Darjeeling & Sikkim - Singalila & Goecha-La Trek

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Trek Sikkim - Singalila & Goecha-La

Destination: Darjeeling & Sikkim
Duration: 22 Nights/23 Days
Price: Request a Quote

Darjeeling is sprawled over a steep mountain ridge, surrounded by tea plantations and backed by a splendid Himalayan panorama that makes it the archetypal hill station. You may get acquainted with its more illustrious neighbour – the famous Mt. Khangchendzonga (8598m), or discover colonial mansions, churches, Buddhist and Hindu temples, botanical gardens and a zoo for Himalayan fauna. For the adventurous there are superb treks which trace ancient trade routes and provide magnificent vistas over the magnificent Himalaya.

Sikkim is characterized by plunging mountain valleys that are lushly forested, interspersed occasionally with rice terraces and groves of flowering rhododendrons. Tibetan-style Buddhist monasteries (gompas) add splashes of bright vermilion to the green ridgetops and are approached through scenic drives and trails bordered by long bamboo poles dressed-up with colourful prayer flags that flutter ceaselessly, happily wafting their prayers for you into the mystical Himalayan winds.

Delhi - Bagdogra - Darjeeling – Manay Bhanjang - Tonglu – Gairibas - Sandakphu – Phalut - Raman – Rimbik - Pelling – Pemayangtse – Yuksom - Tsokha – Dzongri - Thangshing – Samity Lake - Goecha-La - Thangshing – Lam Pokhari - Labdang – Tashiding -Martam – Gangtok

Itinerary

Day 1 :	Arrive Delhi
Arrive Delhi by international flight. Meeting and assistance. Transfer to hotel.

Day 2 :	Delhi
Full Day sight seeing tour of Old & New Delhi. Overnight at Hotel.

Day 3 :	Delhi – Bagdogra – Darjeeling
Transfer to the domestic airport in time to check-in for your flight to Bagdogra. Arrive Bagdogra and drive onwards to Darjeeling located at 2134 mts., in the eastern Himalaya with a majestic backdrop of the third highest peak in the world, Mt. Kanchanjunga. Overnight is at hotel.

Day 4 :

Darjeeling

Start at the crack of dawn and take an exhilarating jeep ride to Tiger Hill to catch the first rays of a glorious sunrise over Khangchendzonga and Everest. On the way back to the hotel, visit Ghoom Monastery. Return to the hotel in time for a hearty breakfast and then set-off again to visit the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, the Zoo and the Tibetan Refugee & Handicrafts’ Center. Afternoon is free to relax and look around the colorful bazaars. Return to the hotel for an overnight.

Day 5 :	Darjeeling – Manay Bhanjang – Tonglu
Drive 26 Km., to Manay Bhanjang at 2134 m. a.s.l., the starting point for our trek to the Singalila ridge. The first part of the trek is a relatively short hike up to Tonglu (3070m.) Overnight at Trekker's Hut or Camp.

Day 6 :	Tonglu – Gairibas (2620m)
Take a mossy paved path that snakes upwards to Gairibas (2620m.,) through a succession of forests and local hillside hamlets, affording from time-to-time, a series of spectacular mountain panoramas. Trekking duration: approx. 4 Hrs. Overnight at Trekker's Hut or Camp.

Day 7 :	Gairibas – Sandakphu (3640m)
Keep climbing steadily upwards to the ridge trail that leads onwards to Kalpokhri. Later, start another, long, steep climb that breaks onto the Singalila ridge and leads onward to Sandakphu. Be prepared for a remarkably stunning, 360 ° view from the top. Trekking duration: approx. 4 ½ Hrs. Overnight at Trekker's Hut or Camp.

Day 8 :

Sandakphu – Phalut (3600m)

Star early and walk up to a prominent viewpoint for a magnificent view of a most spectacular sunrise over Khangchendzonga, Jannu, Everest, Lhotse, Makalu and Cho Oyo peaks. Throughout the day’s trek one is greeted by an ever-changing parade of yak herds, silvery pine forests and tiny lakes ringed by virgin green meadows with the mighty snow-capped Himalayan range always in the background. Trekking duration: approx. 6 Hrs. Overnight at Trekker's Hut or Camp.

Day 9 :	Phalut – Raman (2560m)
Leave Phalut, temporarily losing the spectacular views of Khangchendzonga and the eastern Himalaya and descend for most of the day through forests of Rhododendrons and Magnolias that give way intermittently to isolated patches of farmland on the road to Ramam. Trekking duration: approx. 5 Hrs. Overnight at Trekker's Hut or Camp.

