Beginning in Uttarey, after a domestic flight from Delhi to Bagdogra, we will proceed through many villages crossing over several high passes, the highest pass of our trek being Danphe Bhir La at an altitude of 4530 m (14,862 ft.). En route you will be able to witness magnificent sights of various famous Himalayan peaks, two in particular being Everest and Kangchenjunga, as well as trekking through dense forests, gorges and making camp next to beautiful streams. We end our trek in Yuksum, where you will take a flight from Bagdogra to Delhi, which brings us to the end of our journey.
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 Bagdogra, drive to Gangtok
You will be transferred to a domestic airport where you will fly to Bagdogra. Upon arrival in Bagdogra, you will be driven to Gangtok. You will then check into a hotel and spend the rest of the day at your leisure. Overnight stay in hotel.
Day 3
Journey from Gangtok to Uttarey
Travelling Time: 6 hours
Altitude: 2100 m / 6,889 ft.
With an early departure from Gangtok, we will depart by jeep to the starting point of our trek – West Sikkim. We will drive through winding roads across valleys and over hill that are clad with a variety of vegetation. We will the descend to cross the wild Rangeet River before climbing steeply up to Pemayangtse; perched dramatically on an airy ridge, with a scenic view of Himalayan Peaks ahead. We will cross some bridges before reaching in Uttarey. Overnight stay in a lodge.
Day 4
Trek 1 – Uttarey – Chiwa Bhanjyang
Trekking Time: 6 hours
Altitude: 3100 m / 10,170 ft.
The first day of trekking is an easy trail that rises gently through a rainforest, until a final steep ascent for the last couple of hours that will bring us to the Nepalese border. Overnight stay in a camp.
Day 5
Around Chiwa Bhanjyang
The day will be spent taking a hike to the nearby Singalila Peak (3500 m / 11,482 ft.) will give you the chance to acclimatise yourself, as well as see some spectacular views.
Day 6
Trek 2 – Chiwa Bhanjyang – Dhor
Trekking Time: 7 hours
Altitude: 3800 m / 12,467 ft.
A gentle uphill traverse through forest and then over a more exposed hillside brings us to prayer flags adorning our first pass and views of distant mountains. As we gradually gain height we will appreciate the previous day’s acclimatisation. The occasional Yak herder’s hut is the only sign of habitation as we look down far below to the rice fields and cardamom plantations. Our camp is in a remote and sheltered hollow below the ridge.
Day 7
Trek 3 – Dhor – Pare Megu
Trekking Tiime: 7 hours
Altitude: 3800 m / 12,467 ft.
Rising just before dawn, a five-minute walk onto the ridge may reveal the spectacular sight of sunrise on both Everest and Khangchendzonga. Throughout the day we descend and climb, maintaining a steady height, spiralling from one side of the ridge to the other until a rough steep ascent takes us across a pass. Beyond, the trail wends its way steadily through rhododendrons and past several Hindu shrines where a second easier pass drops down to our camp close to a shepherd’s summer settlement.
Day 8
Trek 4 – Pare Megu – Lam Pokhari
Trekking Time: 5 hours
Altitude: 4300 m / 14,107 ft.
The trek carries on a good trail through woods until we begin a steady rise up a broad valley where we catch our first closer view of the entire Kabru range dominated by Mount Pandim (6691 m / 21,951 ft.). A further 2 hour ascent will get us to our camp with Everest and a host of other Khumbu giants dominating the distant skyline. The afternoon will be spent resting and acclimatising for the following day’s trek.
Day 9
Trek 5 – Lam Pokhari – Gomathang
Trekking Time: 6 hours
Altitude: 3900 m / 12,795 ft.
The past two days have been spent walking in Nepal and on this day we will pass the sacred lake of Lam Pokhari, which marks our entry back into Sikkim. A little snow underfoot can be expected as we climb to our first pass, the Danphe Bhir La at 4530 m / 14,862 ft., the Pass of the Pheasant. From here it is possible to see the whole of Sikkim with the view stretching out well into Tibet and Bhutan. A further hour’s contouring and a small ascent reveals the Kag Bhir La (the Pass of the Crow) where we may be lucky enough to view some Himalayan peaks including Khangchendzonga. After, we must head downhill making a steep descent to our riverside camp.
Day 10
Trek 6 – Gomathang – Tikip Chu
Trekking Time: 8 hours
Altitude: 3850 m / 12,631 ft.
We will leave camp and climb through forests of sweet smelling silver fir and rhododendrons. Look out for the brightly coloured Danphe birds (Impeyan Pheasant), which nest in the high crags around the Kamsey La, 4200 m / 13,779 ft. As we drop down into the meadows of Kokling, we are already looking up at our next pass of 4300 m / 14,107 ft. that we reach with a steady ascent up a steep crag to a skyline dominated by the striking pinnacles and icy cliffs of Kanchenjunga. Once again we end the day’s hike with a steep descent to our campsite by the Tikip Chu, which has its source high on the Rathong Mountains (6679 m / 21,912 ft.).
Day 11
Trek 7 – Tikip Chu - Dzongri
Trekking Time: 3 hours
Altitude: 4030 m / 13,221 ft.
Today our route joins the regular trail up to the Goecha La. A steady climb through ancient fir forest, juniper and rhododendrons gradually opens out to the summer pastures of Dzongri. Overnight camp.
Day 12
Trek 8 – Dzongri – Lamuney
Trekking Time: 6 hours
Altitude: 4200 m / 13,779 ft.
We will be heading downhill to Kokchulang, then moving easily up the valley passing the busy trekkers campsite of Thangsing to our own riverside camp, which is just a short distance below the Samiti Lake.
Day 13
Trek 9 – Lamuney – Zemathang
Trekking Time: 4 hours
Altitude: 4650 m / 15,255 ft.
We walk steeply uphill to the crest of the ridge behind the lake and emerge dramatically into a harsher world of higher Himalayan scenery. In the foreground glaciers and snowfields suddenly look accessible and behind, the gigantic snow peaks loom close, especially on nearby Mt. Pandim, soaring over our heads. We move on more easily through this spectacular alpine terrain into our final high camp nestled in a sheltered green hollow, a little below the Goecha La.
Day 14
Trek 10 – Zemathang-Goecha – La-Thangshing
Trekking Time: 10 hours
Altitude: 3800 m / 12,467 ft.
We will head for the Goecha La (The Locked Gate), which lies at almost 4 940 m / 16,207 ft. Around us is an awe-inspiring Himalayan landscape of tumbling glaciers, pinnacle ridges and soaring peaks dominated by the mighty bulk of Khangchendzonga towering above. We will return to our high camp for a welcome breakfast. Thereafter, we head down to Thangshing where the air feels wonderfully rich.
Day 15
Trek 11 – Thangshing – Tsokha
Trekking Time: 5 hours
Altitude: 3000 m / 9,842 ft.
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 hotel.
Day 17
Domestic Flight: Yuksam – Bagdogra – Delhi
With an early morning drive to Bagdogra, you will catch a flight from a domestic airport to Delhi. Upon arrival in Delhi, you will be transferred to a hotel. Overnight stay in hotel.
Day 18
Flight Departure: Delhi
You will have the morning free to do what you wish before being transferred to the Indira Gandhi International Airport where you will depart to your onward destination.
