 Day
01 : On reaching Bagdogra / NJP, you will be received
by naturebeyond. Bagdogra / NJP to Darjeeling
is a three hour drive uphill through tea gardens and small
towns. We will occasionally meet the famous Darjeeling toy
train, huffing and puffing across our road. Overnight at Darjeeling
Day 02 : Early morning visit to Tiger
Hill for fabulous sunrise views of Mt. Kanchenjunga, the third
highest mountain in the world at 28,156 ft. Mt. Everest and
a host of other Himalayan giants are also seen on the horizon.On
our drive back to the hotel we will stop at Ghoom, a Tibetan-Buddhist
monastery. After breakfast we shall visit the old botanical
gardens to see their collection of rare orchids and other
plants. After lunch visit the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute,
the Tibetan Refugee Camp and the local market. Overnight at
Darjeeling.
Day 03 : Darjeeling : Happy Valley
tea garden
This is one of the best tea gardens producing the famous Darjeeling
tea. We will spend the morning around the tea garden and return
back to hotel for lunch. After lunch we will visit the Jalapahar
area of Darjeeling including the Budhist monastery that is
located at the top of the hill. Overnight at Darjeeling
 Day
04 : Darjeeling - Kalimpong
This day we take the route via Mongpoo which is known for
its unique Cinchona plantation where the factory produces
Quinine, the medicine for malaria. This place became famous
during the time of the British raj. At that time there was
a dense forest and it had become a paradise for botanical
students. Here we visit the plantation. Overnight at Kalimpong
Day 05 : Kalimpong
A hill station in the days of the British raj, this charming
town is two and half hours drive by road from Darjeeling.
Before the Chinese took over Tibet it was the center of India's
wool and silk trade with that country, with Tibetan caravans
wending their way down from the Tibetan plateau to trade wool
for manufactured goods. Today Kalimpong is a holiday resort
for its fabulous mountain views, bird watching, and walks
in the hills. It has become a center for orchid and cactus
nurseries, and exports these plants to different parts of
the world. Here we visit several nurseries. We will also visit
delo top and Durpin top at Kalimpong during the day. Overnight
at Kalimpong
Day 06 : Kalimpong : Loleygaon
Orchid Sanctuary
This is only two hours drive from Kalimpong and the government
has preserved this area because of its rare orchids. This
day we will carry a packed lunch and spend some time exploring
the beautiful hilly country side in search of wild orchids.
We will also visit Dentam fort, Rikisum and the eco-tourism
village at Pedong
before returning to Kalimpong in the afternoon to see the
local handicrafts and the busy marketplace. Overnight at Kalimpong
Day 07 : Kalimpong - Pemayangste
Today we will enter sikkim. The drive is truly a naturalist's
delight. The hillsides and mountain slopes of Sikkim are strewn
with bright patches of myriad colors. The lower mountain slopes
are abundant with lush green bamboo and ferns. The northern
valleys are draped with wild cherry, oaks, chestnut, pines
as well as magnolia variety's called Magnolia Campbeli and
Michelia Doltsopa. The higher altitudes are abloom with 46
species of Rhododendrons. And of course, Sikkim's 600 variety's
of orchid are everywhere. This day our 05 hour drive is interesting
as we move upstream along the river Rangit through dense forests
of sal and teak. Overnight we stay at Pelling.
 Day
08 : Pelling to
Yuksom via Kecheoplari
lake Early morning after having our breakfast we walk
to the Pemayangste monastery which is only a km from the hotel.
Here we hear the chanting of morning prayers by the young
and old monks and the smell of the burning Juniferous Squamata
and Rhododendron Nivele. Pemayangste, also known as the "Perfect
Sublime Lotus", is one of the oldest monasteries of Sikkim
and belongs to the Red Hat sect of Tibetan Buddhists. After
visiting this monastery we will drive towards Kecheopalri
Lake. After a walk around this "wishing lake", a
short trek downhill towards Yuksum. We will see some common
wild orchids like the Dendrobium. This night we will be staying
at Yuksom.
Day 9 : Yuksom
The original capital of Sikkim, the tiny hill town of Yuksum
is the base for treks and climbing expeditions to Mount Kanchenjunga
and other important peaks. This day we walk to the coronation
throne, Dubdi Monastery and the nearby jungles to see wild
orchids like the Coelogyne and Dendrobium, as well as the
indigenous flora of Sikkim. Overnight at Yuksom
Day 10 : Yuksom - Gangtok
The 5 hour drive from Yuksum to Gangtok passes lush green
fields the famous large Sikkimese Cardamoms as well as Golden
Rice.
