Kathmandu to Suketar

Kathmandu to Suketar

Start point of Kanchenjunga Trek, i.e. Suketar is small village with ethnic group of eastern Nepal who are commonly known as Rai and Limbu. Majority of people are serving on British Army where as on upper part of Kanchenjunga People are still under poverty line. Being major entry point for trek there are availability of both flight and drive from Kathmandu to Suketar. Almost two driving day is needed to reach Suketar from Kathmandu where are flight of seventy to eighty minutes in total via flight.

Suketar Airstrip - Short flight from Biratnagar, gateway for Kanchenjunga Trek

Being very long distance from Kathmandu there is no direct bus ticket from Kathmandu to Suketar. The first overnight destination from Kathmandu is Biratnagar that is major trade point on Eastern Nepal. It almost takes one complete day starting from morning to early evening from Kathmandu to Biratnagar. However being very hot and tropical most of the buses are accompanied with service of air condition as well as Internet connectivity via Wi-Fi. After staying one night on Biratnagar next morning another day drive will take to Suketar. From Biratnagar it is countryside road that follow some of the curved road and uphill ascend to Suketar. Local bus are available from Biratnagar to Suketar do not expect any luxury bus with air condition and Internet service.

Being very small tiny airstrip big aircraft from Kathmandu are not able to land on Suketar and similarly small airstrip cannot fly long distance from Kathmandu to Suketar. What one need to do is flight from Kathmandu to Biratnagar and catch next flight to Suketar either same day or next day depending on availability. Flights are expensive as well in term of overland travel. So what one can do is flight from Kathmandu to Biratnagar and drive from Biratnagar to Suketar cause weather is more favorable on the trail in compare to distance from Kathmandu to Biratnagar. However on need to walk for a little from Taplejung to Suketar while go by driving but Suketar is worth to spend a night in compare to Taplejung. It is recommended as soon as one reach Taplejung follow small hill ridge toward Suketar.