Sikkim Trek

Sikkim Trek

Duration :  16 Nights / 17 Days

Places Covered: Delhi - Guwahati- Tawang Monastery - Itanagar - Pasighat - Diburgarh - Namdhapa.

About the itinerary This holiday takes you through a Sikkim of old traditions, religion, local culture, and striking natural treasures. Sikkim has a lot to offer, from the charming village of Rumtek in East Sikkim which houses the largest Buddhist monastery of Sikkim to the idyllic village of Pastanga. An area surrounded by hills, dense forests and cascading rivulets, this is adobe of folklore and cultural richness. Hospitality of the lively local communities and their authentic rural lifestyle makes this holiday all the more special. You will see traditional Bhutia and Rai houses that have remained virtually unchanged for the last 150 years, visit a sacred waterfall and enjoy a walk through the herbal gardens and cardamom plantations. Trekking through Magnolia and Rhododendron forests carpeted with medicinal plants and flowers, you will also be exploring the ancient Tibetan trader's trail to Khedi, which is renowned for its two sacred lakes, the Bhale Pokhari and the Pothi Pokhari. This trip also takes you to Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim where different cultures and religions blend harmoniously with old traditions and modern developments.

Itinerary : 

Day 1 Bagdogra - Rumtek  : Arrive into Bagdogra and drive to Teen Taley Resort in Rumtek [4 hrs 30 min drive]. Overnight ~ Teen Taley Resort or Similar stays

Day 2 Pastenga  :  In the morning go for Rumtek sightseeing. Have lunch at Teen Taley and drive to Pastangan (2.5 hrs). Visit KEEP community based organization. KEEP (Khedi Ecotourism and Eco Development Promotion) is a community based organization focused on developing sustainable tourism in the village. This organization manages all the homestays and also takes active participation in generating health & environment awareness in the village. Besides they also conduct vocational trainings. Overnight ~ Homestay.

Day 3 Trek  : Trek to Khedi. The trek is a 5 hr hike through thick rain forests. There are lush green forests and thick bamboo vegetation. As you ascend up higher, the vegetation changes from thick conifers to Rhododendron Forests. Huge rock cliffs and caves are seen all along the way and birds are found in every creek. Overnight ~ Camping
All camping is in tented accommodation, A dining and toilet tent is also provided. No campfires are allowed in the camp but a kerosene heater can be provided and at night hot water bottles are provided for drinking and heating. The trek does not ascend to a very high altitude so during them months of March, April, May, Sept, October and November the nights are pleasant.

Day 4 Trek  : Explore Khedi alpine pastures. From these pastures, the views of white mountain ranges are simply spectacular. There are 2 alpine lakes where during the winter months, migrating birds can be seen, especially ducks. The pastures are scenic and can be explored all day. Overnight ~ Camping

Day 5  :  Return trek to Pastanga. As you tread back to the village, you come across other villages where you can stop for tea and immerse in the daily activities of the village. We take a different route and arrive late in the afternoon. In the evening cultural program, cultural program is arranged by the villagers/homestay operators. The visitors are welcomed by flower garlands and folk dance is performed by the youths. The older people sing songs and play traditional instruments to entertain.
Overnight ~ Homestay

Day 6 Gangtok  : In the morning drive to Gangtok.Visit Handicraft Center and Flower Show. [Best Season: March & April]. Check into hotel. Evening gives ample opportunity to interact with our people and find more details about life-style and culture. This is also a good oppurtunity for you to share your experiences from you r culture. Overnight ~ Hotel/Guest House

Day 7 Departure  :  Gangtok to Bagdogra/NJP [4 hrs 30 min drive]