Sikking And Darjeeing Trakking

SIKKIM AND DARJEELING

The basin of the Teesta river lies in Sikkim and its northern reaches are dominated by Kanchenjunga, the world's third highest mountain. Fed by glaciers, the many streams of the Teesta river tumble through deep gorges, grassy alps and forests.
Past Gangtok, other main towns in the region are Kalimpong, Kurseong and Darjeeling. A fascinating toy train chugs its way up from New Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling through pine, oak, magnolia and rhododendron forests and an amazing variety of wild orchids. Famous Buddhist monasteries and pilgrim centres and Rumtek, Yuksom, Tashding and Pemyangtse.

SINGALI LA TREK - (Darjeeling Area) : Trek begins at Manebhanja through villages, small wayside huts and gompas to Sandakphu , the point on the trek and gives a full view of the entire eastern Himalayas from Chomolhari in Bhutan to Kanchenjunga in Sikkim, to Everest- the world's highest peaks can be seen from here and it offers a breathtaking experience to watch sunrise or sunset over these mountains. They are covered with rhododendrons, silver fir, spruce, chestnut, oak, and an innumerable variety of flowers.

DELHI / DARJEELING / TREK / DELHI

Duration: 7 days Darjeeling to Darjeeling
Average Trek: 7 to l2 kms/day
Maximum Height: 9500 ft
Grade: Moderate
Best time: May to April and October to November

SIKKIM RHODODENDRON TREK - ( Kanchenjunga Trek) : This trek begins from Pemyangtse through moss laden forests, abounding in a varied flora and fauna ,through scenes of grazing yaks, mountain sheep and settlements and villages. The trail leads through forested areas of Sikkim particularly beautiful during the spring when the dendrons, giant magnolias and a profusion of other flowers are in full bIoom Dzongri, one comes face to face with a magnificent view of Mt Kanchenjunga. A rugged terrain from Zemathang leads to Golcha La ( 5000 Mt.) , the point on the trek. On the return journey from Zemathang one can keep an eye out for rare high altitude pheasants and sheep.

DELHI / GANGTOK / PEMYANGTSE / YUKSOM / BAKIM / DZONGRI / ZEMATHANG / GOLCHALA / PHITHANG / YUKSOM / DARJEELING / DELHI

Best of Sikkim

Day 1. DELHI / BAGDOGRA / GANGTOK (1767 m )
Transfer to domestic airport to board flight for Bagdogra ,enroute view peaks of Himalayas including Mt. Everest in good weather. Met on arrival , on to Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim 1125 kms (5 hrs). The journey is refreshing and scenic. We go along the river Teesta and arrive Gangtok late evening. Check into hotel. Overnight Gangtok.

Day 2. GANGTOK
After breakfast proceed on a sightseeing tour of Gangtok city with guide. Visit the exotic orchid sanctuary. Sikkim, the vast orchidarium as it has been called, has hundreds of varieties of orchids and rhododendrons. Rhododendrons are in abundance from 2438 Mt. and above till the snow line starting from 4876 Mt. where junipers and rhododendrons struggle for existence on the gentler slopes covered by the beautiful primulas and genitaris. We also visit the Enchy monastery, the Dodrul gompa with a very large and ornate chorten. We take a stroll in the quaint bazaar of the Gangtok town. After lunch, take the excursion to the world famous Rumtek gompa 122 kms, the seat of the Karmapa Lama who heads the Kagyupa sect of Buddhism. Tankhas and frescoes decorate the walls of this ancient monastery. The style of the monastery, strictly traditional has been patterned on the lines of the Lamasseries of Tibet. Overnight Gangtok.

Day 3. GANGTOK
Full day excursion tour to Phodong monastery (40 kms). It was built by Chogyal Gyurmed Nangyal in the 1st quarter of 18th century. Uphill from Phodong gompa is the Labrang gompa. Below the road between Phodong and Labrang gompas are the ruins of the third capital of Sikkim. Tumlong. Return to Gangtok late afternoon. Overnight Gangtok.

