Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek

Hello potential trekkers, The purpose of this note is to recommend (highly) the services of Nepal Environmental Trekking (P.) Ltd. My new wife and I went on an almost month-long trek to Kanchenjunga base camps November 2000. Our lead sirdar/sherpa was Ang Kaji Sherpa, and our head cook was Pradeep kumar Karki. It was fabulous….I have literally hundreds of pictures including wild blue mountain goats at Pang Pema, the incredibly old Gompa at Ghunsa, and numerous faces of Nepali villagers we met along the way. The food was tasty and healthy, we never got sick once along the way and were given plenty of water for drinking and washing. Despite a premature and unexpected snowstorm at Sele La Kaji Sherpa led us the way back down to Tseram. Everything was expertly provided for us. They are environmentally conscious. There are no hidden cost along the way (we could have gotten along fine without bringing any money if we did not really need those cokes or beers on the way back). I wish I knew what else to say to convince you. Kanchenjunga is a difficult camping trek and we encountered a number of trekkers along the way who had various problems with their staff or their food. Everybody on our staff (22 including temporary porters) was considerate and great and I'd like to think we've made a couple of real friends. Please feel free to e-mail me directly if you want to verify or further clarify recommendation. I can't say enough about these guys.

Been on a 27 day trek, cut short by altitude sickness to 17 days, in Kanchenjunga. Guide was experienced and knowledgeable but the porter never showed up. Learned that he was alcoholic (known by the company) and are disappointed that the company would assign porters who are known to be unreliable (he was on a drinking binge when he should have been working for us). Guide managed to find a local porter who was very good. Guide and company handled evacuation very well, but afterwards here have been some difficulties in communication. We were not allowed to keep our guide for the rest of the time we had paid for his services. They are also for unknown reasons reluctant to return a passport. The trek itself was very enjoyable but it turned out the itinerary had not been verified by the guide before Nava approved it and it had to be altered. In summary: Good guide and trek and evacuation but some administration surrounding the trip has been unsatisfactory.

Thanks to all of the crew who helped us to fulfill our Kanchenjunga trek. I may return to Nepal, somehow this country has a special place in my heart: nature and helpful people but: the real vacation starts when you leave Kathmandu. We have seen this city now enough times. Take care.