A Kanchenjunga Adventure


Slogging to Selele pass (Photo: Jenny Gurung)

A Kanchenjunga Adventure (32 days, 31 nights)

In the world of adventure, before there was Everest – there was KANGCHENJUNGA!

Clear and spectacular views of the Kangchenjunga range from the summer retreat town of Darjeeling (in India) raised the curiosity of early British explorers. Moreover, easy access to eastern Nepal from bordering Sikkim also made adventures to the area possible as early as 1848 (while the rest of Nepal was closed to foreign visitors for another 100 years until the 1950s). In fact, for some time, Kangchenjunga was even considered the highest mountain in the world – i.e. until 1856, when Peak XV was announced as the highest point on Earth and named 'Mont Everest'.

Kangchenjunga literally translates to "Five Great Treasures in the Snow." There are five peaks within the Kangchenjunga range, and local people believe that each of the five peaks is a repository of different treasures: gold, silver, gems, grains and sacred texts. Kangchenjunga is a sacred mountain. In due reverence, the first summiteers stopped a few meters short of the summit in 1955. (This practice is no longer followed by today's climbers!)

Kangchenjunga is situated in the Beyul Demazong [beyuls are sacred valleys that were hidden by Padmasambhava, a much revered Indian saint who introduced Buddhism to Tibet in the eighth century]. The purpose of beyuls was to provide sanctuaries for people seeking refuge from social and religious persecution. During our trip, Beyul Demazong will also allow us to experience its purpose as we seek refuge from the daily grind of our hectic social lives.

Our Adventure

The highlight of our adventure is, no doubt, Mount Kangchenjunga. From Pangpema, the magnificent view of the north face of the world's third-highest peak is unparalleled. We will marvel at the great mountain rising for more than 3,500 meters before us: from its base at the Kangchenjunga Glacier below 5,000m – to its summit at 8,586m.

But just as interesting will be our journey to and from Kangchenjunga. We will traverse a region that is geographically spectacular and culturally fascinating. Our elevations will range from 'low'-lands at 360 to 800 meters where tropical sal trees flourish (this tree species is commonly found in the Terai region around Chitwan) to a high of 5,150m at Pangpema where the elusive snow leopard roams and herds of blue sheep abound.

'I must be content to do what I can, to record with all emphasis I am capable of, my conviction that nowhere else on earth's surface can there be found, within so small a radius, a combination of tropical luxuriance, sylvan beauty, and mountain sublimity equal to that which meets the traveler's eyes among the valleys and highlands of ...... Eastern Nepal.' Douglas W Freshfield - Round Kangchenjunga (1903)

We will also encounter various ethnic groups during our journey – Rai, Limbu, Bahun/Chhettri in the mid-hills, and Sherpa/Bhutia in the high mountains. These different communities, who have adapted their lifestyles to their environment, will allow us to experience part of the cultural mosaic that makes trekking in Nepal such a delight. Most notably, we will visit the village of Walangchung Gola, a bustling trade entrepot when Dr J D Hooker visited it more than 150 years ago, but closed to foreign visitors until only a few years ago.

Along the footsteps of Dr Hooker, we will cross the 4,800m Nango La – our only pass-crossing during this Himalayan odyssey. This route is not a trekking trail but is used mostly by local yak-herders; it traverses some of the most intact silver fir and rhododendron forests in the eastern Himalayas.

Much of our adventure will be in the Kangchenjunga Conservation Area – Nepal's first 'Community Conserved Area' (handed over to the community by the Government of Nepal in September 2006). Here, we will be able to experience the many conservation actions implemented by the community themselves.

We will also make a special trip to the impoverished village of Hellok where the community has established a community-operated Child Care Center. From humble beginnings, the Center has today evolved into an operation that has had tremendous impact on the lives of local children and women. We will be providing both financial and material support to this Center during our visit.

In short, with a range of bio-geographical terrain, cultural diversity, conservation experiences, and philanthropic activity, our Kangchenjunga Adventure will be one beyond the ordinary.

itinerary

11 Oct - Kathmandu

Arrive You will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. In the early evening, we will gather for a trip briefing where we will also get to know each other. Welcome dinner is a 15-minute walk-away in the tourist hub of Thamel. Kathmandu. You will be met on arrival at the Tribhuwan International Airport. Transfer to Hotel. Day Free. Enjoy welcome dinner. Briefing during dinner. (Dinner)

12 Oct - Kathmandu


Bodhnath Stupa (Photo: Claudine)

Full day sightseeing in Kathmandu. You will be accompanied by our in-house cityguide. In the morning, visit Bodhanath, the Stupa of a million dew drops, to watch monks and devotees circumambulate the largest stupa in Nepal. Then visit Pashupatinath, Nepal's most sacred Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva, with its two-tiered golden roof and silver door. Drive to Patan for lunch in the garden of the Patan Museum Café. After lunch, visit the well-maintained Patan Museum. Drive back to Kathmandu. (All meals)

13 Oct - Kathmandu to Tumlingtar

Fly to Tumlingtar. Overnight camp. (All meals)

 
14, 15, 16, 17, 18 Oct - Tumlingtar to Mitlung (2,800 ft.)

