This guest post is by Swostika Khanal,a passionate traveler and writing enthusiast. She loves exploring local cultures and remote destinations, and finds joy in capturing the essence of these experiences through her words.
The Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek is one of the most beautiful and least trekked mountains in Nepal and provides scenic, varied, and authentic off-the-grid experiences.
Here's why you should choose the Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek for your next trekking adventure.
A Journey into the Wild
However, on the other side of these well-travelled trekking routes, namely Everest and Annapurna, the Kanchenjunga trekking route is far less travelled. The way winds over deep gorges and forested and alpine meadows and presents a chance for adventurers and nature lovers to have an experience like nothing before.
Fauna is present in areas such as the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area, which is trying to restore endangered species such as snow leopards, red pandas, and Himalayan black bears. Species including, but not restricted to, the blue sheep, Himalayan tahr, and a variety of brightly coloured pheasants may also be found during an exploration of this way.
In spring, the slopes are painted with flower colour as flowering rhododendrons and magnolias, creating a magical, spectacular and evocative spectacle.
Majestic Mountain Views
The majestic beauty of Mont Kanchenjunga (8586 m), the third-highest peak in the world, is still the icing on the cake of this trek. And the trek brings you back around to the North and South Base Camps, and standing there, you capture the grandeur of the mountain from two angles.
Along the way, you'll also see other towering peaks like Jannu, Kumbhakarna, and Rathong. At the North Base Camp, visitors will be taken with a stunning panoramic view of the Kanchenjunga Glacier, a large ice sheet that is impressive in its sheer size.
The South Base Camp provides panorama views of Yalung Glacier and a special vantage point to the majesty of the Kanchenjunga massif. At these small base camps, one can still, in fact, be surrounded by the complete and beautiful picture of surroundings and, in the sense of a government, truly take part in the experience.
Rich Cultural Experience
The Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek is populated by a wide range of ethnic groups, such as Limbu, Rai, Sherpa, and Tibetan. It will, in fact, be possible to live in ordinary villages, meet the villagers, and revel in their friendly and welcoming way of life.
The area is also culturally diverse, with Buddhist heritage preserved in various forms (e.g., historical stupas, mani walls, and prayer flags lining the route.
The history of people moving on a traditional Limbu agricultural lifestyle is certainly one of the most fascinating cultural experiences to witness in their villages, from which one can see the traditional and celebrated folk customs, taste traditional millet beer Tongba, and watch traditional dance music.
A Less-Crowded Trekking Route
Kanchenjunga is also suitable for those who want to live in peace and have a real trekking experience.
The walk is far less crowded than the routes to Everest and Annapurna and thus provides the ideal context for hikers who want to avoid both the crowds and the quiet congestion of the wilderness. The landscape is, on the other hand, pristine and, hence, unmixed.
There is a short number of people visiting the forest, thus a good probability of getting in touch with the wild nature of the forest and observing the forest in order and wild, with no distractions.
Challenging and Rewarding Adventure
The Kanchenjunga Circuit treks to wilderness and is not suitable or is always advised for noobs. The tour is quite strenuous, being a long walk and high-mountain grazing pastures (e.g., Sele La, 4290 m). The hike normally lasts for about 20 to 24 days and provides a prolonged experience in one of Nepal's most scenic areas.
This trail is also challenging due to its primitiveness. As the trek is not urban, participants on treks will require adapted hiking equipment, and one will be in charge of the group. Challenging in altitude, however, they are in no way a waste of effort with stunning panoramic views, valleys or gorges, and wildlife.
Incredible Diversity in Landscapes
All along this trail, you'll see different sceneries, from green grassy slopes and subtropical evergreen forests to rocky moraines and high-elevation glaciers.
That changing landscape is of interest to the trek, and there is something new or different all the time, no matter what time of day. Yet, much of that landscape is also famous for breathtaking subalpine rhododendron forests, in particular, which bloom in early spring (March to May). The adventure starts in the lower valleys in terraced lands and charming villages, and then it lightly ascends into deep oak, pine, and rhododendron forests.
A True Himalayan Experience
You'll live the life of a local in tea houses, eat home-style Nepali-style food, and live the life of a village community living in the remote mountains. All of that sincerity creates meaning and deepens the experience.
The condition of being locked down made all the small teahouses that are in a line along the street to be family-run with heart.
Foodstuffs, all of which are prepared in the style of the standard Nepali meal, such as Dal Bhat (rice and lentil), Tibetan flatbread and momo. Such a simple yet comforting kind of food will keep you from hunger while commuting.
