| Duration: 13 Nights and 14 Days
Highest Altitude: 4,940m
Best Time To Trek: October To Mid December
Day 1: Arrive Bhadrapur
and transfer to Kakarbhitta to Pemayangste
7-8 Hours drive. O/N hotel
Day 2: Pemayangste - Yuksom
It is 43-km drive. After visiting the Pemayangtse
monastery, one of the oldest in Sikkim,
transfer to Yuksam which gives glimpses
of Sikkimese life and provides a good acclimatization
for the next few days. Passing through terraced
fields of rice, barley and corn, the track
is dotted with Nepalese, Shepra and Lepcha
huts. Crossing first, the Rimbi 'Chu', gets
to the turbulent mountainous streams of
Sikkim. A tableland of barley, Yoksum provides
beautiful vistas of mini lakes with the
Himalayan background. O/N camp.
Day 3: Yuksam - Bakhim (2,750m
or 9,000 ft)
The trail now runs through wood hills abounding
in flora and fauna going, as it does, though
moss-laden forests of Oak, Spruce, Chestnut,
Fir, Pines, Giant Magnolias and Rhododendrn
a botanists' paradise. Not to be outdone,
the naturalist's can view hundreds of varieties
of exotic of birds, butterflies and orchids.
It takes six hours before the Bakhim forest
bungalow is reached for the night. O/N camp
Day 4: Bakhim- Phedang (3550m)
8-km and 5 hours away, each step to Phedang.
O/N camp
Day 5: Phedang-Thangsing (3,930m
or 12,467 ft)
15-km from Phedang, the four hours' trek
leads through meadows and valleys down the
burrows leads into the most beautiful valley
of all situated at the base Joponu peak.
To reach the camping grounds dwarfed in
the giant valley, one crosses a wooden bridge
over the stream under the watchful even
of majestic Pandim.
Day 6: Thangsing-Samiti Lake (4,250m)
Situated at the base of mighty Pandim, Samiti
Lake is 6-km from Thangsing and takes 3
hours to trek. O/N camp
Day 7: Samiti-Goecha La (4,940m)
- Thangsing
Still higher and steeper, is the Goecha
(also spelt as Guicha) pass about 8-9 kms
away but taking a good three hours to cover.
This is the northernmost and highest point
of the trek. Return to Samiti and after
lunch trek back to Thangsing. O/N camp
Day 8: Thansing - Dzongri (4030m)
Trek to Dzongro about 9 kms 5-6 hrs walk
with the steep climb from Kokchurung. O/N
camp
Day 9: Dzongro to Bikbari (3950m)
Trek to Bikbari about 4 hrs. Thenexcursion
to the base camp of the Himalayan Mountaineering
Institute of Darjeeling, world famous as
a centre for training would be mountaineers.
Splendid views of the peaks, Frey, Koktang,
Kabru, Ratong, Chandra Peak and the Kabru
Dome are obtained from here. En route one
passes the forbidden Kabur Rock, which none
is allowed to climb. From Chowrithang a
two-hour walk along the glacier leads to
the Houe-Chu Lake, the special feature of
which is its accumulated milky water. Return
back to Bikbari. O/N camp
Day 10: Bikbari-Dzongri-Bakhim
Trek back to Bakhim via Dzongri and Tshoka
about 8-9 hrs. O/N camp
Day 11: Bakhim -Yuksam
A leisurely walk of about 5 hours bring
one back to Yoksum. O/N hotel
Day 12: Yuksam-Tashiding (1,470m
or 4,822 ft)
A pleasant 6-7 hour steady walk or 2 hrs
drive beautiful trail through fields and
Cardamom groves, giant bamboos and orange
gardens leads to the Tashiding monastery
which crowns the hill-top. One can camp
near the monastery. O/N camp or lodge
Day 13: Tashiding - Legship (520m)
- Darjeeling
this is the last day and a 4 hour walk 0r
about 1.5 hrs drive down hill all the way
brings the trekker to the village of Legship
along the Rangeet valley ending the delightful
'Pilgrimage Trek' Transfer to Darjelling
about 4 hrs drive. O/N hotel
Day 14: Darjelling to
Silguri(Bagdora) (4 hours for drive ) -
to Delhi fly or Darjelling ot Bhadrapur
drive 6 Hours and fly to Kathmandu)
Cost includes:
Land transfers as per the above itinerary
with escort in a non a/c jeep, hotel accommodation
(standard category) as per the program in
Darjeeling & Sikkim on twin sharing
basis on full board, guided sightseeings,
all trek arrangements on full board on twin
sharing tented accommodation, trek guide,
permits, cook, kitchen boys, 2 men sleeping
tent, dinning tent, toilet tent, carry mat,
foam mat, animals/porters, insurance
of local staff, wild life entrance and environmental
fee.
Cost does not include:
Expenses of personal nature like personal
clothing, sleeping bags, beverages, telephone
calls, laundry, personal insurance, extra
expenses due to accidents/natural calamities,
air fares, airport taxes, camera equipment
fee, toy train ride in Darjeeling, etc.
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