TREK IN THE SIKKIM REGION OF INDIA TRAVELING VIA KATHMANDU

Day 01

Kathmandu(KTM) Arrival in Kathmandu is generally just past noon. After meeting our Kathmandu crew we will head for the heart of this unique spiritual city. Our lodging will be just as unique as we stay for two nights at the Kantipur Temple House, a small, comfortable, secluded hotel built with the typical architectural blend of an ethnic Newari Temple, yet located in the heart of the cultural center of buty Kathmandu. This will be a welcome day of rest after a long journey

Day 02

Kathmandu: Tour City
An opportunity to enjoy the city of Kathmandu. A guided tour will take you to ancient historic Baktapur; give you a taste of Tibetan culture at Bodnath monastery, then on to wandering through the tourist sector of Thamel. We'll have dinner as a “crew” in Kathmandu.

Day 03

KTM - Bhadrapur - Darjeeling
Fly from KTM to Bhadrapur (50-minute flight). Drive to Kakadvitta (border with Sikkim, 1-hour drive). Drive by jeep to Darjeeling (4-hour drive) through the lush lowland hill country of West Bengal. Arrive at Hotel Dekeling in Darjeeling in time for dinner.

Day 04

Darjeeling: Sightseeing
We'll take an early morning tour to Tiger Hills to view sunrise over Kangchenjunga Peak. Then visit Ghoom Monastery, Batasia Loop, Japanese Temple, Lalkothi, and the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute and Museum. Tea and carpet shopping will round out a full day of sight seeing.

Day 05

Darjeeling - Yuksom
After breakfast a breath-taking drive begins. Drive by jeep through Rangit River Valley as we enter the State of Sikkim. It's a five-hour drive through a land of abundance, beauty and cultural adventures to our overnight lodging at Yuksom, the site of our trek departure, in time for dinner.

Day 06

Yuksom: Rest & Sight Seeing
Breakfast and then off to charming Dubdi Gompa (established in 1701), a 1-hour walk from our hotel. The balance of the day is a day for resting. Perhaps a nice Tongba with dinner will finish this day.

Day 07

Yuksom - Tsoka
Our first day of trekking starts early. Up we go this day for a 6 to 7 hour trek through lush green meadows and conifer forests, climbing continuously to Tsoka at about 3050 meters.

Day 08

Tsoka – Rest Day
Tsoka is a small mountain settlement with a few houses, a monastery and is the last village on the trek route. We need a day of acclimatization here for the increased altitude. We will do a short day hike to Phedam for glorious views of Sikkim. Then we will return to Tsoka for afternoon tea, dinner and rest.

Day 09

Tsoka - Dzongri
Trekking starts early this day. We have about 10 kilometers to cover over about 5-6 hours. Vertical gain is to 4030 meters. The vegetation changes to stunted bushes of rhododendron and miniature pine trees resembling bonsais as you gain altitude to Dzongri. Dinner and overnight at Dzongri, a small trekker's settlement with only 2 trekkers huts in a small protected valley.

Day 10

Dzongri - Thangshing
During this 5-6 hour day of trekking you lose altitude during the first half-day and steadily regain it as you walk along the river Prekchu, a tributary of the Rangeet, before we reach our camping site near Thangshing.

Day 11

Thangshing - Sumethang
We won’t travel a great distance today but the altitude will make just a few short hours of trekking seem long. We will set out early to reach our destination – Sumethang - at 4440 meters. The trekkers hut here is on a small piece of flat land no larger than two tennis courts surrounded by imposing mountains on all sides. Here we have a backdrop of a pristine blue water lake of glacial origin.

Day 12

Sumethang - Goecha La - Sumethang - Thangshing
On this very special day, we will start before sun-up. Our headlamps will light our way in the beginning toward the Goecha La (Pass) at 4940 meters. Our objective will be superb views of the Kangchenjunga Massif. After Sun up, warming up, and hopefully some great photo opportunities of not only Kanchenjunga, but Kabru and Rathong peaks as well, we will descend to camp, pack up, and move on down to Thangshing.

Day 13

Thangshing - Tsoka
We will descend a shorter route back to Tsoka through dense forests and rest there for the night. This day is perhaps our finest day of walking amongst flowering plants, whole mountainsides of Rhododendrons, singing birds, vivid butterflies, bamboo forests, waterfalls and all framed by the snowy peaks of the Himalayas.

Day 14

Tsoka - Yuksom
We will repeat day 7 in reverse, going downhill. Our increased pace should give us plenty of time to rest upon return, along with a hot shower prior to dinner and Tongba at our hotel. This evening is our opportunity to treat our crew to dinner and dancing, Nepali style, on the veranda of our Hotel. I promise a great party.

Day 15

Yuksom - Kalimpong
It's off our feet into the Jeep for a day (2-3 hours) of driving to Geyzing. Pemayangtse Monastery is our mid-day visitation site. This monastery is one of Sikkim's oldest. Here we can visit “Heaven.” You will see what I mean. Then we'll go on to Kalimpong and my favorite place to stay in Sikkim. “The Orchid Retreat” is simply a visit to the second “Heavenly place” in a single day. Wonderful hosts, great food, peace and solitude and all this amongst some of the worlds finest and most cherished Orchids growing next to your own quaint bungalow.

Day 16

Kalimpong
Sightseeing in Kalimpong. Tharpa Choeling Gompa, flower nurseries and hopefully Dr. Graham’s Home (actually a wonderful and very old and large boarding school for Sikkim’s children), along with simply a day of rest at the Orchid Retreat.

Day 17

Kalimpong - Bhadrapur - Kathmandu
Drive to Bhadrapur is about 5 hours. A late afternoon flight takes us back to Kathmandu by evening.

Day 18

Kathmandu
Shopping and resting. Our last full day in Kathmandu will be a day of leisure. Do your last minute shopping or rest up before your trip home, the choice is yours. We'll have a crew party this evening to celebrate our trek.

Day 19

Kathmandu -  fly out
Mid-day flights put you on your way home.