Through the Rhododendron Blooms: West Sikkim|WFT

Itinerary:

Day 1 – Sunday, 14th April (includes dinner) Bagdogra – Okhrey

Pick-up from Bagdogra airport. (Please check flight timings before booking your flights; ideally reach Bagdogra by 12 p.m.). We have a group transfer planned from the airport.)  Drive to Okhrey (6 hrs).

Altitude: 9411 ft Overnight at Sherpa Lodge

Day 2 – Monday, 15th April (includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner) Trek: Hilley – Lasune

A short drive from Sombarey gets you Hilley, the start point of the trek.  The route commences with a gentle walk through a mix of bamboo and rhododendron forests teeming with birds, getting you to Barsey.  From there a detour passing through thick temperate forest gets you to your campsite at Lasune.

Trekking duration: 5 hrs / 9 kms Altitude: 9900 ft Overnight in tents

Day 3 – Tuesday, 16th April (includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner) Trek: Barsey – Joreybotey

Today’s walk is an easy but a long one, mainly skirting through rhododendron and mixed temperate forests.  The route is encrusted with silver firs and oaks, which house many spectacular birds like Rufous-vented Yuhina, Red-tailed Minla, and Rufous-bellied Niltava.  En route catch a sneak peek of the Khangchendzonga range.

Trekking duration: 6 hrs / 9 kms Altitude: 9996 ft Overnight in tents

Day 4 – Wednesday, 17th April (includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner) Trek: Joreybotey – Thulo Dhap

Traverse through hemlock and rhododendron forests, and get great views of the mighty Khangchendzonga.  Most part of the walk would be on top of the ridge offering grand views of the valley below.  A final one-hour climb will get you into rhododendron forests thick enough to block sunlight.  On crossing this stupendous forest you reach an open meadow with criss-crossing streams where our camp will be set.

Trekking duration: 5 hrs / 5 kms Altitude: 10118 ft Overnight in tents

Day 5 – Thursday, 18th April (includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner) Trek: Thulo Dhap – Chewa Bhanjyang  A steep two-hour climb will get you to the top ridge of the sanctuary, just above the tree line.  The mighty hemlocks give way to slopes filled with rhododendron setosum bushes.  Traverse the U-shaped valley from where you get grand views of Khangchendzonga on a clear day.  Your campsite will be on the Indo-Nepal border outpost of Chewa Bhanjyang.

Trekking duration: 5 hrs / 7 kms Altitude: 8388 ft Overnight in tents

Day 6 – Friday, 19th April (includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner) Trek: Chewa Bhanjyang – Uttarey – Darap – Pelling (drive)  On the final day of the trek, you will continuously descend through rhododendron forests and sub-temperate forests to reach Uttarey.  From here drive to Pelling (1 hour).

Trekking duration: 4 hrs / 10 kms Altitude: 6551 ft Overnight at Serchhu Farmhouse

Day 7 – Saturday, 20th April (includes breakfast) Pelling  In the morning visit Khecheopalri Lake, a tranquil lake nestled in the midst of verdant mountains. The locals believe it to be a very holy lake.  From here drive to the village of Darap where you will have a traditional lunch.  Thereafter visit the Pemayangtse Monastery, followed by free time for shopping in Pelling.

Overnight at Serchhu Farmhouse

Day 8 – Sunday, 21st April (includes breakfast) Pelling – Bagdogra  Early in the morning leave for Bagdogra airport to catch the flight back home. (Please check flight timings before booking your flights, preferably after 3 p.m.)

Cost: 

INR 48,900 per head on a twin-sharing basis

Inclusions 

Accommodation on a twin-sharing basis in lodges and tents, as mentioned 

All surface travel using a Xylo or similar 

All logistics during the trek, such as tents, guide, cook, and porters 

Meals as mentioned 

English-speaking guide throughout the trek 

All entrance fees to the sites mentioned in Pelling 

Exclusions:

GST at 5% 

Travel from city of origin to Bagdogra and back 

All personal expenses, such as laundry expenses, alcohol, cigarettes or tips 

Personal equipment like backpack and woollen clothes 

Excess stay and meals due to bad weather conditions or strikes, resulting in delay of flights or any other form of transport  Soft drink charges, table drinks, laundry, cigarettes, telephone expenses, beer, and liquor charges

Rescue/medical charges in case needed due to high altitude sickness, any ailment and/or accidents

Any other item not mentioned in Inclusions above