Singalila Range Trek

Duration        : 04 nights / 05 days
No. of PAX    : 03
Travel Date   : Month of April 2007

Day 01: WELCOME Bagdogra Airport / New Jalpaiguri railway station. Arrive at Bagdogra Airport / New Jalpaiguri Railway Station & transfer to Maneybhanjyang by surface transport. After lunch your trek begins with a gradual ascent to Chitray, where we stop for tea-snacks. Visit a small Sherpa monastery while lunch is being prepared. After lunch the trail ascends all the way to Meghma, 2,600 m., a Nepali village amidst a forest of rhododendron trees and bamboo groves. Here one can also get to see some fine specimens of Himalayan cobra lilies, orchids and daphne plants. If the caretaker is around, visit the Hoshel Dechenling Gompa, a Nyingmapa monastery built in 1953, now supported by the local Tamang community. A magnificent view of Kanchenjunga awaits you. From here the trail ascends to Tonglu (meaning the hill of fire). Tonglu, at 3070 m. overlooks the entire Darjeeling hills and offers another breathtaking view of the Kanchenjunga range including that of Darjeeling, Kurseong and Sukhia Pokhari towards the south. Overnight stay at Tonglu.

Day 02: Kalo Pokhari: 3,000 m. Rise early today for sunrise view. After breakfast descend towards Tumling, a Gurung village and then ascent for about two kilometers towards the viewpoint. After spending some time here, head on the trail that drops to Gairibas, 2,800 m., your lunch spot. There is a forest bunglow in this village. After lunch the trail ascends all the way through dwarf rhododendron forest to Kalopokhari, meaning black lake. This route is also rich in Primulae species, Impatients falcifer, Owl-eyed Impatiens, Sorbus, Pyrus, Enkaithus and Roscoea alpina. Your camp will be set beside the dark crystaline waters of Kalo Pokhari lake shimmering in the breeze and surrounded by alpine trees with the mountains looming across the horizon.

Day 03: Sandakphu: 3,636 m. Today’s trail ascends to Sandhakphu through magnolia, blue pine and rhododendron forest. Sandhakphu is the highest point in this trek and the reward for all the trudging culminates in a magnificent panorama of the eastern Himalayas of Nepal and Sikkim, from Everest in the east all the way to to Jhomolhari in Bhutan.

After lunch we take an excursion around Sandhakphu, which is a veritable botanists’ paradise. Apart from the different varieties of rhododendrons, plants like Streptous simplex, Trilidium govanianum, Primula rotundifolia, Fritillaria cirrhosa, Llydia and other flora like Anemone and Iris can be found here.

Day 04: Rimbick: Today the long trail descends through forests and villages leading to your lunch spot at Srikhola. This stretch is well known for its orchids and birds. After lunch we have an easy ascent through forest trails and terraced fields to Rimbick, 2,280 m., the main village of this area. Spend some time in the market and head towards Gumba Danda to camp. Stay overnight at Rimbick.

Day 05: Rimbick-Darjeeling-New Jal Paiguri: After breakfast drive to New Jalpaiguri railway station via Darjeeling for you next destination.

Green Lake & Yumesamdong Trek

DAY 01: Bagdogra to Gangtok. Pick up at airport and transfer to Gangtok. (125 kms) 5 hrs drive.

DAY 02 : Gangtok to Lachen (2728 m) 123 kms, 6 hrs drive by jeep, passing through Tashi View Point, Kavi Lungtsok, Phodong Monastery, Mangan & Chungthang. Overnight at Lachen.

DAY 03: Lachen to Tallem. Your trek starts early in the morning to Tallem. (3468 m) 13 kms. Lunch at Tallem and free for sightseeing where the Lhonak Chu from the north meets Zemu Chu.

DAY 04: Tallem to Jakthang. Trek from Tallem to Jakthang (3176 m) 4-5 hrs trek. This route is a walk in the paradise passing through at least twenty different kinds of Rhododendron varying in colours from white to the deepest red, and in height from trees of 6m to scrubs of not more than a foot.

