Sikkim Kanchenjunga Trek via Sandakphu

The trail generally climbs over 4500 meters and on a daily basis, you can expect to walk for about 5-7 hours. The activity level/rating is a bit more difficult than leisurely and sometimes includes tough days. There will be hills to climb, so be prepared for some ups and downs.

The best time to Sikkim Kanchenjunga Trek via Sandakphu is during autumn (September to November) and spring (March to May). The weather is clear and pleasant during these months so that we can fully enjoy the trek, and the temperature will drop significantly as you climb higher each day. The nights are cold (-10°C to 5°C) and the days are sunny and warm (10°C to 20°C). The mornings are usually clear, the clouds gather during the afternoon and disappear at night. Therefore, it would be good to trek during the months given above.

Absolutely yes! Under normal circumstances, our booked trips are guaranteed to run. We are a tailor-made company. If you are in a last-minute stress, remember to find us to sort out your trip decisions. Please feel free to book your stress-free holidays with us. Unless there is a situation which is out of control such as a political riot, natural disaster, pandemic, epidemic or weather catastrophes, our trips are 100% guaranteed to run.

Rest assured that you will be in good hands with our experienced trek guides, who have multiple years of experience in Sikkim Kanchenjunga Trek via Sandakphu. All of our guides, known as our dedicated Guides, are locals with a deep understanding of the mountain, its people, culture, health, hygiene, and most importantly, your safety. They are fluent in English and will be able to communicate effectively with you throughout the trek. Our guides are passionate about their work and will ensure that you have a safe and enjoyable trekking experience.

The guides have many years of guiding experience in trekking. Most have been exploring the Himalayas for years. Our guides are also trained in first aid and know how to handle any situation. All our guides speak fluent English and are happy to share their in-depth knowledge of the culture, geography, flora, festivals, lifestyle with you. It is enough to take visitors to special places or special cultures, who can engage people in what they are experiencing, explain it well and entertain them. They are well versed in how to make the journey comfortable and safe while appreciating the beauty of the Himalayas.

To obtain a VISA, your passport must be valid for six months from the date of departure from your country. Currently, the whole process of obtaining an Indian VISA can be done online, you do not need to send your passport to the embassy. The steps to follow for this procedure are clearly explained here indianvisaonline.gov.in and you only need to have a scan of your passport in pdf format, a passport photo in jpg format and a credit card to be able to pay. You will receive the visa receipt by e-mail and you will have to formalise it on arrival. You can apply online between one month and four days before you arrive in India.

Yes, of course you will need a trekking permit. Kanchenjunga National park permits can be easily acquired through a registered and licensed agency. A person will require at least one or more trekking permits including the Inner-Line Permit (ILP) or Restricted Area Permit (RAP). You need not worry when you are traveling with AlpineTrav Treks because all your required permits will be taken care of and arranged before your arrival in the country.

During the trek, you will stay in camping and sleep in camping tents for about 14 nights. During the journey, your trekking crew members will arrange separate guest tents, dining tents, toilet tents, shower tent and kitchen tents.

You will enjoy 3 delicious meals each day. Typically, you will have your breakfast and dinner at the tent camp, where you will stay. Hot lunches will be provided by the cook along the way. The meals are freshly prepared by our camping cooks. The meals will include fresh fruits and organic ingredients sourced from cities or local villages. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and kosher diets can be arranged if required with prior notice.

Sample Menu

✔ Breakfast
Beverage: black tea, milk tea, ginger lemon honey tea, lemon tea, hot lemon with honey, black coffee, milk coffee, hot chocolate
Toast with jam or honey, toast omelet, pancake, Tibetan bread, porridge/ muesli
Eggs on your choices
American breakfast or Continental breakfast

✔ Lunch
Rice item: veg fried rice, egg fried rice, mixed fried rice, dal-bhaat
Noodle item: vegetable fried noodle, mixed fried noodle
Potato item: chips, fried potato, hash brown potato, veg fried potato, boiled potato
Burger: veg burger, chicken burger, veg sandwich, chicken sandwich
Pasta: spaghetti tomato sauce, macaroni cheese sauce
Pizza: veg pizza, tomato cheese pizza, chicken pizza, mushroom pizza
Momo (Nepali style dumplings): veg momo, chicken momo
Meat item: chicken sizzler, chicken steak, yak steak
Beverage: black tea, milk tea, ginger lemon honey tea, lemon tea, hot lemon with honey, black coffee, milk coffee, hot chocolate

✔ Dinner
Soups: vegetable soup, mushroom soup, chicken soup, chicken noodle soup, Rara noodle soup, French onion soup, pumpkin soup, potato soup

