Kanchenjunga BC to Makalu BC GHT Traveller Reviews

We did a 5 week trek from Kanchenjunga to Makalu with the Mountain Company. The route wound through deep valleys, high mountain passes and remote villages in a less-visited area of Eastern Nepal. We were a group of 9 trekkers (I joined as a solo traveller) with a big team of porters and guides to look after us as we traversed this tough and physically demanding stretch of the Great Himalaya Trail, which is much less established than its name would suggest!

The trip was really well organised, with an excellent international leader and a friendly and hardworking local guiding/cooking/portering team. Roland of TMC was exceptionally helpful at all stages of the booking processes, answering my endless questions and clearly communicating with participants about all details especially expectations of the nature of the terrain, weather, local customs etc. He has a real passion for the Himalaya and put a lot of effort into careful trip planning, complemented by the international guide who had excellent pastoral care as well as being an extremely capable mountain man. Our Nepali team were great - a really friendly and funny bunch of guys - the guides cared deeply about ensuring everyone had a good time, and the cook team fed us more food than we could eat! It was my first trip to the region and I had a great time; I'd thoroughly recommend the company and am pretty likely to be travelling again with TMC in the future!

An epic, long, difficult camping trek for experienced hikers and campers. I loved the remoteness of the regions visited, starting in the rain forest and walking up to Pangpema (5,143m) at the northside base camp of Kanchenjunga. I have a huge respect for the porters and kitchen crew, walking ahead of the group, either carrying huge loads or kitchen equipment and beat us to the campsite at night to set up tents or preparing meals. The local leaders Bhim, Sanja, Pasang and the rest of the trek team have been amazing with their customer service. They always made me feel safe, my bag arrived on time at the camp at night and the meals prepared were very delicious. Many thanks to the local trek team and Roland Hunter for putting his heart and soul into organizing treks offered by the Mountain Company.

The Mountain Company is the best company I have used in the last 15 years. Roland Hunter provides excellent customer service; makes you feel that you are his only client to take care of. Roland works closely with Tulsi, located in Kathmandu who makes sure that the local crew and logistics are well organized. Many thanks!

I undertook the Kangchenjunga BC to Makalu BC GHT, a 42 day explorative trek through eastern Nepal.

TMC were truly excellent, the amount of knowledge they have about Nepal seemed more up to date than other companies and was immense and useful. Honest and prompt communication was really valued in the planning stages, and all questions answered well. The trek itself was organised in a comprehensive and exceptional way, and they have also listened to post trek feedback and adapted the itinery according to on the ground conditions. I would not hesitate to use them again- a real quality outfit.

I had my eye on this trek for a while because of its remoteness, length - 36 days, challenge, beauty and legendary mystery surrounding Kanchenjunga. I was also spurred on by the account of fellow trekker who had just completed this section of the GHT in winter. I was delighted when Roland guaranteed it run with Ade at the helm and when two great mountain buddies also signed up. We were seven very experienced trekkers with over 40 Himalayan treks between us, very well briefed by TMC and well equipped. I have now had six weeks to process this rare and remarkable experience and digest the published trip report, which, does an honest job of describing what happened at ground level; including the struggles and inevitable ‘curved- ball’ logistic issues. I do recommend reading the report. I recognise that this trek has not run for ten years. Roland and the TMC put a huge amount of time and resources into planning such a complex operation which is credit to him and speaks volumes about his vision to keep the art of remote trekking alive. Ade is a renowned expert and is truly unique -  with years of international wilderness leadership and his buoyant benevolent nature. Sanja and Suman were top notch. The Kitchen first class. The porters were brilliant, the brand new mountain tents were robust and watertight and the lodges Kanchenjunga-side a welcome refuge. The views of Kanchenjunga and Jannu were spectacular. The ‘Pass B’ detour to Olangchungola  was 1800m up and down, thick bamboo forest, slippery, leeches, bugs, landslides, treacherous, exhausting but unforgettable. Lumba-Sumba was just heavenly. There was Thudum -  the ‘village that time forgot’, the grace of the villagers we met who could teach us more lessons about simplicity, hardship and happiness than we would care to admit.  The ‘jungle’ crossing to Kharka was wild, wet, slippery, dangerous, with few mountain views but the forest beautiful and unspoilt. There was this ethereal morning view of Makalu from our emergency shelter at ‘first’ Kharka. We had more than our fair share of adverse conditions, two casualties, Global Rescue, interpersonal clashes, misinformation about the Yangma bridge; we found ourselves three days behind and the remaining two of us elected to forego the final push to Makalu BC. Why five stars? I will answer in a somewhat  poetic form which does not answer all questions but is spoken from the heart. Because of the rarity of this opportunity, because these giant remote mountains did welcome us and reward us with passage, because this wilderness is not going to be here forever; the massive logistical effort, the guides and crew who became our loyal extended family for 5 weeks, without complaint. The camaraderie and the opportunity to connect and care. The bitter and the sweet, the risk , the pressure pushing us to our limit, the successes and failures. Because we came home spent. A pilgrimage in the words of Ian Baker where a “destination is ultimately not so much a place as a new way of seeing”.  Far more profound than any sightseeing joyride. Because in true TMC fashion Roland has stepped up to the challenges to make this trek even better. If you have the inclination - go - prepared to be immersed and with your eyes and heart wide open.

Committed to the art of remote trekking.