Sikkim (8 days, 7NIGHTS)

Tour Route: Gangtok – Lachen – Gurudongmar – Lachung – Gangtok

Tour Duration: 8 Days, 7 Nights Estimate travel dates: April 3 to 10

**************************************************************************************************** BRIEF ITINERARY:

April 3: Bagdogra Arrival. Transfer to Gangtok April 4: Depart for North Sikkim. Stop at waterfall. Overnight at Lachen April 5: Drive to Lake Gurudongmar. Overnight at Lachen April 6: Lachen to Lachung. Enroute play in the blisteringly cold Teesta river April 7: Yumthang Valley visit. Overnight Lachung April 8: Back to Gangtok with stops at Singhik and Mangan April 9: Changu Lake and Enchey Monastery Visit April 10: Depart for Bagdogra airport.

DETAILED ITINERARY:

April 3: Fly into Bagdogra; transfer to Gangtok ; O/N Gangtok

Upon your arrival at the airport, a cab will transfer you to Gangtok – a drive of about four hours. We shall reach by evening. After freshening up at the hotel for a bit, let’s head out to MG Road which is Gangtok’s Mall road, and check out some of the cafes and restaurants there.

April 4: Gangtok to Lachen ; O/N Lachen

After an early breakfast, we set out for North Sikkim. We are headed for Lachen (8840 metres) about 6 hours from Gangtok. Opened for tourists in 2000, Lachen is a nature lover’s paradise. Enroute to Lachen is the seven sisters waterfall, where of course we must stop to play in the water.

Waterfalls are a regular part of this route to North Sikkim. As our cabs keep motoring towards Lachen, the hillside is teeming with little streams, springs, waterfalls and furry dogs.

We cross the small hamlet of Mangan, with its flower patches and waterwheels strung with bells set in exquisite gardens.

Four kilometres ahead of Mangan is Singhik, from where one can view Mt. Kanchenjunga (the 3rd highest peak in the world). The route from Mangan to Lachen is beautiful, with the Teesta flowing briskly, cold as cold can be, and the mountains standing tall and beautiful.

We reach Lachen by dusk, and check in to the hotel and have some hot chai. More partying in thenight!

April 5: Morning trip to Gurudongmar Lake; O/N Lachen

Today is the most significant day of the trip! We are headed to Lake Gurudongmar – India’s Second Highest Lake.

Note: Visits to Lake Gurudongmar depend a lot on the day’s weather. In case weather is bad, and snow blocks the road or there is too much snow, the route to the lake is closed. So, if that happens, we will have to make alternative plans to do something else.

But in case weather remains normal, we shall leave early in the morning around 5 am. So early in the morning, there will still be a thousand stars in the night sky, and the mountains will be shining silver.

Enroute if weather follows the previous years’ patters, we should see a lot of snow.

For those who have never seen snow, it will be a surreal experience. Even for those who have seen it, the stark mountains, and the snow shrouding the cliffs, the rocks, the streams, the metal army bridges make for a surreal sight.

After about two, two and half hours of driving, we will pass through the last inhabited village – Thangu (13,000 feet and there are few places where nature overwhelmed me as much as it did in this region.

The mountains with the alpine steppe vegetation are a mix of green, red and purple and these are colours you will see in very few places.

When we see a nice meadow of snow, we shall get down from the vehicles and play there. Make snowballs, throw them at your friends, make a snowman, roll about in the snow, get the child inside you to come out today!

We shall then continue on our journey, and pass through Chopta Valley, with its breathtaking alpine scenery, meandering rivers and snow capped peaks.

Lake Gurudongmar (altitude of 17,100 feet) is a sacred lake, and is flanked by snowy mountains and clouds hanging onto the mountains like cotton candy. Tibet lies just a stone’s throw away. The winds arefurious here, but try walking around the periphery of the lake. In winters, and most probably in March too, it will be fully frozen and covered in snow! Ever sat in the middle of a frozen lake? Yes, she is sitting on the frozen lake (in the pic)!!!!

After spending an hour or so there, we will head back to lower altitude as its not advisable to stay at such high altitude for long. We will be back in Lachen by evening. April 6: Lachen to Lachung ; O/N Lachung

After a lazy breakfast, we shall head towards Lachung. Most travel operators hurry to Lachung on the previous day itself from Gurudonmar. They first drive back to Lachen, reach there by late afternoon and then again drive 3.5 hours to Lachung. This makes the whole journey very arduous and takes away from the amazing time one had at Gurudongmar. With all this time spent in the car, one does not get any time to enjoy smaller moments, of stopping by a river or a stream, dancing on the road, sitting on a hillock and looking down at the valley, watching the sun set.

