Wilderness
Trek (Trek to Kancenjunga, Dzongri & Goche
La)
This trek leads one up to the Goche-la
pass in the West Sikkim Himalayas. After
a scenic drive from Gangtok, sampling
the rich Sikkimese culture all the way,
we reach trail head at Yuksom. The trek
originates in Yuksom and takes one through
virgin forests, icy cold rivulets, High
Mountain passes and breathtaking valleys
surrounded by snow clad mountains. The
highlights are the magnificent view of
the Kanchenjunga Range from Dzongri and
the close-up view of the Kanchenjunga
massif from Goecha-la. The last village
on the trek is Tshoka after which there
are no permanent habitations, save the
Yak herders sheds in the wilderness.
Itinerary
Day 01:
Meet upon
arrival at Kathmandu airport
by GE, Kathmandu representative
and transfer to the Hotel.After
getting refreshed, and having
lunch, proceed for walking
tour to Kathmandu durbar square
visiting, ancient palace,
living goddess temple Kumari
temple, Hanuman Dhoka and
Kastamandap temple. Overnight
stay at a hotel. (D)
Day
02:
Proceed
on sight seeing tour to Swoyambhunath
stupa also known as monkey
temple, Patan city known as
city of fine arts, Pashupatinath
temple the holiest shrine
of the Hindu people and Boudhnath
stupa. Overnight stay at a
hotel. (B,D)
Day
03:
Transfer
to the domestic airport to connect
the flight to Bhadrapur and
upon arrival at Bhadrapur airport
receive by the representative
of our Darjeeling agent and
drive further to Gangtok after
completion of immigration formalities
at the border (145km/6hrs) Overnight
at Hotel Netuk House OR Hotel
Norkhill. (B,L,D)
Day
04:
We
spend the day in Gangtok (1600m)
for sightseeing, acclimatization
and trek permits – AM:
Ganesh Tok View Point, Enchay
Monastery, Handicrafts Centre,
and Flower Show (if available).
PM: Institute of Tibetology
and Rumtek Monastery (24km/
1hr drive each way from Gangtok).
Overnight at Hotel Netuk House
OR Norkhill. (B,L,D)
Day
05:
Drive
to Yuksom via Rabongla (1750m;
160km; 8hrs). The drive is
through typical Sikkimese
countryside. We pass terraced
rice fields, orange orchards,
cardamom and ginger plantations.
We drop down to the Teesta
valley, climb up to Rabong
la and again drop down to
the Rangit valley before we
proceed to Tashiding and Yuksom.
Overnight at Hotel Tashi Gang.
(B,L,D)
Day
06:
Trek
begins. Yuksom to Tshoka (3200m;
15km; 6hrs). The trek from
Yuksom begins through a tropical
jungle, which changes into
a temperate one by the time
you reach Tshoka. The first
few hours are a gradual climb,
high on the right bank of
the Prek Chu (river). We cross
three icy cold streams over
bridges till we reach the
one across the Prek Chu. We
stop for hot lunch at the
last of the three streams.
From the Prek Chu Bridge to
Tshoka is a steep climb of
about an hour. Overnight at
Tented Camp. (B,L,D)
Day
07:
Dzongri
to Thangsing (3030m; 7km;
4hrs). From Dzongri we descend
to the Prek Chuk and cross
over to Thangsing, which is
located at the head of the
beautiful valley of Onglathang.
The descent is through thick
forests of rhododendron and
silver firs and we stop for
hot lunch on the bank of a
cool mountain stream. Overnight
at Tented Camp. (B,L,D)
Day
08:
Thangsing
to Chemathang (4500m; 6km;
4hrs). The trek is all along
the gentle valley through
which flows the Prek Chu.
High mountains surround the
valley on both sides. The
snow-clad peaks of Narsing,
Tenzing Kang and Pandim, are
so near, that you feel you
can touch them. Several small
streams flowing from the mountain
crisscross the valley and
the lush meadows are home
to several yak herders’
sheds. We will reach Lake
Samity, in Chemathang by lunchtime.
The lake lies in a small valley,
at the foot of Pandim and
is fed by the melting snows
from it. It is a sacred lake
and a place of pilgrimage
for devout Buddhists. We camp
by the serene lake for the
night.
Overnight at Tented Camp.
(B,L,D)
Day
09 :
Dzongri to
Goecha La and return to Thangsing.
Today is the longest day of
the trek. We get up early in
the morning and trek through
glacial moraines to the 4940m
high pass of Goecha La. The
Kanchenjunga massif, looming
in front of you gets closer
as you near the pass. It takes
about three hours to reach the
pass. This pass leads to North
Sikkim and the close view of
the Kanchenjunga massif from
here is the highlight of the
trek. We must make an early
beginning as the clouds begin
to obscure the view from late
morning onwards. We return to
Thangsing (two hours) for lunch
after which we continue to Thangsing,
(three hours) where we camp
for the night.
Overnight at Tented Camp. (B,L,D)
Day
10:
Thangsing
to Bakhim (3000m; 12km; 5hrs).
We take the alternate route
to Bakhim, avoiding the steep
climb to Dzongri. The route
is high on the right bank
of the Prek Chu and passes
through a moss and lichens
filled jungle of rhododendrons,
magnolias, oak and other denizens
of the sub
temperate zone. We halt for
hot lunch at Pithang before
descending to Bakhim.
Overnight at Tented Camp.
(B,L,D)
Day
11:
Bakhim
to Yuksom (12km; 5hrs). Bakhim
is situated just below Tshoka
and we return to Yuksom by
the same route as before.
We make an early beginning
from Bakhim so that we reach
Yuksom by lunchtime. After
lunch we can take in some
of the sights of Yuksom. Yuksom
occupies a special place in
Sikkimese history. It was
here that the first Chogyal
or Religious King of Sikkim
was crowned in 1642. This
place is called orbugang and
it is situated on a small
hillock near the center of
the village.
Overnight at Hotel Tashi Gang.
(B,L,D)
Day
12 :
Drive
to Darjeeling via Pemayangste
(120km; 8hrs). We stop to
visit Pemayangste Monastery
on the way. Pemayangste is
about two hours away from
Yuksom. The drive is through
typical Sikkimese countryside
along the Rangit River valley
till we cross the Teesta at
Melli, and begin the climb
to Darjeeling.
Overnight at Hotel The Elgin.
(B,L,D)
Day
13 :
Sightseeing
in Darjeeling (2134m). AM
– Tea Garden, Tibetan
Refugee Centre and H.M.I./Zoo.
PM – Toy Train Ride
to Ghoom, Railway Museum and
Ghoom Monastery. Overnight
at Hotel The Elgin. (B,L,D)
