Destinations covered:

Featured activities:

About the trip:

This 11 day journey incorporates a wide range of activities and experiences, providing you with a varied holiday at the foothills of magnificent snow-capped mountains.

You are not only visiting Sikkim's oldest monasteries but getting a real insight in a Monks life as well by interacting with the Monks. The holiday includes a visit to the pilgrimage site of Khecheopalri Lake, which is considered to be a holy lake by both the Buddhists and the Hindus, and the heritage site of Norbugang where the first King of Sikkim was consecrated and crowned. The serenity of these places is intensified by the colorful praying flags flapping in the wind.

Driving through the terraced paddy fields we go to Sikkim's only tea estate, providing the world with first-class tea that is marked by its exotic fragrance and flavor. We will visit the Reshi hot springs and Tendong Biodiversity Park. The last being a place that is home to 26% of all flowering plants to be found in India and where about 9 Types of Major Forests Types are found. The Khagchendzonga National Park, which rich natural diversity & cultural ethnicity is the starting point of many treks. Treks of different levels can be arranged, so please send us your requirements and we will provide you with a tailor-made itinerary.

Overnight, we stay in traditional Bhutia villages where the locals welcome us in their houses. And as we watch them perform their traditional songs and dances, don't shy away when you are asked to sing a typical song of your culture as well!

Itinerary:

Day1

Bagdroga and Gangtok - Arrive in Bagdogra and transfer to Gangtok (4 ½ hours drive). Overnight in a guest house.

Day2

Gangtok and Rumtek - Visit the Handicraft Centre and Institute of Tibetology in Gangtok. Drive to Rumtek, afternoon hike. Overnight in a eco-resort.

Day3

Rumtek and Temi - Visit the old Rumtek monastery Drive to Temi in the afternoon, walk around the tea estate, visit the Tea factory and observe the tea processing. Overnight in a traditional Bhutia house.

Day4

Namchi - Drive to namchi, on the way visit the Tendong Biodiversity park and Tendong hill. Overnight in a hotel.

Day5

Namchi - Free time to explore Namchi. Visit the Boomtar Blind School, activity with the school children.

Day6

Kewzing - Drive to Dalep Village via the Reshi Hot Springs. From Dalep we walk to Kewzing village where we will stay in a homestay.

Day7

Kewzing - Visit the monasteries of Ralang, Kundragling and Doling. In the evening we attend a cultural show where traditional Bhutia Dances and songs are being performed. Overnight in a homestay.

Day8

Pemayangtse - Drive from Kewzing to Pemayangtse. Afternoon walk to Pemayangtse Monastery.

Day9

Yuksam - Drive to khecheopalri Lake. Hike down to Rathong bridge, cross the river and continue the drive to Yuksam. Overnight in a homestay or hotel.

Day10

Yuksam - Morning visit to the Dubdi and Norbugang monastries. Visit the National park of Yuksam and end the day at the KCC visitor information centre. Overnight in a homestay or hotel.

Day11

Baghdogra - Depart to Baghdogra airport, 5 hours driving by car, for you onward flight.

How this trip will benefit the local community and environment:

With every holiday we want to ensure that the benefits go directly to the local people. Where possible activities are owned, operated and managed by the local communities in the locations that you visit.

The Namgyal Institute of Tibetology we visit is promoting research on the religion, history, language, art and culture of the people of the Tibetan cultural area which includes Sikkim. The NIT's library holds one of the largest collections of Tibetan works in the world outside Tibet as well as a museum of Tibetan iconography and religious art. The library has published the Bulletin of Tibetology since 1964 and numerous books over the years. We ensure contributions towards funds that are used for renovation and maintenance of works and artifacts.

Our way of supporting local artists and weavers creates clear economic linkages from tourism, while helping them preserve their tradition alive. We visit some of the most beautiful and interesting temples of Sikkim, most of them reproductions of temples in Tibet. At the monasteries donations can be given that will be used for the welfare of the community.

During this impressive trip we often stay in Home stays. This promotes village tourism and helps the local communities benefit fully from the economic opportunities of tourism. The concept of Homestay Operator was introduced in the rural areas of Sikkim with an aim to facilitate alternative source of income directly for the rural people in a sustainable way.

The system of Home stay Operator has incorporated a very efficient way of ensuring that income from tourism is shared among several families. Depending on the number of visitors, the hosts have agreed upon a system where they circulate the guests amongst themselves so that everyone benefits from tourism.

There was a growing concern amongst the local Sikkimese community to minimize the various negative impacts of tourism and actively conserve the resources that attracted visitors to this area. Out of this shared concern, different stakeholders from the community along with our local partners work together under the banner of Khangchendzonga Conservation Committee (KCC).

In Yuksam we will visit their information centre and get the opportunity to interact with members who can inform you about the issues going on in this region and the local initiatives that are being taken. Funds used from similar holidays have been used to form an association of porters who have been trained to minimize the human impacts on the environment whilst in nature. They make sure all garbage will be brought back to Yuksam where it is sold to the scrap collectors. These funds go to KCC.

All the porters are insured by the KCC and have been taught to keep a check on, and monitor all the activities inside the national park. Any illegal activity inside the National park is reported to the KCC office and the forest Department.