uttarey trek

• Destinations
• Sikkim-Darjeeling Tour-Trek

Uttarey Trekking

• Cost Details

Spring Itinerary

Autumn itinerary.

The trek begins at Uttarey (6,500 ft) and ascends to Chewa Bhanjyang (8,860 ft) on the Sikkim and Nepal border, where a police check post exists on the Sikkim side. From thereon, the trek route keeps between the altitude of 12,000 ft to 14,000 ft with the highest point being the Dafey Bhir Pass located at an altitude of 14,450 ft high. The terrain along the trek route is, therefore, treeless, criss-crossing, steep, rugged rocky hills with grassy meadows forming flat plains at places.

Within the folds of these fragile rocky slopes, one comes across several high altitude lake formations of turquoise green water considered pristine and sacred by both Hindus and Buddhists alike. Among these lakes, Ram and Laxhman, Lampokhari, Laxmi Pokhari and Zomlay Pokheries are some of the well-known sacred lakes, located along the main trekking route. At places, the trail leads through the rich rhododendron forests of many hues and colors. This trek route after Gomathang valley goes intermittently through forests of silver fir and rhododendron right upto the alpine plains of Dzongri.

Detail Itinerary

Camping Trek Cost Includes:

• All land transportation by Car, Van, Jeep, Hiace and Bus (Airport/Hotel/Airport, trekking pick up and drop).
• 4 Night’s hotel accommodation in Kathmandu, one night at Gantok (Sikkim) and one night at Darjeeling at Bed & Breakfast basis.
• All three major meals B/L/D (provide continental food)and accommodation in tented camp (twin sharing North Face tent or, normal trekking tent, dining tent, toilet tent, Kitchen tent, staff tent, Table, chairs and Kitchen utensil etc.).
• 1 Professional equipped English speaking trekking guide, 1 special trekking Cook, Kitchen boys, necessary Sherpa and Porters.
• Life insurance for all support crews and their daily wages.
• Per member 15 Kg. luggage allow while in the trekking.
• Trekking Permit and National Park permits Fees.
• Air Ticket: Kathmandu/Bhadrapur/Kathmandu and Airport taxes.
• Medical Kit Box for Nepali support crews.
• All official taxes and service charge.

Cost Doesn’t Include:

• Personal transportation except above programs.
• Major meals lunch and dinner during your stay in Kathmandu, Gantok (Sikkim) and Darjeeling.
• Personal trekking gears as well as sleeping bags.
• Personal Nature expenses.
• Emergency evacuation (If incase).
• Drinks except tea and coffee.
• Airfare: to & from your country.
• Nepal entry, re entry visa fees and India visa fees and airport departure taxes.
• Personal travel insurance.
• Tips for trekking crew.

Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu airport (1350m.), meet our staff then transfers to Hotel.

Day 02: Kathmandu free.

Day 03: Kathmandu – Bhadrapur by flight then transfer to Border and drive to Gantok (Sikkim) (2134 m.) then transfer to Hotel.

Day 04: Gantok – Uttarey (2000m.) Drive from Gangtok to Uttarey.  Overnight stay in a Tented Camp.

Day 05: Uttarey – Chewa Bhanjyang (3060m.) Trek from Uttarey to Chewa Bhanjyang which is 8 kms time taken approx 7 hrs. O/N stay in a Tented Camp.

Day 06: Chewa – Dud (3610m.). Trek from Chewa to Lambi Thumka Gairy (Nepal) 14 kms time taken approx 8 hrs. O/N stay in a Tented Camp.

Day 07: Dud – Megu (4400m.). Trek from Dud to Megu is 15 kms time taken Approx 8 hrs. O/N stay in a Tented Camp.

Day 08: Megu – Boktok (3700m.). Trek from Megu to Boktok 18 kms time taken 7/8 Hrs on the way visit many lakes Lam Pokhari, Jumble Pokhari, Laxmi Pokhari. O/N stay in a Tented Camp.

Day 09: Boktok - Kokling (4657m.). Trek from Boktok to Kokling 14 kms time taken about 4/5 hrs , on the way visit Majur Pokhari. O/N stay in a Tented Camp.

Day 10: Kokling – Tigyapla (4303m.). Trek from Kokling to Tigyapla 15 kms time taken 4/5 Hrs. O/N stay in a Tented Camp.

Day 11: Tigyapla – Dzongri (4020m.). Trek from Tigyapla to Dzongri is 12 kms approx time taken 5/6 Hrs Overnight stay in a tent. Rhododendrons there are over 400 flowering species; a place called Deorali Dara provides a magnificent view of mountains. Then we reach Phethang for a break. After Phethang still further climbing we reach Dzongri here the Vegetation is thin and we tend to find only small bushes and shrubs for the night stay here is a tourist hut Its usually overcrowded and noisy. In Dzongri early morning we take a walk to Dabla Khang ( Dzongri Top) the view from this place is magnificent one can view all the peaks. Acclimatization here is must for further ascending trekkers. Overnight stay in a tented Camp.

Day 12: Dzonggri – Thansing (3930m.). Trek from Dzongri to Thansing takes about approx 4 hrs after walking through the bushes and hedges. At first its walking in the plain table land after few hours we rapidly descend down the river Prek on The way one can view almost all the ranges above all Mt Pandim looks beautiful. In Thansing besides the government hut its all barren here is no civilization. Overnight stay in a tented Camp.

Day 13: Thansing – Samiti (4200 m.). Trek from Thansing to Samiti Lake takes about approx 3 hrs it’s just a easy trek through thin vegetation. Samiti is basically, in the base of mount Pandim because of its close attachment. With Mt Pandim here a small beautiful lake has emerged. When it gets snowed the lake with the mountain. Provides a spectacular unforgettable view. Overnight stay in a tented Camp.

Day 14: Samiti – Goche–La (4940m.)– Samiti. Trek from Samiti to Gochela back to Samiti takes about approx 7 hrs, the trek starts with easy grading. We come across Zemathang which means ( sand-plainland) the trail goes through moraines before reaching Gochela one can view green lake formed right below the path deep down the hill, finally one reaches the second viewpoint from here one can view southern phase of Kanchenjunga. Further trek takes you to Yangitaar to spend one night in this place is worthwhile one can witness avalanche of Mount Khangchendzonga this place is recommendable because it is quite different than other entire trek, but during winter it is not possible due to thick snow which covers the path and makes it difficult to walk.

Day 15: Samiti – Cokchorung (3000m.). Trek from Samiti to Cokchurung takes about 3 hrs spent. O/N stay in a Lodge.

Day 16: Cokchorung – Tshoka. Trek from Cokchoruing to Tshoka takes about 5 hrs is gradual descend through thick forest it's a long and tiring walk this route joins the route of Phethang to Dzongri trail. O/N stay in a tented Camp.

Day 17: Tshoka – Yuksum. The trek from Tshoka to Yuksum takes about 6 hrs. O/N stay in a Hotel. Trek Ends.

Day 18: Yuksum – Darjeeling by Jeep and transfer to Hotel.

Day 19: Drive Darjeeling – Bhadrapur and flight back to Kathmandu then transfer to Hotel

Day 20: Kathmandu free.

Day 21: Last minute, transfer to Airport for your onward journey.

Optional Short Itinerary: Day 01: Gangtok – Uttarey (6,500 ft) Drive 6 hrs Day 02: Uttarey - Chewabhanjang (10,400 ft) Trek 6 hrs Day 03: Chewabhanjang Halt – Visit Singalila Day 04: Chewa - Dhor (12,200 ft)  Trek 8 hrs Day 05: Dhor - Sikkim Megu (13,600 ft)  Trek 7 hrs Day 06: Sikkim Megu - Dafey Bhir (14,286 ft) Trek 8 hrs Day 07: Dafey Bhir - Gomathang (12,200 ft) Trek 4 hrs Day 08: Gomathang - Pangden (13,900 ft) Trek 7 hrs Day 09: Pangden - Dzongri (12,800 ft)  Trek 4 hrs Day 10: Dzongri - Thangsing Day 11: Thangsing - Samiti Lake Day 12: Samiti Lake –Gochela – Thangsing Day 13: Thangsing - Tsokha Day 14: Tsokha - Yuksom Trek ends Day 15: Yuksom – Gangtok/Bagdogra Airport.

Photo Gallery

Trip Information

• Packing Checklist for Trekking
• Health, Medical and Altitude Advice
• Adventure Travel Trip Insurance
• Trekking Terms and Conditions
• What is Trekking?
• Trekking Grade
• Why Everest Journeys?
• A Day on the Trail
• Climate for Trekking
• Trekking Gear and Clothing Information

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Sikkim Singalila Uttaray Round Trek - 19 Days

Sikkim Singalila Uttaray Round Trek

• Duration 19 Days
• Destination India
• Difficulty Level Moderate
• Max Altitude 16,500 Ft.5002meters

Our Sikkim Singalila Uttarey Round Trek is the ultimate Sikkim trek! The trail passes through two national parks (Singalila National Park and Kanchenjunga National Park) for an epic mountain adventure. The path even traverses the famous Goecha la (5002 meters / 16,410 feet). Throughout the trail, witness unbelievable landscapes and meet some of the most hospitable people on the planet. Be in constant amazement during the Sikkim Singalila Uttarey Round Trek.

Enter the magical land of crystal clear lakes, colorful forests, unique animals, and pristine mountain peaks for the adventure of a lifetime. The relatively recently developed trail begins in the quaint village of Uttarey and continues to Goechala via the Singalila ridge. Despite its extraordinary beauty, the trek is still seldom visited by foreigners. In fact, most of the people who use the trail are yak herders of Sikkim. Enjoy a feeling of peace and solitude in this wilderness-like area.

From Uttarey, follow the ancient trading trail up through agricultural fields and forests. Walk towards and along the border of Nepal and India, where some of the highest mountains in the world exist. It is humbling to stand next to these peaks, which soar nearly to the heavens.

Within a couple of days on the trail, you are already walking through the high alpine meadows of Chiwa Bhanjyang. Continue further and traverse two high alpine passes, each with their own distinct perspective. From Dzongri, begin the trek towards Goechala, yet another unbelievable Himalayan viewpoint. Find yourself above most of the world. The only places higher than you are within eyeshot. You’ll have views of Kanchenjunga (8586m), Talung (7349m), Kabru (7353m). Then, descend to Yukam to finish the trek. Enjoy some sightseeing here and in Pelling – a special way to end the trek.

The Sikkim Singalila Uttarey Round Trek is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. One thing that makes it so special is that it is a circuit trail. You will not see the same thing twice, and each moment on the trail is a surprise. Join us on this incredible Himalayan adventure!

It is possible to do the Sikkim Singalila Uttarey Round Trek throughout the year. The best times, though, are spring (March to May) and fall (September to November). In the springtime, the colorful flowers are blooming. During the fall, the skies are usually clearer. Ashmita Trek and Tours arranges the trek with full management, including transportation, meals, etc. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have questions!

• See several perspectives of Kanchenjunga (8586 meters/28,169 feet), the world’s third highest mountain.
• See mountain goats, the Red Panda, the leopard cat, and more animals found in Singalila National Park and Kanchenjunga National Park.
• Cross the high Goechala Pass (5002 meters/16,410 feet) for a dramatic mountain panorama.
• Awe-inspiring views of Everest, Makalu, and Kanchenjunga.
• Explore the culture of Pelling and Yuksam, including their elegant monasteries, after the trek.

Places You'll See

Day 1: Arrival to Bagdogra Airport and transfer to Darjeeling (2,042 meters), 4 hours/90km.

Our assistant will welcome you at Bagdogra Airport near Siliguri and bring you to Darjeeling. Pass Assam tea plantations and tiny villages along the way. Cruise through hilly switchbacks above the clouds through the bright green landscape. Situated on top of a ridge, Darjeeling faces the Himalaya and is a popular destination for Westerners and Indians alike. Overnight at a hotel in Darjeeling.

• 2,042mt - 6,700ft
• Pickup Service

Day 2: Drive from Darjeeling to Uttarey (2,100 meters).

Depart from Darjeeling in the early morning and head towards West Sikkim. It is a 6 hour drive, filled with exciting winding roads up and down lush valleys. Fall in love with the unique scenery along the way. The car goes down to cross the raging Rangeet River and then back up again to a village called Pemayangtse. Hop out, have a tea or lunch and look out at the stunning Himalayan views from the ridge. Hop back in the car and move onward to Uttaray (2100m). Hangout with the locals and enjoy your night. Overnight in guest house. 

• 2,100mt - 6,889ft
• Trasport to Base Camp

Day 3: Trek from Uttarey to Chiwa Bhanjyang (3,200 meters), 7-8 hours/14km.

The first day on the trail covers an easy trail through a lively jungle of rhododendron and other wonderful trees. The springtime brings vibrant colors to the enriching trail. Today’s trek gets you excited for the journey ahead. It is a memorable day on the Sikkim Singalila Uttaray Round Trek and it is just the beginning! The final few hours of today brings us to the border of Nepal, where we stay for the night. Overnight in tent camp. 

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• 3,200mt - 10,498ft

Day 4: Acclimatization and rest day in Chiwa Bhanjyang: Excursion, 5-6 hours.

Take another day to rest here – a lovely place to take some day hikes and let our bodies get used to the altitude. Hike up to a peak at 3500 meters and enjoy spectacular mountain views. It’s been to climb high and sleep low as a general rule of acclimatization, so we abide by this. Overnight in tent camp. 

• Acclimatization and rest day

Day 5: Trek from Chiwa Bhanjyang to Ghairi (3,600 meters), 10km.

Trek along the Nepali border with marvelous mountain views throughout the day. The trail has some ups and downs, and generally is relatively easy. Overnight in tented camp. 

• 3,600mt - 11,811ft

Day 6: Trek from Ghairi to Dhor (3,900 meters), 9km.

Leave camp and ascend through forests, full of vegetation, to an open lookout point with fluttering prayer flags. Stop for a moment, take a deep breath, and look out at the distant snow-capped mountains. Seeing these from such a distance makes us excited for seeing them up-close soon. Keep going, passing several fields of agriculture. We set up camp in a pleasant place below a ridge. Overnight in guest house. 

• 3,900mt - 12,795ft

Day 7: Trek from Dhor to Pare Megu (3,800 meters), 7 hours/12km.

Wake up early to catch amazing views just a short walk from our campsite. From the ridge above us, watch the sun’s first light strike Mount Everest and Kanchenjunga. Sit in awe at this amazing sight. Then, pack up camp and carry on towards Pare Megu. Traversing the ups and downs of the day, we end up at about the same altitude as the previous day. Enjoy the fresh air, thanks to the rich forests along the way. Admire several Hindu shrines, which come as we near our destination. During today’s hike, look up at the rugged mountainside for the Blue Sheep. Overnight in tent camp. 

• 3,800mt - 12,467ft

Day 8: Trek from Pare Megu to Lam Pokhari (4100 meters), 4-5 hours/11km.

Wake up with a delicious warm breakfast and pack up camp. Walk along the even, well-trodden trail for the first bit of the day. Then, trek uphill until the trail opens to a wide valley, from which we can get a magnificent view of the entire Kabru range, including the massive Pandim peak (6691 meters). Two more hours of ascending takes us to our campsite, where Everest and several other famous Khumbu region peaks make an exclusive appearance. Spend the rest of the day relaxing and acclimatizing. Overnight in guest house. 

• 4,100mt - 13,451ft

Day 9: Trek from Lam Pokhara to Danphebhir La (4,500 meters), then to Gomathang (3,500 meters), 6 hours/9km.

Wake up to the beauty of the Himalaya. You will realize that you are truly high in the mountains at this point, and there is still more amazement to come. Leaving the sacred Lam Pokhari, we head toward the Danphebhir La (Pass) at 4500 meters. Danphebhir means pheasant. From the top, you get an expansive view of the entirety of Sikkim, and well as into Tibet and Bhutan. Descend only to ascend again to the Kag Bhir Lass (meaning the Pass of the Crow), for yet another Himalayan panorama. As nice as it would be to camp up here, we must descend and set up camp near the river. Overnight in tent camp. 

• 4,500mt - 14,764ft

Day 10: Trek from Gomathang to Pangden (4,100 meters), 8 hours/16km.

After an energizing breakfast, we pack up camp and head up through the enriching rhodendron and mixed forests. Once again, we find ourselves in the barren mountaintop terrain. Keep an eye out for the unique birds in the area, including the Danphe (Impeyan Pheasant), which makes its nest high up near the Kamsey La (4200 meters). Descend into meadows of Kokling. We keep trekking through the mesmerizing landscape until we reach Pangden (4100m). Overnight in tent camp.  

• 4,100 Mt - 13,451 ft

Day 11: Trek from Pangden to Bigbari (3,900 meters), 5 hours/9km.

Wake up and smell the fresh air. You are greeted with superb vistas, ready to see what the rest of the day has in store. Steadily descend through mixed forests of juniper and rhododendrons. We could make it all the way to Dzongri today, but it is best to take an extra day to acclimatize in order to prevent altitude sickness. Finishing the today’s trek in the early afternoon, take the rest of the day to relax and wander around. Overnight in tent camp. 

• 3,900mt - 12,795 ft

Day 12: Trek from Bigbari to Dzongri (4,000 meters), 6 hours/8km.

Head back uphill from camp and start moving towards Dzongri. Climb up through the greenery to the barren alpine greys and whites of Dzongri. You will be amazed at the astounding scenery hit. The mountain views are truly unlike anything you will ever see, and they just keep getting better. Savor the views and the accompanying feelings of peace and solitude in these moments. Wander the area with a smile on your face. Overnight in tent camp. 

• 4,000Mt - 13,123 Ft

Day 13: Trek from Dzongri to Thangshing (3,500 meters), 5-6 hours/10km.

Wake up, have breakfast and start the day. Mostly we will be ascending and descending through picturesque landscapes. Reach a ridge at about 4,115 meters (13,500 feet) for show-stopping views of Kanchenjunga and Pandim. Admire the charm of the scattered chhortens and prayer flags – signs of Tibetan Buddhism. Take some photographs and descend towards Pandim and then further through rhododendron forests to the Prek Chu River at 3749 meters. Eat lunch in the peace and quiet, enjoying the fresh air. Admire the splendid scenery of the Sikkim Singalila Uttarey Round Trek. After lunch, cross a river and slowly ascend for an hour and a half through pine trees to a nice camping spot. Above us lies the magical, unclimbed Pandim peak. Overnight in tent camp.

• 3,500Mt - 11,483 Ft

Day 14: Trek from Thangshing to Lamuney (3,962 meters), 3-4 hours.

It’s a straightforward hike today, though the high elevationmakes us a little slower. We should not overdo ourselves, as tomorrow will be the most difficult, yet rewarding day of our trek. Hike alongside the Prek Chu River before reaching the sacred Samiti Lake, an emerald-green body of water nestled amidst the brightly colored, wind-town prayer flags. Overnight in tent camp. 

• 3,962Mt - 12,999 Ft

Day 15: Trek from Lamuney to Goechala Pass (5,002 meters/16,406 feet) and back to Thangshing, 6-7hours/13km.

It’s a memorable moment today as we reach the Goechala Pass! To maximize the changes of good weather, we leave early in the morning. Besides, the views are best during this time. Ascend the hill behind the lake and then traverse the glacial moraine. Above Samiti Lake, the area that we are trekking on, is called the Zemathang Plateau. Hike across the plateau under the shadow of Pandim, and climb up to a height of 15,700 feet. Look down at a majestic snowy and icy glaciated lake. From here, it’s an hour to the Goechala Pass. Traverse the well-trodden path to the pass, which is decorated with bright-colored prayer flags. Sit in awe at the view of the world’s highest mountain range, and glacial valleys in the distance. Descend all the way back to Thangshing, today’s destination. Overnight in tent camp. 

• 5,002 Mt - 16,406 Ft

Day 16: Trek from Thangshing to Tshokh (3,800 meters) via Phedang, 6-7 hours/14km.

Get up in the early morning and check out the sunrise view from a ridge behind our campsite. Here are awesome views of Kanchenjunga and behind us is the Goechala Pass. Departing our campsite, we take a fresh route back towards the trailhead. Hike down to the Prek Chu and weave around the jungle to arrive to Phedang. Stop for a lunch of snack before steeply descending to Tshoka. It’s a long day so take it easy in the evening. Overnight in tent camp.

• 3,800Mt - 12,467 Ft

Day 17: Trek from Tshoka to Yuksam, 5-6 hours/16km.

Make the final day of the trek a memorable one! Be present as you hike through the lush landscape. It’s the same route as we took on the first day of the trek, but after many days, it seems fresh. Enjoy any scenery you missed on the first time around. In Yuksam, we check into our hotel and rest or explore the rest of the day. Overnight in hotel. 

• 1,780 Mt - 5,840 Ft

Day 18: Drive from Yuksam to Pelling, 24km drive.

Drive to Pelling after breakfast. On the way, we stop at Khecheopalri Lake, originally known as Kha-Chot-Palri (meaning the heaven of Padmasambhava). The lake is revered as sacred by both Buddhists and Hindus. At about 6,000 feet, the lake is also belived to be the emanation of goddess Tara, blessed by Guru Rempoche. It is said that if you pray by this lake, your wishes will be granted. An hour and a half later, reach Pelling. Overnight in hotel.

• 2,150 Mt - 7,200 Ft
• Sightseeing Tours

Day 19: Drive from Pelling to Bagdogra Airport (by car), about 5 hours.

After breakfast, our team transfers you to Bagdogra airport or NJP Train station for your next destination. Thank you for taking the Sikkim Kanchenjunga Goechala Trek with Ashmita Trek & Tours! We look forward to seeing you again.

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What's Included

• Accommodation provide you standard good family home stay in with breakfast Plan before and after trek.
• Airport tranfers pickup and drop with private vehicle.
• Guided sightseeing tour with friendly local driver as per itinerary.
• All government fees and local taxes.
• All necessary mountain Trekking permits during trek and tour.
• Services of porters at airport and hotels.
• Meals ( breakfast, Lunch and Dinner) during the trek with hot tea/coffee (Meals will be freshly prepared and will be a mix of Indian, and Napali local).
• All expenses for guide and porters (not including tips) expected.
• Accommodation in camping tent during the trek.
• Local English-speaking licensed holder mountain trekking guide.
• Some amount of Client personal gear to be carried by porter or yek / mule. 
• Group medical kit box.
• International airfare.
• India Entry visa fee.
• Air or train fare to and from Sikkim or Darjeeling (before and after start of itinerary)
• Alcoholic drinks, chocolates, snacks, telephone calls, etc.
• Tips for trekking staff and driver (tipping is expected, but not mandatory).
• Costs from unexpected occurrences (i.e. cancellations, weather problems, damages of property, illness, etc.)
• Extra accommodation and meals outside of itinerary.
• Your travel, medical, and any other forms of insurance.
• Personal gear and expenses for the trek.
• Any other expenses not mention above as included in the price.

