• Arrive at the International airport of Delhi. After the traditional welcome, transfer to the hotel for overnight stay.

Delhi - Bagdogra

• After the breakfast, we are transferred to the airport to catch our flight to Bagdogra. On a clear day we have views of many of the Himalayan giants including Nanda Devi, Dhaulagiri, the Annapurnas, Manaslu, Makalu, Everest and finally, just before we land, of the great bulk of Kanchenjunga.

Bagdogra - Gangtok

• From Bagdogra we have a beautiful afternoon drive through the forests to Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim, from where we enjoy fine views of the Kanchenjunga range.

• In the morning, we drive through the lush countryside to Phodang and Labrang monasteries, which lie a little to the north of Gangtok. In the afternoon, we return to Gangtok and visit the Institute of Tibetology and a Tibetan handicrafts centre.

Gangtok - Yuksom

• This morning we visit Rumtek Monastery, the headquarters of the Kagyu sect of Tibetan Buddhism. From here we have a fairly long drive to the start point of our trek at Yuksom (1,770m). The road winds its way through picturesque countryside and tea plantations. There may be time in the evening to walk up to Dubdek/Dubdi Monastery just above the village.

Yuksom - Tsokha

• The first two days of the trek are mainly through forested areas with plenty of interest for both botanists and birdwatchers. On the first day, we walk along the valley side crossing several small rivers running through the forest. The trail crosses the Prek Chu, a torrent which can be heard thundering from far away, and climbs steeply northwest to the small settlement of Bakhim (2,790m). From here there is a fine view looking back down the valley with ridge upon ridge of forested hills. We continue for another 3km through the forest of magnolia and rhododendron to reach the fairly new Tibetan village of Tsokha (3,050m), where we camp overnight.
  Duration of Trek: 5-6 Hrs

Tsokha - Dzongri

• In the morning, the trail passes through the village of Tsokha and continues to climb north through a thick forest of rhododendron and fir to Phedang (3650m). At Phedang there is a large grassy clearing surrounded by rhododendrons, with clematis Montana climbing everywhere. A steep climb from Phedang brings us out of the forest to a vantage point where we get our first really good views of the main peaks of the Kanchenjunga range. From here the trail is quite easy continuing through shrub rhododendrons to Dzongri (4,020 m) where we camp near a stream.
  Duration of Trek: 5-6 Hrs

• We are now at 4,020m and have a rest day to acclimatize further. There’s a chance to savour the views of the mountain peaks by climbing up to Dzongri Top, a vantage point on a ridge above the campsite, from where one can see the sunrise on Kanchenjunga. From here, we get panoramic views of Kabru (7,353m), Rating (6,678m), Kanchenjunga (8,534m), Koktang (6,147m), Pandim (6,691m) and Narsingh (5,825m). (We can also have some views from the campsite as well). Towards the west, the Singalila ridge, which separates Sikkim from Nepal, can also be seen.

Dzongri - Thangshing

• After breakfast we set off climbing steadily to a ridge (approx. 4,250m), passing herds of yak amongst the scrub, juniper and rhododendron, which are mixed and burnt as incense by the local Buddhists. After cresting the hill the path drops into the valley, and after this steep descent we again cross the Prek Chu into mixed forest. It’s then an hour’s climb from the bridge to our campsite at Thangsing (3,930m), a large grassy area with the valley opening up ahead and fine views of the mountains.

Thangshing - Samiti Lake

• In the morning we take the trail that climbs gently to the north and follows a stream and crosses alpine meadows. We follow this easy trail up the valley beneath the west side of Pandim through dwarf azaleas and rhododendrons, with Thangshing Peak, Khang and Pandim to the right, and Kanchenjunga and Goecha peaks in front. This brings us to the first of the terminal moraines of the Oglathang Glacier from where the superb view of the south face of Kanchenjunga can be enjoyed. In order to capture clear views one has to reach Onglathang early. We climb to the crest of the moraine ridge and find ourselves on the shores of Lake Samiti (4,330m), a beautiful glacial lake ringed by prayer flags and reflecting a number of snow-capped peaks including Pandim.

Samiti Lake - Thangshing

• Today we start early for the steep four-hour climb to the Goecha La Pass (4,940m). The climb begins with a gentle gradient and a little later the steep ascent starts. The trail skirts the lake before ascending a series of moraine ridges on the eastern edge of the Oglathang glacier and then drops to a dry lake at Zemathang. As we climb, we have increasingly spectacular views of the mountains, glaciers and valleys to the south and east. Finally we reach the high point of our trek, Goecha La- marked by prayer flag. Rising more than 4,000m above the Talung Glacier, at a distance of only five kilometers from our viewpoint, is the stunning eastern wall of Kanchenjunga, which includes the five principal summits of the massif and also the impressive Kabru and Rathong peaks. We return to Lake Samiti by early afternoon and continue downhill for a couple of hours to Thangshing where we camp overnight.
  Duration of Trek: 8-9 Hrs

Thangsing - Tsokha

• Descending the valley from Thangshing we take a direct route, missing out Dzongri by following a lower trail through dense rhododendron forest to reach Tsokha after a long trek.
  Duration of Trek: 7 Hrs

Tsokha - Yuksom

• Today is the final day of our trek. After the breakfast, we retrace our steps towards Yuksom. The going is easier as the path is mainly downhill all the way to the river. The trail then runs up the narrow Rathong Valley through thick, sub-tropical forest, contouring the east bank of the river with several undulations and tributary rivers to cross. Finally we reach Yuksom where we conclude our trek. This evening, we can celebrate our achievements with locally brewed ‘chhang’, ‘tongba’ (local alcoholic beverages) and traditional Tibetan food.
  Duration of Trek: 6 Hrs

Yuksom - Darjeeling

• We rejoin our transport and leave early for our drive to Darjeeling. The road takes us through the jungles where cardamom plants grow in profusion. We reach Darjeeling and have the afternoon free to explore. There is an interesting Himalayan Mountaineering Institute which has a superb collection of early Everest memorabilia. Founded by Sir Edmund Hillary, it is the main training school for Indian mountaineers. There is also a Tibetan Self Help Centre and some local monasteries. We have time to explore the bazaar, and for those interested in flowers, there is a botanical garden also.

Darjeeling - Bagdogra

• After the breakfast, we drive via Ghoom Monastery, down to the plains following the famous Darjeeling railway for much of the way through tea estates, forest and pleasant hillside villages, to Bagdogra, from where we catch our flight back to Delhi.

Bagdogra - Delhi

• On arrival, we will be received by representative and transferred to the hotel.