Day 10 :	Raman – Rimbik (2280m)
Keep moving downhill again today as we journey to the crossing of the Siri Khola where it passes through farmland and scattered villages. Once across the river, it is again uphill through largely forested terrain to the village of Rimbik. Trekking duration: approx. 4 Hrs. Overnight at Trekker's Hut or Camp.

Day 11 :	Rimbik – Pelling
Today we switch to an automobile in order to cover the 9-hour-drive that will take us from the Darjeeling hills to Pelling in Sikkim. Overnight is at hotel.

Day 12 :	Pelling – Pemayangtse – Yuksom
A short drive brings us to the Pemayangtse monastery, perched at a height of 2800m. It is one of the oldest and most impressive gompas in Sikkim. Spend most of the morning visiting the monastery and drive onwards to Yuksom. Overnight is at Hotel.

Day 13 :

Yuksom – Tsokha (3030m)

The trail leads up the Rathong valley, through thick, semi-tropical forests in a steep climb that brings us to the tiny Tibetan village of Tsokha, perched high up in the mountains. The landscape has now metamorphosed into beautiful forests of pine, rhododendron and magnolia. From here, you will be afforded the most spectacular and clear views of the entire central Himalayan range and Mt. Khangchendzonga. Trekking duration: approx. 6 Hrs. Overnight at Trekker's Hut or Camp.

Day 14 :

Tsokha – Dzongri (4020m)

Today, the trail zigzags steeply upwards through mixed temperate forest and large stands of Rhododendrons to a large clearing at Phedang. Stop here for a picnic lunch. Enjoy a fantastic panoramic view of Pandim, Narsingh and Joponu peaks. Another hour-and-a-half of steep climbing brings us to Deorali where we walk along the ridge for around 45 min., as it wends its way up and down till Dzongri at 4020m., set into a natural bowl on the ridge. Trekking duration: approx. 5 Hrs. Overnight at Trekker's Hut or Camp.

Day 15 :	Dzongri – Thangshing (3930m)
Descend progressively downwards through rhododendron forest to the glacially-fed Prek river. Set-up camp on the grassy pastures of Thangshing. The southern ridge of Khangchendzonga and the Onglakthing glacier are visible directly ahead, with close-up views of Mt. Pandim. Trekking duration: approx. 4 Hrs. Overnight in Camp.

Day 16 :

Thangshing – Samity Lake (4200m)

A pleasant walk below the west face of Mt. Pandim, through dwarf azaleas and rhododendron forest brings us to Zemathang. Take your first steps on the Onglakthing glacier and climb up to the shores of the high-altitude Samity lake, reputed to be the sacred source of the Prek river. Ringed by prayer flags, the lake mirrors the reflections of Forked Peak, Kabru North, Goecha Peak and other lofty snow-capped peaks. Trekking duration: approx. 3 Hrs. Overnight in Camp.

Day 17 :	Samity Lake – Goecha-La (4940m) – Thangshing
Leave early this morning, to avoid the fog and clouds that descend on the pass shortly after sunrise. The track to Goecha-La climbs steeply through moraines. From the pass, ringed with colorful prayer flags, we can view Khangchendzonga and beyond, to the Talung glacier. Trekking duration: approx. 7 Hrs. Overnight in Camp.

Day 18 :	Thangshing – Lam Pokhari (4230m)
he trail descends steeply and then climbs again upwards through high, alpine meadows dotted with tiny lakes. Trekking duration: approx. 5 Hrs. Overnight in Camp.

Day 19 :	Labdang – Tashiding (1740m)
An easy walk, as the terrain brings us lower with the atmosphere becoming more humid and heavier as we descend. Trekking duration: approx. 5 Hrs. Overnight in Camp.

Day 20 :	Tashiding – Martam
We pick up our vehicle today and drive to Tashiding, perched on the top of a hill skirted by two rivers and one of the most isolated monasteries in Sikkim. We continue our drive to Martam (approx. 4 Hrs.) and check-in at hotel.

Day 21 :	Martam – Gangtok by car (1h)
A short drive en route to Gangtok brings us to the beautiful and imposing Rumtek monastery, reputed for its religious Tibetan art. Visitors are welcome to attend prayers. Check-in at hotel. Afternoon is at leisure to explore Gangtok.

Day 22 :	Gangtok – Bagdogra – Delhi
A drive of approx. 6 hrs., brings us to Bagdogra in time to board our flight back to Delhi. Transfer directly to the international airport.