DAY 05: Jakthang to Yabuk. The walk from Jakthang to Yabuk (3978 m) takes about 4hrs.You have to literally wade through bushes at many places and a small bridge over Thomphyak Chu.

DAY 06: Yabuk to Yabuk to Rest Camp. Trek from Yabuk to rest camp (4570 m) takes about 5hrs passing through long moraine fields, looking like deserts.

Day 07: Rest Camp to Green Lake. The walk from Yabuk to Green Lake (4935 m) is about 6hrs. If the weather is clear you will be seeing Mt. Siniolchu (6887 m) tiltiling against the sky lifting its silver spar. The most beautiful peak in the world.

DAY 08: Green lake/Sightseeing above 600mt. From Green Lake 4 hrs walk above 600mt where you will be rewarded with the grand panorama of the Mt. Khangchendzonga divide & distant Chomalhari in Bhutan.

DAY 09: Above 600mt to Zemu Glacier. Descend to the bed of Zemu Glacier with many small Green Lakes.

DAY 10: Zemu Glacier to Rest Camp. The back journey begins to Rest Camp.

DAY 11: Rest Camp to Thieulacha (5212 m). Rest Camp to Thieulacha is quite steeply zigzag with giant Rhubarbs Rheum Nobile and of thick scrubs of Juniper.

DAY 12: Thieulacha to Langbo. Trek from Thieulacha to Langbo is about 5hrs walk.

DAY 13: Langbo to Muguthang. Trek to Muguthang (4520 m) you have to cross Tablhe Plateau which the flats look pale and the grey and the slopes below the snow are brown and yellow.

DAY 14: Muguthang to Chopta. Trek from Muguthang to Chopta (3920 m) is steep, crossing Charub Chu and Lugnak La. Reaching Chopta where you can see meandering river.

DAY 15: Chopta to Sebu. Trek from Chopta to Sebu la (5352 m) is about 5hrs walk passing through Thangu (small village town) and climbing up gently till Phalung, where Yak race has been done in winters. (Tibetan New Year & Lassur Chu).

DAY 16: Sebu La to Yumesamdong. Trek to Yumesamdong (4824 m) 5-6 hrs walk seeing the sightseeing of Sebu Chu, Waterfalls & the Hot Spring of Yumesamdong.

DAY 17: Yumesamdong to Yumthang. Your trek starts descending to Yumthang (3485 m) seeing the views of Donkya Ri (6190 m) and Phuhun Ri (7125 m).

DAY 18: Yumthang to Lachung. Trek to Lachung is 5 hrs walk passing through a valley of flowers in flower season with Hot Spring nearby. Night halt at Lachung hotel.

DAY 19: Lachung to Gangtok.

DAY 20: Gangtok - Bagdogra: After breakfast at hotel, transfer to Bagdogra airport for your journey.

Dzongri Trek, Sikkim

The trail runs through moss-laden forests of oak, chestnut, pine, maple, magnolia and rhododendron culminating in the meadows of Dzongri at 4,000 meters with exceptional mountain views. It is a naturalist’s paradise. These forests harbor hundreds of varieties of wild plants; exotic orchids vie for attention with equally spectacular varieties of birds and butterflies. Some of the animals found along this trail are the Himalayan Black Bear, Barking Deer, Musk Deer, Marbled Cat, Langur and the Red Panda.

Day 01: Welcome Bagdogra. Arrive at Bagdogra Airport & transfer to Pelling surface transport. Overnight stay in hotel at Pelling.

Day 02: Yuksam: 1,780 m. Arrive Yuksam from Pelling Overnight in Hotel. Yuksam is the base of West Sikkim’s most popular trekking region, Dzongri and is also of historical importance to the Sikkimese.

Yuksam literally means ‘meeting place of the three lamas’. In the beginning of seventeenth century a rift between different factions of Buddhist sects in Tibet forced the Red Hat Sect to seek refuge in Sikkim. Lama Lhatsun Chempo, on his journey to Sikkim, arrived at Norbugang in Yuksam, where he met two other lamas, Sempa Chempo and Rinzing Chempo and began converting the people into their faith. Sacred texts had revealed that the ruler designate of Sikkim would be a man named Phuntsog of Gangtok, so the lamas sent an envoy in search of him. The party returned with Phuntsog Namgyal, whose ancestry could be traced to the legendary prince Guru Tashi, founder of the Kingdom of Miyang in the Chumbi Valley. In 1641 Phuntsog Namgyal was crowned as Sikkim’s first king, the Chogyal.

