Sikkim Kanchenjunga

Sikkim Kanchenjunga trek
 

Trip at a Glance
Grade                     : Moderate to Challenging
Activities               : Trekking/ Sightseeing
Trip duration         : 19 days (Including 9 days trek)
Accommodations: Hotels 11 Nights/ Camp 8 Nights   

Journey Highlights
  • In Delhi; Rack Shaw ride around Chandni Chock
  • Flight; Delhi/ Bagdogra/ Delhi
  • Darjeeling is well known for tea garden 
  • Trekking in Sikkim Kanchenjunga 
  • Gangtok the capital of Sikkim

Tour Inclusions
  • In Delhi; share accommodations with breakfast.
  • Gear package; including, sleeping bag and mattress
  • All the internal transport by private vehicle and flights
  • Guides and crew, including cook and assistants
  • All meals while outside Delhi
 
Tour Exclusions
  • Travel insurance
  • Single accommodation (available on request)
  • Tipping
 
Meals: B= Breakfast, L= Lunch, D= Dinner


Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Joins in Delhi
On arrival in Delhi you will be transferred to your hotel.
 
Day 2 In Delhi
We will spend the day taking in the many highlights of Delhi comprises of conspicuously contrasting Old and New Delhi. Old Delhi was the capital of Muslim India between the 12th and 19th centuries and one can find mosques, monuments and forts related to this Muslim history. New Delhi is the imperial city created as India capital by the British, intricately planned and comprises of imposing buildings displaying various modern styles of architecture. This morning after breakfast we visit the Red Fort build by Shah Jahan and later we are doing Rack Shaw ride around Chandni Chock through Narrow Street. We also visit Humayun Tomb, it is known to have inspired the Taj Mahal and many later Mughal tombs.
(B)
 
Day 3 Fly Delhi to Bagdogra & drive to Darjeeling/ 4hrs
Today we fly to Bagdogra and after we drive to "Queen of the Hills" Darjeeling a town in the Indian state of West Bengal in the Shiwalik Hills. A charming journey, through Darjeeling tea plantations was setup by British East India Company and tiny villages takes us to Darjeeling. On the way you see heritage well known Darjeeling toy train.
(B, L, D)
 
Day 4 In Darjeeling 2130 meter
Darjeeling is set on the top of a wooded ridge commanding views both to the plains and to the high mountains including Kanchenjunga. During the day we will organise sightseeing to the Tibetan Refugee Centre and also to the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute. We also visit one of the tea plantations which was once started by Dr Campbell brought China tea seeds in 1841 from Kumaon region and started to grow tea on an experimental basis near his residence at Beech wood, Darjeeling. Later we explore the local bazaars and appreciate the rich variety of peoples including Sherpa, Tibetans and Bengali who have made Darjeeling their home.
(B, L, D)
 
Day 5 Drives to Pemayangtse 2080 meter/ 5hrs
We visit Pemayangtse monastery, one of the oldest and most impressive monastery in Sikkim.
(B, L, D)
 
Day 6 Drives to Yuksom 1760 meter
We drive towards the Yuksom first capital of Sikkim from were we are going to start our trekking.
(B, L, D)
 
Day 7 Commence trek to Bhakim 2750 meter/ 6-7hrs
From Yuksum we engage either porters or yak herder to carry our loads on the trail. We follow a well marked forest trail that winds high above the Rathong River. The trail winds through forests of conifer and oaks, mosses and ferns and past frequent side streams that tumble down the hillside. After four to five hours the trail crosses a substantial bridge just upstream of the confluence of the Rathong River and the Prek River. From the bridge it is a further one hour ascent to the small settlement of Bhakim, where a single Lepcha family live. Although there is a Rest House in Bhakim, we normally camp in the forest immediately below the village.
(B, L, D)
 
Day 8 Trek to Pethang 3700 meter/ 5-6hrs
From Bhakim we ascend the meadows above Bakhim before reaching the village Tsoska. Tibetan refugees who were granted this tract of land by the Sikkim government founded the village about a generation ago. From Tsoska the trail ascends steeply through magnificent rhododendron forest to the grazing meadow at Pethang a short stage but necessary for acclimatisation, before continuing to Dzongri.
(B, L, D)
 
Day 9 Trek to Dzongri 4200 meter/ 3hrs
From Pethang an early start is imperative. The trail ascends steeply for one hour before we gain our first uninterrupted views of the peak of Kanchenjunga 8586 meters and Pandim 6691 meter. From the vantage point it is a further two to three km across the open meadows to the camp at Dzongri.
(B, L, D)
 
Day 10 At Dzongri 4200 meter
In the early morning we climb the nearby Dzongri Hill locally known as Dabla-sgang for sunrise views over Kanchenjunga 8586m. Returning to camp we trek for one to two hours to the Dzongrila 4550m with views towards Kokthang, Rathong and Kabru.
(B, L, D)
 
Day 11 Trek to Thangsing 3930 meter/ 5-6hrs
From Dzongri the trek heads towards Pandim and the Prek valley. After crossing the meadows the trail descends steeply though the rhododendron forests to the Prek River, before a short tiring ascent up through the river boulders to the wooden bridge. From here it is a further one hour up valley to the camp at Thangsing.
(B, L, D)
 
Day 12 Trek to Gochala 4940 meter
We have to leave quite early this morning, as fog and clouds descend on the pass shortly after sunrise along the side of the glacial waters of Samiti Lake 4200m, the scared source of the Prek River An early start is imperative to reach the Guicha La before it is shrouded in cloud and mist. Ringed by prayer flags, the lake reflects Forked Peak, Kabru North, Gocha Peak and other snow-capped peaks. The track to Gochala climbs steeply through moraines. From the pass, ringed with colorful prayer flags, we can see Kanchenjunga and beyond that, the Talung glacier. The ascent to the pass is gradual although there are tiring sections as the trail negotiates the boulder fields of the Onglakhing Glacier just below the pass. From the Gochala there are uninterrupted views of the huge East Ridge of Kanchenjunga and the nearby Gochala-Peak 6127m. It takes about three to four hours to descend past Samiti Lake to our camp at Thangsing.
(B, L, D)
 
Day 13 In Thangsing 3930 meter
today we have an optional day to explore around camp or rest in Thangsing.
(B, L, D)
 
Day 14 Trek to Tsokha 3050 meter/ 6-7 hrs
From Thangsing we trek back to the Prek River and then divert along a remote trail that leads direct to Pethang meadow. En route we can spend time appreciating the variety of rhododendrons one of the finest rhododendron forests in the Eastern Himalaya. From Pethang we can continue on down to Tsokha village 3 for overnight.
(B, L, D)
 
Day 15 Trek to Yuksum 5-6 hrs
Our final days trek is an easy one as we descend past Bhakim en-route to Yuksum village.
(B, L, D)
 
Day 16 Drive to Gangtok
We drive towards east to Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim and during the day we pass number of villages and town along the road.
(B, L, D)
 
Day 17 In Gangtok 1650 meter
Today we visit Rumtek Monastery, belongs to Karma Kargut school or order and Tibetology library where we see the display of Thangka, books etc.
(B, L, D)
 
Day 18 Drive to Kalingpong 1250 meter
Today we drive to Kalingpong where we visit monastery, church, garden and Kalingpong is summer resident of British.
(B, L, D)
 
Day 19 Drive to Bagdogra and fly to Delhi
We drive to Bagdogra airport to catch flight, to Delhi. (trip Concludes)
(B)