✔ Main Meals
Rice item: veg fried rice, egg fried rice, mixed fried rice, dal-bhaat
Noodle item: vegetable fried noodle, mixed fried noodle
Potato item: chips, fried potato, hash brown potato, veg fried potato, boiled potato
Burger: veg burger, chicken burger, veg sandwich, chicken sandwich
Pasta: spaghetti tomato sauce, macaroni cheese sauce
Pizza: veg pizza, tomato cheese pizza, chicken pizza, mushroom pizza
Momo (Nepali Dumplings): veg momo, chicken momo
Meat item: chicken sizzler, chicken stake, yak stake
Dessert: apple pie, chocolate cake, carrot cake, apple fritter, canned fruit
Beverage: black tea, milk tea, ginger lemon honey tea, lemon tea, hot lemon with honey, black coffee, milk coffee, hot chocolate

The source of drinking water in the mountains is river or stream water but we do not recommend these to our clients as much as possible. The water can be highly contaminated which can cause various diseases during your trek. While trekking, boiled water will be available at the campsite. We also recommend the use of Steripen or other water purification agents. During the Goecha-La viewing, water is not available so it has to be carried all the way to the top. For our clients, we will provide refilled water.

There are many boots available in the market for high altitude but it is really important to find the right ones for you. For trekking section, a good quality, warm, waterproof boot with good ankle support is needed. Shoes for trekking and hiking section are compulsory and they must be of the right fit and previously broken so that you may prevent possible blisters and ankle injuries.

AlpineTrav Treks offers a lifetime deposit policy which allows you the flexibility to transfer your deposit to anyone or any other trip. If you wish to cancel your booked trips, certain cancelation charges apply. Please visit our booking terms and conditions for detailed information.

First and foremost, your fitness level, food and hygiene, regular exercise and workouts, immunity and your entire preparation for the trip affects how altitude sickness will respond to you. In fact, the prevention of altitude sickness starts right from the very day that you start planning your trip. Other factors that lower the chances of getting the sickness are your climbing leader’s knowledge, skills and experience, duration of the trip, and sufficient acclimatization. Reaching the top without any trouble related to altitude sickness, you should keep a few tips from our experienced guides and travel consultants in mind, namely:

1. Slow ascend with proper rest and sufficient acclimatization
2. Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water and other fluids
3. Eat enough balanced food and sleep well on the trip
4. Avoid alcohol, cigarettes or tobacco during the entire trip
5. Be head-strong and mentally prepared
6. Train your body sufficiently with uphill hikes or cardiovascular and gym workouts 3 months before your trip

Through either immediate or long-term acclimatization, the human body can adapt to high altitudes. The main problem that can arise at high altitudes is Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) and its symptoms vary from one person to another. When it comes to trekking in the Himalayas, altitude sickness is always a major concern. Exposure to high altitudes means a lack of adequate oxygen and dry air in the atmosphere. This risk leads to an increase in your metabolism by suppressing your appetite, vomiting, headaches, nausea, lethargy, dizziness, coughing, disturbed sleep, pneumonia and hyperthermia. These symptoms are more prevalent in trekkers. But at AlpineTrav Treks, we will have an excellent trekking team with us to ensure your safety and well-being. We always advise you to listen to your guide and follow his instructions and always tell him if you are not feeling well on the way.

AlpineTrav Treks has a team of competent trekking guides who are highly skilled in dealing with any difficulties or emergencies that may arise during the trek. If you feel sick at altitude, the first thing you should do is inform your guide so that he or she knows what to do. With years of experience, he or she can sense the severity of the situation and respond accordingly, either by bringing you down to a lower altitude or by coordinating alternative rescue and treatment procedures, which may mean using a horse or stretcher to carry the sick person down the mountain to the nearest health post or vehicle to the road site.

Yes: We advise all our clients to get travel insurance that covers up emergency evacuation that may be needed in case of the occurrence of AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness) or any other reasons in high altitudes where there are no other means of transportation available. It is advisable to review carefully the insurance and its coverages before making the final decision. Carry proof of your insurance with you on the holiday and you must ensure that your insurance provides an adequate level of protection and covers you for the activities involved. More information Travel Insurance

The duration of the trekking can vary depending on factors like individual fitness levels, acclimatization, and weather conditions. On average, it takes around 19-22 days for a complete trekking and hiking, including trekking to the Sikkim Kanchenjunga Trek via Sandakphu and acclimatization days.

On a trek, you should pack light but at least enough for your journey. If you don’t pack wisely, it is certain that you won’t be able to enjoy your trek in the Himalayas. Since this is a camping trek, the chances of getting cold at high altitudes are high, especially during the colder months, so you should be prepared with the right clothes and equipment. For detailed information on what to carry with you during a trek, please visit our detailed packing lists. Packing equipment lists

The cost of any trip in the Himalayas depend on a number of factors including the company you choose, the services they offer, number of days, various routes and more. The cost is something similar like buying an iPhone – some come with less features at a low cost while the latest ones with increased features will cost a bit more. In general, the price for Sikkim Kanchenjunga Trek via Sandakphu ranges from $2500 to $3500 per person.

Different agencies have their own group sizes for trekking as well as for tour trips. AlpineTrav Treks always considers a small group adventure. Moreover, we are specialized for customized and tailor-made trips. Although 12 people are the right group size for effective costing factors, we do not stick to this rule. Even if we have a solo traveler who is unable to join a group due to any reason, we will make arrangements for his trek.