Important Note :

Our valuable Client we would like to inform you during the trekking in Darjeeling Sikkim will not allow carrying any satellite phone and GPRS and  drone cámera due to the border security area.

Ashmita Trek & Tours Team.

Our valuable Client we would like to inform you during the trekking in Darjeeling Sikkim will not allow carrying any Satellite phone GPRS  and  drone camera  due to the border security area.

Ashmita Trek and Tours does not take responsibility for any problems incurred by weather, damages to personal property, etc. We will do our best to prevent/handle any problems that happen. There is a chance that transportation may be delayed due to road and weather conditions. Therefore, it is recommended to book your international flight with several days margin. 

What kind of Accommodation you accept on ?

We provide you standard good family home stay or hotel in Yuksoom – Pelling - Uttery and Darjeeling before and after your trek The stay on all other days will be in tents. Each tent and will accommodate two trekkers. will be provided high altitude sleeping bags that can withstand temperatures as low as -10 ºC.

Transports used during your Tours ?

We at Ashmita Trek and Tours will provide private vehicles for the airport transfers and sightseeing tour as per ititnerys in Sikkim.

Connectivity during your Trek in Sikkim ?

There are electricity available at the Base Camp Yuksoom or Utteary before and after your trek. and Last ATM  available you will find it at Jorthang which is in Sikkim Border for your emergency cash withdrawal before you begin your road journey to Yuksom or Uttary for your trek base camp.

Camara reacharge  : we suggest you to have spare batteries becouse during your trek there are no place to recharge some time you may have chance to recharge during your camping but not enough power.

Mobile Service and Network :  You will find Airtel and Vodafone 4G connectivity at the base camp Yuksoom and Uttary but do't except the any internet reception.

Do you need a trekking permit for Sikkim ?

Yes, you need a permit for the Sikkim Trek. The permits required depend on where you are from. All permits will be taken care of by Ashmita Trek and Tours . Do note that citizens of China, Bangladesh, and Myanmar are not permitted to trek in this region.

 The ILP (Inner Line Permit) is required for all foreigners before entering Sikkim. They are obtained either at Bagdogra Airport in Siliguri or at the entrance of Sikkim.

 Kanchenjunga National Park (KNP) permit is also required, which can be obtained as you leave Yuksom village.

The Protected Area Permit (PAP) is also required for all foreigners. This is obtained in Gangtok and only through an authorized tour operator. For this reason, all foreign trekkers must book the Sikkim Trek package through an government-authorized trekking agency.

Do We need Travel Insurance to Trek in Sikkim ?

Yes, travel insurance is mandatory for trekking in Sikkim region . -your travel insurance must cover medical and emergency repatriation inclusive of helicopter rescue and evacuation expenses at high altitude for individual trekking members, please kindly provide us your insurance to us at the time of booking your trip or later - before your trip get started. Ashmita Trek and Tours will help and assist you to buy travel insurance for potential unforeseen events or altitude sickness during the trek.

Do we need to carry our own medicines ?

Yes, Or guide will be taking a first aid kit with basis medicines including Diamox. However, we would recommend you to take some medicine by yourself. 

What is the best seasons for trekking in Sikkim region?

Autumn season ( sep - nov ) < best season >.

This is the best time to Trek in Himalayas region and pick tourist season. The weather is pleasant with clear blue sky. one can truly enjoy the scenic view of natural glamour during this season.the possibilities of natural disasters diminish, making it a safe season to trek. This is also the season to celebrate some of the local cultural festivals of Darjeeling Sikkim and Nepal like Dashain and Diwali. 

Spring Season ( Mar - May )  < Good Season > 

The temperature is mildly warm in Himalaya region and with plenty of opportunities to enjoy the Himalayas range It is also the best season for blooming flowers like varieties of Rhododendron and magnolia can be seen blossoming decorating the entire region. the temperatures fall between 11-19 C° during the day and 2-10 C° at night.

Will someone come to pick me up at the airport?

Yes, on upon arrival at Bagdogra International airport, you’ll be received and welcomed by one of our Ashmita Trek and Tours crews and transfer to the respective hotel.

What is the highest point of the trek?

The Highest Point of our trek is  5,002 meters/16,406 feet Goechala Pass View point one above the sea level 

Customer Reviews

Preeti m, india - june 06, 2024.

We recently went for a 6 day Dzongri trek organized by Ashmita tours and it turned out to be one of our best and most memorable holidays!The camping locations were fantastic..The crew was super sweet and very kind and caring all through the 6 day duration.In particular our guide Mr. Sangay was exceptional .He comes in with lot of mountaineering experience ,is very well versed with the terrain , extremely focussed on safety and super with kids.He went out of the way to take care of our 11 year old when he was feeling a bit sick.Works tirelessly with a lot of passion. Highly recommend Ashmita tours and Mr. Sangay , would definitely go back to them for future travels/treks.

Ananda Sengupta, India - May 21, 2024

We had an amazing and memorable trek of Sandakphu and Phalut on Singalila ridge for our family of 4 ( age ranging from 15 to 55) over 6 nights and 7 days organised by Mr Subhash Tamang of Ashmita Tours and Trek based out of Darjeeling. We were accompanied by our guide Mr Tenzing Tamang. While we carried about 5 to 7 kg in our rucksacks, remaining stuff was carried by a horse which was tended by a very young and enterprising man - Ashish or Azrod. Our trek started from Rimbick on Day 1 ( where we reached by car from Darjeeling same day morning). After reaching Sandakphu and Phalut we came back via Srikhola to Darjeeling. Each day's path was beautiful and different than the other. We soaked in the beauty of the thick forest, the hills - both covered by raining clouds and rising upto sunny blue sky, rhododendron flowers of 5-6 hues ( white, red, pink, purple, peach, lavender) yaks, green meadows, chirping of birds and cricket, gushing stream and ever smiling hill people ( mostly Nepalese / Tibetan originally) with Mongoloid feature who are very hard working and hospitable. Excepting at Sandakphu and Phalut we hardly met any other tourist on the way. We walked for hours with only our guide Tenzing ji amidst the stunnigly beautiful trails - very rarely meeting some local people. Tenzing ji was not just an instructor sharing the plan, giving us wake up calls and leading the way especially on the trails we found difficult, but he also took the role of a father figure, quickly arranging for tea/food as soon as we reached the homestay. We were really touched by his hospitality. He was meticulous in arranging for food, fruits, hot water, tea etc. He had a sharp and compassionate mind, always taking care of our small wishes, desires, conveniences on and off the trails. We spoke about nature, philosophy, spirituality, about how technology is being used by the Govt. for betterment of hardships faced in the lives of hill people. He had knowledge of birds and also told us about flora and fauna. The homestays where the 6 night stays were organised by Subhash ji of Ashmita Tours & Trek, were of local hill families who offered delicious and fresh food, mostly cooked from vegetables grown in their own fields.We talked about our next trek to the base camp of Kanchenjungha or Gochala trek. We felt that if we plan at all, it must be with Ashmita Trek of Subhas ji and we must have Tenzing ji as our guide. Short Itinerary : Day 01 : Trek from Rimbeek to Gurudhum 10km 7 hours Day 02: Trek from Gurudhum to Sandakphu 10km 9 hoursDay 03: Trek from Sandakphu to Moley 14km 9 hours.Day 04 : Moley to Phalut 7km trek 5 hoursDay 05: Phalut to Gorkhey 14km trek 7 hours Day 06 : Gorkhey to Timburey 14km 9 hour Day 07 : Timburey to Srikhola 5km 2 hourThank You Team Ashmita!

Daniel Traveler, United Kingdom - November 20, 2019

Whw!what a professional service and well organized.our Goechala trek in Sikkim our guide Sherpas was very experienced and a great person to spend our time on the trek with.he was a wealth of knowledge and was able to answer every question he had about the Himalayas,the culture, and the trek. He told us that it was the job of the guide to make sure we walk,eat,sleep, and enjoyable.

So we didn't need to worry about anything during our trek in Sikkim Goechala from the beginning of our trip everything was organized for trekking equipments porter accomodetion nesesary and looked after all emails answered promptly.

Our experience with Ashmita Trek and Tours was excellent overall.and the rest of Ashmita teams made sure our bookings went smoothly.we highly recommend Ashmita as a service to all and we definitely coming back in the coming year to do Everest Base Camp Trek in Nepal! Cheers.

John L, United Kingdom - October 29, 2019

My friend and I decided to book a last minute Trip to India to do Kanckanzonza goechala trek base Camp in 2019. and turned out to be a great decision because we had an absolutely amazing experience! From the very beginning we had lots of questions about the india trip and itinerary and Subash Tamang the owner was always quick with answers so we felt comfortable with everything.

The team from Ashmita Trek and Tours Company has done a marvellous job to ensure that my safety, logistics and lodging was organised properly during our Trek.

The guides were helpful, friendly and were always on the lookout for my well-being which I deeply appreciate. All in all we had a wonderful time and I could honestly recommend these guys to anyone interested in Sikkim Trek. Only hope I come back in the near future and do another trek!

Srashv, United Kingdom - April 20, 2019

We are a group of friends who had the opportunity of trek to Dzongri - Goechala in Sikkim. Mr. Sangay was our guide. We were given a warm welcome with garlands after our arrival at the airport. We are accommodated at good hotel in Yuskom. Judging the groups capabilities Sange proposed slight changes to the program, which proved to be good in the end. He and his team took good care of us and had a good overview of the well being of each member of our group. The cook of the group made every effort to provide a good variety of food over the days. Sangay was encouraging every member of the group and made sure that all of us stepped on the finish line. He organised a celebration after returning to Goechala. Composed, coupled with knowledge and experience, Mr. Sangay is a good recommendation as a guide.

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Uttarey Sandakphu Round Trek - 2023 Trekking Season Spl

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Looking For Uttarey to Sandakphu Trekking Package Via Phoktey Dara & Phalut? FOR BOOKING ☎ CALL : +91-99039-89505

Trekking Region : Uttarey, Singalila National Park, West Sikkim

Uttarey to Sandakpuh Trekking Duration : 7 Nights | 8 Days

Places Covered in Uttarey, Phoktey Dara, Phalut, Sandakpuh Trekking : Pelling-2N, Chewabhanjyang-2N, Phalut-1N, Sandakphu-1N, Tumling-1N

Mountain Range : Singalila Ridge

Trekking Grade : Moderate

Max Altitude : : 11,930 Ft [Sandakphu top]

Trekking Distance : : 45 kms [approx]

Altitude of Uttarey : 6,600 ft [27.2606° N, 88.0950° E]

Altitude of Chewabhanjyang : 10,300 ft [28.585777° N, 77.320913° E]

Altitude of Phoktey Dara : 12,250 ft [27.250093° N, 88.0307966° E]

Altitude of Phalut : 11,794 ft [27.1711° N, 88.0200° E]

Altitude of Sandakphu : 11,930 ft [27.0600° N, 88.0000° E]

NOTE: Apart from this Uttarey Sandakphu Round Trek , NatureWings operate Sandakphu Land Rover Tour Package , Sandakphu Trekking Package from Bangalore , Sandakphu Trekking Package from Mumbai , Sandakphu Trekking Package from Delhi , Kashmir Package Tour from Mumbai , Kashmir Package Tour from Kolkata , Silk Route Tour Package , Andaman Package Tour from Kolkata , Sri Lanka Package Tour from Kolkata , Darjeeling Gangtok Package Tour also at Best Price. For detail you may contact our Sandakphu Phalut Trekking Specialist at +91-97485-52505

• SANDAKPHU LAND ROVER PACKAGE
• SANDAKPHU TREKKING PACKAGE

WITH UTTAREY TOUR - DISCOVER SIKKIM DIFFERENTLY

Do pictures of Gangtok, Pelling, Nathu La Pass, Baba Mandir and Rumtek Monastery pop up in front of your eyes when you think of Sikkim Tour from NJP ? It is very likely to happen since these are the most popular spots in the state. But if you think this is the limit to explore the state, you are terribly wrong. Sikkim is blessed by Mother Nature and there is simply no end to explore it. On the distant tops and laps of the green mountains stand innumerable beautiful villages and hamlets that showcase the scenic beauty of Nature in a completely different way. Uttarey is one such place. If you are tired of your daily routines and planning to break free, ignore the popular names and go for Uttarey Tour . You will get back with your soul and eyes enriched with blessings of Nature. Uttarey is a very small village in the serene western part of Sikkim which could be reached from Pelling, Dentum and Geyzing. At a height of over 6,600 feet, Uttarey appears like a piece of painting on a paper, such as the scenic beauty of the place and its surroundings. Your Uttarey Package Tour would start from Singshore Bridge, the second highest hanging gorge bridge in Asia. As your car starts climbing the steep slopes you will start discovering an unseen form of Sikkim. Since Uttarey is still grossly unexplored, the place is very serene and is perfect for someone who wants to stay away from every sign of urban life. Uttarey offers a breathtaking view of Mt Kanchenjunga, the Singalila Range and the Dentum Peak as well as the valleys full of pines at their feet, which appear like green carpets with wrinkles. Uttarey is a perfect place for exploring the Nature on feet. You can go out for a stroll through the grassy trails over the slopes to reach villages of the locales or get out of your hotel for a short trip to Kagju Gumpha or Monastery, which is highly regarded as a place of worship by the local people. Set at a quite place surrounded by dense forests, the Gumpha offers an amazing atmosphere where peace and tranquility are perfectly blended. If you have an interest in arts then ancient paintings on the walls of Kagju Monastery would surely catch your eyeballs. Your eyes will also get excited with the stunning view of the Dentum Peak from the monastery premises. Sights of Mainebass Falls and Chewyabhang Pass would also be great treats for your eyes. The Chewyabhang Pass , which is just 10 kilometers from Uttarey is the entrance to Nepal. Another exciting spot within the vicinity of Uttarey is the Maneybong Kagyuk Monastery. The monastery was rebuilt in 1982 at a spot where ancient ruins were seen. There is a strong belief among local people that under the ruins lay hidden treasures and scriptures. You also walk a few steps more to reach the Gombadara Pokhri. Now Uttarey has another speciality also. It is one of the offbeat routes for Sandakphu Trekking . When we talk about Sandakphu Trek, the first route that appears in our mind is from Manebhanjan to Sandakphu via Meghma, Tumling, Kalipokhri . But there is another route also that starts from Uttarey in West Sikkim that goes till Sandakphu via Chewabhanjyang, Phoktey Dara and Phalut. This route is very uncommon but offers the stunning view of snow capped Himalayan peak and breathtaking beauty throughout your trek and this trek is known by Uttarey Sandakphu Round Trek that starts from Uttarey village of West Sikkim. So, come and join to explore this less explored trail with NatureWings. We assure, this will be your lifelong memorable experience.

HOW TO REACH UTTAREY?

The nearest railway station to reach Uttarey is by getting down at New Jalpaiguri Station [NJP] or traveling by flight to the Bagdogra Airport [IXB]. From here one have to travel Uttarey and this can be done in two ways. Travelling Uttarey by private/reserved vehicle : From NJP/Siligiri Station or Bagdogra Airport you can book a reserved car to reach Uttarey. The cost may vary between Rs. 5500 to Rs. 7,000 depending on the demand, weather condition, travel season and fuel price. It is almost 165 km long journey and can take up to 6 to 7 hrs depending upon the road and weather condition. Travelling Uttarey by shared vehicle This is one of the best and pocket friendly solution to travel up to Uttarey. From NJP/Siliguri Bus Stand or from Darjeeling More at Siliguri you can hire a shared cab up to Jorethang. The distance between NJP to Jorethang is almost 90km and can take almost 4 hrs. In a shared Cab this distance can cost Rs. 250 to Rs. 350 per person. Again from Jorethang you have to book another shared car up to Uttarey. From Jorethang getting a shared cab sometime becomes an issue so it’s better to book a private cab from Jorethang to Uttarey which will cost around Rs. 2500 to Rs.3000. So in this way also one can reach Uttarey and that of also cost effective way.

DISTANCE AND TRAVEL DURATION FOR UTTAREY TOUR & TREKKING

Train ticket you can book to reach njp/siliguri for uttarey tour & trekking package, what is the best time to do the uttarey sandakphu trek.

Basically there are three different seasons which can be opting for Uttarey to Sandakphu Trekking . Spring / Summer: Spring or Summer comprising of April-May is the best time for planning Uttarey to Sandakphu Trek . During this time, you can behold the mesmerizing rhododendrons and other Himalayan flowers in full bloom that makes the trekking trail absolutely stunning. The clear sky with picture perfect snow capped mountain peaks is best visible during this time. Post Monsoon: Post monsoon, basically October to November is another best season to experience this trek as after the monsoon, the skies become clearer and offer 100% crystal clear view of snow covered 8000+ meter mountain peaks. Winter: This season is for true adventure lovers who want to test their adrenaline through high altitude spine chilling cold. With thick snow carpeted every bit of the region and shivering cold, if you want to behold the beauty of this trail, come during end of December to February - best for true adventure junkie.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF TREKS THAT STARTS FROM UTTAREY

Singali-la trek.

This is a difficult high altitude trek preferred by professional and armature trekkers around the world. Thus 9 days long trek starts from Uttarey and ends at Yuksom via Chiwabhanjyang, Dhor, Sikkim Megu, Dafeybhir Pass, Gomathang, Panding, Dzongri, and Tsoka. Several 8000+ meter mountain peak including Mt. Everest can be viewed in this trek at very close with clear view.

PHOKTAY DARA TREK

This is also one of the very popular trek routes among adventure lovers. The route starts from Uttarey and cover Mainebas Falls, Chiwabhanjyang Pass, and Kalijhar. During April to June the entire trekking trail become heavenly beautiful with blooming Rhododendrons, magnolias and colorful primulas.

UTTAREY TO SANDAKPHU ROUND TREK

This lesser known trekking route is less travelled and yet to be explored more. Hence this is more adventures trekking route among all that starts from Uttarey. This wonderful trekking route runs through Singalila National Park and Kanchendzonga Biosphere Reserve and reaches up to Sandakphu via Phoktay Dara and Phalut. From Sandakphu Top the trail goes up to Manebhanjan of Darjeeling district via Kalipokhri, Gairibas, Tumling, Tonglu, Meghma and Chitrey. To know more about Sandakphu Trekking or Sandakphu Land Rover Tour contact NatureWings - The Sandakphu Tour and Trekking specialist from NJP/Siliguri/Kolkata/Bangalore/Pune.

PLEASE NOTE : Foreigners must require special permits to trek this offbeat region of Sikkim and West Bengal as this is very close to international border with Nepal rather to say many time trekkers need to trek through Nepal.

DAY WISE PLAN FOR UTTAREY SANDAKPHU ROUND TREK    →

  day wise uttarey trekking plan, day 1 – njp / bagdogra to uttarey [2 hr 46 min (80.4 km)].

DAY 2 – UTTAREY TO CHEWABHANJYANG [8km / 5-6 hrs]

DAY 3 – EXPLORE PHOKTEY DARA

Having situated between the junction of Sikkim, West Bengal and Nepal border, this place offers awesome view of entire stretch of Eastern Himalayas, including ranges from Nepal and Sikkim. The majestic 8000+ meters peaks like Mt. Everest, Mt. Makalu, Mt. Lhotse and many others can be viewed from Phokey Dara. Beholding stunning mountain peaks while hiking around Phoktey Dara is truly an unparalleled experience. From Chewabanjang to Phoktey Dara, it is almost 4-5 km long trek. After a day-long excursion, either you can descend down to your campsite in Chewabanjang or can setup your tent at Phokey Dara top also.

What are the best seasons for Phoktey Dara trek:

There are two distinct seasons when trekking this beautiful place: Spring/Summer: Basically this is called the Rhododendron season. Starting from mid of March to end of June, exploring this region will appear like heaven. Colorful Rhododendron and Magnolia along with several other wild flowers decorate the hiking trail from lower altitude to higher altitude. Though not rainy, but cloudy and mystic weather are common to experience and some time morning offers a clear view of the mountain peaks with awesome beauty. Winter: Starting from end of October to February is the winter season here with snow all over and chill windy blizzard. The trails, mountains and tress get covered under thick blanket of snow. If you are really adventure lover, and want to find yourself among the kingdom of snow, trek this place during winter. It is worth mentioning that from 25th November to 10th of December, you can view its crystal clear mountain peaks in the horizon.

Important notes for Camping at Phoktey Dara :

DAY 4 – KALIPOKHRI TO SANDAKPHU [6 km 3 hrs]

DAY 5 – SANDAKPHU TO SRIKHOLA

Today we will start our return journey from Sandakphu. It will be another wonderful day as we will be trekking though some magnificent route that’s worth depicting. First we will set out for Gurdum which is almost 10km and can be trekked within 4 hrs through the dense Singalila forest full of blooming Rhododendron, Oaks and Chestnut trees. The path is extremely beautiful, full of serenity and carpeted with flowers of rhododendron between April to June. Gurdum is a tiny picturesque hamlet at an altitude of 7150ft. Very small number of families live here. Having surrounded by dense forest, the ambience of the village is awesome and great spot to enjoy the nature’s beauty. After reaching here, take rest and have lunch at Sherpa Himalayan Lodge. After an hour of lunch break, we will start towards Srikhola which is nearly 2 hrs trek. SriKhola is another wonderful place to behold. With an altitude of 6900ft, it's a tiny village with a beautiful mountain streams. Here to mention that in local language the word "khola" means "Stream". After reaching Srikhola, either you can take rest or can roam around the beautiful streams; in the evening you can enjoy campfire besides the stream also. It's a wonderful experience. We will spend the night at Srikhola.

DAY 6 - END DAY OF YOUR TREKKING

With a hot cup of tea / coffee say good morning to Srikhola. Roam around the vicinity and experience the morning glory once for all as we will start our final decent soon. After breakfast take a shared vehicle to NJP / Siliguri / Bagdora via Rimbik, Manebhanjan, Sukhiapokhri and Mirik. It will be a long journey; almost 160km and can take 6 to 7 hrs. Here your Sandakphu Trekking Package from NJP ends with sweet memories.