Day 03: Bakkhim: 3,005 m. Trek Yuksam to Bakkhim - 16 km / 5 hours. Camp 2,744 m. Overnight in Tourist Bungalow or Camp. We walk gently uphill, following the Rathong River's gorge, through dense mixed jungle with magnolia, rhododendron, ferns and several varieties of orchids, brightly colored birds, and the occasional monkey. After an hour or so we cross the Paha Khola Bridge, (1,733m. /5,685ft.). There is a swimming spot by a waterfall (for those who dare!) after two hours, and we can stop for lunch by a bridge over stream. Passing by sweet smelling viburnum we cross the Prek Chu River and then ascend steeply for two or three hours to arrive at the lodge at Bakhim. We will either stay in the Tourist Hostel, or sleep in our tents. This hostel is often occupied by Himalayan Mountain Institute students on rock-climbing courses. This is a long trekking day and you should expect to be pretty tired by the time you arrive at Bakkhim.

Day 04: Phedang: 3,483 m. Trek Bakkhim to Phedang - 5 km / 4 hours. Camp 3,760 m. Overnight Camp. We begin today’s walk by trekking for about one hour up to the picturesque village of Tshoka. Tshoka is home to a colony of Tibetan refugees who have erected a small monastery by a small lake. A fairly steep climb above Tshoka takes you into beautiful rhododendron forests, and you continue along a well-defined uphill path to Phedang (approx. 2/3 hours from Tshoka). Today we will be doing a shorter trail since we will be gaining much altitude.

Day 05: Dzongri: 4,030 m. Trek Phedang to Dzongri: 4 km / 3 hours. Camp 4,320 m. Overnight Camp. Another short day’s walking today as we are now treading above the 4,000-meter mark. We will be setting up camp by lunchtime and suggest that you spend a relaxed afternoon acclimatizing. A brief climb beyond brings you to a meadow where we can pitch our tents in a campsite with views of Koktang, Rathong, Kabru, Khangchendzonga, Simvo and Pandim. As usual on trek the choice of campsite depends on many variables, one of the most important is the close supply of water. Camp overnight.

Day 06: Dzongri: 4,030 m. Excursion to Laxmi Pokhari Overnight Camp. Early risers can get up before dawn to climb to a vantage point on a ridge above the campsite to watch the sunrise on Khangchendzonga, Kabru, Pandim, Rathong, and many other peaks of the Khangchendzonga range.

Full day excursion to Laxmi Pokhari. The trial first goes through rhododendron bushes and pasture land for about an hour to Chamaray. From here it is a gradual ascent to Laxmi Pokhari, a big lake cupped in a deep crater. Here you will get good view of Khangchendzonga range, Pandim, Narsing, Kabur, Kabur dome, Koktang etc. If you reach Laxmi Pokhari early and feeling physically fit, an excursion towards Kabur rock will be a rewarding experience. Back to Dzongri.

Day 07: Bakkhim: 3,005 m. Excursion around Dzongri and trek back to Bakkhim Overnight Tourist Bungalow or Camp.

Day 08: Yuksam: 1,780 m. Trek back to Yuksom Overnight in Hotel.  After lunch trek to Dubdi monastery, ‘the hermit’s cell’, this is situated on the top of a lofty hill one thousand feet above Yuksam. The fir-clad mountains behind provide a dramatic background. Founded by Lhatsun Chempo in 1701, it is the oldest monastery in Sikkim. After visiting the monastery descend to the site where the first King of Sikkim was crowned in 1641 by three lamas.

Day 09: Yuksam Departure: It is time to say goodbye after a hard trekking trip at Himalayan Range at Sikkim Hill. After breakfast drive to Siliguri by surface transport. Overnight stay at Siliguri.

Day 10: Siliguri Departure: After breakfast drive to Bagdogra Airport for your onward journey.