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Adventure Tours
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Eastern Himalayas
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SIKKIM AND DARJEELING
The basin of the Teesta river lies
in Sikkim and its northern reaches are dominated by Kanchenjunga,
the world's third highest mountain. Fed by glaciers, the many streams
of the Teesta river tumble through deep gorges, grassy alps and
forests.
Past Gangtok, other main towns in the region are Kalimpong, Kurseong
and Darjeeling. A fascinating toy train chugs its way up from New
Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling through pine, oak, magnolia and rhododendron
forests and an amazing variety of wild orchids. Famous Buddhist
monasteries and pilgrim centres and Rumtek, Yuksom, Tashding and
Pemyangtse.
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SINGALI
LA TREK - (Darjeeling Area) : Trek
begins at Manebhanja through villages, small wayside huts and gompas
to Sandakphu , the point on the trek and gives a full view of the
entire eastern Himalayas from Chomolhari in Bhutan to Kanchenjunga
in Sikkim, to Everest- the world's highest peaks can be seen from
here and it offers a breathtaking experience to watch sunrise or
sunset over these mountains. They are covered with rhododendrons,
silver fir, spruce, chestnut, oak, and an innumerable variety of
flowers.
DELHI / DARJEELING / TREK / DELHI
- Duration: 7 days Darjeeling to Darjeeling
- Average Trek: 7 to l2 kms/day
- Maximum Height: 9500 ft
- Grade: Moderate
- Best time: May to April and October to November
SIKKIM RHODODENDRON TREK
- ( Kanchenjunga Trek) : This trek begins from Pemyangtse
through moss laden forests, abounding in a varied flora and fauna
,through scenes of grazing yaks, mountain sheep and settlements
and villages. The trail leads through forested areas of Sikkim particularly
beautiful during the spring when the dendrons, giant magnolias and
a profusion of other flowers are in full bIoom Dzongri, one comes
face to face with a magnificent view of Mt Kanchenjunga. A rugged
terrain from Zemathang leads to Golcha La ( 5000 Mt.) , the point
on the trek. On the return journey from Zemathang one can keep an
eye out for rare high altitude pheasants and sheep.
DELHI / GANGTOK / PEMYANGTSE / YUKSOM / BAKIM / DZONGRI
/ ZEMATHANG / GOLCHALA / PHITHANG / YUKSOM / DARJEELING / DELHI
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Best
of Sikkim
Day 1. DELHI / BAGDOGRA / GANGTOK (1767 m ) :
Transfer to domestic airport to board flight for Bagdogra ,enroute
view peaks of Himalayas including Mt. Everest in good weather. Met
on arrival , on to Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim 1125 kms (
5 hrs). The journey is refreshing and scenic. We go along
the river Teesta and arrive Gangtok late evening. Check into hotel.
Overnight Gangtok.
2. GANGTOK : After breakfast proceed on a sightseeing tour
of Gangtok city with guide. Visit the exotic orchid sanctuary. Sikkim,
the vast orchidarium as it has been called, has hundreds of varieties
of orchids and rhododendrons. Rhododendrons are in abundance from
2438 Mt. and above till the snow line starting from 4876 Mt. where
junipers and rhododendrons struggle for existence on the gentler
slopes covered by the beautiful primulas and genitaris. We also
visit the Enchy monastery, the Dodrul gompa with a very large and
ornate chorten. We take a stroll in the quaint bazaar of the Gangtok
town. After lunch, take the excursion to the world famous Rumtek
gompa 122 kms, the seat of the Karmapa Lama who heads the Kagyupa
sect of Buddhism. Tankhas and frescoes decorate the walls of this
ancient monastery. The style of the monastery, strictly traditional
has been patterned on the lines of the Lamasseries of Tibet. Overnight
Gangtok.
3. GANGTOK Full day excursion tour to Phodong monastery (40
kms). It was built by Chogyal Gyurmed Nangyal in the 1st quarter
of 18th century. Uphill from Phodong gompa is the Labrang gompa.
Below the road between Phodong and Labrang gompas are the ruins
of the third capital of Sikkim. Tumlong. Return to Gangtok late
afternoon. Overnight Gangtok.
