SIKKIM AND KANCHENJUNGA TREK

Day 01: Delhi – Bagdogra (by plane) – Darjeeling (2130m) by car.

A 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.

Day 02: Visit Darjeeling.

We could take an early trip to Tiger Hill to see the sunrise. Afterwards we visit the famous Ghoom monastery that enshrines an image of the Maitreya Buddha (the coming Buddha). Later on we can visit the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute and tea plantations.

Day 03 :Darjeeling – Yuksam (1760m) in 7h.

En route, we visit the Pemayangtse monastery, perched at 2800m, and one of the oldest and most impressive gompas in Sikkim.

Day 04: Yuksam - Tsoska (3030m) in 6h.

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.

Day 05:Tsoska – Dzongri (4020m) in 5h.

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 (400 species have been listed so far). After 300m, we follow the ridge to Dzongri, a pasture area for Yuksam yaks from April to October.

Day 06 :Acclimatising

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. Or 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.

Day 07: Dzongri – Thangshing (3930m) in 4h.

We descend through rhododendron forest towards the 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.

Day 08:Thangshing – Samity Lake (4200m) in 3h.

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.

Day 9 :Samity Lake – Gocha La (4940m) – Thangshing in 7h.

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.

Day 10: Thangshing – Lam Pokhari (4230m) in 5h.

After a steep descent, we climb through alpine areas and pass by tiny lakes.

Day 11: Lam Pokhari – Kasturi La (4500m) – Kasturi Odar (3500m) in 6h.

A steep ascent leads to the pass, from where wedescend through a luxuriant tropical forest.

Day 12: Kasturi Odar – Labdang (2000m) in 6h.

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 13 :Labdang – Tashiding (1740m) in 5h.

An easy walk, in an atmosphere becoming more humid and heavier as we descend.

Day 14:Tashiding – Martam by car (4h).

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.

Day 15: Martam – Gangtok by car (1h).

We visit Rumtek monastery, reputed for its religious Tibetan art. Visitors are welcome to attend prayers.

Day 16:Visit Gangtok

We will enjoy a visit 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 collection of thankas and religious works in the world.

Day 17: Gangtok – Bagdogra

Drive to your final destination.