  Sandakphu Trekking Package Inclusions

SANDAKPHU TREKKING PACKAGE INCLUDES

  →   Accommodation is on twin sharing basis

  →   Meals : All meal (During trekking Veg meal will be prvided)

  →   Transfers from one place to another

  →   Vehicle will be provided based on the itinerary

  →   All permits and applicable taxes

  →   Guide Charges

 Sandakphu Trekking Exclusions

SANDAKPHU TOUR PACKAGE EXCLUDES

  →   Entrance fees at the monuments / temples / monastery

  →   Meals not mentioned in inclusions

  →   Train Fare, Air Fare

  →   Porter / Pony Services

  →   Any kind of insurance

  →   Any increase in the govt. and state taxes

  →   Personal expenses

  →   Anything not mentioned in the itinerary

 Sandakphu Phalut Trekking Ablities

WHO CAN JOIN SANDAKPHU PHALUT TREKKING PACKAGE GROUP WITH NATUREWINGS?

  →   Anyone person irrespective of gender above the age of 12 with sporting abilities can join this trekking

  →   First time trekkers and adventure lovers also can join provided they should have love and interest in trekking

  →   The trekkers must be physically fit and have sufficient stamina to trek 5 to 6km without a break and stress

  →   The trekkers should be able to carry approx 10 kg backpack through ups and downs of the hills

  →   Persons having high blood pressure, heart disease, asthma, vertigo will not be allowed to participate in trekking

COVID GUIDELINES FOR SANDAKPHU TREKKERS 2021

  →   Due to reappearance of COVID cases in some states, the Gov. of West Bengal has enforced a strict COVID negative (RT-PCR test) requirement for travellers coming from states like Maharashtra, Delhi, Karnataka, Kerala and Telangana by flights. The test report should be within 72 hrs while checking at airport.

  →   General COVID protocol should by maintained in public like – maintaining social distancing, carrying masks and sanitizer in the common areas etc.

  →   Follow and cooperate with the Covid protocol at hotel/resort/home stay.

  →   Use disposable items as much as possible, and dump it in defined place.

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR SINGALILA & SANDAKPHU TREKKING TOUR

  →   On day 1, you have to reach NJP/BAGDOGRA within 9 to 9.30am and on the day of return, you will reach NJP/BAGDOGRA around 4 to 5 pm. So arrange your train or flight ticket accordingly.

  →   Trekkers can customize their trip with Darjeeling and its sightseeing points like Lepcha Jagat, Lamahatta, Sitong, and Toy train Joy Ride, Darjeeling Rangeet Valley Passenger Ropeway Ride etc. For that contact with NatureWings while booking your Sandakphu Trekking Package .

  →   The last ATM that you can avail is in Sukhiapokhri (and that of no guarantee of cash due to link failure). It will be wise decision to withdraw adequate amount of cash from NJP/Siliguri/Bagdogra and make the cash in small denomination.

  →   You are requested to carry at least 2 SIM card. Though most of the mobile network work here, but at the top of Sandakphu and Phalut Indian mobile network sometime disappear. Only Nepalese mobile network work here fine. You can use them on request to the hotel or trekkers hut owners.

  →   Generally during the entire trek, we keep our guests at homestay or trekkers hut. But if you want to spend the night in camp under beautiful starry sky, make it confirm while booking.

  →   Carry important medicine for fever, cough, dizziness, vomiting, band-aid, ORS etc.

  →   Carry enough bottled water while on trekking and drink adequate water.

  →   While trekking, there will be no modern toilet facility. So be mentally prepared for that.

  →   Carrying raincoat is a must. It will be better if you can use waterproof trekking Suit.

  →   Try to wear bright colour trekking suit and also choose your rucksack in bright colour. It will help to locate you easily in tough time.

MONTH WISE TEMPERATURE TO NOTE FOR SANDAKPHU TREKKING

Frequently asked questions [faq] for sandakphu phalut trekking package, q. which is the nearest hospital in sandakphu.

First thing to note that from the origination point, i.e. from Sandakphu Trekking Package from NJP or from Manebhanjan, you will not find any modern Hospital. If any emergency arrives, you need to come down either to Rimbik or to Sukhiapokhri. From Sandakphu to Rimbik the distance is almost 25km. You need to stay one night at Gurdum before reaching to Rimbik via Srikhola. Let's understand the distance: Sandakphu to Gurdum (7250ft) - 10km Gurdum to Srikhola - 6km Srikhola to Rimbik (6500 ft) - 7km The Health Center in Rimbik is: Rimbik SC Health Sub-center Rimbick Sc Govt Building Above Rimbick Higher Secondary School Darjeeling Pulbazar Bijanbari, Darjeeling Pulbazar, Darjiling, West Bengal 734201 Another nearest Hospital is at Sukhiapokhri. You need to drive down from Sandakphu to SukhiaPokhri through Manebhanjan. You can book a Land Rover or any four wheelers from Sandakphu to Manebhanjan and from Manebhanjan take another car and reach Sukhiapokhri. From Sandakphu to Sukhia Pokhri the distance is almost 40km and takes nearly 3 hrs. It is the shortest way to get down from Sandakphu if any medical emergency appears. The facility is: Sukhia Pokhri Govt Hospital Address: Sukhia Pokhari, West Bengal 734221 Sukhiapokhri Block Hospital Address: Alipurduar Rd, Sukhia Pokhari, West Bengal 734221

Q. How far is Sandakphu from Darjeeling?

The distance can be divided in two parts. 1st - Sandakphu Trekking / Sandakphu Land Rover Tour generally start from Manebhanjan which is 25 km from Darjeeling via Ghum and Sukhiapokhri. 2nd - Manebhanjan to Sandakphu is almost 32km. So the distance between Darjeeling to Sandakphu is about 55km in total.

Q. Can I opt for Sandakphu Phalut Trek between September to ends to December?

Yes, absolutely, according to suggestion of NatureWings, Sandakphu is best trekked between end of September to end of November or 1st half of December. During this time air is cool, pleasant and fog free. Mountain views are best seen at this time. The chances to behold the exquisite beauty of entire Himalayan Mountain range along with four 8000+ meters peak (Mt. Everest, Mt. Makalu, Mt. Lohtse, and Mt. Kanchenjungha) can be visible clearly from Sandakphu at this time only. The possibilities are 100% crystal clear view. PLEASE NOTE : As this is the Durga Puja Holiday Season in Bengal, Bengalis prefer to travel Sandakphu this time via Darjeeling either by Booking Sandakphu Land Rover Package Tour from NatureWings or by booking Sandakphu Trekking Package . Apart from that trekkers from different parts of India and the world prefer to trek here in September to November.

Q. Is Sandakphu Phalut trekking safe?

In the hands of NatureWings, any trek for Sandakphu and Phalut is safe. We cater top level arrangements in terms of homestay, trekkers hut, experience guide and porters, permit, equipments and safety norms. For any urgent evacuation we also remain alert all the time with Land Rover. So as per safety issue, Sandakphu Trek is 100% safe.

Q. What is the special in Sandakphu Phalut Trek?

Sandakphu is just at 11,950ft above sea level. So in terms of height, it may not look so impressive to any experienced trekker. What makes Sandakphu so special is its location from where you can see four highest peaks in the world standing in a same place. Mt. Everest, Mt. Lhotse, Mt. Makalu and Mt. Kanchenjungha are the peaks which stand majestically in a wide range and can be viewed from Sandakphu Top. That’s why Sandakphu Trek is so special.

Q. How long is Sandakphu trek?

From origination point of Mane Bhanjan (elevation 1,928 m / 6,325 ft), the distance of Sandakphu (elevation 11,950 ft / 3636m) is 32kms. A moderate trekking is required to cover this distance and generally it is done in 3 days i.e. spending 1 night in Tumling/Tonglu and 1 night in Kalipokhri.

Q. How to book Sandakphu Trekking Package?

First tak to our Sandakphu Trekking expert, plan your trek, register your name and pay 25% of your total Sandakphu Trekking Package Cost . Thats it. You are done. Our trek co-ordinator will in be touch with you and guide you as per schedule.

Q. What shall be the temperature of Sandakphu in November and December?

If you wish to trek Sandakphu during November and December (it is considered as best time to trek), then please be noted that you are going to experience Zero or sometime Sub-Zero temperature. It is freezing cold on top of Sandakphu at night. In deccember it may be as low as -15°C. So keep adequate clothe and equipment to keep you warm.

Q. What should be the preparation for Sandakphu Trek?

Most trek route in Sandakphu is flat walks. If you start from Manebhanjan then first 30 minutes trek up to Chitre has little steep. From Chitre to Tumling most of the treks' path has little ups, and down with moderate flat walk on the meadow, and through the deep forest with wild bamboo and rhododendron. From Tumling to Gairibas also it has fewer ups and downs. Then your trek will start from Gairibas to Kalipokhari with moderate walk on bolder path. Then your actual ascend starts from Kalipokhri to Sandakphu. It has steep ascends and many hair pins curve. So, to trek the entire path of 32 km you need at least a month longs preparation, and good fitness to avoid any misadventure or medical emergency during your Sandakphu Trek .

Q. What are the things to pack for Sandakphu trek?

Before trekking, very carefully you have to pack your rucksack. The list may be long, yet the most important may be like : jackets, Waterproof jacket with hood, tracksuit, hiking shoes, pair of socks & underwear, toilet paper, towel, trekking gloves, trekking caps, snow glasses and sunglasses, trekking sticks, water bottle, water purifying tablets, headlamp, torch, candles, matches / lighters, binocular, camera, knife, first aid kit, moisturizer, dry foods, chocolate, candy etc.

Q. What will be the food type during Sandakphu trek?

This is notable that Veg and Non-Veg, both type of meal can be availed during the trek. Mainly Rice, Dal, Chapati, Roti, Sabji, Egg curry, Egg Omlet, Chicken curry etc is served where you stay. On top of Sandakphu, in Sunrise Hotel and Restaurant , you can avail Chinese dishes also like Chow mein (hakka & gravy), Fried Rice, Chicken Kabab, Chicken Tikka, French Fries, Rice, Dal, Papad, Salad, Egg Curry, Tawa Roti and Chapatti also.

Q. Can I avail drinks in Sandakphu?

Oh yes, obviously. If you carry your own drink it's great. Else on top of Sandakphu, in Sunrise Hotel and Restaurant you can avail it with genuine price. In the evening this restaurant comes to live. People throng the place to enjoy the evening with tea, coffee or drinks of their own choice. A variety of Nepalese Beer (carlsberg, tuborg, kingfisher, Hit super strong beer) is available there. It's good in quality. In terms of hard drinks, people or trekkers generally prefer Old Monk Rum. Either you can buy a bottle or can enjoy it as peg. Choice is yours. It is the best place to spend the night with beats of Bollywood and Nepali songs.

Q. What is the best time for Sandakphu trek?

There are actually two seasons for Trekking, one is Summer and the other is Autumn or Winter. Spring and Summer - End of March to May is comprises of Spring and Summer in the region. It is best time to behold the magnificent bloom of Rhododendron and Primulas. Sky remains partially clear. Autumn and Winter - End of October to January is winter season in the region. It is best time to play with snow. Clear sky mainly prevails this time enhancing the possibilities for 100% crystal clear view of the mountain peaks and the range.

Q. Whether electricity is available in Sandakphu?

Yes, electricity is available in Sandakphu, but due to the low voltage, no Geyser or Room heater is available in Sandakphu or Phalut. Warm water is served in bucket on request. One bucket per room is free, extra will be chargable. In some guest house like PWD Bunglow of West Bengal Government electricity is available from evening [6 pm] to next day morning [8 am] only through solar power.

Q. How to reach Sandakphu from Kolkata/Delhi/Bengaluru/Mumbai?

For Sandalphu Trek, you have to arrive at the base city of North Bengal i.e. NJP (New Jalpaiguri) or Siliguri. In two ways you can reach there easily. There are lots of train from Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore to NJP or Siliguri. FROM KOLKATA TO NJP TRAINS: 12343 SEALDAH (SDAH) to NEW JALPAIGURI (NJP) DARJEELING MAIL 12377 SEALDAH (SDAH) to NEW ALIPURDUAR (NOQ) PADATIK EXPRESS 13147 SEALDAH (SDAH) to NEW COOCH BEHAR (NCB) UTTAR BANGA EXPRESS 13149 SEALDAH (SDAH) to NEW JALPAIGURI JUNCTION (NJP) KANCHAN KANYA EXPRESS 13141 SEALDAH (SDAH) NEW ALIPURDUAR (NOQ) TEESTA – TORSA EXPRESS FROM MUMBAI TO NJP TRAINS: 15645 LOKMANYATILAK T (LTT) tO GUWAHATI (GHY) GUWAHATI EXPRESS 12519 LOKMANYATILAK T (LTT) to KAMAKHYA (KYQ) LOKMANYATILAK T KAMAKHYA AC EXPRESS 22511 LOKMANYATILAK T (LTT) to KAMAKHYA (KYQ) KARMABHOOMI EXPRESS FROM DELHI TO NJP/SILIGURI TRAINS: 12424 NEW DELHI (NDLS) to DIBRUGARH TOWN (DBRT) DIBRUGARH TOWN RAJDHANI EXPRESS 12506 ANAND VIHAR TRM (ANVT) to KAMAKHYA (KYQ) NORTH EAST EXPRESS 15484 DELHI (DLI) to ALIPUR DUAR JN (APDJ) MAHANANDA EXPRESS FROM BANGALORE TO NJP/SILIGURI TRAINS: 12503 BENGALURU CANT (BNC) to AGARTALA (AGTL) AGARTALA HUMSAFAR 12509 BENGALURU CANT (BNC) to GUWAHATI GUWAHATI (GHY) EXPRESS 12551 YESVANTPUR (YPR) JN to KAMAKHYA (KYQ) YPRKYQ AC EXPRESS 22501 KSR BENGALURU (SBC) to NEW TINSUKIA JN (NTSK) NEW TINSUKIA EXPRESS And the other option is Flight. Bagdogra (IXB) is the sole domestic airport in this region and has regular flight schedule from all of the above cities. So, from Bagdogra or NJP we will start our trip for our Base camp or starting point at Mane Bhanjan (90km / 3 hrs). After spending a night at Manebhanjan, we will start our trek to Sandakphu and will reach their by trekking in subsequent 3 days.

Last year in the month of November, we took a Sandkaphu Trip along with family and friends. It was during the 3rd week of November and sky was unbelievably clear and the of view of Mout Kanchanjhugha and Mount Everest was mesmerizing and surreal. We took a Land Rover from Manebhanjan to Sandakphu and took around 4 hrs to reach. The road from Kalaphokri to Sandakphu is really very steep and almost 45 degree gradient, the road condition was good till Tumbling and then it was a rough bolder road. We stayed in Sunrise hotel in Sandakphu, though this hotel is in Nepal. This is the best hotel in Sandakphu with awesome view of the ranges from the hotel. The hospitality of Bhabiji was really warm and with her smile she has served us a lot. Overall our trip was great and we thank NatureWings for arranging such a nice trip.

Rajesh Pradhan

Our Trip to Sandakphu and Phalut in last year December with friends was an amazing experience. We did it a mix trip, with car and trek. Though we took a car from Manebhanjan, we did a very good trek from Chitre to Tumling. It was through dense forest of Singalila National Park. We trekked from Chitre to Tumling, sometimes we followed the jeep route also. It took around 2 hrs to reach from Chitre to Tumling through trek, our car was waiting at Tumling and we took the car to reach Sandakphu. While returning, we took a trek route from Sandakphu to Kalaphokhri, it was a quick route and took around just one hour to climb down from Sandakphu to Kalaphokri. I suggest this type of mix experience for the future traveler in Sandakphu. The hotels in Sandakphu was basic and those who want to just enjoy the nature, they are welcome here as the facilities and amenities here in Sandakphu is really limited.

Harshbardhan Rane

Coming from a polluted city like Delhi, visiting mountains make me happy, and Sandakphu was next on my wish list for the 2019 visit. Being an old customer, I contracted NatureWings to arrange my trip, and Mr. Soumalya Ghosh, the specialist in this sector, explained everything with patience and provided me with a package for 4 nights along with some special discount for my loyalty. After landing, we drove towards Manebhanjan, where we saw the legendary 50 - 70 years aged LandRover from the British period. On the next, we started our journeytowards Sandakphu on a 60 years old Land Rover along the bumpy road full of gravel and sharp turns enough to give you goosebumps. After reaching Sandakphu, we saw the stunning view of Mt.Kanchenjung and, Mt.Everest in a single frame drifting on clouds, followed by the spine chilly cold wind from the Himalayas that made us wear 3 clothes. Our stay at Sandakphu was for 2 nights, along with a day excursion to Phalut to see the Kanchenjunga more closely, and on the fourth day, we moved to Lepchajagat, a forested area. We got decent and clean rooms with a mountain view while the food was average in taste but hot, network connectivity was terrible, but nature was at its best. The experience we got from this trip will be cherished forever, thank you NatureWings team for your effort, and Special thanks to Mr. Indrajeet Kar for tracking us.

Promothesh Don

We visited Sandakphu from Mumbai through NatureWings in 2020 beginning. This agency was suggested to me by my daughter after she read good reviews on Facebook from the Mumbaikars sharing their good experiences. My daughter connected with this agency from Kolkata, where Mr. Soumalya Ghosh assisted with prompt service and thereby providing a fair priced itinerary. We received our hotel vouchers, driver details before the journey, and post landing at Bagdogra airport, our driver Mr.Gurung transferred us to Manebhanjan. The next day, we started our journey towards Sandakphu via Indo Nepal border on a 70 years old noisy Land Rover inherited from the Britishers that craved out its way through the narrow road. Sandakphu has a breathtaking view of the Kanchenjunga, Everest, and other Himalayan peaks covered with snow and glitter with falling rays of the sun. We spent two nights relaxing and enjoying the beauty of the Himalayas at Sandakphu and visited Phaluk on our way to Tumling, a small hamlet with great views, and last night at Lepchajagat. The selection of our hotels/homestays was up to the mark, the car was in good condition, including the Rover, and food was limited but hot and fresh. We had a great time in the lap of nature, thanks to Mr. Indrajeet for his regular follow-ups and perfect arrangements.

Sachin Patil

We are 5 Trekking lovers from Gujarat, planned for Sandakphu Trek , the oldest and finest trekking point in India. While searching for a travel agent, we came across the NatureWings website and approached them to plan our trip based on the trekking route. Mr.Sandip Raha NatureWings, M.D. showed interest to design our trip and guided us very well along with a 5 nights/6 days perfect itinerary. We reached Bagdogra with our big rucksack, and from there, our driver transferred us to Manebhanjan, the base point of our trek towards Sandakphu. Early morning we were on with our trekking shoes and left towards Sandakphu along with our experienced guide following the well-marked boulder path of colonial Land Rovers. There were some shops and settlements where we sat with our tired legs and ate hot Maggi before progressing towards our final halt for the day at Gairibas. We enjoyed our stay in a homestay where we chatted with the locals and met other trekker enthusiasts like us. This trekking route has mild to moderate difficulty, and on the way, it allows us to experience the rich flora and fauna of this region while giving a peep to the lifestyle of the locals. The guide was an experienced man and was climbing for the 25th time while entertaining us on the way up. After trekking for nearly 8 hours on the gravel road full of steep hike and rhododendron apart from the marvelous view of the mountains, we finally met our destination. We saw the glorious Kanchenjunga, Everest, and others peaks shining in the daylight while the sun busy playing hide and seek with the clouds. After spending 2 beautiful nights at Sandakphu in the tranquil environment surrounded by tall coniferous trees, we started our final trek towards Srikhola nearly 16 Kms from the origin. We reached the same day while trekking for 6 hours through the dense forest of Singalila full of flowering plants, butterflies, and singing birds. After spending one tiring night in Srikhola, we left for Bagdogra airport for an onward journey. The highlight of this trip was this awestruck view of Mt.Kanchenjunga shining like a gigantic diamond with the falling moon rays and learning a few Nepali words from our guide. Well, the trip was worth each penny from on trip follow-up by Mr.Indrajeet, to homestay and hotel selection, guide, food, and transfer, all was perfect, and we cherished every moment. Thanks a bunch for making our trip memorable and we do recommend you guys.

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Uttarey Singalila Trek

Uttarey singalila, short itinerary, day 1 uttarey to chiwa bhanjyang (10,498 ft) | trek: 14 km in 6 - 7 hrs, day 2 chiwa bhanjyang rest and acclimatization (10,498 ft) | trek: 4 - 5 hrs, day 3 chiwa bhanjyang to ghairi (11811 ft) | trek: 10 km in 5 - 6 hrs, day 4 ghairi to dhor (12,795 ft) | trek: 9 km in 5 - 6 hrs, day 5 dhor to pare megu (12,467 ft) | trek: 12 km in 6 - 7 hrs, day 6 pare megu to lam pokhari (13,451 ft) | trek: 11 km in 4 - 5 hrs, day 7 lam pokhari to gomathang (11,482 ft) via dafey bhir (14,763 ft) | trek: 9 km in 5 - 6 hrs, day 8 gomathang to pangden (13451 ft) | trek: 16 km in 7 - 8 hrs, day 9 pangden to dzongri (13,221 ft) | trek: 9 km in 5 - 6 hrs, day 10 dzongri rest and hiking day (13,221 ft – 13,943 ft) | trek: 4 - 6 hrs, day 11 dzongri to thangsing (12,893 ft)| trek: 6 km in 5 - 6 hrs, day 12 thangsing to lamune (13,549 ft) | trek: 6 km in 3 - 4 hrs, day 13 lamune to goechala (16,207 ft) | trek: 14 km in 5 - 6 hrs, day 14 thangsing to tsokha (10,006 ft) via kockchurung | trek: 14 km in 6 - 7 hrs, day 15 tshoka to yuksam (5,856 ft) | trek: 16 km in 6 - 7 hrs, day 2 how difficult is the trek & what are the challenges, what is the best time to do the trek and how is the weather, what are the top highlights of the trek.

• Your designated hotels may not reopen by the time you reach there. While we are making alternate arrangements, do understand that things may not be as “tip-top” as our designated hotels.
• The gurudwara, Hemkund Sahib may not be open. While we are trying to take permission to go to Hemkund Sahib, if it does not happen, then do understand that the pandemic has put restrictions beyond our control.

Upcoming Treks

• 17-07-2021 to 23-07-2021 open
• 17-07-2021 to 23-07-2021 close

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Dedicated to those who loves to explore and experience the Himalayas - The abode of God!

Trip Overview

Trip highlights, health and fitness, trekking/tour tips.

• Inclusion / Exclusion

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Uttarey singalila trek, 14 nights/15 days.

Moderate to Difficult

Maximum Altitue

4940 m / 16,207 ft.

Pickup Point

Bagdogra / njp.

