Kanchenjunga Circuit in Nepal Traveller Reviews

The Kanchenjunga circuit is just absolutely incredible, the surroundings are always changing. Definitely a harder trek, but worth every bit of the hardships. The forests in the lower elevations are so rich in different greens, still with lots of flowers blooming along the way. Then as you climb to the higher elevations the landscape changes to this almost other planet kind of feel. The views in Lhonak are just incredible. The lower village of Ghunsa is a great little spot to really see the culture of the people that live in these surroundings. Not a lot of other trekkers were out there while we were hiking, there was 12 other people doing the circuit. So it is definitely not as crowded as some of the other treks in Nepal. It will be changing a lot over the upcoming years with all the roads and hydropower being put in. I am interested to see how it changes when I go back. Definitely worth all the hard work.

The Mountain Company did such an incredible job putting this trip together. The experience that Roland Hunter brings is just outstanding. Along with the knowledge of the leaders that he uses on the trek. Roland is always there to answer any questions that come up during the prep and planning phase. Then to always be able to contact him during the trek is an added assurance along the way. He hires very highly trained and knowledgeable local guides and staff to ensure that you have the best experience while in Nepal and on the trek. I can't wait to get out on another one of their trips.

Outstanding trek, with a great variation in climatic zones driven and trekked through with wonderful mountain vistas, especially the eye catching Junna. The owner of the The Mountain Company is passionate about Nepal, it’s people and ensuring his trekkers have the best possible experience. This is replicated by the western trekking guide, in this instance Natalie Wilson whom was top class and the Nepali trekking team, in particular Sirdar Bishwo, guides Bal, Joms and Ratana, head cook Sangram and his team and Head porter Pemba and his team. We were very fortunate with the weather which was deep blue sky for the majority of the time, ensuring we could make the most of the mountain views, enjoy the trekking and the villages and locals we met.

Already mentioned above but to underline, nothing is too much for Roland as he seeks to ensure you have the greatest of times. He is invariably in Kathmandu during all of the trekking seasons and ensures he meets the trekkers before and after each trek. Irrespective of whether in Nepal or UK Roland also is available on Satellite phone for the trekking team.

The Kanchenjunga North and South Base Camp trek is a remote, tough trek in the eastern part of Nepal walking mainly on good trails. Compared to, for example the Dhaulagiri Circuit, the trekking days are longer (most days 7+ hours tent to tent), the trails are quieter with few other groups, and the scenery is more varied – starting with cardamon plantations, climbing up through rhododendron, bamboo and oak forests, and finally into high mountain landscapes. The length and remoteness of the trek means that it is important to be physically fit, mentally resilient and prepared, and to have the right equipment for both the heat and very cold weather.

The Mountain Company operates treks that have been designed with the client’s enjoyment in mind. To this end the itineraries are based on necessary acclimatisation and not fitting in to a set number of days off work which significantly increases the chance of the team achieving their objective; trip dates are chosen based to try and time more stable weather for better views (the compromise for this trip is that also means colder evenings and nights); and finally leaders on the ground are empowered to make decisions to improve the itinerary (for example our trek arranged jeeps to avoid a final 8 hour walk down a new road). Finally not everything always goes to expectation but the company actively seeks out feedback with the genuine intention of improving future trips.

Kangchenjunga Circuit This trek is to the North and South Base Camps of Mount Kanchenjunga in the Eastern part of Nepal. The Kanchenjunga Circuit trek is meant to be one of the finest in Nepal Himalaya and I believe it lived up to it's reputation mainly because of the wonderful diversity. Trekking through cardamon and tea crops, and villages, meeting the local people and then being in the presence of the third highest mountain in the world. I have been on about 16 treks in about 11 years and I, therefore, believe that I am a good judge of what has worked. The guides, support and cook staff went a long way to enhancing my experience.

The managing director and owner of The Mountain Company takes the time to get to know you and your needs. He is personally involved in always moving the itinerary and experience forward. He spends many months in Kathmandhu so that this happens.

The Kanchenjunga Circuit was an epic trip, real adventure travel. Just getting to the start of the trek involved an internal flight from Kathmandu, and 10-12 hours of driving along 'interesting' roads. The three weeks of hiking that followed to circuit around the Nepalese side of Kanchenjunga was hugely varied, from tropical, banana growing, lowlands to ~5,000m above sea level with views of huge mountains in every direction. November was the perfect month to do it, with blue skies almost every day, no rain at all, and relatively few people around. It was pleasant during the day and cold at night, with the lowest temperatures about -10C inside the tents, so a decent sleeping bag is needed. There are lodges almost all of the whole way round the circuit now which is helpful for warmer dinning rooms and some facilities (4-5 of them had electricity for charging devices) but camping allows the Mountain Company to control the quality and hygiene of the meals (very important when travelling in remote areas) and the new 3 person tents provided were excellent. The scenery was spectacular and the track was generally well formed and straightforward to walk. There were basically no flat parts so a good level of fitness is required for the 5-8 hours of walking each day. It is a remote part of the world but there are many villages and guest houses so it didn't feel that remote at times. The itinerary was well designed to minimise issues with altitude. The Kanchenjunga Circuit is an excellent choice for those looking for a varied, and challenging long hike in the Himalaya, without the crowds of the Annapuna or Everest regions.