Trek through Nepal's mid-hills from Tumlingtar through Chainpur, Nundhaki, Sanghu and Dobhan. Overnight camp. (All meals)

 

19, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24 Oct - Mitlung to Ghunsa (11,200 ft.)

Ascend gradually to more alpine villages at Ghunsa. A rest day is planned for at Ghunsa. Overnight camp. (All meals)

 
25, 26, 27, 28 and 29 Oct - Ghunsa to Khangbachen (13,800 ft.)

Hike to Khangbachen and explore Jannu Base Camp. Overnight camp. (All meals)

 
30 and 31 Oct - Khangbachen to Ghunsa (10,300 ft.)

Trek to Ghunsa and cross Nangpa La (15,800 ft.). Overnight camp. (All meals)

 
01 and 02 Nov - Walangchung Gola (10,500 ft.)

Trek to Walangchung Gola village and mingle with villagers. Overnight camp. (All meals)

 
03 - 08 Nov - Trek back to Suketar and fly to Kathmandu.

Return to Kathmandu. Overnight Hotel Tibet. (All meals)

 
09 and 10 Nov - Kathmandu

Extra day in Kathmandu for possible flight delays due to weather. Otherwise explore Kathmandu. Overnight Hotel Tibet (All meals)

 
11 Nov - Depart for home

Final departure

Download detailed brochure here.

 

Price includes:

Price does not include:

TO BOOK THIS TRIP:

Application:

Download and complete Application form. (Participants will be screened)

Email it as an attachment to info@crystalmountaintreks.com

Payments:

After acceptance to the program, a $500 non-refundable deposit is required to secure your spot. Balance payment is required upon arrival in Kathmandu either in US$ cash, Traveler's checks or by credit card (VISA card only).

Cancellation Policy:

The $500 deposit is non-refundable.

There will be no refunds once the trip begins.

If for security or other reasons, we need to cancel or postpone the trek, you may apply the deposit and final payment toward any other trip we offer in Nepal, Tibet, India or Bhutan.

Altitude sickness

This trek does involve sleeping and hiking at high altitude. We will, as we do for all high-altitude treks, provide a GAMOW bag for this trip.  A GAMOW bag is a portable hyperbaric chamber that looks like an inflatable extra-large sleeping bag. The effective altitude inside the inflated GAMOW bag is about 5000 feet lower than the altitude you are at; it has been very effective in the past in relieving headaches and other symptoms of altitude sickness.

Trip Leader:

Jenny
Jenny at Annapurna Base Camp

 

 

 

This Kangchenjunga Adventure will be led by Jenny Gurung. Jenny managed Crystal Mountain Treks until 2008 and is now involved in development and environmental programs in Nepal. She was also involved with the initial phase of the Kangchenjunga Conservation Area Project when she worked at WWF Nepal, and has thus traveled widely in the area and interacted with most local communities. She is an ardent fan of the eastern Himalayas and is highly motivated to share her knowledge and experiences of the region with you.

Moreover, you will be in good hands with Jenny and her crew while on this trip.

 

 

TREK RATING:

This trek is rated challenging and involves trekking at high altitude; highest elevation reached is near Pangpema which is at over 17,000 ft. The entire trip involves a lot of up and down (there could be an elevation change of up to 3,000 ft in a day) and involves crossing several passes at over 16,000 ft. There could be snow on the passes. A Gamow Bag will be provided.

Participants must be fairly strong hikers to participate on this trek. However, no technical climbing experience is required.

REFERENCES:

Crystal Mountain Treks organizes treks and tours in Nepal, India, Bhutan and Tibet for hundreds of satisfied travelers every year. Feel free to ask us for references who can tell you about their experience with us.

WHY BOOK WITH CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN?:

There are over 500 and counting trekking companies in Nepal. We are aware that you have lots of options. But, we believe there are reasons we stand out from our competitors. We've listed some reasons here...

A portion of the proceeds from this trek ($1,000 minimum) will be donated to the child care center in Hellok in the Kanchenjunga region.

QUESTIONS:

Email: info@crystalmountaintreks.com

Phone
Land Line: + 977 1 4416813

Mobile phone: + 977 98410-00724