Bagdogra /NJP

Min/Max Age

12 to 65 years.

Best time to visit

Mar to may & sept to nov.

Uttarey Singalila Trek is one of the most famous adventure trekking routes in Sikkim. It encompasses the area southwest of Dzongri and as defined by its name, includes several days of hike traversing the Singalila Ridge, the lesser mountain chain that rises from the northern hills of Darjeeling district and extends to converge with the Kanchenjunga massif.

The Singalila ridge demarcates the western borders of Sikkim and Darjeeling with Nepal. The Uttarey Singalila Trek route traverse through Singalila National Park and Kanchenjunga National Park both of which are the rich habitat of exotic flora and fauna.

Lush green forest, varieties of rhododendron flowers, alluring alpine valleys, scenic meadows, captivating landscape, panoramic mountain range, and majestic views of the towering snow-capped mountain peaks make this trekking route an ideal adventure destination. Some high-altitude lakes along the trails add more beauty to this Trek.

There are many high-altitude lakes on the Nepal side that are approachable from the main trekking trail. It can be explored with few additional days.

During this trek, you will be able to witness the panoramic views of the majestic mountain range of both the Sikkim and Nepal sides. Mt. Everest, Mt. Lhotse, Mt. Makalu of Nepal aside, and Mt. Kanchenjunga, Mt. Pandim, and several other peaks of Sikkim side are seen from Dafey Bhir viewpoint.

Uttarey Singalila trek starts from a small village Uttarey situated at the far western corner of Sikkim. The first-day journey traverses through the agricultural field and semi-tropical forest of Uttarey and after several hours of easy and gradual uphill hiking reaches the first campsite Chewabhanjyang at 3500m. Chewabhanjyang is the main border point and has a small security border camp. The next day takes a full rest day at Chewabhanjyang for proper acclimatization and morning excursion to the viewpoint for panoramic mountain views. From here on you will mostly be hiking on the alpine valleys for several days crossing high passes and ridges with magnificent viewpoints and diverse landscapes. Upon arrival at Dzongri camp after several days hike, we will take one more rest day for refueling the body, acclimatization, and excursion to the most magnificent viewpoint of the whole Trek “Dzongri Viewpoint” or “Dzongri La”. From Dzongri onwards you will be following the regular Goechala-Kanchenjunga trails till Goechala viewpoint and back to Yuksam.

Uttarey to Chiwa Bhanjyang (3200m/14 km/6-7 hrs) (Camping) - L/D

After breakfast head on for the first day Trek towards Singalila ridge. Today it’s a relatively easy trail which rises gently through rainforest until a final steep ascent for the last couple of hours bring us to the Nepalese border and our first camp. O/N at camping

Chiwa Bhanjyang Rest and Acclimatization (3200m/4-5 hrs) (Camping) - B/L/D

Take one day rest at Chiwa Bhanjyang. An important location for rest and acclimatization before heading up higher in the Himalayas for several days. Morning visit to a view point to enjoy the panoramic and spectacular views of the mountain range. Take a day hike around for stretching and acclimatization. O/N camping at Chiwa Bhanjyang.

Chiwa Bhanjyang to Ghairi (3600m/10 km/5-6 hrs) (Camping) - B/L/D

After breakfast trek towards Ghairi which is a relatively easy day hike with less height gain. Today it is mostly a trekking along a Nepalese border with glorious mountain views and pristine landscape. O/N at Ghairi

Ghairi to Dhor (3900m/9 km/5-6 hrs) (Camping) - B/L/D

A gentle uphill traverse through forest and then over a more exposed hillside brings us to prayer flags adorning our first pass and view of distant mountain - a taste of what is to come. As we gradually gain height, we will appreciate the previous day’s acclimatization. The occasional yak herder’s hut is the only sign of habitation as we look down far below to the rice fields and cardamom plantation. Our camp is in a remote and sheltered hollow below a ridge. O/N camping at Dhor

Dhor to Pare Megu (3800m/12km/6-7 hrs) (Camping) - B/L/D

Rising just before dawn, a five-minute walk onto the ridge may reveal the spectacular sight of sunrise on both Everest and Kanchendzonga. Throughout the day we descend and climb, maintaining a steady height, spiraling from one side of the ridge to the other until a rough steep ascent takes us across a pass. Beyond, the trail wends its way steadily through rhododendron and past several Hindu shrines where a second easier pass drop down to our camp close to a shepherd’s summer settlement. Look out for a blue sheep on the high craggy mountainside.O/N camping at Pare Megu

Pare Megu to Lam Pokhari (4100m/11km/4-5 hrs) (Camping) - B/L/D

We walk easily on a good trail through woods until we begin a steady rise up a broad valley where we catch our first closer view of the entire Kabru range dominated by mount Pandim (6691 m). A further two hours of ascent will get us to our camp with Everest and a host of other Khumbu giants dominating the distant skyline. An afternoon of rest and acclimatization for the following day’s foot slogging. O/N camping at Lam Pokhari

Lam Pokhari to Dafey Bhir (4500m) to Gomathang (3500m/9km/5-6 hrs) (Camping) - B/L/D

Now we are in the high mountain country and the forest lie far below. For the past two days we have been walking in Nepal and today we pass the sacred lake of Lam Pokhari, which marks our entry back into Sikkim. A little snow underfoot can be expected as we climb to our first pass, the Danphe Bhir La at 4530 m , the pass of the pheasant. From here it is possible to see the whole of Sikkim with the view stretching out well into Tibet and Bhutan. A further hour’s contouring and a small ascent reveals the Kag Bhir La -- the pass of the crow, where we may be lucky enough to view a panorama of Himalayan peaks including mt. Khanchendzonga. Reluctantly, we then must head downhill making a steep descent to our riverside camp. O/N camping at Gomathang.

Gomathang to Pangden (4100m/16 km/7-8 hrs) (Camping) - B/L/D

We leave our lovely meadow camp to climb through forests of sweet-smelling silver fir and rhododendrons. Soon we are in the high mountain terrain again. Look out for the brightly colored Danphe birds (impeyan pheasant), which nest in the high crags around the Khmasey La 4200 m. Further descend to the meadows of Kokling and hike for some period until we reach the Pangden camp site. O/N camping at Pangden.

Pangden to Dzongri (4030m/9km/5-6 hrs/) (Camping) - B/L/D

Today our route joins the regular trail up to Goecha La. A steady climb through ancient fir forest, juniper and rhododendrons gradually opens out to the summer pasture of Dzongri. Another high camp, but we should be well acclimatized by now probably in contrast to some of the trekkers we meet who could be on day 3 of their Dzongri trek at 4000 m. O/N at Camping at Dzongri.

Dzongri Rest – Aclimatization and Hiking Day (4030 – 4250m/4-6 hrs) (Camping) - B/L/D

Today we have to wake up early in the morning at around 4am and after some tea and biscuits head for DZONGRILA VIEW POINT to see the spectacular and panoramic view of mountain kanchendzonga and its neighboring peaks. The best view possible from goechala trek is from this view point. After taking your time for the scenery head back to camp sites. After breakfast hike towards laxmi pokhari and after lunch you can opt for HMI view point but it mostly depends on your choice and weather.O/N camping at Dzongri.

Dzongri to Thangsing (3930m/6 kms/5-6 hrs) (camping) - B/L/D

The day’s walk starts with a short climb to a ridge followed by a rapid steep descend of 100m to Kockchurung and Prek river. Continue crossing some boulders and climb gently to the campsite of Thangsing for our lunch with view of Mt. Pandim and Mt. Kanchenjunga.. O/N camping at Thangsing.

Thangsing to Lamune (4130m/6km/3-4 hrs) (camping) - B/L/D

A gentle 2-3 hrs walk to camp at Lamune. While the camp is set up, we take a walk to Samiti Lake, 4453m with Kanchenjunga looming ahead of us. The trail goes past stunted rhododendron bushes, azaleas and past a prayer wall before ascending a moraine path to a ridge from where you can look down at Samiti Pokhari (4200m) a beautiful and sacred lake surrounded by snow capped peaks Mt. Kanchandzonga, Mt. Pandim and Mt. Thenchinkhang. Return to camp for lunch. O/N camping at Lamune

Lamune to Goechala (4940m/14km/5-6 hrs) / Thangsing (2 hrs) (camping) - B/L/D

Early morning excursion to Goechala (pass), one walk along the moraine path by the side of Samiti lake to view the east face of Mt. Kanchendzonga bathed in the rays of the early sun. We cross the ½ km sandy plain known as Zemathang, footprints of Bluesheeps and other animals are common sighting. After 2 hours, we arrive at the 1st view point of Goechala and walk further 2 hours to 2nd view point to enjoy the close up views of Mt. Kanchendzonga 8534m. Return to camp for late lunch and later walk to Thangshing campsite or Kockchurung campsite some 30 minutes below. O/N camping at Thangsing.

Thangsing to Kockchurung to Tsokha (3050m/14km/6-7 hrs) (Camping) - B/L/D

After breakfast, trek back the same trail till Kockchurung, from where we take another trail via Phedang to Tshoka. Hot lunch at Phedang and continue to walk to Tshoka. O/N in private lodge.

Tshoka to Yuksam (1785m/16km/6 hrs) (Hotel Stay)

Today the trail again goes down all the way to Yuksam via Bakhim and Sachen camp site. The trails goes down from Tropical to Semi Tropical Forest which is a home to varieties of Wild Flora and Fauna. The sighting of Animals is rare due to uneven and dense forest landscape - though this whole forest is a part of a famous Kanchendzonga National Park! One will be crossing three Hanging Bridges - Prek chu, Paha Khola and Tshushey - between Bakhim and Yuksam. Evening free to explore Yuksam.

The above-given Itinerary is a regular standard day-wise Itinerary however, it is flexible and can be customized according to your preferences and likes. In the given Itinerary we have not Included arrival and exit day which can be arranged separately. 

The highlight of the trip is as follow -

1)  Yuksam  - The first capital of Sikkim and a base camp of famous Goechala Kanchendzonga Trek and several Mountain Expeditions. The Oldest monastery of Sikkim, Dubdi Monastery is located at Yuksam. The Famous Coronation Throne where the first king of Sikkim was crowned by the three religious monks is in Yuksam.

2)  Tshoka  - A small Refuge settlement at the height of 3000m. A first-day camping point of the trek. From Tshoka one can see a glimpse of towering snow-capped mountain peaks - Mt. Pandim and few others.

3)  Dzongri Viewpoint  - The most beautiful and ideal viewpoint of high-altitude treks in Sikkim. One can witness a 360-degree view of the Pristine and Panoramic 16 snow-capped mountain peaks and hills. Located at the height of 4250m Dzongri Viewpoint offers sublime and capitative scenery of the entire Himalayan range...

4)  Goechala Viewpoint  - The closest point to Mt. Kanchendzonga - The guardian deity of Sikkim! The goechala viewpoint provides a sublime and closest view of Mt. Kanchendzonga and Mt. Pandim. One can have the closest look at Thalung Glacier too at the bottom of Mt. Kanchendzonga.

5)  Samiti lake  - One of the most pristine and holy high-altitude lakes in Sikkim. It lies exactly Infront of Mt. Kanchendzonga and is a treat to witness on a clear sunny day.

6)  Laxmi Pokhari (Lake) in Dzongri -  A pristine high-altitude lake situated 3 hours walk from the Dzongri Campsite

7) Dafey Bhir - A spectacular viewpoint from where you can see Mt. Everest, Mt. Lhotse, Mt. Makalu of Nepal, and Mt. Kanchendzonga, Mt Pandim, and other peaks of Sikkim.

8) Uttarey – A beautiful village located at the border between Sikkim, INDIA, and Nepal. It is also a base camp to Singalila Ridge Trek

9) Gomathang – A beautiful alpine valley camping site with mesmerizing landscape and scenery.

10) Pangding – A beautiful campsite at the bottom of a big high mountain hill adjoining the Dzongri Goechala range

You have to be Relatively Fit and Healthy to undertake the Uttarey Singalila trek. Trekking for 6 to 8 hours a day is one of the most important requirements for this high-altitude trek. Apart from good health condition basic mental preparation is also very important to undertake this Trek.

People suffering from Acute Heart and Lung diseases, Asthma, and High blood pressure are not recommended to take up this trek. 

To complete this high-altitude trek regular exercises like running, skipping, aerobics, Zumba, and long-distance uphill trekking (4 to 5 times a week) are highly recommended. One should start making basic physical preparation at least a month before a trek. These exercises help you during the Trek.

The packing of right and comfortable clothing also makes a difference in the completion of Trek, so it is necessary to be disciplined while packing your clothing for the trip. You can contact us for help with clothing choice and packing!

During the Trek, we provide a basic medicine Kit which includes Medicine for High Altitude sickness, Headache, Diarrhoea, Vomiting, Common Cold, etc. All of our medicine is scientific medicine purchased in India, however, we advised you to bring your small medicinal kit for the trip if possible. 

1. A common tendency among young blood and beginners is to show enthusiasm by walking fast with excitement. Even the experienced sometimes try to show off by walking fast, this is soon exhausting and not recommended. Walk slow - warm up gradually and continue at a slow comfortable pace before pushing yourself a little more.

2. Develop a personal rhythm. Maintain your steps to synchronized with breathing. This will help minimize getting out of breath.

3. Walking in Himalayan trails with loose soil and rocks is tricky. So, avoid stepping on loose soil and rocks and place the foot flat and firm with a better grip. Always follow the rule ‘heel first’ while walking in the Himalaya trail. 

4. Walking in a zigzags manner while ascending on a very steep slope is advisable. While descending walking zigzag is a good technique to avoid excessive pressure on knees and avoid knee pain and blisters.  

5. Avoid stepping on loose stones and soil to avoid an accident.

6. Avoid overtaking fellow travelers on a narrow trail. Only Overtake at comfortable wide space if necessary. 

7. While ascending and descending a slope or over loose stones, leave sufficient space between the next person so that any stone rolling down does not hit trekkers below.

8. Do not run down a slope. Bend knees a little while descending. Dig heels into soft snow or soft ground.

9. Our Himalayan condition is mostly wet so avoid wet grass, wet roots, and the muddy zone which can be very slippery. Be careful while walking on them.

10. Shortcuts on a foot trail should be avoided.

11. Always put-on warm clothing while taking a rest. This will help avoid getting cold, cough and high-altitude sickness

12. Respect the sentiments and traditions of the local hill people.

13. Always carry enough water in your water bottle as water is essential in avoiding altitude sickness.

14. Wear a comfortable and right set of trekking boots, pants, and jackets. Avoid wearing new trekking boots directly for the Trek. Get used to it by wearing it before the trek. Carry all necessary clothing.

 Halts and Rests:

1. While taking a rest, lie against a tree trunk, a big stone, or on flat ground. Place your legs on your bags or any other higher ground. This helps regulate blood circulation.

2. Stop at any comfortable point after the first start to readjust your rucksack, jackets, or to tie a shoelace for better comfort and adjustment.

3. Do not make frequent or prolonged halts. Too many small stops destroy the walking rhythm. Frequent rests are not helpful. You should follow your own rhythmic walking pace and technique to avoid unnecessary tiredness. A stop should be made only at natural stopping points, like on the top of a ridge, or before an ascent, or at a scenic viewpoint.

4. Stop and place yourself on the safer (Mountain) side to give way for the pack animals to pass through. Avoid bags carried by the animals that can push you. Be aware of the yak's horn too. 

Inclusion Exclusion

Services included:.

1) HIGH ALTITUDE TREKKING PERMITS/PERMISSION 2) LOCAL ENGLISH SPEAKING GUIDE 3) EXPERIENCED LOCAL COOK 4) LOCAL PORTERS 5) PACK ANIMALS 6) 2 MEN TENTS / HUTS 7) KITCHEN & DINING TENTS 8) SLEEPING BAGS 9) MATTRESSES 10) HOT WATER BAGS 11) NATIONAL PARK FEES AND PERMISSION 12) TOURISM FEES AND PERMISSION 13) ENVIRONMENTAL FEES 14) ALL MEALS AND DRINKS THROUGHOUT THE TREK   15) TABLE & CHAIR 16) BASIC MEDICINAL KITS

SERVICES EXCLUDED:

1) INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC FLIGHT TICKETS 2) TRANSPORTATION TO / FRO STARTING & ENDING LOCATION 3) INSURANCE OF ANY NATURE 4) ALCOHOL AND BEVERAGES 5) TIPS AND GIFTS 6) PERSONAL SHOPPING COST 7) ANYTHING NOT INCLUDED IN INCLUDED LIST        

HOW TO REACH UTTAREY / YUKSAM? The closest Airport to Uttarey and Yuksam, Sikkim is PAKYONG AIRPORT & BAGDOGRA AIRPORT. You have to fly either to Bagdogra Airport or Pakyong Airport. From there you can drive to Nambu / Yuksam with a private reserve vehicle.

Pakyong Airport is around 6 to 7 hours’ drive and Bagdogra Airport is around 7 to 8 hours’ drive from both Uttarey and Yuksam.

WHAT GEARS AND CLOTHING TO CARRY FOR UTTAREY SINGALILA TREK? No matter what season you are planning for the mountains are always going to be cold, rough, and tough so it is absolutely necessary to pack yourself with adequate and proper clothing. Here is the standard kit checklist for the Trek.

Proper packing of the trekking gears is absolutely necessary with eyes on the weight limit. It is important to have a good brand of clothing.

Basic Gears: Back Pack & rain cover or Duffel bag (50 to 70 ltr) Day Pack & rain cover (20 to 30 ltr) Walking stick (1 pair or at least one) Water Bottle (2 bottles of 2 ltr each) Thermos flask (1 nos) Head Light (1 Nos with 4 pairs of batteries) Gaiters (1 pair)

Upper and Lower Clothings: T - Shirt (2 to 3 full sleeves). Mostly noncotton Fleece T-shirt (1 nos) Thermal Inner-wears or base layers (1 nos or 1 pair) such as long jones Fleece Jacket (1 nos) Down, Feather, or Holofil Jackets (1 nos) Wind and Waterproof jackets & pants (1 pair) Trekking Pants (1 pair). Comfortable and durable Short Trekking Pants (1 nos or 1 pair) Poncho (1 nos)

Headgears: Woolen cap (1 nos) Sun cap (1 nos) Balaclava or scarf (1 nos) Sunglasses (1 nos) U/V protected and dark

Hand gears: Waterproof gloves (1 nos) Woolen gloves (1 nos)

Feet gears: Waterproof Trekking boots (1 nos) preferably ankle high Goretex, North face, Colombia or Quechua Snickers or running shoes (1 nos) preferably from any reputed brand Gaiters (1 nos) Sandals or flippers (1 nos) Cotton socks (4 pairs) Woolen socks (2 pairs)

Personal utilities: Sunscreen cream Moisturizers Hand sanitizers Toilet papers and wipes Anti-bacterial powders Lip balm Toothbrush and toothpaste

CAN I EXIT YUKSAM ON THE LAST DAY OF THE TREK DIRECTLY? Yes, you can if you are looking to reach any other location near to Yuksam OR if it is too urgent and necessary. Driving to Airport and Railway directly after the trek is not recommended.

We will advise not to plan to leave Yuksam directly after the last day of Trek as it will be too tiring and hectic. Driving at night on the Himalayan road is not comfortable and enjoyable.

The earliest you will reach Yuksam on the last day of the trek is around 1 pm so long hours drive thereafter is not possible.

CAN I LEAVE EXTRA BAGS AT UTTAREY / YUKSAM AND COLLECT THEM ON THE LAST DAY OF THE TREK? Yes, you can leave a bag of clothes with our office staff before the start of the trek at Uttarey and collect it after the trek. In fact, we will advise you to leave one set of clothing for the last day as normally pack animals arrive late on the last day of the trek.

You can even keep valuables and cash at our office safely and collect them after the trek.

WHAT DOCUMENTS NEED TO BE CARRIED? It is mandatory for Indian trekkers to carry identification documents such as VOTER ID CARRD, DRIVING LICENSE, AADHAR CARD, INDIAN PASSPORT. Original documents need to be carried along with 4 pcs PASSPORT SIZE photograph.

Foreigners need to carry INDIAN VISA, PASSPORT & SIKKIM INNER LINE PERMIT along with 4 pcs PASSPORT SIZE photographs.

A medical fitness certificate is also mandatory however this can also be arranged at Yuksam in case you are not able to bring it.

IS THERE CONNECTIVITY DURING THE TREK? There is no phone connectivity during the Uttarey Singalila trek. Uttarey, Chewabhanjyang, and Yuksam is the last village where you can get a phone and internet connection.

At certain specific locations between Uttarey to Chweabhanjyang, Dzongri, Phedang, and Tshoka, you can get Vodafone, Airtel, and Jio networks. Network largely depends on weather conditions of the given period. 

There is no electricity throughout the Uttarey Singalila trek. 

HOW IS THE WEATHER & TEMPERATURE DURING THE TREK? There are two distinct seasons for doing Uttarey Singalila Trek. Mid-March, April to May (Spring) and Mid-September, October to November (Autumn). Normally weather remains good and clear in those given periods however there is no guarantee as weather is extremely unpredictable in our Himalayas and does change within hours and days.

The temperature at each campsite depends largely on each day's specific weather condition.

Spring (Mid-March, April till May) * Yuksam to Tshoka / Uttarey to Chewabhanjyang Morning and Evening – 12 to 16 degrees centigrade Day time – 18 to 24 degrees centigrade Late Evening and Mid Night – 8 to 14 degrees centigrade

* Phedang, Dzongri, and above / Dhor to Parey Megu and above Morning and Evening – 4 to 12 Day time – 12 to 18 degrees centigrade Late Evening and Mid Night – minus 10 to 4 degrees centigrade

Autumn (Mid-September, October till November) * Yuksam to Tshoka / Uttarey to Chewabhanjyang Morning and Evening – 8 to 14 degrees centigrade Day time – 16 to 21 degrees centigrade Late Evening and Mid Night – 2 to 10 degrees centigrade

* Phedang, Dzongri, and above / Dhor to Parey Megu and above Morning and Evening – minus 8 to 10 Day time – 2 to 14 degrees centigrade Late Evening and Mid Night – minus 15 to 2 degrees centigrade

Essential Information

• Best Season and time to do Uttarey Singalila Trek
• Health and Fitness required for Uttarey Singalila Trek
• Foods during the Uttarey Singalila Trek
• How difficult is Uttarey Singalila Trek
• How to stay safe during Uttarey Singalila Trek
• How to avoid Acute Mountain Sickness during Uttarey Singalila Trek
• Gear check list for Uttarey Singalila Trek
• Weather and Temperature on Uttarey Singalila Trek
• Connectivity during Uttarey Singalila Trek
• How you can HELP locals by booking with us
• Bookings and Cancellation Policy for Uttarey Singalila Trek

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Uttarey-Singalila-Goechala Trek

The high mountains of Himalayas has its own charm and when you talk about Mt. Kanchenjunga it will definitely come in the top list. Although there are many different trails that take you closer to this third highest mountain in the World, there is a lesser known trail, full of adventure & beauty starts from Uttarey, Sikkim which take you to very closer to this mountain. This is an ancient trek route used by the Yak herders and only for those who are looking for a long high altitude Himalayan trek full of adventure. The best part of this trek is that when you start this trek you see Kanchenjunga from a very far distance but as the trek continues you get closer to the mountain and at Goechala (4980 m) you see this mountain just in front of you. Also the view of Everest, Makalu, Lhotse are very captivating during this trek.

