.

It depends on the season you are trekking, your group size, trek customization, etc.

Trek season

Trekking seasons in Nepal somewhat determine your Trek cost.

The packages in the peak season, like autumn and spring, are a bit more expensive than in the off-season. Flight cost is also a bit low in the off-season. However, the difference in the cost is low, and the difficulty you face in the off-season is pretty hard, so we must say that it’s not as costly as the effort.

Group size

The larger the group, the lower your trek cost will be. That’s the obvious fact.

Travelling in a group helps you save a lot for a guide and porter. An experienced person can effectively guide a group of 6 to 8 people, and a porter can carry the load of 2 people. Hiring both a guide and a porter as a solo traveller is quite expensive.

If you don’t have such a group, Himalayan Master’s might be able to arrange a larger group for you

Trek Customization

Customizing the trek can also affect the overall cost of the trek. Extending or reducing the trek day can increase or decrease the Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek.

Likewise, if you choose to drive in a private vehicle than in a public vehicle, it is going to cost an additional amount.

Further, customizing the traditional teahouse trek to a camping trek is going to be expensive, as you will need to carry extra supplies and might need to hire an additional porter.

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