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Day 01: Arrive Delhi :
On arrival met at the airport and transfer to the
hotel. O/N stay at hotel. |
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Day 02: Delhi - Bagdogra - Darjeeling:
Fly to Bagdogra. On arrival drive to Darjeeling
(2134 m). 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: Darjeeling - Yuksam
Drive to Yuksam,on arrival check in at hotel, day
free O/N stay at hotel. |
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Day 04: Yuksam-Bakkhim (05hours 2744 mt)
This is a long trekking day and you should expect to
be pretty tired by the time you arrive at
Bakkhim.O/N in camps. |
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Day 05: Bakkhim -Phedang(04hour 3760 mt)
We begin today’s walk by trekking for about one hour
up to the picturesque village of Tshoka. Tshoka is
home to a colony of Tibetan refugees who have
erected a small monastery by a small lake. A fairly
steep climb above Tshoka takes you into beautiful
rhododendron forests, and you continue along a
well-defined uphill path to Phedang (approx. 2/3
hours from Tshoka). Today we will be doing a shorter
trail since we will be gaining much altitude. |
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Day 06: Phedang-Dzongri(03hour- 4320 mt)
Another short day’s walking today as we are now
treading above the 4,000-meter mark. We will be
setting up camp by lunchtime and suggest that you
spend a relaxed afternoon acclimatizing. A brief
climb beyond brings you to a meadow where we can
pitch our tents in a campsite with views of Koktang,
Rathong, Kabru, Khangchendzonga, Simvo and Pandim.
As usual on trek the choice of campsite depends on
many variables, one of the most important is the
close supply of water. |
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Day 07: Dzongri (Acclimatization)
Today we will explore the area, with the chance to
climb the small peaks near to the campsite for
tremendous views. This is particularly worthwhile in
the early morning and the evening. While you can
rest if you wish, there will be a short
acclimatization walk around the local area to help
prepare us for the next few days. |
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Day 08: Dzongri -Thangshing - (06hour - 3800 mt)
Today we ascend gradually over open hillside for a
mile or so to a low ridge visible from the campsite
(13,500 ft/4,115m). From here, chortens and prayer
flags overlooking fabulous views of Khangchendzonga
and Pandim make ideal photocompositions. You then
descend, at first traversing down towards Pandim on
the far side of the valley, and then dropping
steeply down on a good path through rhododendron
forest to the Prek Chu River at 12,300 ft/3,749 m.
for lunch (3 hours). There is a new trekking lodge
here that the crew may use for cooking. We cross the
river and ascend gradually for one and-a-half-hour,
through pinewoods to reach a grassy campsite,
beneath the shapely unclimbed peak of Pandim. A new
hut has been built here, which may be available for
cooking and even sleeping. |
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Day 09: Thangshing - Samiti Lake (03hour- 4298 mt)
Today’s walk is fairly short to give you plenty of
opportunity to rest before tomorrow’s big day. You
begin by continuing your walk parallel to the Prek
Chu River. Sacred Samiti is a beautiful emerald
green lake nestled in the midst of brightly colored
wind-torn prayer flags. |
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Day 10: Samiti Lake-Goecha La-Samiti lake (4984mt)
An early start today to beat the inclement weather
conditions that is common during the latter part of
the day. Set off in the early morning climbing the
hill behind the Lake before traversing the moraine
and then descending to the sandy bed of an empty
lake. The whole area above Samiti Lake is called the
Zemathang Plateau. You cross this under the shadow
of Pandim and then ascend moraine to a height of
about 15,700 feet where you rest above a glaciated
lake mottled with snow and icy pinnacles. The Goecha
La Pass is another hour away. We traverse the lake
and proceed across a slope, and then on a
well-trodden path to our objective, which is
festooned with brightly colored prayer flags. The
views of the east flank of Khangchendzonga and the
mountains and valleys in the distance are stunning.
We then return to our campsite at Samiti Lake. |
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Day 11: Samti-Tshoka(08hour - 3800 mt)
It’s worth getting up early to take a short hike
to the ridge behind the camp. From here there are
fantastic views of Khangchendzonga and one can look
back up to the Goecha La. Leaving Thangsing, you
take a different route, avoiding the long climb to
the Dzongri Plateau. Descending to the Prek Chu, you
contour around jungle to emerge at Phedang. Continue
to Tshoka along another steep descent. Here there is
a new trekking lodge we passed on our way up that we
shall hopefully use this time. This, of course,
saves a day on the return march, but does involve
quite a long day. |
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Day 12: Tshoka-Yuksam (06hour)
Today you descend to the Prek Chu following the
route you took up on the first day, and then contour
gradually downwards to reach the village of Yuksam
our starting point. |
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Day 13: Yuksam-Bagdogra-Delhi:
morning drive to Bagdogra time to catch flight for
delhi, On arrival met at the airport and transfer to
the hotel. O/N stay at hotel. |
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Day 14 : Delhi/Departure :
Morning transfer to the airport time to catch flight
for onward destinations. |