Sikkim's
Goech-La Pass Trek
A
Cultural Adventure to the Kingdom of Sikkim, with a Trek to the Foot
of Mt. Kanchenjunga, the 3rd Highest Mountain in the World!
4 Nights in Kathmandu
/ 2 Nights in Darjeeling
9 Days Trekking / 2 Days of Transfers
Total 11 Days in India
Fly In & Fly Out
NEPAL/INDIA
The little known kingdom of Sikkim is considered by
many as the last "Shangri- La," and has strict restrictions
on tourism. Much like Bhutan, Sikkim hasn't allowed tourism to impact
the culture or influence the running of the kingdom. The kingdom of
Sikkim has been a passageway for travelers to Lhasa for centuries. Its
border with Nepal is lined by the eastern end of the Himalayan mountain
range, which allows for spectacular trekking within its border.
You will also be visiting Darjeeling, a small district
in the upper end of West Bengal, India, on the border with Sikkim and
Nepal. Surrounded by lofty mountains, beautiful rivers and lovely tea
plantations, Darjeeling has been an important vacation destination since
the rule of the British. This area is also famous for the many hill
stations built as summer getaways by the British and now used by rich
Hindus as a place to escape the heat of mainland India. Darjeeling is
also known for its large tea plantations. The tea grown here is sold
all over the world and is considered some of the best. The culture in
this area is mostly Buddhist, with a significant British influence and
some Hindu temples. So you will see Buddhist monasteries and Hindu shines,
along with British style architecture.
Your adventure will start in Kathmandu, Nepal's capital
city. The Kathmandu Valley is a colorful mixture of old and new: businessmen
with cell phones in silk suits, barefoot women leading goats and children
in school uniforms are all part of the fabric of this city, along with
the Hindu and Buddhist faiths. The external stimulation is immense upon
arrival, and will continue so throughout your time in this mysterious
city.
Upon arrival, you will be met by our friendly staff and escorted to
one of the many wonderful hotels located in the Thamel district of Kathmandu.
After check-in, a welcome dinner is planned to get everyone acquainted
and to go over the trip details before the real adventure begins. Early
the next morning, we'll board a bus for an all day tour, visiting World
Heritage sites such as Swayambhu Stupa, Bouddhanath Stupa, Pashupathinath
Temple and the walled city of Bhaktapur.
After two nights in Kathmandu, our trip begins with
the spectacular flight to the border town of Bhadrapur. From here, we'll
drive to the Queen of the Hills, Darjeeling. A sightseeing tour will
be planned, with the rest of the day free for checking out Darjeeling.
We'll leave Darjeeling and enter the kingdom of Sikkim.
Special permits will be arranged by our office for your entry into Sikkim,
which only allows tourists 15 days in the kingdom per permit. Our trek
will start in the village of Yukson and we'll be trekking and camping
for the next 9 days. Our route is one of the most famous and leads to
the border of Sikkim and Nepal, very close to Mt. Kanchenjunga, where
we will camp next to Lake Samiti and hike to the Goech La pass (16,500
ft.), looking down into Nepal. This pass is still used by Sherpa people
going to and from Nepal. It has incredible views of the glaciers, lakes
and some of the other mountain giants of the Himalaya, inlcuding Mount
Everest. You will be stunned by the awesome views back toward Sikkim,
with lush green hills, blooming rhododendron trees, orchids, magnolias
and bamboo. The contrast of climate, geography, culture and vegetation
make this a truly unbelievable experience.
Once finished trekking, we'll return to Darjeeling and
head to Kalimpong, another of the hill stations, before taking the short
flight back to Kathmandu. Once back in Kathmandu, you'll have the rest
of the afternoon to shop or relax. During your last day in Kathmandu.
you'll be free to shop or explore. A group farewell dinner is planned
for your last evening.
The next morning after breakfast, everyone should be
ready to depart for the airport for his or her flight home. Our staff
will escort everyone to the airport with departure instructions.
