Day
to Day Itinerary |
| Day
- 01 |
Arrive Delhi, where you will
be met and transfered to your hotel. (Hotel B&B) |
| Day
- 02 |
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
- 03 |
Darjeeling - Pemayangtse
(2080 m) in 5 h.
We visit Pemayangtse monastery, one of the oldest and most impressive
gompas in Sikkim. |
| Day
- 04 |
Pemayangtse –
Uttarey (1960) in 5 h.
Jeep ride to Uttarey, small village located near the Nepali
border. |
| Day
- 05 |
Uttarey - Chewabhanjang
(3200m) in 5 h.
Today is a steady climb up as we trek towards the international
border of Sikkim and Nepal. We follow a good trail, heading
through dense rhododendron forest. |
| Day
- 06 |
Chewabhanjang - Dhor
(3750 m) in 7 h.
After a steep climb through the rhododendron forest, the path
switches between Nepal and Sikkim with spectacular views down
either side of the ridge. It is obvious why the trail clings
to the ridge top, there is simply no way down on either side,
so dense is the rhododendron forest! |
| Day
- 07 |
Dhor - Paharey Megu
(3900m) in 5 h.
Spectacular views of the mountains ahead. We follow the ridge
on a good path which once again switches from side to side along
the ridge with many short ascents and descents. Camp on open
grazing slopes. |
| Day
- 08 |
Paharey Megu - Camp
before Daphe Pass (4100 m) in 5 h.
Steady climb on the west side of the ridge. The terrain becomes
more open as we follow a wide valley, turning east, in the direction
of a large waterfall. Camp by the holy lakes on the west side
of the pass. |
| Day
- 09 |
Camp before Daphe Pass
- Daphe Pass (4450 m) - Gomathang (3750 m) in 5 h.
Today is one of the most beautiful walks of the trek, as we
cross a high mountain pass, offering spectacular views to the
north, of the high mountains of Sikkim, including Kangchenjunga
(8585m.), Kabru (7317m.) and Pandim (6691m.). We follow at first
an easy trail which skirts the edge of two lakes, surrounded
by prayer flags, then a steep zig-zag path that climbs to the
pass. The walk down to the valley floor follows a good trail
across open slopes at first and then down through the pine and
juniper forest. |
| Day
- 10 |
Gomathang - Panding (4200 m)
in 6 h.
Up and down through the rhododendron forest. After Yangshep
(3900 m) we follow a steep path up to Panding. |
| Day
- 11 |
Panding – Dzongri
(4020m) in 5h.
We head towards the north-east, descending at first to a river
we cross on a plank bridge. Then we start the climb to Dzongri
where we meet the original "Sikkim and Kanchenjunga trek"
itinerary. |
| Day
- 12 |
Dzongri – Thansing
(3930m) in 4h.
We descend through rhododendron forest towards the the glacial
Prek river. We establish our campsite on the grassy pastures
of Thansing. The southern ridge of Kanchenjunga and the Onglakhing
glacier are visible directly ahead and there are close-up views
of Pandim. |
| Day
- 13 |
Thansing – 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
- 14 |
Samity Lake –
Gocha La (4940m) – Thansing 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
- 15 |
Thansing – Lam
Pokhari (4230m) in 5h.
After a steep descent, we climb through alpine areas and pass
by tiny lakes. |
| Day
- 16 |
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
- 17 |
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
- 18 |
Labdang – Tashiding
(1740m) in 5h.
An easy walk, in an atmosphere becoming more humid and heavier
as we descend. |
| Day
- 19 |
Tashiding – Martam
by car (4h).
We visit the Tashiding monastery, one of the most isolated in
Sikkim, perched on the top of a hill set between two rivers. |
| Day
- 20 |
Martam – Gangtok
by car (1h).
En route we visit Rumtek monastery, reputed for its religious
Tibetan art. Visitors are welcome to attend prayers. Afternoon
at leisure in Gangtok. |
| Day
- 21 |
Gangtok – Bagdogra
(by car) – Delhi (by plane). (Hotel B&B) |
| Day
- 22 |
At leisure in Delhi.
Safety day for your international flight. (Hotel B&B) |
| Day
- 23 |
Transfer to airport
and fly back home. |