With a domestic flight to Darjeeling, our journey will begin exploring Darjeeling with a drive to Tiger Hill to see the dawn upon the Kangchenjunga (8,548 m / 28,044 ft.). We will explore more of the area including Ghoom Monastery and Botanical Gardens. Our trek will then commence from Uttarey and end in Yuksum, en route trekking through scenic valleys, beautiful wild meadows and meandering streams and rivers as well as dense forest. From Yuksum we will make a journey to Gangtok, where we will visit a Buddhist monastery before your flight to Delhi.
Day 1
Arrival in Delhi
Guests will be received at the airport followed by a transfer to a hotel, where you will be staying overnight.
Day 2
Domestic Flight: Delhi to Darjeeling via Bagdogra
Altitude: 2135 m / 7,004 ft.
You will be transferred to a domestic airport where you will fly to Bagdogra. Upon arrival in Bagdogra, we will drive for 3 hours to reach in Darjeeling; built by the Brits in mid-1800, which now attracts many tourists, especially from West Bengal. It is also known for world class tea. You will then check into a hotel and spend the rest of the day at your leisure.
Day 3
Around Darjeeling
It will be a very early start to the day, around4/4.30 am, and we will drive to Tiger Hill to see the dawn upon the Kangchendjunga (8,548 m / 28,044 ft.). You will also be able to see many other Himalayan Peaks before heading back to the hotel for breakfast. Then we will take a ride on the world famous toy train to Ghoom Monastery, which is one of the famous monasteries in Darjeeling. We will also visit the Botanical Gardens, Himalayan Mountaineering Institute and then after lunch a stroll in the tea gardens. In the evening you will be free. Overnight stay in hotel.
Day 4
Journey from Darjeeling to Uttarey
Altitude: 1965 m / 6,446 ft.
In the morning we shall depart for a 9 hour journey to Uttarey. We will drive through picturesque landscapes and villages. Overnight stay in a camp.
Day 5
Trek 1 – Uttarey – Chewa
Trekking Time: 5-6 hours
Altitude: 3170 m / 10,400 ft.
The trek begins with a walk out of Uttarey Village and head towards Chittrey. We will need to negotiate points of river crossing and an uphill walk through semi-tropical forests and flat green pastures of land to reach Chittrey. We will continue the uphill walk until Chewa, where we will come across a police check point for the recording of necessary information. Chewa is located on top of a hill from where the border with Nepal is established. There is a white pillar-like structure which will be able to help you to determine whether we are in Nepal or Sikkim. The rest of the day will be relaxing. Overnight stay in a camp.
Day 6
Trek 2 – Chewa – Dhud
Trekking Time: 6-7 hours
Altitude: 3715 m / 12,188 ft.
The day will consist of both uphill and downhill trekking as we walk along the India-Nepal border called the Falakay Dhara. The vegetation becomes more barren as we proceed but very scenic with the views of the countryside and herds of cows, on both the Nepalese and Indian sides of the border. A clear day will make the view even more beautiful of Darjeeling. The final hours of trekking will be over loose stones before reaching the campsite in Dhud.
Day 7
Trek 3 – Dhud – Sikkim Megu
Trekking Time: 41/2 hours
Altitude: 4045 m / 13,270 ft.
We will rise up to the beautiful morning sunrise on the Kanchendzonga ranges, including Kumbarkarna and Kanchendzonga. It will be a relatively easy day with a steep walk for an hour to reach Kokchey Deorali (Hidden Valley) from where we will descend for an hour to Kokchey. It is a flat walk for an hour and a half to reach in Sikkim Megu, where we will reach a trekkers hut. We will be able to see the Dafey Bhir from here. Overnight stay in camp.
Day 8
Trek 4 – Sikkim Megu – Parey Megu/Garakhet
Trekking Time: 4 hours
Megu – meaning land – is Sikkim Megu on the Indian side and Parey Megu on the Nepal side, where we will head for. The walk is a mixture of both uphill and downhill trekking. Depending on the water conditions, we will camp either at Parey Megu or in Garakhet, where there is a trekkers hut. Overnight stay in a camp.
