Treasures of Kangchendzonga: An Historic Tour of Darjeeling & A Trek to Kangchendzonga in Sikkim, India --- Trip Dates: November 17 to December 6, 2010

KarmaQuest has specially designed this journey to Darjeeling and Sikkim to give you a taste of daily life in a Himalayan kingdom.

The trip begins in historic Delhi, from where you'll fly to the base of the Himalaya, and climb by road to Darjeeling, famed for its tea. In Sikkim, you'll spend nine days trekking through Sikkim's pristine forests, camping beneath snow-covered peaks, including Mt. Kangchendzonga (photo left), third highest peak in the world and guardian of Sikkim and Kangchendzonga National Park. Another highlight of the trip is attending a Kagyet Dance festival at Phodong Monastery, an all-day Buddhist dance ritual performed by masked and silk robed monks. Before and after the trek, you'll visit Sikkim's premier monasteries, Pemayangtse and Rumtek, and rest your feet at the capitol of Sikkim, Gangtok.

Itinerary:

Day 1    Depart US, travel to Delhi, India (Meals on board)

Day 2     Arrive in Delhi: Our in-country representative will meet and greet you on arrival and transfer you to your hotel.

Day 3     Fly Delhi to Bagdogra, drive to Darjeeling: Morning transfer to domestic airport in Delhi. Flying south of the Himalaya, you'll see a snow-covered horizon of the world's tallest peaks. Drive 4-5 hrs to Darjeeling, arriving in time for afternoon tea at your heritage hotel.

Day 4     Darjeeling: From this hilltop vantage, you'll see Mt. Kangchendzonga, third highest peak in the world, peaks of Nepal and Tibet. Tour the main sights of Darjeeling, and overnight in a cozy Victorian room.

Day 5     Darjeeling to Pemayangtse/Pelling: Descend to cross the Rangit Khola (river) separating Darjeeling from Sikkim and on to Pemayangtse Monastery (4+ hrs). Pemayangtse Monastery is the one of the most important and oldest monasteries of Sikkim, containing antique idols, frescoes and a unique intricately carved wood. Overnight in Pelling.

Day 6     Kechopalri, a Wish Fulfilling Lake, & Yuksom: Rise early to see a spectacular sunrise over the Sikkim Himalaya from the hotel. After breakfast, we'll drive to one of Sikkim's holiest pilgrimage sites - Kechopalri Lake - known to Hindus and Buddhist for granting visitors' wishes in exchange for an offering. Continue driving a short distance to Yuksom, a quaint community at the edge of Kangchendzonga National Park and Buffer Zone. O/N in Yuksom

Day 7     Trek Yuksom to Sachen: Begin with a morning trek (about 4 hrs) through the rich and diverse forests of Kangchendzonga National Park. Watch for an amazing variety of birds, trees and medicinal plants. The trek follows a gentle up and down, following the Prek Chu (river). Camp at 7000'.

Day 8     Trek Sachen to Tsokha: After breakfast, climb steeply up through rhododendron and magnolia forests to Tsokha, a small Tibetan settlement, about 3-4 hrs walk. Camp at 10,760' with views of Mt. Pandim and distant Darjeeling.

Day 9     Trek Tsokha to Dzongri: Ascend through a magical forest of towering rhododendron and fir trees: "one of the most beautiful forests in the entire Himalaya." Camp at 12,600'.

Day 10    Dzongri: Rest and acclimatization day, with an early morning hike to a view point. Visit a yak herders' camp. Enjoy a "day off." Camp at 12,600'.

Day 11   Trek Dzongri to Thangsing: Descend into the upper Prek Chu valley, crossing alpine meadows and fir and rhododendron forests. Camp in a wide glaciated valley, framed by glacial moraine. Climb to a lookout point on Kangchendzonga. Camp at 12,000'.

Day 12    Trek Thangsing to Lamuni: After lunch, continue up a long valley, amidst aromatic rhododendron shrubs, once illegally collected for making incense, a Buddhist offering. Mt. Kangchendzonga and nearby snowy peaks loom on the horizon 13,000'.

Day 13    Trek Lamuni to Goechela and descend to Thangsing: Rise before sunrise to reach the pass in time to catch the best views of the peaks before the clouds rise. Climb slowly up the last rise to Goechela (16,400'), for an exhilarating close-up view of Mt. Kangchendzonga. Descend to overnight in camp at Thangsing (12,000').

Day 14    Trek Thangsing to Tsokha: Take an alternate route from Thangsing to Phedang, hiking through a magical forest of towering firs. Sikkim's forests are a source of much pride, and are protected inside this national park. Continue to Tsokha and camp (10,760').

Day 15    Trek Tsokha to Yuksom: Descend through temperate and sub-tropical forests, alive with butterflies, birds, and lush greenery to reach Yuksom by mid-afternoon. Overnight at a hotel. (5,800')

Day 16    Drive Yuksom to Temi: Travel by road, winding up and down through Sikkim's vertical landscape, passing scattered villages where cardamom grows, to the tea gardens of Temi. Visit the Temi Tea estate and overnight at a family home. (5600')

Day 17    Drive to Gangtok: Drive to Gangtok (about 2 hrs) where you'll check into a Sikkimese style hotel. You'll visit Do-Drul Chorten, one of the Sikkim's most important stupas, and the Institute of Tibetology, a museum/study center of sacred historic texts and artifacts. You'll have free time to do some shopping in Gangtok's main bazar, on Mahatma Gandhi Marg (street). Overnight in Gangtok. (5800')

Day 18    Kagyet Dance: Today you'll attend an all-day Buddhist dance ritual performed by masked and silk robed monks. This dance marks the coming of a new year. It is indeed a rare privilege to witness such an authentic demonstration of religious celebration, as few Westerners have. Return to overnight in Gangtok.

Day 19    Visit Rumtek Monastery and return to Gangtok: Built in the traditional Tibetan style, the monastery is a masterpiece of color and religious art, crowning a hilltop facing Gangtok. The reliquary chorten (stupa) of the Karmapa lineage is most impressive. You'll return to Gangtok in the afternoon, with time to explore your own/rest.

Day 20    Drive to Bagdogra, fly to Delhi and the US: Transfer by vehicle (approx 4.5 hrs) to Bagdogra domestic airport and board a flight to Delhi. (Our services end in Bagdogra). Transfer to the international airport to wait for your flight to the US, arriving in the US the same calendar day.

Note: A two day tour to Delhi and the Taj Mahal can be arranged as an extension to the Darjeeling and Sikkim trip prior or post trip.

Trip Cost:

4-6 persons US $3395/person

7-10 persons US $3050/person

Single supplement US $500/person

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