Detailed Itineraries

Day 1: delhi/mumbai to bagdogra (by plane) . drive to uttarey (2012m).

Upon arrival meet with our representative at the Bagdogra airport and transfer to Uttarey 155 km (6 hrs). En-route visit Kaluk valley. Uttarey is the westernmost corner of Sikkim and very close to Nepal border. Upon arrival check into your hotel/home-stay. Overnight at Uttarey. *If you are coming from Gangtok then it will take around 6 hrs time to reach here. You will visit Buddha Park, Ralang monastery and Singshore bridge on your way to Uttarey.

Day 2: Uttarey to Chewabhanjyang Pass (3142m ), 5 hrs

After breakfast we start for the Uttarey-Singalila trek. Trek starts with a gradient walk through a small settlement. After that it becomes steep and we enter into a dense forest. As we climb up you can see Rhododendron trees and other alpine trees which make the walk so beautiful. During spring you can see Rhododendron flowers blooming in the trees and it looks spectacular. Today our stop will be at Chewabhanjyang Pass (3142 m). Enjoy the evening here. Overnight stay in tent.

Day 3: Rest day and exploration to Phokteydara

We spend this day as a rest day to give your body needful time to acclimatize in this high altitude before we move further. But that doesn’t mean that we will do nothing. We will go for a acclimatization walk to a nearby peak name Phokteydara from where you can see beautiful panoramic view of the greater Himalayas. It’s one of the few places on Earth from where you can see four of five highest mountains in the World. We spend afternoon exploring our campsite. Overnight stay in tent.

Day 4: Chewabhanjyang to Dhoor (3749 m), 5 hrs

It will be beautiful walk today. After breakfast we start for Dhoor (3749 m), our stop for today. The most exciting thing about today’s walk trek is that sometime we walk in Nepal and sometime in India. Yes this trail is just on the Indo-Nepal border. This zigzag walk along with beautiful mountain view makes this walk memorable. We often come across Yak-herder huts today which is only evidence of human civilization in this region. You can see beautiful birds in the nearby Rhododendron forests. Later when we reach at our campsite you will definitely like the ambience there. Overnight stay in tent.

Day 5: Dhor to Pharey Megu (3905 m), 6 hrs

Enjoy the spectacular morning at your campsite. Today we trek to Pharey Megu (3905 m) and most of the time it will be a ridgewalk and no wonder that the view of Greater Himalayan peaks are prime attraction. Kanchenjunga, Kabru, Talung, etc peaks dominates the view. Not mountain view keep your camera shutter ready because there is a pretty much chance of seeing Himalayan blue sheep today. It will be around 5 hrs trek to reach our Pharey Megu campsite. Overnight stay in tent.

Day 6: Pharey Megu to Lampokhri (4297 m), 6 hrs

Day 7: lampokhri to gomathang (3800), 6 hrs.

From two high passes to river it’s going to be a crazy adventurous day! As we climb up there will be almost no vegetation. The first mountain pass, Danphey Bhir La (4530 m), will be a test of your stamina and patience. Danphey Bhir La in local means The pass of Pheasant. Once you reach here you will get amazing view of entire vicinity. On a clear day you can see mountains of Bhutan and Tibet from here. From here the next pass Kag Bhir La or The pass of crow is an hour distance. From Kag bhir La you will get beautiful view of Kanchenjunga, Kabru, Pandim and other mountains. It will be a steep descent to Gomathang (3800 m) from here. The nearby river has its own charm. Overnight stay in tent.

Day 8: Gomathang to Pangding (4268 m), 5 hrs

Enjoy your morning at Gomathang. The sound of the river will bring peace to your soul. Today we start with a meadow walk then we enter into Rhododendron and silver fir forest. It will be an easy walk today before we reach Pangding (4268 m) where we take a steep trail to reach our campsite. This camsite also offers exotic view of the big Himalayan mountains. Overnight stay in tent.

Day 9: Pangding to Dzongri (4170 m), 4 hrs

Today’s trek starts with a descent. We down for about an hour and then climb up again. We cross two rivers Tikep Chhu and Rathong Chhu on our way to Dzongri. Dzongri is more like a junction point where various trails go to different direction. That is why Dzongri is always a busy campsite. In the afternoon go for an excursion to Dzongri Top (4170 m) or for a short birdwatching walk to see Blood pheasant, the state bird of Sikkim. Overnight stay in tent.

Day 10: Dzongri to Kokchurong (3658 m), via Dzongri Top (4170 m), 5 hrs

We start in the dark to reach at the Dzongri top to experience spectacular sunrise over Kanchenjunga and other peaks. It will take around 45 min to reach at the top. A sunrise view from Dzongri top is something which you will never forget. Experiencing this beauty we return to campsite and after breakfast we start for Kokchurong. It will be a lovely walk today as the view of Kanchenjunga, Pandim and other Himalayan peaks will be with us all the time. It will be around 5 hrs to reach at our campsite. At the height of 3658 m Kokchurong is a lovely place. With Prek chu (River) is flowing just beside of the campsite, it’s gurgling sound is so amazing and you can spend your hours just watching at the flowing river. Overnight stay in tent.

Day 11: Kokchurong to Lamuney (4150 m) via Thansing (3980 m), 5 hrs

After breakfast we start for Lamuney. We first cross the Prek Chu (river) and enter into Rhododendron forest. Most of the time it will be gradual walk today. Once we reach Thansing it will be flat walk to Lamuney campsite. You enjoy every moment of this walk as the astounding view of the Kanchenjunga, Pandim, Tenzing Khang peaks will keep you enchanted all the time. It is one of the most beautiful campsites here and the sunset view over gigantic Pandim is spectacular from here. It’s considered to be the coldest campsite of this trek. Overnight stay in tent.

Day 12: Summit day, Lamuney to Thansing (3895 m) via Goecha La (4980 m), 8 hrs

We start around 3 am today for Goecha La. This journey is something that you will cherish forever. Trek amidst dark night in freezing weather is so adventurous. It will take around 3.5 hrs to reach at the Goecha La (4980 m). While standing at the Goecha La you can see gigantic view of the Mt. Kanchenjunga, world’s third highest peak at stone throwing distance. Mt. Pandim (6691 m) also looks so massive from here. On your way down to the camp the view of Kabru and other peaks will make you speechless. After returning to campsite we have our lunch and move towards Thansing (3895 m). It will take 1.5 hr to reach there. We spend the afternoon at leisure. Overnight stay in tent.

Day 13: Thansing to Tshokha (2957 m) via Kokchurong and Phedang, 6 hrs

After breakfast we will start for our destination – Tshokha. On the way return when you look back at the mighty Kanchenjunga, you amaze to think about the Goecha La summit! We take the same trail up to Kokchurong but from here we will take another trail to reach at Phedang. The trail goes through dense Rhododendron forest. During spring this trail looks so beautiful. After Phedang it’s all downhill to Tshokha. Overnight stay in tent.

Day 14: Tshokha to Yuksom (1780 m) via Bakhim, 6 hrs

The 14 days long trek is coming to an end. We start in the morning for Yuksom – our end point. The trail is downhill most of the time and you enjoy the dense forest walk as you did on your way up. You meet new trekking group on your way down and it brings the souvenir of the journey you started a week ago. Upon arrival Yuksom road-head our trek ends and you will be transferred to hotel. Overnight stay in Yuksom.

Day 15: Yuksom rest/exploration day or move for onwards journey.

You spend your day relaxing in this peaceful town or go for a sightseeing trip to the places of interest here. Serene Dubdi monastery, iconic Tashiding Monastery and mysterious Khecheopalri Lake are just nearby. Evening at leisure. Overnight stay in Yuksom.

Day 16: Transfer to airport. Adieos !

After breakfast start for Bagdogra airport/ New Jalpaiguri Railway station for your onwards journey. Your Uttarey – Singalila Trek comes to a happy ending!

Cost Includes:

• All airport/hotel transfers.
• Accommodation in 2 star, 3 star or 4 star hotel on twin sharing and single sharing with CPAI plan (Room+breakfast) basis in Uttarey and Yuksom.
• Accommodation and 3 meals a day (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner) during trek.
• Morning and Evening Tea with snacks every day during trek.
• Professional and highly experienced English/Hindi speaking local mountain guides.
• All expenses for guide and porters.
• All necessary permits needed for the trek.
• Still and video camera charges.

*Note : Nutritious veg meals along with egg dishes will be provided during the trek. You will have Indian and Nepali cuisines for your lunch and dinner mostly.

Cost Excludes:

• Any personal nature of expenses such as telephone call, battery recharge, shopping, extra porters, beverages, laundry, etc.
• Your travel insurance.
• Any kind of insurance which covers medical or emergency evacuation, lost and theft expenses etc.
• Client’s Personal gear for the trek.
• Additional cost for delay which is out of management’s control like landslide, bad weather condition, itinerary modification with a view to safety concern, illness, change of government policy, political instability, strike, road blockade or any other natural calamities, etc.
• Tips for trekking staff and driver. (Tipping is not mandatory. It’s up to your satisfaction.)
• Anything that isn’t in the ‘include’ list.

Things to carry:

• Comfortable and warm clothes.
• Good backpack (50-60 L). If you want to offload your backpack then carry a daysack(20 L).
• Good quality trekking shoes, slippers and extra pair of socks.
• Rain Jacket/Poncho.
• First aid kit and basic medication (if any).
• Sunscreen lotion or any other skin moisturizers.
• Water bottles, backpack and energy bars/snacks.
• A pair of sunglasses.
• Balaclava/Cap.
• Headlamp (with spare batteries).
• Personal toiletries.
• Climatic conditions in the high altitude zone is different from the plains; take adequate time to get acclimatized to high altitudes.
• Pay attention to your guide to enjoy a safe and sound trekking experience.
• Do not consume alcohol or any other intoxicants during the trek.
• During night if you have to go outside of your tent then inform your tent mate or guide.
• Carry basic medications and a first-aid kit during the trek.
• It’s our responsibility to keep the nature clean. Please do not encourage littering the local places or campsites.
• While visiting any religious sites do not hurt the local sentiment and maintain quietness.
• You can offload your personal baggages for the whole trek at an additional cost.
• Tipping is not mandatory. It’s up to your satisfaction.

Frequently Asked Question

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Sikkim: The Round Uttarey Trek

• Duration 13 Days
• Category Adventure Nature
• March - April
• October - November

Introduction

Trek grade: medium.

UTTAREY’ (1,980 meters) small village located 30 kms from Pelling and is only 140 km from Gangtok in West Sikkim, promises to be new heaven for nature lovers. Sikkim bordered by Bhutan, Tibet, West Bengal, and Nepal, has the small village of Uttarey located on the northern slope of Singali La Range.

Uttarey in West Sikkim is slowly emerging as a little township. Pelling is famous for the majestic view of the magnificent Mount Kanchenjunga., the third highest peak in the world at a height of 8,586 meters. It also affords a panoramic view of other snow-capped Himalayan peaks surrounding the main mountain. The breathtaking views of Mount Kanchenjunga from Phoktey and neighboring sites are rewarding. Hikes to the Barsey rhododendron sanctuary can also be taken from here or to Nup Dechenphu, one of the sacred caves of Sikkim. A beautiful village with abundant nature lies amidst a valley of herbal plants surrounded by hills which bloom in a never-ending array of Rhododendrons. Tucked away in the lap of mother nature is the tranquil village of Uttaray, the gateway to the Singali La trek.

The nature here has whole heartedly showered itself in this village and that is very much evident in the never-ending greenery of the area. Uttarey is famous for its tranquility and natural beauty. The place provides a beautiful view of the Himalayan Mountains and is yet relatively less traveled by tourists. This allows a more serene atmosphere to be enjoyed. During winter the mountains around here are covered with snow allowing heavenly views.

An ideal place to experience rural life in Sikkim. Uttarey with large stretches of virgin natural beauty along with the Singali La range, this new found trekker’s paradise could be much more and is a wonderful Himalayan experience under the shadows of the Mount Kanchenjunga where the precious jewels of Buddhism reside.

Tours Highlights

• A 13 days adventure with 6 days of trekking along the Singili La ridge with spectacular views of Mounts Kanchenjunga, Kabru, Tolung and surrounding peaks plus, Mounts Makalu, Nuptse, Lhotse & Everest from Poktey Danra (3,657 meters)
• Trekking guide with camping equipment and personal porterage of 20 kgs with ponies
• Hotels in Darjeeling & Kalimpong & lodge at Uttarey
• Entrance fees at the monuments at Delhi, Darjeeling & Kalimpong with English speaking guide
• Arrival & Departure transfers with Representative and transportation with SUVs
• Prices on request

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Delhi is said to be one of the oldest existing cities in the world, along with Jerusalem and Varanasi. It is the Capital Territory of India and a modern-day citadel that's dotted with ancient monuments.

History and Culture

Legend estimates it to be over 5,000 years old. Over the millennia, Delhi is said to have been built and destroyed 11 times. The oldest alleged incarnation of the city shows up in the Indian mythological epic Mahabharata as Indraprastha. 

Spread over a steep mountain ridge, nestled amidst acres of lush green tea plantations, Darjeeling stands at the height of 2,050 meters above sea level, thus boasting of cool climes all year round. This scenic hill station is the perfect getaway for a romantic honeymoon and is just around 700 kilometres away from Kolkata.

Uttarey is a small village close to Nepal border in West Sikkim. The place is about 30 km from the popular tourist destination of Pelling. Uttarey is popular among tourists for the serene environment of the place and many tourist attractions in and around. From the higher ridges of the Uttarey hills, view of the great mountain of Kanchenjunga can be seen.

lies in the south west corner of the West Sikkim district. Spreading over 104 sq. km, across the razor sharp Singalila Range, which forms the natural international border with Nepal.

Detailed Itinerary

After clearing Customs and Immigration, step into the receiving area, where our representative will meet you and escort you to the hotel.

On arrival, check into the hotel.

Overnight at hotel (No Meals)

Delhi is a dynamic city where the past coexists with the present. While historic evidence shows that the area around Delhi was first occupied around 2,500 years ago, Hindu mythology predates that by another 500 years. The British captured the city in 1803 and when they decided to make it the capital of India in 1911, they commissioned Sir Edwin Lutyens to draw up the plans. The result is slightly surprising with spacious tree-lined avenues punctuated with architecture which is among the most striking in the world.

On the tour of “ Old Delhi ,” you will head out to explore this exotic locale with its narrow dirt roads, myriads of people and inexpensive and colorful bazaars that keep alive the traditional workmanship for which Delhi has always been famous. Drive past Red Fort and visit the Jama Masjid, one of the largest Muslim mosques in India. A bicycle rickshaw will take you into the heart of Chandni Chowk (the silver square - so named because of the silver merchants).

Drive past India Gate , a 42-metre archway built in memory of Indian soldiers killed during the First World War and Rashtrapati Bhawan, built in the early 20th century as the Imperial residence of the Viceroy. Today, it is the official residence of the President of India.

Thereafter, visit the most prominent Sikh Gurdwara , or Sikh house of worship, in Delhi. It was originally a bungalow belonging to Raja Jai Singh, a 17th century Indian ruler. It is open to people of all faiths, castes or creeds. The premises house a sacred pond in which devotees bathe. They believe that this would wash off their misdeeds and thus allow them to attain peace of mind. The 'Langars' or the community kitchen proves to be the ideal example of prodigious hospitality of the Sikhs. Anyone and everyone can have scrumptious meal irrespective of caste, color or class.

Conclude the day by visiting the Delhi's most striking monument, The Qutub Minar , which looms majestically across the wide plains of Delhi, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was constructed in 1192 by Qutub-Ud-Din Aibak. Built in red sandstone and marble, it has a height of 72.5 meters (237.8 ft) and contains 379 stairs. A Soaring conical tower, it is an exquisite example of Indo-Islamic Afghan architecture and is the tallest minaret in India.

Overnight at hotel (B)

Bangla Sahib

Chandni Chowk

Old Delhi Cultural Rickshaw ride

Qutub Minar

Indigo Flight # 6e-2181 Delhi/Bagdogra Etd: 09:50/Eta: 11:50 Hrs.

Early morning transfer to the Airport in time to board the flight to Bagdogra.

You will be met by our representative at Bagdogra airport and transferred to your hotel Darjeeling.

Day at leisure and overnight at the hotel.

Overnight at hotel (B, D)

Early morning drive to Tiger Hill to see the sunrise and Mount Kanchenjunga can be seen from Observatory Hill but a much better view of the peak is from Tiger Hill , 10 km south of Darjeeling.

On the way back, you can stop at Ghoom , a small Tibetan monastery by the roadside, built in 1875 and housing a 5- meter statue of Lord Buddha.

Darjeeling , situated at an altitude of 2,134 m, was developed by the British as a hill resort to escape the heat and rains of the plains. In the 1840s, tea plantation was introduced in the area.

At the Centre of the town is the Mall, Darjeeling's commercial street, lined with souvenir shops which lead to Chaurastha , a square with a bandstand and several antique shops. The Observatory Hill is perhaps the oldest built-up site in Darjeeling.

A Red Hat Buddhist monastery, Dorjeling once stood here but was destroyed by the Nepalis in the 19th century. On Birch Hill to the north stands the Shrubbery , the residence of the Governor of West Bengal and further down along the Birch Hill Road is the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute previously headed by the late Tenzing Norgay. A museum displays the equipment used on the first successful expedition to Mount Everest.

The nearby Zoological Park specializes in high-altitude wildlife – yaks, Himalayan black bears, pandas, but is also has four Siberian tigers. Below, the tea estate of Happy Valley is one of the best in Darjeeling and can be visited every day except Sundays and Mondays. Dominating the Mall is the Planter's Club , where planters from all over the area meet, particularly on Sundays.

Overnight at hotel (B, L, D)

Ghoom Monastery

Observatory Hill

Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park

Himalayan Mountaineering Institute

Transfer: Darjeeling to Uttaray (2,000m). An early departure from Darjeeling by jeep to the trekking area in West Sikkim. Six exciting hours through winding roads across valleys and over hills clad with a variety of vegetation.

We swoop down to cross the wild Ranget River before climbing steeply up to Pemayangtse (2100m), perched dramatically on an airy ridge with a panorama of Himalayan peaks ahead. After crossing some spectacular bridges on the way, we stay at Uttray (2,000m).

Here we spend our first night in a trekking lodge and meet local guides who will accompany us on our trek.

Overnight in Lodge (B, L, D)

Enroute stop and visit the Kagyud monastery Mangheem Thegu and the Sherpa village Laminey Pokhari, located in the pine, dense Rhododendron and magnolia forests with chirping of various Himalayan species of birds and beautiful views of the snow clad mountains of the Mount Kanchenjunga massif.

Overnight in Camp (B, L, D)

Enroute constant view of Mount Kanchenjunga, wide and beautiful grassey slopes and patches inside the rhododendron forests between the hills, filled with the very rich bio-diversity of Sikkim’s flora, fauna and herbs.

One can hear the humming of bees and chirping of birds with the Magnolia and rhododendron blooming is a remarkable day of trekking.

In the morning between by 3-4 a.m. (3,657 meters) climb up-to the top of the Phoktey Danra to get the amazing view of a spectacular sun rise with a 360 degree panoramic view of Mt. Kanchendzonga with its all dominant peaks within Sikkim and further West looking at the great massifs of Mt. Everest 8,849 meters, Mt. Makalu 8,463 meters, Mt. Nuptse 7,861 meters, Mt. Lhotsey 8,516 meters and Mt..Dhaulagiri 8,167 meters as part of the Central Himalayan Range in Nepal. Danra Barkhey camp site also is one of the beautiful view point for the Himalayan range of Mount Khangchenjunga and surrounding peaks of Mounts Kabru 7.412 meters, Kabru Dome 6,600 meters, Simvo 6,811 meters and Tolung 7,348 meters from the slopes adorned with the Rhododendron forest.

Enroute breathtaking view of the massive Kanchendzonga range and the Mt. Everest. A conifer and rhododendron forest makes the trails so enjoyable.

We get the very beautiful and soft trekking trail walking towards Barsey which is a famous for Rhododendron and one of the beautiful camp with the panoramic view of Mt. Khangchendzonga range. It is rich in bio-diversity with different species of flora and fauna. The place is a natural habitation for Wild Boar, Blood Pheasant, Deer etc.

The trekking trail towards Uttarey is enjoyable with the lushness of the dense wild forest of Rhododendron on the mild slope offering an easy walk.

Upon arrival Drive to Kalipmong.

Overnight in hotel (B, L, D)

Indigo Flight # 6e-6283 Bagdogra/Delhi Etd: 16:45/Eta: 18:50 Hrs.

After breakfast, Visit the Zang Dhok Palri Monastery . This is an ancient Buddhist monastery which was built in 1975 under the guidance of Dalai Lama. This monastery is a fine sample of Buddhist architecture and an important site for Buddhists. It houses close to 110 published texts on Buddhism. One can also witness the amazing view of the Himalayas from there. Later transfer from Kalimpong to Bagdogra Airport a drive of about 4 hrs. upon arrival board flight for Delhi.

You will be met upon arrival in Delhi and transfer to hotel for overnight stay.

Overnight in hotel (B)

Zong Dog Palri Fo Brang Gompa

On time check-out from the hotel and transfer to the Airport to connect with the departure International flight.

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Home / Himalayan Treks / India - Darjeeling Sikkim Phoktey Dara Singalila Pass Trek

One of the best and least done trek in sikkim with best views of the sleeping buddha, quick informations.

