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Day
01
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Arrive Delhi, where you will be met and transfered
to your hotel. (Hotel B&B)
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Day
02
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Delhi -
Bagdogra (by plane) - Darjeeling (2130m)
by car.
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A charming
4-hour journey, through Assam tea plantations and tiny
villages takes us to Darjeeling. Built on top of a ridge,
Darjeeling faces the Himalaya and is a popular destination
for Westerners and Bengalis alike.
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Day
03
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Darjeeling - Pemayangtse (2080 m) in 5 h.
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We
visit Pemayangtse monastery, one of the oldest and most
impressive gompas in Sikkim.
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Day
04
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Pemayangtse –
Uttarey (1960) in 5 h. |
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Jeep
ride to Uttarey, small village located near the Nepali
border.
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Day
05
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Uttarey
- Chewabhanjang (3200m) in 5 h. |
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Today
is a steady climb up as we trek towards the international
border of Sikkim and Nepal. We follow a good trail,
heading through dense rhododendron forest.
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Day
06
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Chewabhanjang
- Dhor (3750 m) in 7 h. |
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After
a steep climb through the rhododendron forest, the path
switches between Nepal and Sikkim with spectacular views
down either side of the ridge. It is obvious why the
trail clings to the ridge top, there is simply no way
down on either side, so dense is the rhododendron forest!
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Day
07
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Dhor - Paharey Megu (3900m) in 5 h. |
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Spectacular
views of the mountains ahead. We follow the ridge on
a good path which once again switches from side to side
along the ridge with many short ascents and descents.
Camp on open grazing slopes.
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Day
08
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Paharey Megu -
Camp before Daphe Pass (4100 m) in 5 h. |
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Steady
climb on the west side of the ridge. The terrain becomes
more open as we follow a wide valley, turning east,
in the direction of a large waterfall. Camp by the holy
lakes on the west side of the pass.
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Day
09
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Camp before Daphe
Pass - Daphe Pass (4450 m) - Gomathang
(3750 m) in 5 h. |
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Today
is one of the most beautiful walks of the trek, as we
cross a high mountain pass, offering spectacular views
to the north, of the high mountains of Sikkim, including
Kangchenjunga (8585m.), Kabru (7317m.) and Pandim (6691m.).
We follow at first an easy trail which skirts the edge
of two lakes, surrounded by prayer flags, then a steep
zig-zag path that climbs to the pass. The walk down
to the valley floor follows a good trail across open
slopes at first and then down through the pine and juniper
forest.
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Day
10
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Gomathang - Panding
(4200 m) in 6 h. |
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Up
and down through the rhododendron forest. After Yangshep
(3900 m) we follow a steep path up to Panding.
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Day
11
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Panding –
Dzongri (4020m) in 5h. |
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We
head towards the north-east, descending at first to
a river we cross on a plank bridge. Then we start the
climb to Dzongri where we meet the original "Sikkim
and Kanchenjunga trek" itinerary.
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Day
12
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Dzongri –
Thansing (3930m) in 4h. |
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We
descend through rhododendron forest towards the the
glacial Prek river. We establish our campsite on the
grassy pastures of Thansing. The southern ridge of Kanchenjunga
and the Onglakhing glacier are visible directly ahead
and there are close-up views of Pandim.
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Day
13
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Thansing –
Samity Lake (4200m) in 3h. |
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A pleasant
walk below the west side of Pandim, through dwarf azaleas
and rhododendrons to Zemathang. We take our first footsteps
on the Onglakhing glacier, and climb up to the shores
of the Samity lake, reputed to be the sacred source
of the Prek river. Ringed by prayer flags, the lake
reflects Forked Peak, Kabru North, Gocha Peak and other
snow-capped peaks.
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Day
14
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Samity Lake –
Gocha La (4940m) – Thansing in 7h. |
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We
have to leave quite early this morning, as fog and clouds
descend on the pass shortly after sunrise. The track
to Gocha La climbs steeply through moraines. From the
pass, ringed with colorful prayer flags, we can see
Kanchenjunga and beyond that, the Talung glacier.
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Day
15
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Thansing –
Lam Pokhari (4230m) in 5h. |
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After
a steep descent, we climb through alpine areas and pass
by tiny lakes.
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Day
16
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Lam Pokhari –
Kasturi La (4500m) – Kasturi Odar
(3500m) in 6h. |
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A steep ascent
leads to the pass, from where wedescend through a luxuriant
tropical forest. |
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Day
17
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Kasturi Odar –
Labdang (2000m) in 6h. |
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Today
we will walk in the half-light of the undergrowth, through
a dense forest, where lianas tangle and moss and orchids
hide tree trunks.
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Day
18
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Labdang –
Tashiding (1740m) in 5h. |
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An easy walk,
in an atmosphere becoming more humid and heavier as we
descend. |
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Day
19
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Tashiding –
Martam by car (4h). |
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We
visit the Tashiding monastery, one of the most isolated
in Sikkim, perched on the top of a hill set between
two rivers.
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Day
20
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Martam –
Gangtok by car (1h). |
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En
route we visit Rumtek monastery, reputed for its religious
Tibetan art. Visitors are welcome to attend prayers.
Afternoon at leisure in Gangtok.
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Day
21
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Gangtok –
Bagdogra (by car) – Delhi
(by plane). (Hotel B&B) |
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Day
22
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At
leisure in Delhi. Safety day for your international
flight. (Hotel B&B) |
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Day
23
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Transfer to airport and fly back home. |