 Day
11 : Gangtok
Perched atop a ridge at a height of 1520 m. Lies Gangtok ,
a quaint, colourful town. This small modernized town is the
capital of Sikkim. Here we visit the famous monastery of Rumtek
which is the head quarters of the Kagyu sect. Later, we visit
the Institute of Tibetology which has a collection of almost
30,000 volumes on diverse subjects like astrology, philosophy,
magic and religion. After lunch we visit the Orchid Sanctuary
which has over 200 species of temperate and intermediate orchids
on beautifully landscaped grounds. Our next stop is the Epica
gardens which has large collection of indigenous plants of
Sikkim. Overnight at Gangtok
Day 12 : Gangtok to Lachung (2679
m) 122 kms and 6 hours drive. This area was recently opened
to foreign visitors. We will be seeing the breathtaking landscapes
of the northern part of Sikkim. Our drive takes us through
lush green bamboo thickets intermingled with tropical flora
and we arrive at the historical place of "Kabi Logstok"
where the Lepchas and Bhutias had their brotherhood treaty.
Later we pass scattered villages and terraced
paddy fields. A few kilometers before reaching Mangan (the
district capital of north Sikkim), we will cross the Ranga
Rang bridge which is said to be one of the highest bridges
in Asia. After Mangan the landscapes turn even more interesting
as we encounter magnificent water falls cascading down steep
mountain walls. Overnight at Lachung.
 Day
13 : Lachung - Yumthang
(3658 m)
24 km 2 hr drive. This day we visit Shingba Rhododendron sanctuary
set at 12000 ft. Here we find different varieties of Rhododendrons
like the Triflorum, Hodgsonii, Dalhousie, Cilatum, Cinnbarinum,
Campanulatum etc. Besides this we find several pine families
like the Cedrus Deodara, Abies Spectabilis, Tsuga Dumosa,
Pinus Wallichiana etc. Of course, the sanctuary is also very
rich with alpine flowers like Rheum Nobile, Rheum Australe
etc. Yumthang is also rich is sulphur and even the kings of
Sikkim have made their own bathing huts. The air starts to
get cooler as you enter the valley, with towering peaks closing
in from all sides. From this point Tibet is only 25 kms as
the crow flies. Evening return back to our lodge in Lachung.
Day 14 : Lachung - Lachen
48 km 3 hr drive. This day we visit Lachen. This is famous
for it's monastery built in the early 1800 century and also
for the wide open valley. Overnight at Lachen
Day 15 : Visit to Chopta valley.
The valley is located at an altitude of about 4140 mt. The
place has been opened for tourists only during 2003. On the
way visit to Thangu (3970 mt). A small village close to indo
Tibetan boarder. The beauty of the place is only to be seen
to be believed. As you move towards Chopta valley the landscape
changes from deep jungles to pine forests then to rhododendron
bushes and ultimately you will find only rocky mountains at
an altitude of more than 4,000 mts. A variety of high altitude
animals can be seen including bharal, beer, fox etc. Overnight
at Lachen
 Day
16 : Lachung / Gangtok
After breakfast visit Lachung monastery before commencing
the return drive. Lachung is famous for Apple, and October
and November are lively months when the apples are harvested
and sent to Gangtok.
On our return drive we will make stop at
different places and take short hikes to explore the country
side. We will have a picnic lunch at Singhik, famous for its
clear and unobstructed views of Kanchenjunga and its neighboring
peaks. Overnight at Gangtok
Day 17 : Gangtok / Tsongo
Full day excursion to Tsongu lake (12000 ft) and the Kyongnosla
Alpine Sanctuary. Changu Primula Preservation Plot contains
plants on the verge of extinction that have been brought from
various part of Sikkim. Here we can find Primula varieties
like Primula Rotundiifolia, P. Sikkimensis, P. Macrophylla,
P. Wigramiana, P. Stuartii, P. Irregularis, etc. Tsangu lake
(Changu) was also opened to foreign visitors very recently.
It falls on the Nathula
pass highway which was one of the old trade routes to
Tibet and which has recently been opened again for sino-indian
trade. Overnight at Gangtok
Day 18 : Gangtok
Free day. This day we can see the local market and shop for
local handicraft. Evening we can arrange a cultural program
by local tribes such as the Bhutias, Lepchas and Nepalese
(only for groups larger than 6 heads this can be arranged).
We sample Sikkimese cooking after the program. Overnight at
Gangtok
Day 19 : Gangtok - Bagdogra
The 5 hours drive from Gangtok to Bagdogra follows the Teesta
river and we will be making stops to see the low altitude
Himalayan flora. Tour concludes at Bagdogra. |
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Duration
: 18 days