And that is why we broke the journey, stayed back in Lachen itself the previous day, and today head to Lachung. The route is pretty, the Teesta river flows by the roadside, and the mountains look as magnificent as ever.

We shall reach Lachung by late afternoon. Let’s freshen up a bit and do something today. All those who are interested can follow me and we can do a small hike. After all those hours in the car, it’ll be nice to warm up a bit and stretch our legs. The hike will be moderate, not too difficult. Those who don’t wish to hike can go sit by the stream, or read a book or talk to somelocals.

We can ask the hotel and arrange for a bonfire at night. Sing songs, dance, warm ourselves near the bonfire, and later watch the thousands of stars that cover the night sky! If we are lucky, we might catch a few shooting stars too!

April 7: Day trip to Yumthang Valley ; O/N Lachung

Yumthang is Sikkim’s very own Valley of Flowers and in March, even though there wont be too many flowers blooming, you can see rhododendrons, and a hundred variety of orchids, chimals and blue poppies. There are yaks grazing lazily and towering peaks and the landscape, I dare say is a little like the Lord of the Rings movies.

The route from Lachung to Yumthang is along the Singba forest reserve. In recent years, Yumthang has caught the eye of foreign filmmakers.

April 8: Drive back to Gangtok, shopping ; O/N Gangtok

After a lazy breakfast, we shall drive back to Gangtok. We shall reach there by late afternoon. Once we are there, rest for a bit. The evening has been kept free for shopping or walking about MG road. Later, we can go out for dinner at one of the nice cafes, or go to a lounge with some live music. After four days of living in the mountains of North Sikkim, let’s let our hair down and dance and groove to the music of the Gangtok clubs!

April 9: Day trip to Tsongmo Lake and Nathula Pass; O/N Gangtok

After breakfast, we shall go to the pretty Changu Lake. Set in the middle of the mountains, it is an absolutely pristine crystal clear lake and revered by Buddhists. Disclaimer: Weather at Nathula Pass can deteriorate within a few days. So all entry permits to Nathula are only decided a day prior to the visit. In case, the weather is too bad that day, we will do sightseeing in Gangtok city itself, else if the weather remains stable, we shall go to both Tsongmo Lake and Nathula Pass.

Nathula Pass is the border between India and China in East Sikkim that is accessible to tourists. Once you are here, check out the border, the Indian and Chinese guards, spend some time with the Indian soldiers and talk to them and find out how life is in the higher reaches of the Himalayas.

It’s our last night in Sikkim! Let’s make the most of it, folks! Let’s dress up and go for dinner to one of the snazzy lounges in Gangtok.

April 10: Transfer to Bagdogra airport , trip ends

After breakfast, a cab will take you to the airport at Bagdogra. With this comes the conclusion of the trip, mi amigos and hope you love the itinerary! What's included? (8 Days, 7 nights Sikkim trip)

All accommodation on twin sharing basis Airport Transfers Breakfast meals for 7 days All transport within Sikkim In-line permits for North Sikkim – Lachen, Lachung, Gurudongmar, Yumthang Permits for Nathula Pass Entrance fees to all scenic spots listed in the itinerary Government taxes and service charges except tips for tour guides and drivers

otal Cost: Rs 26,000 per person (if booked on or before Jan 31st) Rs 27,000 per person (if booked after Jan 31st)

Flights

On April 3: Arrive at Bagdogra airport before 2 pm On April 10: Depart from Bagdogra airport post 12 noon

Price Exclusions:

Flight tickets to and from Guwahati Personal Expenses: Expenses of a purely personal nature such as laundry, drinks, fax, telephone calls, optional activities, sightseeing which are not included in the tour itinerary. Meals: Lunches and dinners aren’t part of the cost inclusions Any other thing not included in the itinerary

Cancellation Terms:

45 days before the trip start date: fullrefund Between 45 and 30 days of trip start date: 50% refund Between 30 and 14 days of trip start date: 25% refund In last 14 days before trip start date: no refund

Measures taken by OHOT to make this trip as safe as possible

1. We are staying in credible, reliable hotels for seven days in Sikkim and all of them are following proper safety and sanitation norms regarding COVID.

2. Most of the places we are visiting in North Sikkim are offbeat, and will have less people around. We are taking a conscious effort to be away from most crowded places.

3. All trippers will have to submit a COVID negative certificate two days before the trip. This is just to ensure maximum safety for everyone in the group.