Difficulty: Moderate / fun
Day 1: Arrive in Kolkata (previously known as Calcutta), transfer to hotel, rest & meet representatives.
Day 2: Visit Hope Project (street children Kolkata - for more info visit our charity projects page or visit www.hopefoudation.ie). Tour briefing.
Day 3: Fly to Bagdogra airport - nearest airport for Sikkim & Darjeeling. Transfer to Darjeeling by car (2 - 3 hrs). Rest at hotel. Briefing & handouts.
Day 4: Walk to the famous Darjeeling Tea Plantation & visit the gardens - see picking & packing and also taste. (6 hrs walking in total). Evening Nepali culture party.
Darjeeling Tea Plantation
Day 5: Morning - 5am sunrise drive to famous Tiger Hill. In afternoon visit Himalayan Mountaineering Institute - founded to commemorate Tenzing Norgay & Edmund Hillary's ascend of Everest in 1953.
Day 6: Drive to Pelling, Sikkim 5 hrs (beautiful riverside drive, great landscape views) . Meeting with Sikkimese locals & music, rest.
Day 7: Waking up to a beautiful sunrise, with views of the 3rd highest peak in the world (Kanchanjunga, 8590m). After breakfast we take you on a jungle walk down from Pelling to visit our charity project there. Walk back to Galzing Bazar - 1 hr, drive back to hotel. Afternoon & evening football match - Group vs guides & staff.
Day 8: Trek to Rani Dunga (Queen Rock)- full day. Start to walk after visiting Monastery through the dense forest and ridge. 3 hrs walk gets you to the site called Ranidunga with spectacular views. Before you get to Ranidunga you cross an ancient tree with a hole through it's main stump which has many beliefs & stories about it. We will tell you the stories when we get there:). Total 5 hrs walk. Drinks, party & Sikkimese dinner in evening. Last night in Pelling.
Day 9: Pack up early morning before breakfast. After breakfast walking down from Pelling Sangacholing- crossing several waterfalls and beautiful villages. After 6 hours walking arrive in Khechopalri Lake - (28km from Pelling by taxi). At the height of 6000ft it is holy and wish-fulfilling, according to the Buddhist belief. The lake is the emanation of Goddess Tara blessed by guru Rempoche. Drive to Yuksam.
Khechopalri Lake
Day 10: Yuksam - the 1st capital of Sikkim (35km from Pelling at the height of 5500ft). Visit oldest monastery - Dubdi Monastery and Coronation throne - This was the place where the first Chogyal of the Kingdom of Sikkim was enthroned in 1641 AD by the three learned lamas. It's from here that the trek to the base camp of Mt. Kanchenjunga begins. Evening Sikkimese traditional dance with Sikkimese drinks, called Tungba, made by Millet (quite like Japanese Shaki).
Day 11: Pack up before breakfast. Start walk through village, beautiful views, on to rough road, 4 hours walk to Tashiding Monastery (1717). After visiting the monastery drive 2 hrs to Ravangla - a relatively new tourist spot in south Sikkim. Situated at an elevation of 8000 ft this small picturesque semi town is on the Gangtok-Gaysiling highway.
Lamas in Ravangla (8000ft) [left]
View from Ravangla [right]
Day 12: Wake up to a view of the snow ranges of Greater Himalayas - Mt. Kanchenjunga, Mt. Pandim, Mt. Sinialchu, Mt. Kabru are all clearly visible from your hotel. A 12 km trek from Ravangla through the Oak, Pine, Rhododendron, Magnolia and fir forests will take you to Mainam peak at 10,600 ft. Trek back to Ravangla - 5 hrs total. Evening party including charades.
Day 13: Pack up before breakfast, drive to rafting point - Teesta river, (level 2) for 3 hrs, then drive to Gangtok, capital of Sikkim. Evening walk, go to market, free for independent activities.
Day 14: After breakfast trek starts to Rumtek monastery, the largest monastery in Sikkim, built in 16th century by Wangchuk Dorje. Rumtek Monastery is the most cherished site of almost every Buddhist. Walk through the beautiful village of Rumtek and see the geological park and agriculture. Trekking uphill, coming back by car, 4 hrs trek, 40 mins drive. Go to local pub after dinner, one of the best places to go out in Sikkim.
Day 15: After breakfast visiting handicraft and handlooms centre and flower exhibition - afternoon - shopping, relax, massage?! Whatever people like they can do.. last night in Sikkim so saying farewell to most of the guides & staff.
Day 16: Drive to airport, fly to Kolkata, meet the representatives, drive to hotel, check in. Evening party in hotel.
Day 17: Sightseeing in Kolkata and free day for shopping, and at night fly home to Ireland.