• 📅 Duration: 7 days 6 nights
• 🔼 Highest Altitude: 3800m
• 🛑 Grade: Easy ( know trek grades )
• 👍 Best Time: Jan - May, Sep - Dec
• 🏃 Activity Type: Trek
• 🔄 Trail Type: Different Entry Exit Point
• 🚩 Starts From: Hilley
• 🚩 Ends In: Bhareng
• 🌏 Region: India - Darjeeling Sikkim
• 🎌 Country: India
• 🛪  Nearest Airport: Bagdogra, West Bengal
• 🚉 Nearest Rail Head: New Jalpaiguri, West Bengal

Key Geographical Highlights

Daywise itinerary for phoktey dara trek, ▼day 1 arrival day uttarey 2020m.

Upon arriving in Bagdogra airport or NJP railway station, our team receives you and then we get on the drive to reach a beautiful hamlet of West Sikkim - Uttarey. In Uttarey, we arrange for your accommodation in a beautiful homestay. We welcome the team with light snacks and easy check-in. Staying in the homestay gives us an opportunity to know and experience the rich local culture and cuisine. Our trekking team meets you in Uttarey and checks your preparation for the trek we start tomorrow. The guides brief the team and we end up the day with a hot tasty dinner and call it a night in a warm cozy bed.

▼Day 2 Trekking Day Acchaley 2850m

Today we wake up to a wonderful morning in the beautiful village homestay in Uttarey. The fresh blowing wind and a cool bright day will definitely energize you to take on the day. After breakfast, we start our trek. The route for the day winds up through the dense forest towards Acchaley. It's an easy trek today to start our long journey toward Phoktey Dara and Phalut. We pass by deep forest giving us ample opportunity for wildlife sightings.

▼Day 3 Trekking Day Kalijhar 3450m

Second day into the trek and the route slowly shifts gears upwards. The trail is beautiful with occasional openings in the middle of dense forest. Nature and wildlife will be at their best today. The route might be smaller but steep.

▼Day 4 Exploration Day Kalijhar 3450m

Today is a complete rest day and we live our day to the fullest. Early morning we wake up to witness the magical sunrise from the top of Phoktey Dara. It takes about 40 minutes to reach the Phoktey Dara top and the view of the Sleeping Buddha is considered the best from Phoktey Dara. Sleeping Buddha formation is all about the angle you see it from and Phoktey Dara presents the best angle to realize the Sleeping Buddha formation. The entire day is in our hands and we spend it wisely to our heart's contentment. We are right in the middle of a dense forest with abundant wildlife. Since it's a very less-done trail, sighting wildlife is very much possible if you maintain proper forest decorum.

▼Day 5 Pass Crossing Day Phalut 3600m

Today will be a long day and tiring day as we negotiate the Singalila Pass to enter Toriphuley and the beautiful pasture land of Phalut in West Bengal. The day's trek will involve a lot of climbing, descending, and then again climbing up to Phalut. The views throughout are amazingly beautiful and will keep you motivated throughout the trek with its charm. Sleeping Buddha is visible much closer and uninterrupted unless clouds decide to play a hide and seek game with you. Be prepared mentally for today and plan your water and food efficiently.

▼Day 6 Trekking Day Gorkhey 2286m

Phalut is an excellent place to stay the sunrise views from Phalut is just mesmerizing. It's just 10 minute's walk away from the trekker's hut. We wake up early morning to enjoy the magical sunrise view from Phalut Top. After spending good time for the sunrise, we come down back to the trekker's hut, have our breakfast, and leave for Gorkhey

Today's trek towards Gorkhey is a very easy one and should take about 3 hours with an average walking speed. It is a complete descend route and gets steeper in a few sections. The route passes through dense jungle and is very beautiful and joyful. Many wild plant species can be found here. Often we will come across openings in the dense forest which makes a good resting spot for some conversations and snacking or water breaks.

Gorkhey is a very beautiful village surrounded all around by mountains and forests. We spend our night here in a cozy homestay. It's time for a hot shower. Gorkhey also has a stream flowing around with lots of bird-sighting to be done.

▼Day 7 Departure Day Bagdogra 250m

Today our trek ends. The trek is very simple as well. Initially, we have a little climbing to do for the first 15 minutes after which the route gets gentle upon reaching Samanden village. Samanden is a beautiful village where we spend some time for photographs. It's like a tabletop in the mountains. After Samanden the route climbs gently for a while with occasional ascends and descends until it reaches Rammam. Rammam is a small village on the way and from here we can get a glance at the roadhead in Srikhola. From Rammam, Sepi takes any time between 1.5 to 2 hours to reach. We break for lunch in Sepi.

After lunch in Sepi, we head towards Siliguri / Bagdogra/ Darjeeling as planned before the trek. A beautiful journey comes to an end with a promise for even better memories on next journey.

Phoktey Dara Trek - Package & Cost Details

▼ cost terms.

Cost Terms :

• The above-mentioned cost is in the range of minimum to maximum per-person cost for this trek as per 1 - 12 people team. Package Inclusions as per this cost can be read below.
• 5% GST (goods and service tax) is applicable for all our purchases.
• We follow dynamic pricing as per the actual team size on the trek. Going by our standardized service, appropriate safety measures, quality equipment, and ecologically sustainable - small group commitment, a higher team size will lower the cost whereas a lower team size will significantly increase the cost.
• Group segmented pricing if not provided here, please write to us using the contact page or text us on Whatsapp number +918017216725.
• You may choose to keep the trek open or make it private depending upon your requirements or choice. The actual per-person cost of the trek is subject to the actual team size joining the trek. If you make any customizations that drastically change the itinerary and cost as mentioned here, then it will mandatorily have to be a private group only.
• If we have dates listed on our website on Our Upcoming Treks and it is not marked as private, it means other people have booked this trek for that date and have opened it up for other members to join to lower the cost. If your dates and choices match, you may join these treks
• You may join an existing open group listed on our website or create your own group as per your convenient dates and choose to either keep it private or open it up to lower the cost if other members join the trek.
• At any point, the team size cannot be more than 12 members ( 10 for challenging treks) unless there is a unique exception requested or agreed upon by all the team members.

Customized Private Group For Phoktey Dara Trek

INTERNATIONAL GUESTS : Trek cost for foreigners is slightly higher than the cost for our Indian guests, mainly due to the higher permit fee applicable for admission to National Parks or protected forest areas. Sometimes, it may be higher due to higher local crew wages and other specific arrangements we make to ensure a safe, comfortable and enriching travel experience in India. However, we absolutely DO NOT 'hyper-charge' our International guests ever and at the same time, ensure that we meet all the standards for highly qualified trek leaders and guides, safety, medical preparation, evacuation strategy, rescue arrangements, eco-sensitive travel, high-value knowledge sharing about the area and customs of the locals. 

Extra Cost For International Trekkers : Rs. 5000 per person.

Booking Process : Booking can only be done after multiple communication via email / Whatsapp / Calls. After connecting with us and discussing your needs, we finalize the trek and its requirements. After finalization, partial booking fees can be paid online or through direct bank transfers after which we trigger our preparations and arrangements for your trek. International Trekkers can pay the partial booking fees using PayPal, Wise, Western Union or Direct Wire Transfer.

Must Read - Important Pre-Booking Information

▼ Fixed Departure Dates

We do not organize fixed departures for this trip.

If you want to do this trek with us, please fill this form to Request A Customized Private Trip Plan just for your team members. We will get back to you with all the details specific to your personalized requirements

▼ Package Cost Inclusions

What's included in the price.

• Duration:  8 Days / 7 nights of the trek cost from Bagdogra to Bagdogra 
• Accommodation In Base Village (Uttarey/Bhareng): 2 night in a cosy local homestay in with an emphasis on local organic food and cultural exposure.
• Accommodation On Trek : Spacious, sturdy and High-Quality Dome Tents will be provided on a twin-sharing basis.
• Sleeping In Tents : Thick Waterproof Mattress complemented with Sub Zero Sleeping bags supported with Warm Fleece Sleeping Bag Inners For Extra Hygiene and Warmth will be provided by us
• Dining On Trek : We will provide Dining and Kitchen Tents with camping stools and tables for extra hygiene and comfort.
• Toilet On Treks : Dry eco-toilet will be set up with a toilet tent and toilet seat.
• Meals : All meals starting Evening Tea in Uttarey on Day 1 till Breakfast in Bhareng on Day 8 morning. 3 meals (B,L,D) suited for high altitude with evening snacks, soup, hot drinks and extra energizers/juice for summit days
• Trail Safety : Gaiters, Anti Slip Crampons and Ice Axe depending upon snow conditions.
• Communication : For efficient management of the trek, the team will be communicating with each other and trek base with the help of long-range wireless sets.
• Medical Safety:  Oxygen cylinder, Pulse Oximeter, Thermal temperature scanner and  Emergency Medical Kit accompanied with a trek leader knowledgeable on high altitude medicine and physiology
• Trek Leader and Guide: Experienced and Well Equipped English/ Hindi Speaking Trek Leader maintaining guide to trekker ratio of 1:6. That is 1 guide for every 6 trekkers.
• Local Support Staffs : Expert and Knowledgeable local guide with cooks, helpers, porters, mules, etc
• Permits : All required forest entry permits and camping fees as per the rules
• Transfers : Bagdogra - Uttarey | Bhareng - Bagdogra.
• Max Team Size : Small group of not more than 12 members. 

Add Ons:  Make A Comfortable Trek

• Single Tent Supplement:  Rs 7000
• Personal Baggage Porterage:  Rs. 3000, up to 11 Kgs

Add Ons:  Personal Equipment On Rent

• High Ankle Waterproof Trekking Shoes (Quechua):  Rs 1000
• -20 degrees Down Jackets:  Rs. 1200
• Windproof/Waterproof Jackets:  Rs. 500
• Windproof/Waterproof pants:  Rs. 500
• Headlamps:  200
• Poncho: 200
• Trek Pole: 200
• Rucksack: 200
• Waterproof Gloves : 200

▼ Package Cost Exclusions

What's not included .

• Personal Travel Insurance
• Personal Purchases
• Food Purchased Outside Our Menu
• Personal Baggage Offloading ( at extra cost of INR 3000)
• Personal Gears
• Bottled Water or Any Other Drinks
• Anything else not mentioned in the inclusion list

▼ Cancellation Policy

When should you book.

We typically get booked about 3 - 6 months in advance. It is advisable to book this much in advance as you get early bird discounts and also your travel costs like flights/hotels/trains etc are much cheaper and confirmed if you book well in advance.

Rules Of Cancellation:  

• Up to 20 days or more before the trek start date   - Full Refund of the total paid amount
• Between 20 days to 0 days before the trek start date  - No refund. Free rescheduling or transfer of slots is allowed as specified below.
• Transfer Of Slot to a Different Batch/ Trek : No Loss Of Money, valid up to 1 year from the Invoice date. It can be availed up to 15 days before Trek Start Date by sending an email.
• Transfer of Slot to Friend/ Family For Same Batch:  No Loss Of Money, valid up to 1 year from Invoice date. It can be availed up to 5 days before Trek Start Date by sending an email.
• Validity : This rule is only applicable for treks below 4000 meters and not graded as Challenging or Challenging+

Find detailed info on  Cancellation & Refund Policy

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the covid19 situation in phoktey dara trek.

You may trek in Sikkim with a proper trekking permit and showing a valid RT-PCR test report and covid19 vaccination certificate (both doses)

How Is The Phoktey Dara Weather And Temperature In Springs?

March to May are designated spring months in Sikkim. During this time, the entire trek route is full of colourful flowers, especially rhododendrons and magnolias. Lots of other wildflowers grow here during this time and it's a birds paradise. The weather is comfortable. While early months might have accumulated snow on higher altitudes and shady areas, most of the trek route will remain off the snow. Having said that, it can snow anytime in the spring months, especially in the month of May. The grasses are green as new grass grow after snow melts off or the temperature gets suitable.

How Is The Phoktey Dara Weather And Temperature In Autumn?

Designated autumn months are from October till December. During this time the weather starts to prepare for harsh winter and gets colder each day, and turns drier as well. The grasses start to change their colour to brownish from green and the leaves start to fall. Quite a few species of wildflowers bloom during this time as well. The weather remains steady and the skies are usually very clear offering good views of the high mountains. This is the best time to experience the panorama of the peaks you see from this trek.

How Is The Phoktey Dara Weather And Temperature In Winters?

Winter months are from the end of December till the end of February. Winters are very cold and dry here. This trek can be done even during the winters. However, it is very very cold and dry and trekking conditions offers an adventurous challenge. Snowfall on this side of the mountains isn't disrupting as compared to Western Himalayas.

Which Is The Best Time To Do The Phoktey Dara Trek?

We consider the Spring months from March to May and then the Autumn months from October to December to be the best time to do the Phoktey Dara trek. If you love flowers and want to trek in comfortable weather, then springs are the best time, whereas, if you want a better experience of the mountain panorama, then autumn months are the best to do this trek.

How Are The Accommodations And Toilet Facility On The Phoktey Dara Trek?

The Phoktey Dara trek has mixed accommodation. While in the Sikkim side of the trek, we have to camp and there is no other option. After crossing the Singalila Pass and reaching Phalut, we can stay in homestays. While on camps, it will be mandatorily dry toilets but in homestays, it will be wet toilets.

What Are The Fitness Requirement Of The Phoktey Dara Trek?

This is a beginner trek and does not demand high physical stamina or endurance. However, having it always helps. Anyone who wishes to do this trek should be in good shape with good cardiovascular health. Strong legs and core muscles help a lot in negotiating steep climbs.

Can Novice Trekkers Do The Phoktey Dara Trek?

A beginner can undertake this trek under the guidance of a good support team and mentor. Any beginner opting to do this trek must possess basic cardiac stamina and strong muscles.

How Safe Is The Phoktey Dara Trek?

Altitude wise this trek is not that risky. However, proper mountain discipline should be maintained, This trek is remote and the climb involves steep climbs, slippery terrain under a dense canopy of the forest. Physical injury may become very cumbersome to manage.

Phoktey Dara Trek - An Elaborate Description

The Phoktey Dara - Singalila Pass Trek is one of the best in the Northeast and Sikkim. It's an easy trek that can be done even by beginners. Compared to other treks in the Himalayas, it is v ...

The Phoktey Dara - Singalila Pass Trek is one of the best in the Northeast and Sikkim. It's an easy trek that can be done even by beginners. Compared to other treks in the Himalayas, it is very uncrowded and one of the least-done treks in India. This trek boasts the rich cultural experience of Sikkim, Darjeeling, and Nepal in one go. On the other hand, this trek also offers the view of 4 out of 5 highest peaks in the World, which are - Mt. Everest ( 8850m, 1st), Kanchenjunga ( 8586m, 3rd), Mt. Lhotse (8516m, 4th) and Makalu (8481m, 5th). Apart from Sandakphu - Phalut trek, this is the only trek that boasts of this grand panoramic view including Mt. Everest and Kanchenjunga together in a single view.

The trail that starts from Uttarey, in the circumference of the Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary, swirls up through the dense canopy of forest and beautiful openings amidst it creating some beautiful campsites. It is abundant in wildlife and vivid flora. During the springs, many species of rhododendrons and other wildflowers color up the trail. There are many varieties of birds that dwell in this National Park which makes it a bird-watcher's delight. The distinctively remote trail is lit up by the energy and happy-mindedness of the locals, some of whom accompany us on the trek as our support staff. You also witness the mixture of Tibetan, Nepali, Sikkimese, Subba, and Lepcha cultures in this entire trek route in form of its people, their way of living, and architecture.

In short, this is one of the best treks to be done in the Eastern Himalayas.

Phoktey Dara Trek - Why Its A Must-Do

• The Phoktey Dara trek boasts the best views of the Sleeping Buddha formation, which is formed by Mount Kanchenjunga and 16 other popular peaks aligned in such a way that it appears like a giant Lord Buddha sleeping over the clouds.
• The Phoktey Dara trek also provides the rare opportunity to view 4 of Worlds highest 8000-meter peaks together in a single frame. The peaks are  Mt. Everest, Mt. Kanchenjunga, Mt. Lhotse, and Mt. Kanchenjunga which are the top 5 highest mountains in the World except for K2, which lies in the Karakoram range.
• Not just this. The Phoktey Dara trek offers the panorama of more than 26 peaks of Bhutan, Sikkim, and Nepal. Chomolhari, Narsing, Jupono, Tenchenkhang, Pandim, Simvo, Goecha Peak, Forked Peak, Kanchenjunga, Kumbhakarna, Frey, Rathong, Koktang, South Kabru, North Kabru, 3 sister peaks, Everest, Makalu, Chamling, Chomolonzo, Lhotse, Nuptse, Baruntse, Macchapucchare, etc 
• The Phoktey Dara trek goes through the dense jungle of rhododendrons, magnolias, and many other wildflowers, some of which are only to be found in these mountain ranges of the Himalayas. Rhododendrons and magnolias bloom from late March to early May and the entire route is mystified by their color and fragrance.
• The Phoktey Dara trek is home to numerous species of wild birds and a lot of wild animals. Since this trek is less frequented by human beings, it makes one of the ideal treks to sight wildlife.
• Watch out for the glorious, dramatic, and magnificent sunrises and sunsets on the Phoktey Dara trek.
• The Phoktey Dara trek offers a great opportunity to experience the hospitality of some of the most welcoming and loved tribes in the Himalayas. They are namely the Lepchas, Sherpas, Bhutias, Limboos, and other Sikkimese and Nepali people. They have a rich culture and their deep connection and love with mother Nature is something to be inspired from.
• The Singalila Pass - Phoktey Dara trek is a borderline trek that swings between India and Nepal multiple times. It's altogether a different experience to trek on this ridgeline which divides different states in India and Nepal. The villages that come on the way are very beautiful.
• Crossing over from Sikkim to West Bengal via the Singalila pass

How Is Phoktey Dara Trek different from Sandakphu Phalut

Sandakphu Phalut Trek and Phoktey Dara trek boasts similar views. However, the major difference lies in the fact while Sandakphu Phalut is a homestay trek, Phoktey Dara on the other hand is a mix ...

• Sandakphu Phalut Trek and Phoktey Dara trek boasts similar views. However, the major difference lies in the fact while Sandakphu Phalut is a homestay trek, Phoktey Dara on the other hand is a mix of camping and homestay trek. 3 of the 6 nights on the Phoktey Dara trek are full of camping in the natural environment right in the middle of the forest surrounded by the tall mountains of Sikkim and Nepal. 
• While you can still camp on the Sandakphu Phalut trek, the ambiance is spoilt by neighboring homestays and occasional landrover driving beside the camps. Phoktey Dara trek offers a pure camping experience.
• If homestays and tea-houses are one of the plus factors of the Sandakphu trek, the Phoktey Dara trek too boasts of it for 3 nights. Hence you get to experience both of them.
• While the Sandakphu Phalut trek is a borderline ridge trek and 3 nights on it are spent in Nepal and the remaining 3 in West Bengal, the Phoktey Dara trek touches the border but all the accommodations are in Sikkim and West Bengal. Though we mention this point as a difference, I must also say that Mother Nature does not understand borders. That's only for humans.
• Sandakphu trek being a tea-house trek is cheaper compared to the Phoktey Dara trek which is a camping trek and also involves resources from 2 points. Guides/Cooks/Helpers and Horses hired from Uttarey need to be paid for their return journey without utilizing their service while we proceed towards Phalut with another guide and other resources from this region.

Others Versions and Customizations For Phoktey Dara Trek

The easiest and shortest possible itinerary for the Phoktey Dara trek is as below. Its a 5 days / 4 nights trek and is a full camping trek for 3 nights while the first night is spent in a beautiful ...

Shorter And Easiest Phoktey Dara Trek

The easiest and shortest possible itinerary for the Phoktey Dara trek is as below. Its a 5 days / 4 nights trek and is a full camping trek for 3 nights while the first night is spent in a beautiful homestay in Uttarey with a very warm and welcoming family. 

Day 1 : Arrival in Uttarey from Bagdogra ( 6 hours)

Day 2 : Trek to Acchaley

Day 3: Trek to Kalijhar

Day 4 : Excursion to Phoktey Dara. Trek back to Chewabhanjyang

Day 5 : Trek back to Uttarey. Have Lunch. Drive back to Bagdogra

Other Customizations On This Itinerary:

Adding Sandakphu to the itinerary and exiting via Maneybhanjyang:

This will increase the trek days by 1 day and make it an 8 Days, 7 nights trek the itinerary will look like below. This is the best possible extensio of the trek and covers the entire region of the Singalila Day 1: Uttarey Day 2: Acchaley Day 3: Kalijhar Day 4: Kalijhar Day 5: Phalut, via Singalila Pass Day 6: Sandakphu, via Sabargram Day 7: Tumling via Kalipokhari Lake Day 8: Maneybhanjyang and drive to Bagdogra

Pros : You will add Sandakphu, Kalipokhari Lake, Tumling, Tonglu, Meghma Monastery, and Chitrey Monastery to the plan. Adds lot of value to the plan.

Cons : Increases in Days and Cost

Other customizations include:

• Adding Sandakphu to the itinerary but exiting via Gurdum and Sepi
• Exiting via Bharyang instead of Sepi to reduce a day
• Returning from Phalut via Sandakphu / Kalipokhari / Tumling using Landrover

Please contact to discuss the customizations / price

• introduction
• geographical info
• detailed itinerary
• elevation profile
• package Details
• common questions
• contact info
• description
• key highlights

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UTTAREY TO NAMBU ROUND TREK

Trek Overview

Trek itinerary, price and availability, how to begin this trek .

UTTAREY TO NAMBU ROUND TREK: is one of the best treks in the region. The trail covers the complete Singalila range all the way from Uttarey (Sikkim) to the border with Nepal and finally reaching Goechala pass to witness world’s third highest mountain – Khangchendzonga, 8585m. Singalila trek is the only trekking route in this part of the Himalaya from where one can get spectacular view of Mt. Everest, Mt.Lhotshe, Mt.Makalu, Mt Khangchendzonga, Mt. Tenchingkhang and several others.

Short Itinerary

Day 1: pickup from (N J P) New Jalpaiguri railway station Bagdogra Airport to Uttarey (1,950.mtrs) 165km appx.

Day 02: Uttarey (1,950.mtrs) to Chewabhanjyang (3,145.mtrs) 15.km appx.

Day 03: Side Excursion to Phoktey Dara (3588.mtrs).5km appx.

Day 04: Chewabhanjyang (3,145.mtrs to Dhoor (4,760.mtrs).16km appx.

Day 05: Dhoor (4,760.mtrs) to Sikkim Meghu (3,916.mtrs).13km appx.

Day 06: Sikkim Meghu (3,916.mtrs) to Lampokhari (4,323.mtrs).11km appx.

