Day
1 - Reception at NJP rail station / Bagdogra airport.
Drive to Maneybhanjan (85 km). The road to Manebhanjan follows
the Hill Cart Road connecting Darjeeling
with the plains. At Ghoom (The highest rail station in India)
you leave Hill Cart Road and it takes another hour from Ghoom
to reach Manybhanjan. Check in at Hotel and free evening to
acclimatize in the new environ. (ONH : Maneybhanjan).
Day 2 - Trek Starts from Maneybhanjan
in the morning. Trek to Tonglu through dense forests (3070
mt, 11 km). Reach Tonglu in the afternoon. Overnight at Tonglu
/ Tumling.
Day 3 - Wake up early in the morning
for a rare and beautiful view of the mountains around. After
breakfast start trekking. Reach Gairibans at 2621 meters,
Trek time 3 hrs, approx 9 kms, Trails leads one through bamboo
glades and farmlands. Lunch at Gairibans. Trek to Kalipokhari
3170 meters. Distance is 6 Kms and it is about 3 hrs walk
from Gairibas. Overnight at Kalipokhari.
Day 4 - From Kalipokhari the trek
route descends to Bikebhangang. Trek from Bikebhanjang to
Sandakphu is
a steep climb of 4 kms and takes more then an hour. Sandakphu
at 3636 meter, is the highest mountain in West Bengal and
commands one of the most spectacular views of the mountain
ranges of Kunchenjunga and Everest. The mountain slopes are
covered with rhododendrons and silver fir trees. (ONH: Sandakphu)
Day
5 - Explore Sandakphu. Wake up early in the morning
for beautiful view of Kanchenjunga and Everest range. Walk
among the rhododendron. Enjoy the high. Overnight at Sandakphu.
Day 6 - Trek to Phalut. The trek
from Sandakphu to Phalut is one of the most spectacular. The
silver fir and rhododendron forests comprises the most beautiful
sight. The trek takes you through the top of a ridge and is
relatively easy. Phalut is one of the loftiest peaks (3600
mt) in the Singalila Range.Halt at Phalut.
Day 7 - Phalut - Ramam. From
Phalut the trail descends through the virgin forest of chestnut,
pines, hemlock etc. till the trail reaches the the stream
known as Gorkhey Khola. One can enjoy the bath and savor midday
meal. Resume trekking via Samandin to Ramam Trekkers Hut.
Its about 5 hours trek from Phalut or about 15 km. in distances
from Phalut.
Day 8 - Ramam - Rimbik. From
Ramam the road is almost level. walk for the first 9 km and
again it descends to Srikhola. The road rises steeply for
about 1 km where it levels out again till it reaches Rimbik.
The first part of the trek ends at Rimbik. Overnight at Rimbik.
Day 9 - Drive to Yuksom in
Sikkim. Spend the day at leisure in Yuksom. Your guide will
meanwhile arrange for the entry permit and other things for
the second phase of your trek.
Day 10 : Yuksom
- Bakhim (2,750m or 9,000 ft)
The trail now runs through rice wood hills abounding in flora
and fauna going though moss-laden forests of Oak, Spruce,
Chestnut, Fir, Pines, Giant Magnolias and Rhododendron. You
can also view hundreds of varieties of exotic birds, butterflies
and orchids. It takes about six hours to reach Bakhim forest
bungalow the destination for today. Alternatively stay at
tents can also be arranged.
Day
11 : Bakhim- Dzongri
(4, 550m or 13,221 ft)
8-km and six hours away, each step to Dzongri leads to the
world of the famed Kanchenjunga massif. 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 trekkers hut.
Day 12 : Dzongri-Thangsing (3,930m
or 12,467 ft)
7-km from Dzongri, the four hours' trek leads through meadows
and valleys down the burrows into the most beautiful valley
of all, situated at the base of Jopine peak. To reach the
camping grounds dwarfed in the giant valley, one crosses a
wooden bridge over the stream under the watchful eyes of the
majestic Pandim.
Day 13 :Thangsig-Chemathang (4,800m
or 15,748 ft)
Situated at the base of mighty Pandim, Chemathang is 8-km
from Thangsing and takes 6 hours to trek.
Day 14 : Chemathang-Goecha La (4,940m)
- Chemathang
Still higher and steeper, is Goecha la (also spelt as Guicha)
about 5-km away but taking a good three hours to cover. This
is the northernmost and highest point of the trek.
Day 15 : Chemathang - Thangsing
This is the return journey and is spent looking for rare high
altitude birds and blue sheeps roaming in the wilderness of
high cliffs and snows, among the thick and low bushes.
Day 16 : Thansing - Dzongri
It is a four to five hour climb through Rhododendron forests
to the camping grounds.
Day 17 : Dzongri - Bakhim via Jamlingthang
(Zamling Gaon)
This different route to Bakhim passes through one of the most
spectacular forested areas of Sikkim engulfed in the fragrance
of magnolias, which is all the more beautiful in the spring
when the giant magnolias and more than ten types of Rhododendron
are in bloom and the trail runs through the garden of flowers.
Day 18 : Bakhim -Yoksum. A leisurely
walk of about four hours brings you back to Yoksum. The trek
ends.
Day 19 : Rest day. Visit local khechepalri
lake and pemayngtse monastery.
Day 20 : Start for airport / Rail
station for onward journey. Tour concludes. |