Sikkim Goechala Darjeeling |
| A unique journey, combining
two treks among the most interesting of this secret region of Eastern
Himalayas. The trek along the Singalila ridge, is a unique experience
walking on the Indo-Nepal border, can look over the Himalayan range
over 200 kilometers, with a focus on the impressive massif of
Kangchendzonga, the third summit in the world rising to 8598 m above
sea level, But to approach closer to the Kangchenjunga and feel strong
sensations of altitude and vastness, it must earn the former kingdom of
Sikkim, now twenty-second state of the Indian Union. Since Yuksam, the
path soon leaves the forest to reach the peak of Dzongri, to 4030 m,
fabulous lookout on the highest mountain massif. The fascinating side
southeast of Kangchendzong, up from 4 000 m. And the most intense
moment of the trip is coming to the Gocha, a pass at 4940m, a real open
door in this ice wall disproportionate prevailing ocean hills of
Sikkim. The return journey by a little busy, wild and varied, offering
an end of adventurous trek and very emotional. Pleasant village,
Darjeeling is known worldwide for the richness of the tea grown there.
Sikkim, a stronghold of Tibetan Buddhism since the sixteenth century
houses over 200 monasteries. The sect is largely red caps and
represented his spiritual leader is the rich Rumtek Monastery near
Gangtok. Lepcha, Nepali, Tibetan, Indian, Bhutanese living in this
small area that recently opened to foreigners we welcome with great
hospitality. Name of Program : Sikkim & Darjeeling Places Visit:Kolkata-Bagdogra-Darjeeling-Maneybanjang-Tonglu-Kalapokhari-Sandakphu-Phalut-Gorkey-Rammam-Rimbing-Pelling-Yuksom-Tshoka-Dzongri-Lake Samiti-Gocha la-Thanshing-Lam Pokhari-Tshamri-Kasturi ridge-Kasturi-Lapdang-Silnon gompa-Tashiding-Martam Resort-Rumtek-Gangtok-Bagdogra-Kolkata or Delhi Dep. Duration: 23 Nights. Best Time : March-May OR Oct-Dec. Day 1 : Arrival Kolkata (Calcutta) : Upon arrival meet to assistance, transfer to hotel near by the airport, for rest of the ngiht. Day 2 : Kolkata - Bagdogra - Darjeeling (2134 m) 3-4 hrs drive : Transfer to domestic airport and one hour flight to Bagdogra, a town in the foothills of the Himalayan. Transfer by road to Darjeeling. Overnight at hotel. Day 3 : Darjeeling : After breakfast commence sightseeing of Darjeeling, the capital of tea! Yinga Choling Gompa. Visit the HMI (Himalayan Mountain Institute), created by Tenzing Norkay, the hero of Everest, visit Tibetan Refugee Help Center, Lablong village, rest of the time visit Chowrasta local market. Overnight at hotel. Day 4 : Darjeeling - Maneybanjang (2134 m) - Tonglu (3056 m) : Transfer to Maneybanjang (2000 m) by sruface and start trekking in the Singalila National Park. Meeting with our support team and our carriers. Good climb to the village of Chitre, then softened the road, and we cross the village before reaching Lamaydura Tonglu, built on a scenic ridge where you can watch the sunset on the plains Bengal and the sunrise over the Kanchenjunga. Overnight in tents. (3 hours drive. 5 hours hiking). Day 5 : Tonglu - Kalapokhari (3250 m) : After breakfast, We follow the trail along the ridge separating India from Nepal. We reach the first village of Nepal Tumling before reaching Lamburi. The route is lined with mani and prayer flags, stupas and small Hindu temples. Between trees and small lakes ghostly mystery, we connect Kalapokhari village, near which we pitched our camp. (5: 30 hrs trek). Day 6 : Kalapokhari - Sandakphu (3636 m) : It is primarily a road overlooking the plains of Bengal and the valleys of eastern Nepal, then we reach the main ridge. Beautiful view of the Bhutanese mountains, Kangchenjunga and Pandim. Short Step to a good start acclimatizing. Overnight in tents. (3 hours hiking.) Day 7 : Sandakphu - Phalut (3600 m) : Walking on the crest of the hill, border with Nepal is totally unique and panoramic, of Everest summits & Bhutan. Climbs and descents alternate on excellent roads. Overnight in tents. (6- 7 hrs trek) Day 8 : Phalut (3600 m) - Gorkey (2500 m) - Rammam (2560 m): Sunrise Very early on Kangchenjunga, the Jannu, Everest, the Lothse, Makalu and Cho Oyu! The summit is the border Phalut India-Nepal-Sikkim, we are increasingly close to Kangchenjunga. Superb descent into the forest of pines, oaks, rhododendrons, Rammam to the river and the beautiful village of Gorkey stepped in the middle of cornfields. After lunch, climb to the peaceful hilltop village of Rammam. Overnight in tents. (6 hrs trek) Day 9 : Rammam - Rimbick (2130 m) : The program of the day, many villages and hamlets built on a mountain slope, terraced fields and lush vegetation. The inhabitants are of immense kindness, and we enjoy the many scenes of life: farmers working in fields, shoemakers, tailors. Our first trek ends ... to Rimbick, quiet little village. Overnight in guest house or tent (4 hrs hiking) Dau 10 : Rimbing - Pelling (2085 m) : Transfer to Pelling, a small hill station built on top of a very panoramic hill near the monastery Pemayantse. The road passes through tea plantations before reaching the river gorge Rangit, border with Sikkim. After a few miles into the gorge, the road climbs