Luxury Car
SIKKIM TREKKING TOURS
Sikkim, the land that unfolds ones imagination. Amidst the grandeur of the mountain peaks, lush green valleys cascading waterfalls and fast flowing rivers, beautiful monasteries and terraced hills, Sikkim offers her visitor a rare and exotic experience. Small but beautiful, Sikkim is cradled by the towering peaks of the mighty Himalayas including Mt. Kanchanjungha 8586m. , the third highest mountain in the world. Sikkim with an area of 7300 sq. km. shares her borders with Tibet in the North, Bhutan in the East, Nepal in the West and the state of West Bengal in the South. Memories of your Sikkim holiday are enriched by the lingering impression of gorgeously decorated Buddhist Monasteries and Hindu temples featuring Lama dances with fierce masks, unique music and chants, invocations made to the Hindu deities. Sikkim is one of the best-kept secrets in the Himalayas and trekking in Sikkim can be a wonderful experience and antidote of city stress and daily life. Sikkim trekking experience can be memorable and cherished for a lifetime. While trekking one can relish the pure air and silence of wilderness, feel the awakening of the senses burdened by urban living, as one walks through the vales, dales, and quaint villages. Mountains take up strange and wonderful shapes and the beauty of Sikkim Himalayas unfolds itself before you.
. SIKKIM AND KANCHENJUNGA TREKKING
. DARJEELING AND SIKKIM TREK
. SINGALILA RIDGE & GOECHA LA TREKKING
SIKKIM AND KANCHENJUNGA TREKKING TOUR
At first through luxuriant rhododendrons, pines, spruces and giants magnolias forests, then through green meadows and yak pastures, the trek leads us towards west Sikkim, close to the Nepali border. Along the Onglakhing glacier moraines and Samity sacred lake, we climb up to Gocha La pass, highlight of this magnificent itinerary, where we will savor the breath-taking scenery of the Talung glacier and the impressive east face of the third highest summit in the world, Kanchenjunga (8586m). Rathong (6679m), Kabru (7338m), and Talung (7349m) to the south and Kirat Chuli (7365m) and Pyramid Peak (7123m) surround us to the north. The way back via a recently opened path, goes through lush green jungles overgrown with lianas and orchids.
Destination: Delhi-Bagdogra-Darjeeling-Yuksam-Tsoska-Dzongri-Thangshing-Samity Lake-Lam Pokhari-Kasturi
La-Labdang-Tashiding-Martam-Gangtok-Bagdogra-Delhi
Duration: 19 nights/20 days
Day1: DelhiArrival in Delhi and later transfer to the hotel.
Overnight in hotel.
Day 2: Delhi - Bagdogra (by plane) - Darjeeling (2130m) by car.
Next morning catch your flight to Bagdogra and later continue your charming 4-hour journey, through Assam tea plantations and tiny villages takes us to Darjeeling. Built on top of a ridge, Darjeeling faces the Himalaya and is a popular destination for Westerners and Bengalis alike.
Overnight in hotel.
Day 3: Darjeeling
Early morning take an early trip to Tiger Hill to watch the sunrise. Later visit the famous Ghoom monastery that enshrines an image of the Maitreya Buddha (the coming Buddha). Later on, visit the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute and tea plantations.
Overnight in hotel.
Day 4: Darjeeling - Yuksam (1760m)
While moving towards Yuksam, en route, visit the Pemayangtse monastery, perched at 2800m, and one of the oldest and most impressive gompas in Sikkim.
Day 5: Yuksam - Tsoska (3030m)
Today, the trail leads up the Rathong valley, through thick, semi-tropical forests. Afterwards a steep climb takes us to the tiny Tibetan village of Tsoska. The landscape has now changed into pine, rhododendron and magnolia forests. We get excellent views of the entire Himalayan range and Kanchenjunga.
Overnight in tents.
Day 6: Tsoska - Dzongri (4020m)
Early morning take on a steep trail, zigzags up through temperate forest and large clusters of rhododendrons, to the vast clearing of Phedang. During April and May, the spectacle is gorgeous, as the land becomes a mass of flowers. After 300m, we follow the ridge to Dzongri, a pasture area for Yuksam yaks from April to October.
Overnight in tents.
Day 7: Acclimatizing
Depending on the fitness of the group, we could head northwest to the Dzongri, where the panorama is stunning, over the Rathong glacier and further out towards the summits on the border with Nepal. Alternatively, we could also organize a shorter ascent towards the Dzongri Peak (4320m) and enjoy a great view of Kanchenjunga (8586m), the third highest summit in the world.
Overnight in tents.
Day 8: Dzongri - Thangshing (3930m) We descend through rhododendron forest towards the glacial Prek river. We establish our campsite on the grassy pastures of Thangshing. The southern ridge of Kanchenjunga and the Onglakhing glacier are visible directly ahead and there are close-up views of Pandim.
Overnight camp.
Day 9: Thangshing - Samity Lake (4200m)
A pleasant walk below the west side of Pandim, through dwarf azaleas and rhododendrons to Zemathang. We take our first footsteps on the Onglakhing glacier, and climb up to the shores of the Samity lake, reputed to be the sacred source of the Prek river.
Ringed by prayer flags, the lake reflects Forked Peak, Kabru North, Gocha Peak and other snow-capped peaks.
Overnight camp.
Day 10: Samity Lake - Gocha La (4940m) - Thangshing
We have to leave quite early this morning, as fog and clouds descend on the pass shortly after sunrise. The track to Gocha La climbs steeply through moraines. From the pass, ringed with colorful prayer flags, we can see Kanchenjunga and beyond that, the Talung glacier.
Overnight camp.
Day 11: Thangshing - Lam Pokhari (4230m)
After a steep descent, we climb through alpine areas and pass by tiny lakes.
Overnight in tents.
Day 12: Lam Pokhari - Kasturi La (4500m) - Kasturi Odar (3500m)
A steep ascent leads to the pass, from where we descend through a luxuriant tropical forest.
Overnight in tents.
Day 13: Kasturi Odar - Labdang (2000m) Today we will walk in the half-light of the undergrowth, through a dense forest, where lianas tangle and moss and orchids hide tree trunks.
Day 14: Labdang - Tashiding (1740m)
An easy walk, in an atmosphere becoming more humid and heavier as we descend.
Day 15: Tashiding - Martam by car
En route, we visit the Tashiding monastery, one of the most isolated in Sikkim, perched on the top of a hill set between two rivers.
Overnight camp.
Day 16: Martam - Gangtok by car
Today go back to Gangtok by car, enroute visiting Rumtek monastery, reputed for its religious Tibetan art. Visitors are welcome to attend prayers.
Overnight in hotel.
Day 17: Gangtok
Take a full day city tour of Gangtok, visiting one of the amazing Orchid Sanctuary, where we can see a few of the 454 orchid species listed in Sikkim. To complete the day we will visit the Enchey and Do Drul monasteries, and the Tibetology Institute, which houses one of the richest collections of thankas and religious works in the world.
Day 18: Gangtok - Bagdogra (by car) - Delhi (by plane)
Early morning drive towards Bagdogra and later catch your flight to Delhi.
Overnight in hotel.
Day 19: Delhi
Day free for leisure activities.
Overnight in hotel.
Day 20: Delhi
Catch your flight towards your onward destination.