Itinerary
Day 1: Bagdogra/New Jalpaiguri- Kalimpong
Arrive in New Jalpaiguri by train or fly into Bagdogra. Drive to Kalimpong. Check into hotel. Familiarization/ sightseeing in the evening.
Day 2: Kalimpong - Yuksom
After an early breakfast drive from Kalimpong to Yuksom. The drive is along narrow switchback roads, a journey, which with lunch and photo stops takes about 6-8 hours, depending on the condition of the roads. After passing through many small villages and lush countryside, you arrive at Yuksom. Yuksom is a scenic spot set amidst the backdrop of the Himalayas. It is a historical place, for in 1641 Buddhism was first introduced here. Night stay in hotel.
Day3 : Yuksom- Bakhim (3005m) - 12kms / 07hrs
Begin trek after breakfast in hotel. Today is a 12 kms walk to Bakhim situated among beautiful alpine plants and Sikkim's famous orchids. Several Himalayan fauna are found and Bakhim itself has many rare varieties of birds and butterflies. The trail undulates continuously as you constantly cross small side valleys, following the Rathang river gorge through dense mixed jungles. Packed lunch en-route. Camping overnight.
Day 4: Bakhim- Tshoka (3048M) – 3 kms/ 2 hrs
After breakfast, we head towards Tshoka. This is a short walk to give you enough time to acclimatize. Camp overnight at Tshoka.
Day 5: Bakhim- Dzongri (4030m) - 9kms/ 04hr
After breakfast, we head towards Dzongri. Contour for two hours through dwindling amounts of rhododendrons, berries and the haunt of the red panda, before a steep half-hour takes you to the easy section adding to some prayer flags on a rise. The magnificent panorama of the Kanchenjunga massif lies before you - 'gilded at dawn, inflamed at sunset'. The dwarf rhododendron adds a romantic touch to the magical world of Dzongri. Reach Dzongri by noon. Camp overnight at Dzongri.
Day 6: Dzongri - Thangsing (4030m) -07kms / 05hrs
Trek to Thangsing with packed lunch. It is a gradual ascent over open hillside with views of Kanchendzonga and Pandim and then a descent through rhododendron forests. Cross the river and walk uphill through pinewoods to reach Thangsing beneath the unclimbed peak of Pandim.
Day 7: Thangsing - Samati Lake (4280m) -08kms / 03-04hrs
Today is a very gentle, leisurely stroll up the Prek Chu valley amidst spectacular scenery. Majestic Pandim towers above you on your right and huge rock walls flank the other side of the river. Pass ruined shrines, mani walls inscribed with Tibetan prayers and a yak-herder's hut, used only in the summer. Cresting a small rise the beautiful sacred turquoise Samati Lake appears below you. We camp for the night by the lake.
Day 8: Samati Lake -Goechala - Thangsing (4940m) -14kms / 08-09hrs
An alpine start today, when you set off before first light- climbing the hill behind the lake before traversing the moraine and then descending to the sandy bed of an empty lake. The whole area above Samati Lake is called the Chemithang Plateau. Cross this under the shadow of Pandim and then ascend moraine to a height of about 4710m. Rest and lunch above a frozen lake, which is dotted with snow and ice pinnacles. Walk along a well-trodden path to the Goecha La which is an hour away from the lake. Stupendous views of the east flank of Kanchenjunga and the distant mountains and valleys. Walk back to Thangsing to the camp.
Day 9: Thangsing-Tsoka- 15kms / 07hrs
It is worth getting up early to undertake the short hike to the ridge behind the camp. From here you get a fantastic view of the Kanchenjunga and can look back up to the Goecha La. Leaving Thangsing, we take a different route back, avoiding the long climb to the Dzongri plateau. Descending to the Prek Chu river, contour round through the jungle with some ups and downs to emerge at Phedung again. From here it is a steep walk down to Tsoka where we camp for the night.
Day 10: Tsoka- Yuksom- Pemayangtse
After breakfast trek to Yuksom. It is a steep descent back to the Prek Chu River following the route you took up on the first day. The vehicle meets us at Yuksom from where we drive to Pemayangtse. Check into a hotel. Rest of the day at leisure.
Day 11: Pemayangtse- Gangtok
After breakfast, we drive to Gangtok after a visit to Pemayangtse monastery. Check into a hotel. Rest of the day at leisure.
Day 12: Gangtok
ull day sight-seeing at Gangtok
Day 13: Gangtok- Bagdogra/New Jalpaiguri
Fly back from Bagdogra or board a train back to Delhi/ Kolkata.