the slopes of the hill Pelling and rice terraces. Overnight in hotel, (8-12 hrs, depand on the road conditions). Day 11 : Pelling - Yuksom (1850 m) : Visit the beautiful monastery Pemayantse, "lotus sublime and perfect," former royal residence. Built atop a hill Pemayantse is one of the oldest monasteries of Sikkim. From here the panorama embraces the entire Kangchenjunga massif where our trek will take place the next day. Transfer to Yuksam. The scenery is beautiful rice fields, waterfalls, great suspension bridges. Yuksam walk in the afternoon. Visit Norbugang, remnants of the first capital of Sikkim. Overnight at hotel. (3 hrs drive) Day 12 : Yuksom - Tshoka (3048 m) : Beginning the second trek. Way comfortable amidst a beautiful primeval forest. Several suspension bridges over beautiful canyons. Tsoka is a hamlet of twenty houses and a temple overlooking a small lake. Overnight in tents. (7- 8 hrs trek) Day 13 : Tsoka - Dzongri (4030 m) : The trail leaves the forest and we came into the clearing of Phedang, then continue to climb up the ridge Dzongri, which float a few prayer flags - on the lookout Kangchenjunga (8598 m), Kabru (7338 m), Pandim (6691 m) ... Overnight in tents. (6 hrs trek) Day 14 : Dzongri - Samiti Lake (4100 m) : Before breakfast, for the most courageous, early morning sunrise at the summit of Dzongri Peak (4250 m). Ascent Dzongri pass, the view opens on Pandim. The path we take balcony offers magnificent views. Steep descent to the bridge on the Rathang then rise dramatically from the valley to the foot of which lies Pandim Lake Samiti. Camp 1 hour before the lake.( 7 hrs trekking) Day 15 : Lake Samiti - Gocha la (4940 m) - Thanshing (3900 m) : Sunrise is very early and by the light of our front that we're going to reach the Gocha La pass, surrounded by impressive walls. The rise - optional - is a little tiring, but the reward is at the end of 5 hours of effort. Outstanding! Onglaktang Glacier and Moraine Lake are beautiful just as the 4000 meters in the south face of Kangchenjunga is and its hanging glacier. Back at camp, well deserved rest! and Continue (approx. 1 hr 30) for Lake sumptuous Samiti and the great pasture of Thanshing. Overnight in tents. (2- 9 hrs walking (if you're going to pass). Those who will not go to the pass, would nevertheless benefit from a superb view, because there are three views impressive. Day 16 : Thanshing - Lam Pokhari (4300 m) - Tshamri (4180 m) : Porters joined us. Since Yuksom, they were Dzos who carried our luggage. We take a path balcony amid the rhododendrons and we're on the side facing the Dzongri Peak and the view is beautiful on the Kabru and dome (6500 m). From small pass that we have achieved, we see the lake of Lam Pokhari that will join us to plant our tents. Yaks graze quietly. (5 hrs trekking) Day 17 : Tshamri - Kasturi ridge (4350 m) - Kasturi Odal (3400 m) : We start trek to reach the river (100m descent) and the rise of the corridor (200m) is stiff, then very nice route "roller coaster" to the edge of Kasturi. Spectacular descent to reach the hut Kasturi Odal, lost amid the forest of rhododendrons. Overnight in tents. (7 hrs trekking) Day 18 : Kasturi Odal - Lapdang (2000 m) : Long steep descent in a completely preserved primeval forest, several species of orchids grow here, but are hardly recognizable outside the period of summer bloom. Very nice ambiance. Lapdang is the first inhabited village we meet since we left Tshoka. Overnight in tents. (6 hrs trekking) Day 19 : Lapdang - Silnon gompa - Tashiding (1470 m) : Step easy and enjoyable. We reach a track on the hillside that we follow for about three hours until the Kongra high waterfall about 100 meters, then cross the village Gangyap. A beautiful trail on the balcony terraces cultivated leads two-hour descent to the village of Tashiding. Overnight in tents. (5 hrs trekking) Day 20 : Tashiding - Martam Resort - Rumtek : Visit Tashiding Monastery, one of the finest in the region. Its Buddhist monuments are among the most sacred of Sikkim. Transfer to Rumtek. The road passes Rabang The collar that still offers a magnificent panorama. Arriving late in the day. Overnight at hotel. (1 hour 30 minutes walk (round trip to the monastery). Day 21 : Martam Resort - Rumtek - Gangtok (1870 m) : Rumtek Monastery, a masterpiece of Tibetan architecture is the main monastery of the Buddhist Kargyupa. It houses the Karmapa, spiritual leader of this sect, largely represented in Sikkim. We have time to discover this site. By late afternoon, transfer to Gangtok. At the entrance of the city, visit the Tibetan Institute, near the orchid garden. Shopping. Overnight at hotel.(1 hour 30 minutes drive.) Day 22 : Gangtok : Morning leisure for relax, afternoon visit local market and tibetology. Overnight at hotel. Day 23 : Gangtok - Bagdogra : Drive to Bagdogra. Overnight at hotel. 190 km of road. 6 hr drive. Day 24 : Bagdogra - Kolkata : Flights to Kolkata (1 hr). Early morning take flgiht to Kolkata or Delhi, on arrival meet to assistance drive to hotel near by the aiport. later in time dep. transfer to international aiport, take return flgiht back home. |
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