Day 9
Trek 5 – Parey Megu/Garakhet – Dafey Bhir Meadow
Trekking Time: 7-8 hours
Altitude: 4400 m / 14,435 ft.
The Lam Pokhari lake is en route to Dafey Bhir. We will need to negotiate the twin pass of Dafey Bhir, where we shall make a descent for an hour to reach the beautiful campsite at Gomathang. The final part of the day will be a steep descent through a dense forest of Rhododendrons.
Day 10
Trek 6 – Gomuthang – Baktok
Trekking Time: 5-6 hours
We will take an hours trek to the campsite from where we will take a 5-6 hours excursion to Majur Pokhari lake. The lake is a very sacred lake for the local community. Overnight camp.
Day 11
Trek 7 – Botok –Pangden
Trekking Time: 6-7 hours
Altitude: 3890 m / 12,762 ft.
It is a beautiful walk both uphill and downhill accompanied by the Kangchendjunga mountain ranges. After 3 hours we will come across a small lake at Yangshep. Most of the walk is among barren stony terrain until we reach the campsite, where there is a trekkers hut.
Day 12
Trek 8 – Pangden – Dzongri
Trekking Time: 4-5 hours
Altitude: 3890 m / 12,762 ft.
With an early morning sunrise over the Kangchendjunga mountains, we can view Pangdin best from here. After having some breakfast, we will take a steep descent to negotiate river crossing and continuing an uphill walk. We will then be entering a forest of Rhododendrons and will cross various trekkers’ huts en route. We will reach Dzongri where there is a tourist lodge. Overnight camp.
Day 13
Trek 9 – Dzongri – La Mini
Trekking Time: 7 hours
Altitude: 4050 m / 13,287 ft.
It is a short climb to the ridge below Dzongri top, and then an easy path will lead us through pasturelands. With a steep descent to Parachu, it will then be a gradual walk in the beautiful valley until Thang-Shing meadow. After an hour, we will have reached at the shadow of mount Pandium where shepherds and milkmaids live with their flocks. Overnight camp.
Day 14
Trek 10 – La Mini – Goechela – Thangshing
Trekking Time: 6 hours both ways
Altitude: 4950 m / 16,239 ft.
We will depart at 4 am and will feel the silence of nature, gurgling of meandering streams and whistling of the wind. As the day commences white mountains will appear as huge marble walls, if the weather permits. After the magnificent spectacle, we will then head back to the campsite, with a further short trek to Thangshing.
Day 15
Trek 11 – Thangshing – Tsokha
Trekking Time: 5 hours
With an hours descent on the same trail that lead us to Dzongri, where we will take a junction though forest below the Dzongri trail which merges later into the same route that descend to Tsokha. Overnight stay in camp.
Day 16
Trek 12 – Tsokha – Yuksum
Trekking Time: 51/2 hours
It is a steep descent for 11/2 hours until the river bank where it will then be an easy trail that will lead us high over the valley floor to Yuksum. Overnight stay in a camp or lodge.
Day 17
Journey from Yuksum to Gangtok
An arranged vehicle will drive us to Gangtok – capital of Sikkim – where we shall visit the town and spend the night in a hotel.
Day 18
Around Gangtok
You will be able to visit the Lioyd Botanical Garden which consists of a wide range of flora, as well as many monasteries including Enchey Monastery of Nyngmapa, Order and Rumtek Monastery (Dharma Chakra Centre) which is 24 km from Gangtok. The centre houses some of the world’s most unique religious scriptures and religious objects.
Day 19
Domestic Flight: Gangtok – Delhi
You will depart to Bagdogra and take a domestic flight to Delhi. Upon arrival in Delhi, you will be transferred to a hotel and spend the rest of the day at your leisure. Overnight stay in a hotel.
Day 20
Flight Departure: Delhi
You will be able to have half the day of sightseeing. In the evening you will then be transferred to the Indira Gandhi International Airport where you will depart to your onward destination.