Day 07: Lam Pokhari (4,323.mtrs) to Chongri Village (2175m) 5 to 6 hrs)

Day 08: Chongri village (2175m) to Pelling (1,992.mtrs) via Nambu 4/ 5 hrs

Day 09: Leave from Pelling (1,992.mtrs) to N J P/ Bagdogra Airport (130.mtrs) as planned.

Detailed Itinerary Day 1pickup from (N J P) New Jalpaiguri railway station Bagdogra Airport to Uttarey (1,950.mtrs) 165km appx.

It is a 6 to 7 hour ride through the hills. Upon arrival in Uttarey prepare for the trek 15km next day. If time permits, one could also see around Uttarey, Tenzing Hilleary Park, monastery, and local attractions. Additionally, Uttarey is famous trek point on Indio-Nepal border.

Day 2Uttarey (1,950.mtrs) to Chewabhanjyang (3,145.mtrs) 15.km appx.

Our ascent takes us to the upper reaches of the Singalila Ridge, which forms the border between Sikkim and Nepal. We pass through a rich and dense forest, swathes of Rhododendrons, open ridges, sacred lakes and remote trails. Our first day takes us to Chewabhanjyang. An easy trail rises gently through the rainforest until a final steep ascent for the last couple of hours brings us right up to the Nepalese border and our first camp. We spend the following day here for necessary acclimatization before further ascending.

Day 3 Side Excursion to Phoktey Dara (3588.mtrs).5km appx.

A walk to Phoktey Dara in the wee hours of the morning provides one of the most breath-taking panoramic view of the Sikkim and Nepal ranges.

Phoktey Dara (3,618m) is at a junction between Sikkim, Nepal and West Bengal and the borders meet here. You will have a full view of towering peaks including Mt. Everest, Makalu, Nuptse, Lhotse, Three sisters, Kumbakarna, Kanchenjunga and several other peaks in the region. This is one of the best grand-stand views one will get of the majestic Himalayas from anywhere in the mountains.

Day 4 : Chewabhanjyang (3,145.mtrs to Dhoor (4,760.mtrs).16km appx.

A gentle uphill traverse through forests and then over a more exposed hill side brings us to prayer flags adorning our first trail near Major Dara and views of distant mountains – a taste of what is to come. As we gradually gain height we will appreciate the previous day’s acclimatization. The occasional yak herders hut is the only sign of habitation as we look down far below to the rice fields and cardamom plantations. Our camp is in a remote and sheltered hollow below the ridge.

Day 5 : Dhoor (4,760.mtrs) to Sikkim Meghu (3,916.mtrs).13km appx.

Throughout the day we alternately descend and climb, maintaining a steady height, spiralling from one side of the ridge to the other until a rough steep ascent takes us across a pass. Beyond, the trail winds its way steadily through Rhododendrons and past several Hindu shrines where a second easier pass drops down to our camp close to a Shepherd’s summer settlement. Watch the Blue Sheep on the high craggy mountainside.

Day 6 : Sikkim Meghu (3,916.mtrs) to Lampokhari (4,323.mtrs).11km appx.

We walk easily on a good trail through woods until we begin a steady rise up a broad valley where we catch our first closer view of the entire Kabru Range and a dominant Mt. Pandim (6,691m). A further two hours of ascent will get us to our camp with Everest and a host of other Khumbu Giants dominating the distant skyline Lam-Pokhari serves as the confluence point for many treks starting from Uttarey and Yuksom. And afternoon of rest and acclimatization for the following day’s foot slogging.

Day 7 : Lam Pokhari (4,323.mtrs) to Chongri Village (2175m) 5 to 6 hrs)

This day wakeup early in morning for Dafay-Vhir view point for main attraction of this spot at Dafay-Vier view point which you can get 360n-degree panoramic views of the majestic Himalayans, from Nepal and Sikkim at sunrise. You can get unforgettable views of many holy lakes around Dafay-vhir piew point. The trail gradual ascent 1 ½ hours from camp side towards to viewpoint which is at 4, 614 m. After view point, return to Camp and have breakfast. Then we start easy trek downwards via holy rock (Valay Dhunga). The trail is easy and gradually descends towards Chongri village. We will cross SSB Camp. The Chongri Village peoples’ primary livelihood is agriculture and herding Yaks and cows for trekking and domestic use. Chongri remains the highest inhabited himalayan village in Sikkim and in winter months of January and February this village regularly receives snowfall. Chongri Village majorly has people from Sherpa, Bhutia, Limboo and Rai communities. Overnight at camping Notice:Every day client permits and personal identity cards needs to be shown on the trek trail as it passes by SSB Camps on the Indo-Nepal border.

Day 8 : Chongri village (2175m) to Pelling (1,992.mtrs) via Nambu 4/ 5 hrs

After having breakfast, we descent down to Sangkhola village which is an hour long trek. From Sangkhola finally our last destination of our unforgettable trek

We drive to Pelling which is 2 hour drive and overnight at Hotel in Pelling.

Day 9 : Leave from Pelling (1,992.mtrs) to N J P/ Bagdogra Airport (130.mtrs) as planned.

After having breakfast, we depart to NJP or Bagdogra Airport depending upon the trekker’s mode of transportation to their respective homes. It is advisable to start early since it is a long drive. We suggest to pack the luggage in advance before starting to your journey. The distance from NJP/ Bagdogra airport is 155 kilometres which ideally should not take more than 7 to 8 hours. Lunch can be enjoyed at Jorethang or Malli Checkpost. After having lunch, continue your drive to your destination at the N J P/Bagdogra Airport.

Please contact us directly through phone or email us through filling up the enquiry form for the Best Rates and Availability. The rates depend on Number of people and the minimum required number of the person for the trek. The more the number of trekkers the better the Price. The given rates will be based on per head per day basis which will include all the necessary facilities required during the trek from the point of start to the end. We arrange up to the maximum number of 60 people and minimum should not be less than 2 people.

We provide considerable rates for the bigger group, Student Group, Religious Group and Senior Citizens. The rate is based on quality service requested by groups. Do email us [email protected] know the special prices and services provided.

PRICE INCLUDE AND EXCLUDE

WHAT’S INCLUDED IN PRICE

1: 2 nights in the standard hotel at Yuksom (MAP plan).

2: Accommodation during the trek (camping/guest house).

3: All meals – vegetarian (starting from dinner at Yuksom and ending with breakfast at Yuksom.

4: Meals while on trek (Veg& Egg).

5: Trekking permits and forest camping charges.

6: Accommodation on trek Trekking equipment (sleeping tents 2 Or 3 man Dom, Dining tent, Kitchen Tent, Toilet Tent, sleeping bags walking stick etc.

7: Safety equipment (first aid, medical kit, oxygen cylinders, stretcher, etc.

8: Services of an expert trek leader (qualified in basic/advanced mountaineering courses).

9: Services of an expert trek team (guides, cooks, helpers, porters/mules.

10: Transport from N J P / Bagdogra airport to Yuksam and return.

Note: Normally other company charges extra for uploading Bag Pack, but black yak expeditions allow up to 10 kg free. More than 10 kg you have to pay ₹. 250/- per day per bag pack.

If you have bag packs weighing more than 10 kg than you can give it to the yaks or horses prior to the trek before leaving arranged exclusively for the trek. The back pack cannot weigh more than 10 kgs. No suitcases/trolleys’/duffel bags will be allowed.

Withdrawing cash: If you are intended to visit places like Yuksam for Goechala Trek or Dzongri Trek or sightseeing then don’t expect for withdrawing cash in Yuksam because Yuksam does not have ATM services till updated the year 2021.

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED

1: We do not provide travel insurance except for any Expeditions.

2: Food during transport is not included (pick up point to and from the base camp to drop point)

3: Alcohol, Soft Drinks, bottled water

4: Anything Not Specifically Mentioned Under the Head.

5: Any costs arising out of unforeseen Circumstances like Landslides, Road Blocks, Bad weather, etc.

6: External purchase you make during your travel or on trek routes like food, local crafts or drinks.

7: Itinerary includes transport for pick up and drops yet if you do not want then you can exclude this option) Transport to and from the base camp (N J P/Bagdogra airport to Yuksom and return)

8: Any charges for carrying still/video cameras etc.

9: Personal expenses of any kind.

10: Anything apart from the inclusions.

11: Tips for guides, cooks or trekking staffs and telephone calls, laundry, etc.

If you are trekking with Black yak expeditions

Arrive at (NJP) Railway Station, Siliguri or Bagdogra airport by 9 am (on your own)

Black Yak Expeditions will arrange pick-up vehicles from NJP railway station and Bagdogra airport to Pelling/Uttarey village the base camp of your trek. We provide luxury vehicles like INNOVA, ZXILO or normal vehicles like TATA SUMO GOULD, BOLERO, etc. And mini cab suitable for 2 or three family with light travel bags like, Wagoner, Alto etc. We cannot arrange shared jeeps because it is not reliable. Above all there are no direct shared jeeps to certain parts of Sikkim from pick up points. You have to break down your points while taking shared jeeps. For example if you are traveling to Yuksom-Pelling-Uttarey for Dzongri Trek, Goechala Trek, Uttarey to Yuksom round trek Nambu to Yuksom round trek there are no direct shared jeeps from New Jalpaiguri Railway station NJP or Bagdogra Airport. First you have to reach silliguri junction from there you have to take a vehicle to Jorethang. (Jorethang is a small business town or main point that connects to most part of Sikkim.) Even though if you reach Jorethang than here comes another challenging part that is all the regular shared jeeps that comes to Jorethang from many part of Sikkim Leave within 12:00 noon. So you have to be there within 11:00 or 12:00 noon an. Even after that there is no 100% guaranteed that you will get the shared jeeps because it is pre booked by locals by call and you should also keep one thing in mind that in tourist season most of the vehicles are pre-booked. So thinking about shared jeeps is not good at first place.

Transport is arranged in a Tata Sumo (or similar vehicle). Each cab costs Rs. 5500/-

If you request pre booking for pick up and drop along with trek or tour package than this statement is not applicable to you since Black Yak Expeditions will pay for the charges but in case if you have not asked for pick up and drop facilities than you should know that the transportation cost is additional, to be shared among the trekkers and paid directly to the drivers.

On the day of pickup at least do your best to be present at New Jalpaiguri Railway Station (NJP) or Bagdogra Airport within 9:00 Am or 10:00 Am. Incuse if we start late from this two points than we will reach certain trekking basecamps like Yuksom, Pelling, Uttarey very Late at night and that can cause great inconvenience to you as we have to begin the trek early next morning. It takes around 6-7 hours from New Jalpaiguri Railway station NJP or Bagdogra airport to your trek post. Expected arrival time at any trek pint of west Sikkim is 5 pm. Due to ongoing constructions on the route and sometimes heavy traffic jams it can delay our travel on the route.

Getting Back:

Depart from Pelling early morning.

Black yak expeditions we will arrange reserved vehicle to drop trekkers to NJP railway station or Bagdogra airport.

The transportation cost from Darjeeling to NJP/Bagdogra is additional, to be shared among trekkers and paid directly to the driver.

The approximately cost for reserved vehicle is Rs. 5500/-

Expected arrival time at NJP/Bagdogra is 5 pm. It is wise for you to book your train/flight tickets late in the evening to give you enough buffer time. Or Plan extra days in your itinerary to avoid busy schedule.

KASTURI ROUND TREK

BARSAY RHODODENDRON TREK

A detailed guide to Goechala trek for beginners in 2024

NAMBU TO YUKSOM ROUND TREK

UTTAREY TO SANDAKPHU ROUND TREK:

UTTAREY TO YUKSOM ROUND TREK

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Uttarey Trek

The trek begins at Uttarey (1,965 metres) and ascend to Chewa Bhanjyang (4,170 metres) on the sikkim – Nepal border, where a police check post exists on the Sikkim side. From here on, the trek route keeps between the altitude of 3,000 metres to 4,000 metres with the highest point being Dafey Bhir pass located at an altitude of 4,400 metres. The terrain along the trek route is treeless, criss crossing, steep, rugged rocky hills with grassy meadows forming flat plain at places. Within the folds of these fragile rocky slopes one comes across several high altitude lake formations of turquoise green water considered prostine and sacred by both Hindus and Buddhists. Among these lakes, Ram and Laxuman, Lampokhari, Laxmi Pokhari and Zomlay Pokharies are some of the well known lakes, located along the main trekking route. At places the trail leads through the rich rhododendron forest of many hues and colours. The trek route after Gomangthang valley goes intermittently through forest of silver fir and rhododendron right upto the alpine plains of Dzongri. From Dzongri, we trek further to Samiti from where we will take the early morning excursion to Goechela for the breath taking view of Mt.Kanchendzonga (weather permitting). From here  the trail descends to Tsoka, passing through dense forests of Rhododendrons as well as silver fir trees stretching right down to Tsoka village (2,963 metres) and then to Yuksom, the first Capital of Sikkim.

OUTLINE ITINERARY

Day 01: Delhi – Bagdogra. Drive to Darjeeling Day 02: Darjeeling Day 03: Darjeeling – Gangtok Day 04: Gangtok Day 05: Gangtok – Pelling Day 06:  Pelling – Uttarey Day 07: Trek: Uttarey to Chiwa Bhanjyang Day 08: Chiwa Bhanjyang. Acclimatization day Day 09: Trek: Chiwa Bhanjyang to Dhor Day 10: Trek: Dhor to Sikkimey Megu Day 11: Trek: Sikkimey Megu to Laxmi Pokhari Day 12: Trek: Laxmi Pokhari to Gomathang Day 13: Trek: Gomathang to Tikip Chu Day 14: Trek: Tikip Chu to Dzongri Day 15: Trek: Dzongri to Lamuney Day 16: Trek: Lamuney to Zemathang Day 17: Trek: Zemathang-Goecha La-Thangshing Day 18: Trek: Thangshing to Tshoka Day 19: Trek: Tshoka to Yuksam Day 20: Yuksam – Bagdogra – Onward Destination

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Uttarey in West Sikkim: The secret dreamy town near Pelling

Last Updated on January 8, 2022 by asoulwindow

Table of Contents

About Uttarey in West Sikkim

While we were visiting Pelling in West Sikkim, I and my co travelers made a last-minute plan to visit the offbeat Uttarey village nearby. It was an impulsive decision and a good one. We passed through the massive Singshore bridge to arrive at Uttarey.

The Singshore bridge is the highest suspension bridge in India and second highest suspension bridge in Asia . The lovely Uttarey village is punctuated with numerous gushing waterfalls , evergreen dense jungles , charming hamlets , voluptuous rivers , mountainous terrains , hill tops, rich fauna and flora including medicinal herbs and Rhododendron trees .

Here is all you wanted to know about Uttarey Sikkim.

Uttarey: Offbeat place to visit in Sikkim

Uttarey, the last Indian village in West Sikkim charmed me with its unpretentious beauty. Not many people who visit Pelling know about this secret offbeat place to visit near Pelling.

Uttarey is located just a few hours of hike from the international border of Nepal and India . Located just 30 kilometers away from Pelling, Uttarey is off the beaten track.

Many tourists miss it due to lack of awareness or lack of time. Despite being small in size, Uttarey has so many places to see and so much to do. You will be occupied on entire day in Uttarey, which makes it a great day trip from Pelling .

Uttarey: unusual place to see in Sikkim

Uttarey is a hidden gem of Sikkim. It is totally unexplored and away from the crowds. This lesser-known place must to missed by discerning travelers. Old school traditional guide books will never mention and offbeat place like Uttarey.

I am sharing some lesser-known facts in this well researched and detailed travel guide on Uttarey. Do share this most comprehensive travel guide on Uttarey Sikkim.

Top things to do in Uttarey

You can expect to see snow enveloped mountains in Uttarey in winters. Some of the exciting activities you can do in the virgin paradise of Uttarey are nature camps, experiencing village home stays , day hikes , eco-tourism, bird watching , long walks, treks , visiting cheese factory or just sightseeing.

Altitude of Uttarey

Perched on a height of 6,600 feet , the small Uttarey village impressed me with its serenity, lack of crowds, natural beauty and unpolished terrains.

As is common in many places in Sikkim, you can have grand views of Mount Kanchenjunga from high ridges on a clear day.

Nomenclature: Meaning of Uttarey

In Limboo language, the verbal meaning of Uttarey or ‘Utey Tarey’ is ‘Call and bring together’. As per the old people, around 100 years ago, the Limboo chief in this region invited people from different communities, settled them here and gave shelter.

As per other theory, Uttarey stands for Hindi or Nepalese word Uttar, which means North. Some people claim that Uttarey was called so due to the sacred perennial water source which flows towards the North direction.

Top Places to see in Uttaray

I was surprised to discover that there are so many exciting free things to do in Uttarey village near Pelling in West Sikkim. The major points of attractions in Sikkim are worth a visit! Here is the list of top places to visit in Uttarey, Sikkim.

The Singshore bridge

Not many know that the Singshore bridge is the highest suspension bridge of India. Singshore bridge is also the second highest suspension bridge of entire Asia . This 200-meter-long bridge measures over 100 meters in height.

Singshore Bridge is located just 25 kilometers away from Pelling. Expect picturesque surroundings, voluptuous waterfalls and a winding stream. It is one of the most popular places to see near Uttarey and Pelling.

Perched on a height of 1,500 meters or 4921 feet, Dentam view point offers best view of Mount Kanchenjunga on clear days. Popular with nature lovers and bird watchers alike, Dentam is also an offbeat place to visit in Sikkim.

You will see lots of colorful butterflies and Rhododendron flowers in full bloom in the month of April and May in this picturesque village. The bird’s eye view of the Rhododendron jungle or locally called Gurasey Danra is worth it.

During the month of October, you can expect to see Cherry blossoms . It is also possible to do mountaineering, hiking and trekking in Dentam. Dentam is situated in West Sikkim, just 10 kilometers away from Varsey . I bought local Lozenges at Dentam view point. I had to throw it as I was unable to chew it because it was so hard.

The Titanic Park

As we were returning from Maney Bong Kagyu Chorten, I saw a huge structure made like a ship. Apparently, it is modeled after the famous Titanic ship. The quirky building stood out like a sore thumb in the quaint village.

It was perhaps an attempt to draw more tourists to the place. It is located right opposite the main market of Uttarey. Though bizarre, it is still a nice thing to do with family and kids. The children are surely going to enjoy this offbeat place.

The Kagyu Gumpha or Maney Bong Kagyu Chorten

Kagyu means monastery in the local language. We arrived at the Kagyu Gumpha after multiple help for directions from local people. As our car climbed up the hilly terrains, we saw a massive white chorten in the middle of a garden, facing the Kagyu monastery upon our arrival.

We explored the place at our own pace, often craning our necks to admire the beautiful Buddhism themed paintings that adorned the walls of the Kagyu Gompa.

Located near dense forest, the Kagyu Gumpha is one of the oldest Buddhist monasteries of Sikkim. The original building constructed in the year 1711 C.E. is nowhere to be seen today. The current building of the Kagyu Gumpha is modern and renovated over the years.

I found it to be one of the quietest places in Sikkim. We were the only tourist or travelers present during our visit despite the fact that it is a highly revered place for Buddhist people. In fact, we didn’t even see any local authority or monk during our visit.

The Kagyu Gumpha is one of the most important places to visit in Uttarey. The best part is that it is possible to see the river and the Dentam peak from Kagyu Gumpha. This hill top Buddhist monastery can be accessed via a rough road, just 10 minutes away from the bizarre Titanic Park.

Yuma Temple

Within the campus of the Kagyu Gumpha, I saw an unusual Hindu temple . The first thing which struck me was why a Hindu temple was built within the campus of a Buddhist monastery . I had never seen anything like this before. The Hindu temple was locked when we visited. I peeped inside through the window and saw a strange pyramidal white structure inside.

I have never seen such a structure inside a Hindu temple ever. Outside Hindu elements such as a trishul associated with Shiv Bhagwan , Hindu bells, incense sticks, kalash , fresh marigold flowers, confirmed that it was a Hindu temple. However, since the place was empty, there was no ne to answer my questions. Do let me know in the comment section if you know more about this unusual Hindu temple.

It is a free thing to do in Uttarey.

Durga Mandir

Interestingly, Hinduism co exists peacefully with Buddhism in Uttarey. Another Hindu place apart from Yuma temple is the Durga temple. The locals believe that the temple watches over them and blesses the Uttarey village and showers the locals with prosperity and peace. Also visit the Jalpa Devithan , which guards a lake located near the forest.

Herbal plant known as Bhojo in Limboo language in found near the lake. As per the folklore, the lake was much larger but shrank over the years to its current size. Durga Mandir and a Shiva Mandir are located in the heart of Dentam market.

Mainebass waterfall

You can visit the gorgeous Mainebass waterfall from Uttarey. It can be accessed by foot only. Many people enjoy camping overnight near the Mainebass waterfall. You can reach the Mainebass waterfall via a 5-kilometer hike through a jungle path. Keep your eyes peeled because the elusive Red Pandas roam the jungles surrounding the Mainebass waterfall.

Mainebass waterfall is located 7 kilometers away from Uttarey. You can also visit Chewyabhang Pass , which is a gateway to Nepal . It is often also spelt as Chewabhanjyangla pass. It is an important international border trade route. It is located 10 kilometers away from Uttarey. Mainbus waterfall is also nearby.

Visit Cheese Factory in Uttarey Pelling

You can visit the Sikkim Dairy Product Pvt. Ltd ., born out of an Indo Swiss collaboration for a unique experience. You can request for a tour to see how cheese is made. I and my co travelers, bought many blocks of different varieties of cheese such as Alpine Gouda cheese, Emmental, Cheddar etc.

I used the assorted cheese in delicious sandwiches, pastas, salads and what not. After opening the plastic wrap, the cheese of Pelling Sikkim lasted for many months in fridge. The Cheese factory is located right in the heart of Uttarey.

The cheese factory tour is the top thing to do in Uttarey Pelling.

Tenzing Hillary Memorial Park

Devoted to the great mountain climbers, the Tenzing Hillary Memorial Park is a new attraction in Uttarey Village. Inaugurated in 2015, the park offers sweeping views of the area. Apart from the statues of the most celebrated mountain climbers Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary, you can even see nice views of Mount Kanchenjunga from here on clear days. You must visit the Tenzing Hillary Memorial Park despite imperfect road conditions.

Tinjurey or three hills

Located at a height of 8,200 feet, Tinjurey is rich in flora and fauna. In old days, Buddhist monks used to meditate in a cave which still exists here. Tinjurey offers breathtaking views of Mount Kanchenjunga and West Sikkim. Located near the Liching village , Tinsurey is collective name for 3 hills located next to each other.