 4. GANGTOK / YUKSOM (1780 m ) : After breakfast drive
to Yuksom ( 90 kms / 5 hrs ) It is a beautiful drive passing through
quaint little villages and towns, waterfalls, fields of barley and
rice etc. After the last climb, Yuksom is reached and is the place
which has recorded many a historic event. It was here that HH Funchok
Namgyal was crowned by his holiness, Gyalwa Latchen Thembo, the
very man who brought Buddhism to Sikkim in 1641. A table land of
barley and apples, Yuksom provides beautiful vistas of mini lakes
with Himalayan background. Overnight camping.
5. YUKSON / BAKKIM ( 2743 m ) : The trail now runs
through rich wooded hills abounding in flora and fauna going, as
it does, through moss-laden forests of oak , spruce , chestnut,
fir, pines, giant magnolias and rhododendron - a botanists' paradise.
Not to be outdone, the naturalist's can view hundreds of varieties
of exotic birds, butterflies and orchids. Among the animals are
,the Himalayan brown bear, black bear, barking deer, sambar, marble
cats, blue snip, Tibetan antelope, wild ass, Himalayan wild goats,
red pandas and musk deer at various altitudes. It takes 6 hrs before
the Bakhim forest bungalow is reached for the night.
6. BAKKIM / DZONGRI ( 4030 m ) Eight kilometers and
six hrs away, each step to Dzongri leads to the world of the famed
Kanchenjunga massive. The steady and demanding climb passes through
gullies laid by grazing yaks and mountain sheep through Choka ,
a Tibetan resettlement centre, and the last village passed on the
way. Now, one begins to get the initial view of the Sikkim snows.
It is time for lunch and one has reached a picturesque spot, Phittang
,after which the trail leads up right amidst an exclusive and bewitching
forest of rhododendrons to Deorali Dara the meeting place of men
and mountains - of God and nature. Here are the awesome views of
the massive ranges of the Sikkim mountains and its peaks. These
granite peaks with a thick hood of ice offer the most fascinating
and awe-inspiring views of the mountains. Straight ahead is the
third highest peak in the world - the legendary Kanchenjunga in
all its celestial height and glory, while on either side smaller
peaks bow down in reverence. The spectacle at dawn and dusk tinted
in softest hues, is one never to be missed, a supernatural vision
of ethereal beauty. Camp in tents or yak huts.
7. DZONGRI : Explore this beautiful locale, spell binding
view of Mt Kanchenjunga at sunrise. Overnight camp.
8. DZONGRI / TSOKHA We start the descent back and
camp at the last village passed earlier, Tsokha, a quaint village
with a small gompa. Overnight camp.
9. TSOKHA / YUKSOM : A leisurely walk of about 5 hrs
brings us back to Yuksom. The meeting place of the three saints
where one can pause and get a full taste of the charms of Sikkimese
rural life. Overnight camp.
10. YUKSOM This day is for leisure in the lap of mother nature.
We take a leisurely walk upto the Dubdi gompa built in a hill top
in 1700. Overnight camp.
11. YUKSON / DARJEELING After breakfast drive to Darjeeling
which takes about 6 hrs. We proceed with packed lunch. Arrive Darjeeling,
travelling through beautiful tea gardens. Check into hotel. Overnight
Darjeeling.
12. DARJEELING After breakfast, we proceed to sightseeing
tour of the city with guide. Visit the Himalayan Mountaineering
Institute ,the bazaar , etc. After lunch we visit a beautiful tea
garden and the factory and see the process this wonderful brew of
the orient goes through. Overnight Darjeeling.
13. DARJEELING Early morning visit the Tiger Hill at sunrise
to see the beautiful sunrise over Mt. Everest. On the return we
visit the Ghoom monastery. Afternoon visit the Tibetan Handicraft
Centre, Overnight Darjeeling
14. DARJEELING / BAGDOGRA / DELHI Transfer
to Bagdogra to board flight IC 879 for Delhi at 5 P.M. Arrive Delhi.
Grade: Moderate
Best time March to April and October to November
Optional
GANGTOK / YUKSOM / TSHOKA / ZAMLIGAM / DZONGRI / CHORITHANG / THANSING
/ SAMITI LAKE / GOECHALA / THANSING / TSHOKA / YUKSOM / PEMYANGTSE
/ DARJEELING
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