Day 4. GANGTOK / YUKSOM (1780 m )
After breakfast drive to Yuksom ( 90 kms / 5 hrs ) It is a beautiful drive passing through quaint little villages and towns, waterfalls, fields of barley and rice etc. After the last climb, Yuksom is reached and is the place which has recorded many a historic event. It was here that HH Funchok Namgyal was crowned by his holiness, Gyalwa Latchen Thembo, the very man who brought Buddhism to Sikkim in 1641. A table land of barley and apples, Yuksom provides beautiful vistas of mini lakes with Himalayan background. Overnight camping.

Day 5. YUKSON / BAKKIM ( 2743 m )
The trail now runs through rich wooded hills abounding in flora and fauna going, as it does, through moss-laden forests of oak , spruce , chestnut, fir, pines, giant magnolias and rhododendron - a botanists' paradise. Not to be outdone, the naturalist's can view hundreds of varieties of exotic birds, butterflies and orchids. Among the animals are ,the Himalayan brown bear, black bear, barking deer, sambar, marble cats, blue snip, Tibetan antelope, wild ass, Himalayan wild goats, red pandas and musk deer at various altitudes. It takes 6 hrs before the Bakhim forest bungalow is reached for the night.

Day 6. BAKKIM / DZONGRI ( 4030 m )
Eight kilometers and six hrs away, each step to Dzongri leads to the world of the famed Kanchenjunga massive. The steady and demanding climb passes through gullies laid by grazing yaks and mountain sheep through Choka , a Tibetan resettlement centre, and the last village passed on the way. Now, one begins to get the initial view of the Sikkim snows. It is time for lunch and one has reached a picturesque spot, Phittang ,after which the trail leads up right amidst an exclusive and bewitching forest of rhododendrons to Deorali Dara the meeting place of men and mountains - of God and nature. Here are the awesome views of the massive ranges of the Sikkim mountains and its peaks. These granite peaks with a thick hood of ice offer the most fascinating and awe-inspiring views of the mountains. Straight ahead is the third highest peak in the world - the legendary Kanchenjunga in all its celestial height and glory, while on either side smaller peaks bow down in reverence. The spectacle at dawn and dusk tinted in softest hues, is one never to be missed, a supernatural vision of ethereal beauty. Camp in tents or yak huts.

Day 7. DZONGRI
Explore this beautiful locale, spell binding view of Mt Kanchenjunga at sunrise. Overnight camp.

Day 8. DZONGRI / TSOKHA
We start the descent back and camp at the last village passed earlier, Tsokha, a quaint village with a small gompa. Overnight camp.

Day 9. TSOKHA / YUKSOM
A leisurely walk of about 5 hrs brings us back to Yuksom. The meeting place of the three saints where one can pause and get a full taste of the charms of Sikkimese rural life. Overnight camp.

Day 10. YUKSOM
This day is for leisure in the lap of mother nature. We take a leisurely walk upto the Dubdi gompa built in a hill top in 1700. Overnight camp.

Day 11. YUKSON / DARJEELING
After breakfast drive to Darjeeling which takes about 6 hrs. We proceed with packed lunch. Arrive Darjeeling, travelling through beautiful tea gardens. Check into hotel. Overnight Darjeeling.

Day 12. DARJEELING
After breakfast, we proceed to sightseeing tour of the city with guide. Visit the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute ,the bazaar , etc. After lunch we visit a beautiful tea garden and the factory and see the process this wonderful brew of the orient goes through. Overnight Darjeeling.

Day 13. DARJEELING
Early morning visit the Tiger Hill at sunrise to see the beautiful sunrise over Mt. Everest. On the return we visit the Ghoom monastery. Afternoon visit the Tibetan Handicraft Centre, Overnight Darjeeling

Day 14. DARJEELING / BAGDOGRA / DELHI
Transfer to Bagdogra to board flight IC 879 for Delhi at 5 P.M. Arrive Delhi.

Grade: Moderate
Best time March to April and October to November

Optional

GANGTOK / YUKSOM / TSHOKA / ZAMLIGAM / DZONGRI / CHORITHANG / THANSING / SAMITI LAKE / GOECHALA / THANSING / TSHOKA / YUKSOM / PEMYANGTSE / DARJEELING