This was the second time I've travelled with the Mountain Company and I wouldn't consider any others for hiking in the Himalaya. Their attention to detail and responsiveness is better than any other travel company I've used. Their itineraries are well designed and frequently reviewed to ensure that they are accurate and work best with the conditions on the ground. Given the pace of change in the Himalaya, particularly the construction of new roads along former tracks, this is really important. I've found them very responsive, before the trek in terms of planning and advice, during the trek if any issues occur, and afterwards in seeking and responding to feedback given.

For our first ever trip to the Himalayas we chose the Kanchenjunga Circuit run by The Mountain Company. This might seem unwise, as it is billed as a remote and challenging trip. However the personalized care we received before, during and after our trip made us feel safe, comfortable, and exhilarated throughout. We are going back, and wouldn't dream of going with any other tour operator.

The Mountain Company was fantastic to deal with from start to finish. It was always clear whom we could contact, and during our initial communications that was Roland Hunter, the owner, who made sure this trip was right for us and that we were prepared. In the immediate run up to the trip we received immediate responses to all our questions, and then while on trek we were superbly cared for and motivated by Natalie Wilson, the Western Leader, and the highly experienced local sidar.

I have done many organised treks in a Nepal, with various operators, but this was my first one with TMC and I would certainly use them again. The route up the western side to the ‘northern’ base-camp at Pangpema took us through a range of different vegetation and scenery as we gently acclimatised. The views were stunning throughout. We were thus all well and fit for the ascent of the passes to cross to the eastern side and ‘south’ camp at Oktang. We had good weather and all the team made it. The crew, from guide to cooks to porters, were all excellent and good fun.

First time I had used TMC - after bumping into the owner two years ago in Kathmandu and being impressed by his approach. I was not disappointed. Everything was well thought-through - the itinerary, the timing to avoid the bad weather (we had a couple of hours of rain in 3 weeks), the excellent choice of staff, the pace and length of days to allow acclimatisation, and provision of excellent information. I would certainly use the company again.

A spectacular, challenging three-week trek into a rugged, remote area of eastern Nepal. Extremely well organized, from airport pickup to the gear check in Kathmandu through to the full 3 week trek, meeting every logistical and organizational challenge. A well-organized, hard working team of guides, cooking staff and porters provided excellent service throughout the trek, meeting every logistical challenge head-on. Make no mistake, Kanchenjunga Circuit is a serious undertaking for even experienced trekkers, but ultimately I felt very well prepared for the challenges of the altitude, the weather and the rugged trekking. Truly memorable.

I have used The Mountain Company on a couple of occasions for lengthy "Circuit" treks in Manaslu and Kanchenjunga, and have found them very experienced and well-prepared. These are challenging treks to relatively remote areas and the operators need to be on their toes to "expect the unexpected" and act quickly when necessary. On both occasions I felt well prepared, well fed, safe, and able to focus on enjoying the scenery and cultural experiences. I always felt comfortable sharing any concerns I had. TMC are experts, no question, and I honestly wouldn't use anyone else for trekking in Nepal.

21 days of trekking through amazing villages where the people were so friendly and welcoming. Right from the start until the very end I was engrossed in the trip. We were well looked after by our guide and Sherpa,s

They were well organised with spare equipment, ie extra tents, very good first aid kits, and looked after us well at altitude

The Mountain Company is a finely tuned guide service. It is professional, effective, efficient, organized, and highly affective to the needs of its clients. Who knows the width and depth of a guide service if absolutely everything goes smoothly. The 'True Grit' of a service organization is revealed when its staff/crew flawlessly problem solve any issues as they occur. It is noteworthy when highly acceptable solutions are presented. Kanchenjunga... Five Treasures of the Eternal Snow. Natalie Wilson... Kanchenjunga's Sixth Treasure as lead guide for TMC Thank you to Natalie, Raj, Sangram, Jon, Sagar, Bal, and all porters/cook staff. In the 23 mountain climbs and treks that I have done on five continents, The Mountain Company rates an A+.

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