Do visit Tinsurey viewpoint. You can arrive at Tinjurey via a 10 kilometers long trek from the Bongten-Dentam road.

History buffs will enjoy visiting Ranidhunga which means Queen’s Rock. Dhunga is the local word for rock and Rani means Queen. More than a pretty place, Ranidhunga has religious and historical significance. Associated with the much-respected Namgyal dynasty of Sikkim , devotees visit this place and offer coins and other religious things at the 5 holy caves located here. During Ramnavami (March-April) every year, pilgrims come here in large number to offer prayers.

Ranidhunga is known for the massive 40 feet tall rock. Ranidhunga is situated just 4 kilometers away from the Chhangay village and Bongten . You need to cover this distance by an easy walk. If you are coming from Pelling via Sangacholing monastery, then you need to walk for 6 kilometers to reach Ranidhunga. Ranidhunga is one of the best offbeat places to visit in Uttarey, Sikkim.

Do read my detailed blog on A Soul Window – best travel blog across India, if you are interested in the dramatic history of Sikkim . A Soul Window has also been ranked as the number one travel blog in India.

Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary

Also spelt as Varsey Rhododendron Sanctuary, this forest looks gorgeous in the month of March and April as it is entirely carpeted with deep red color of the different species of Rhododendron flowers which grow in abundance here. Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary shares its borders with Nepal and West Bengal.

Sprawling across 104 square kilometers, you can reach Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary from Soreng, Dentam or Hilley. Hilley is the easiest and most popular route. You can drive up to Hilley, followed by an easy 4 kilometers long trek . You can even stay on the top of a hill here. You can find home stays at the entrance gate and Okhrey, a Sherpa village. Also watch out for the Rambong Khola stream near the West Bengal border.

Keep your eyes peeled for rare wildlife such as Red Pandas, Tibetan Serin and Spotted laughing Thrush when trekking in Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary.

Trekking in Uttarey

Talking of famous mountaineers, you can also trek in Uttarey. In fact, trekking is the top things to do in Uttarey village of West Sikkim.

There are around 22 recognized trekking trails in Uttarey. Some of the gorgeous treks that begin from Uttarey are Varsey trek , the famous Goecha La trek , Dzongri trek and Singalila trek etc. Porters for treks are also available. Do carry warm clothes on treks as it can get very cold on some days and night.

The local people vouch for the sunset and sunrise at Singalila range and the panoramic views from here. While Neydham (Dichenphu) is located towards the north of Singalila, Phoktey Dara is located towards the west of the same.

It would be a good idea to trek in the month of April and May as this is the time the valleys are carpeted with deep red color of rhododendron forest. I remember trekking through breathtaking rhododendron jungles during the high altitude Roopkund trek in Uttarakhand .

How to reach Uttarey

We arrived at Uttarey from Pelling in our private hired cab via Singshore Bridge. You can also take the Dentum – Uttarey route. Located in West Sikkim, this charming tranquil village is also a great option for extended stay. However, do not expect luxury stay or modern cafes in Uttarey.

You can reach Pelling easily from Gezing , Gangtok , Namchi or Yuksom via a road trip through the mountainous terrains. You can also arrive at Uttarey from Jorthang via shared jeep. You will need to change the cab though.

If you are arriving in Uttarey from Rinchenpong, you will pass through places such as Bermiok, Hee and Dentam. Whether you take the Pelling route or Rinchenpong route, you will pass through the Singshore bridge to enter Uttarey. Another route is via Kaluk Soreng. You can stop for a waterfall if you are arriving at Uttarey from Pelling.

Distances from Uttarey

Below are the distances from Uttarey to nearby places of interest in West Bengal and Sikkim.

Distance from Dentam to Uttarey – 10 kms

Distance from Pelling to Uttarey – 30 kms

Distance from Rinchenpong to Uttarey – 35 kms

Distance from Ravang La to Uttarey – 75 kms

Distance between Darjeeling in West Bengal to Uttarey – 136 kms

Distance from Gangtok to Uttarey – 140 kms

Distance between New Jalpaiguri to Uttarey – 160 kms

Best Time to visit Uttarey

Weather in Pelling and Uttarey is moderate throughout the year. It is neither too hot nor too cold in Pelling or Uttarey. Mentioned below is the best suitable time when you can plan a trip to Uttarey

Winter – The best time to visit Uttarey and Pelling in West Sikkim are the months of September, October, November, December, January, February, March, April and May. I visited during the month of January. You can expect snow fall in winter in Uttarey.

Summer – June is the peak of summer and can be hot on days.

Monsoon – July and August are the monsoon months which can be avoided due to torrential rains

Vegan and Vegetarian Food in Uttarey

It is possible to find great vegan and vegetarian food in and around Uttarey. Since Uttarey is located close to the Nepal India border , you can easily get delicious vegan Newari thali at many places. I liked the one they served at the Singshore suspension bridge. Their local wines and Chang are also worth a try. You can also find Tibetan and Chinese food such as Thukpa, Nenthuk, Momos, Fried Rice, Noodles etc.

Fresh local fruits such as oranges and local dry fruits like walnuts are also available at a very reasonable price. Wide varieties of locally made delicious Cheese (vegetarian, not vegan) are also available at the Sikkim Dairy Product Pvt. Ltd.

Where to stay in Uttarey

I and my co travelers stayed in Pelling and made a day trip to Uttarey. You can choose to stay in Pelling or Uttarey. Pelling is much more commercialized than Uttarey and thus has more concentrated hotels in all budgets. Most of the hotels in Pelling are located in lower Pelling, Middle Pelling and Upper Pelling.

You can find some budget accommodation in the main market of Uttarey, located in the heart of the Uttarey village on the main road. You can also find some charming home stays and modest resorts in and around Uttarey and Hee. I think it is a good idea to stay in Uttarey for a more immersive and slow travel experience.

You can consider staying in Ferek Lepcha Tribal Heritage home stay, Sherpagawn Tribal Heritage home stay or Banduckey Limboo Tribal home stay. Sikkim Cab rental Co can help arrange your stay. There are many other stay options such as lodges, guest houses, resorts and hotels in Uttarey.

Rooms in Green Valley Resort on main market road can cost between INR 500 and INR 1,500. Expect good food, bonfire and wine here.

Excursions from Uttarey

Uttarey and surrounding areas are apt for village eco-tourism , educational tourism (ethnology, ornithology, botany, zoology etc), adventure tourism and heritage walks etc. There are many places of interest in Sikkim which are located near Uttarey. You can easily make day trips to these places via private cab. You can choose to visit the below mentioned destinations and club them with Uttarey village for a longer vacation. Best places near Uttarey are as below:

• Srijanga Mangheem
• Pemayangtshe
• Darap Village
• Chhangey twin waterfalls
• Phangdorgee falls
• Alpine Cheese Industries
• Nunthaley Jor Pokhari – Twin Lake at 8,200 feet

Souvenirs Shopping Guide to Uttarey

Do not expect many souvenir shops in Uttarey village. We didn’t buy anything expect some exotic cheese cubes from the cheese factory. However, you can pick some local weaves , dry fruits such as walnuts and oranges.

The market of Upper Pelling has better souvenirs shops. I noticed that the similar souvenirs cost much more in other Buddhist destinations of India such as Ladakh and Tawang, Dirang and Bomdila in Arunachal Pradesh of North East India .

When in Uttarey Sikkim, you can also pick local shawls, cute caps, decorative items, handicrafts, cool wall hangings, notebooks, coffee mugs, tea cups, socks, winter wear, local grains and pulses and so on.

Solo Trip Tips for Uttarey Sikkim

Uttarey Sikkim is not an easy place to travel solo mainly due to lack of public transport and absence of a robust internal transport. We had met a female solo traveler at the Pelling skywalk early morning as we had just started sightseeing. She was a stranger and it was she who suggested a visit to Uttarey after we were done exploring the Pelling skywalk and Sang-Ngag Choling Monastery to our heart’s content.

She proposed the idea of going to Uttarey to us since we had a car. We liked the idea after we finished sightseeing in morning itself, we picked her up from her hotel in Pelling for a day visit to Uttarey. If you are also a solo budget traveler in Sikkim, you can also go for a similar arrangement. However, being a shy person myself, I totally understand that it is not everyone’s cup of tea.

Backpacking Budget Travel Tips for Uttarey

Backpacking is not easy in Uttarey Pelling due to the reasons stated in the above section. Though you can easily find low-cost home stays and hotels in Uttarey, what increases the cost is the non-availability of frequent public transport.

Try to join other travelers or suggest the idea to visit Uttarey to them together. You can also try hitchhiking in case you wait too long to find a public transport for Utttarey from Pelling. Other than these issues, Uttarey can be enjoyed in low budget easily.

Luxury travel Tips for Uttarey

For luxury travelers, Uttarey may disappoint due to lack of 5-star hotels. However, worry not! The nearby Pelling has all the modern era frills and luxurious services available.

ATM in Uttarey

There are not many ATMs in Uttarey. It is a good idea to withdraw some hard cash in Pelling or better still Gangtok, right at the start of your journey. Uttarey is off the beaten track. It is just a small village, therefore most shops here do not accept digital payment.

Is it safe to visit Uttarey Sikkim?

Yes, it is very safe to travel to Uttarey. People of Sikkim, in general are very peaceful, quiet and non-interfering people. Uttarey is in fact one of the safest places where I have travelled to. Uttarey is safe for both male as well as female solo travelers.

Just do not venture out too far alone because most of the places in Uttarey do not have street lights unlike big cities . You may lose your way or find yourself in trouble.

Local Transport for sightseeing in Uttarey

I didn’t see many rickshaws, tuk tuks etc in Uttarey. Local Transport is very weak in Uttarey as it is a very remote location with a small population.

What to wear in Uttarey

We visited Uttarey in the second week of February. Even in winter, it was warm and sunny in the afternoon. I was able to travel in just a T shirt and Jeans. However, the nights get cold in Uttarey and Pelling of West Sikkim. Therefore, it is a good idea to carry some comforting woolen clothes with you all the time.

How many days to spend in Uttarey?

We had visited Uttarey on the same day we did sightseeing of Pelling. We had visited Sang-Ngag Choling Monastery and Pelling skywalk in the morning and headed straight to Uttarey village. We had our sumptuous Nepali lunch at Singshore bridge in Uttarey. After a satisfying lunch, we continued to visit the main attractions of Uttarey.

Yes, it is possible to visit all the picnic spots and major places of interest in Uttarey within a day. However, I recommend that you spend at least 2 days in Uttarey. If you are doing trekking in Uttarey, then of course you will have to spend at least a week in Uttarey.

Photography Tips for Uttarey

Visiting Uttarey during the Rhododendron season will leave you many stunning shots. Singshore bridge is also a great location for a photo shoot and video shooting. Another good vantage point I discovered was a little ahead of Sing shore bridge.

As you cross this suspension bridge, when the car climbs a little uphill, watch out for breathtaking views of the green valley as well as the bridge. There are many such hidden spots for photography in Uttarey.

Languages spoken in Uttarey

The Limboo language or Limbu language , Nepalese language, Hindi and English are spoken in Uttarey village. People in Uttarey village speak and understand English very well. Since Uttarey is located near the Indian Nepal border, influence of Nepal and Sherpa culture is also commonly observed in Uttarey. Hindi is the most commonly understood and spoken language in Uttarey.

Toilet facility in Uttarey

I didn’t see many public toilets in Uttarey. Some public toilets are located around the tourist attractions of Uttarey.

Conclusion: Why visit Uttarey

Uttarey is an offbeat place to visit near Pelling in West Sikkim. There are so manyinteresting things to do with family and kids in Uttarey Village.

The charm of Uttarey lies in its raw beauty. It is well maintained small village and yet not commercialized like the neighboring Pelling. Accessed via Singshore Bridge, the second highest suspension bridge in Asia, Uttarey is known for its ancient monasteries and fresh fruits, cheese etc. The views of Himalayan mountains add to its beauty. Fresh air and lack of pollution are an added bonus.

Apart from the awe-inspiring view of Mount Kanchenjunga , third highest mountain in the world, Uttarey also offers great views of rivers, gorges, verdant valleys etc. You can easily get vegan and vegetarian food in Uttarey.

Located close to the border of Nepal , expect to find delicious vegan Newari food in Uttarey. This makes Uttarey a must visit destination in West Sikkim near Pelling.

The view from my Soul Window is a secret gem!

Related Blogs

Blogs on sikkim.

Below are my blogs on tourist destinations of Sikkim. I have documented these based on my personal experience.

Pelling Skywalk

Yumthang Valley

Char Dham of Namchi

Rabdentse Ruins

History of Chogyals

Sikkim Itinerary

Goecha La Trek

Blogs on Buddhist Destinations

Following are the most unique Buddhist destinations I have been to and documented on my travel blog A Soul Window – rated as best Indian travel blog.

Piparahwa Stupa Guide

Kushinagar Guide

Shravasti Guide

Lumbini Guide

Tawang Guide

Bomdila Guide

Dirang Guide

Nubra valley Guide

Lamayuru Monastery Guide

Mulbekh Monastery Guide

Dharamshala Guide

Sanchi Stupa Guide

Dambulla Caves Guide

Mechuka Guide

Thimphu Guide

Punakha Guide

Chimi Lhakhang Guide

Haa Valley Guide

Chiu Gompa of Tibet Guide

Related posts:

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Phoktey Dara Trek

04 nights/05 days.

• Tour Packages

Trekking Tour

Pick-Up & Drop : Bagdogra / NJP

Tour overview.

Cost : INR 9,000. Duration : 5 Days. Grade : Moderate. Highest Altitude Gain : 3,733 Mtr ( 12,245 Ft. ). Approx Trekking Km : 26 Kms.  Activities : Trekking, Camping & Photography of Nature. Best Time to Go : October-May.

Phoktey Dara is Situated at 3733mtr. and famous for the hill top view point to witness the panaromic view of 4 out of 5 highest peaks in the world, Mt.Everest, Mt.Makalu, Mt.Lhotse, Mt.Nuptse and in the east one can see the magnificent view of Mt.Khanchendzonga, Mt.Pandim, Mt.Kabru, Mt.Narsing, Mt.Rathong, Mt.Sinolchu, Mt.Kokthang. You can see the 360 degree opening view of all mountains and Kanchenjungha range in a famous 'Sleeping Buddha' formation. From Phoktey Dara top one can also see the ariel view of Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary, green and blossoming alpine trees, a nature’s paradise, Darjeeling, Phalut, Sandhakpu, Nunthaley view point can be seen from here. For the majestic sunrise and sunset, Phoktey Dara Top is considered as a very extraordinary view point of Sikkim and relatively lesser known trekking trail in West Sikkim. The trail inside Barsey Rhododendrone Sanctuary goes through the undisturbed pathches of forests in Sikkim. Chewabhanjang Pass, located at an elevation of 10,300 ft. is one of the important and famous Pass in the Indo-Nepal border. Phoktey Dara Trek is famous for Rhododendrons and different species of birds & Phoktey Dara is the gateway of the Singalila Ridge Trek. Spreading across an area of 104 Square Km, this sanctuary is home to endangered Red Panda, Barking Deer (Kakar), Himalayan Black Bear, Marbled Cat and many other mammal species. The name Chewabhanjang means a ‘peeping valley’ in the local Limboo language. Lies under Indo-Nepal Pass, ewabhanjang pass has a famous trade route connecting many villages of Sikkim and Nepal. Phoktey Dara Trek is also known as Everest- Kanchendzonga View trek, Singalila Range Trek, Singalila Pass trek, Chewabhanjang Trek. This trek is still unexplored trek route in sikkim Himalaya which Majestic Himalayan Treks & Tours, the best adventure tour operator of Siliguri, Darjeeling & Sikkim, can arrange for you. Phoktey Dara trek starts from Uttarey. Uttarey is a small village located on the northern slope of Singalila Range in West Sikkim which is 160 km from Siliguri or Bagdogra. Phoktey Dara trek is not so famous among trekkers like Goechala, Sandakphu, Roopkund or Hamta Pass. But this trek route is very scenic and diversified. Our other trek routes are Goechala Trek , Sandakphu-Phalut Trek , Kishong La Trek , Danphebir Pass Trek ,  Varsey Phalut Trek etc.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 :drive from njp / ixb / siliguri to uttarey & overnight stay at uttarey.

"Meet & Greet"  with our company representative on arrival at  NJP / IXB / Siliguri  and drive to  Uttarey Valley  ( 160 km., 6-7 hrs., ),  Phoktey Dara trek starting point. En route enjoy the beauty of evergreen forests, the beauty of Teesta river, rural villages of Sikkim, lush green hills & mountain cloud view. In this 7 hr. journey you can take your lunch at Jorthang, 2nd important city of Sikkim. If you have to buy something for trek or need to withdrawl of money then it is the last market. On the way you will pass through some famous tourist places like Rinchenpong, Kaluk, Hee, Dentam, Singshore bridge. You can take a tea break at any of these place. After arrival at Uttarey check-in & get fresh. After that you can spend your leisure time at local area by walk. Overnight Stay at Uttarey  in a hotel / home stay.

Day 2 :Uttarey to Achalley. ( 8 kms / 4-5 hrs / 9,800 ft. )

After breakfast go for Forest permit & Police permit for your Phoktey Dara Trek. After getting permit, trek towards  Achalley ,   a 8 km trek ( 9800 ft, 4-5 hr. ). On the way you can see Sherpa village, Tenzing Hillary Memorial Park, fern species and other rich flora-fauna of Sikkim. After 1 hr. walk you will reach a point where you can see the beautiful & green Uttarey valley. First day trek of Phoktey Dara is almost a uphill trek through the dense sub-alpine and Rhododendron forests. After 2-3 hr. trek you can take your lunch and regain your energy to walk 2 hr. more. After a 4-5 hr. trek you will see a small forest surrounded ground which is your day 1 campsite, Achalley. After arrival you will get hot soup with Fried Egg-Maggi. If you are lucky then you can get glimpses of Mt. Kanchendzonga from Achalley campsite.  Overnight stay at  Achalley in Tent. 

Day 3 :Achalley to Kalizar. ( 6 kms / 3-4 hrs / 11,800 ft. )

After a heavy breakfast fill your bottle and start your trek with full of energy. Today's trek is short but strenous in last part. After a 2 hr. trek you will reach at a big meadow surrounded by green lush forest which is called Thulodhap means Big ground ( In nepali language “Thulo” means Big and "Dhap” means Ground ). Here you can take a rest to walk the last toughest 3.5 km uphill trek. You will reach at Kalizar after a 2:30 hr. tiring trek. Interest trekkers can trek to Singalila pass ( 4 km up & down ). Kalizar campsite has very limited water source. The water streams are seasonal and it is difficult to get water around the campsite. So you have to be rational about water. Kalizar is the most beautiful campsite in Varsey Rhododendrone Sanctuary and most windy area also. It’s a perfect campsite to enjoy the unparalleled view of Mt. Kanchenjungha in last twilight with a hot cup of coffee. After dusk you have to wear good warm cloth. The temperature soon dropped to -6 degrees Celsius at night & this was accompanied by a strong breeze. Today dinner time will be at 7 pm. Overnight stay in tent at  Kalizar .

Day 4 :Kalizar to Uttarey via Phoktey Dara. ( 14 kms / 5-6 hrs / 12,000 ft. )

Wake up early in the morning and trek to  Phoktey Dara ( 12,000 ft., 30 Min walk)  to witness the sunrise & wide range of Kanchenjunga & Everest range.   If the weather is clear, then here you can   witness the most amazing sunrise of your life. The "Sleeping Buddha" was bathing in colors of the rising sun. On a clear day one can see the top four out of five highest peaks in the world called Lhotse ( 8501m), Everest ( 8848m) and Makalu (8475m) of the Nepal Himalayas and the huge Kanchenjunga Massif (8586m) along with other peaks of the Nepal and Sikkim himalayas like Mt. Kumbhakarna, Mt. Kokthang, Mt. Rathong, Mt. Kabru groupof peaks, Mt. Talung, Mt. Pandim, Mt. Tinchenkhang, Mt. jopuno, Mt. Simvo etc.  After spending some memorable time with our besties and Camera also at Phoktey Dara Top, trek back to Kalizar. After breakfast start descending towards  Uttarey  via Chewabhanjang pass ( 10400 Ft. ),   Chitrey, Mainibas Falls  ( 14 km., 5-6 hrs. downhill ). The first 3 km till Chewabhanjang the entire range was now visible in the brilliant morning sunlight. After that you have to face a 2 km steep downhill till chitrey. Again a 6 km downhill trek till Uttarey. On the way you can visit Mainibas falls which is another 30 min walk from the main trail. Today you can finish your Phoktey dara trek with a delicious Dinner. Night stay at  Uttarey  in a Home stay / Hotel.

Day 5 :Drive to NJP/ IXB / Siliguri

After breakfast drive from Uttarey to  NJP / IXB / Siliguri  ( 6-7 hr. ) for your onward journey. 

How to Reach

By Train : New Jalpaiguri Railway Station or NJP is a major railway station located in Siliguri, the gateway to North Bengal, Sikkim, Bhutan and North-East India. There are many long distance trains arrives or pass through the New Jalpaiguri Railway Station or NJP station. You can choose to come to Kolkata and take one of the many trains to NJP. If you are coming from Delhi or north part of India, Mumbai, Pune or West part of India, Chennai, Bangalore or South part of India, try to take any north east train which directly goes to NJP by passing Kolkata. Please book the train which will arrive at NJP within 10 am for your Phoktey Dara Trek.

By Flight : Flying to Bagdogra or IXB is another option that you can choose. Bagdogra is well connected with regular direct flight from Kolkata, Delhi, Guwahati, Bengalore & Mumbai. Please book your flight which will arrive at Bagdogra within 11 am for your Phoktey Dara Trek.

NJP / Bagdogra to Uttarey apprx. 160 km. You will get 8 - 14 seater car for the journey. Uttarey is the starting point of Phoktey Dara trek.

1. Accommodation : As per the current availability over there we can provide you Dormitory room at Uttarey & you will be accommodated in Tents / Trekkers hut' during the trek. 2. Meal Plan : Day 2 Pack Lunch to Day 4 Pack Lunch (Food during trek only). ​3. Transportation : We will provide you : NJP / IXB / Siliguri to Uttarey & Uttarey to NJP / IXB / Siliguri return - Non-Luxury vehicle - seat capacity maximum 8 to 9 seats ( Sumo / Sumo Gold / Spacio / Mahindra Maxx / Similar ). ​    (​ Please Note : Vehicle will be taken for all transfers (Point to point drop) & the mentioned sightseeing points including fuel expenses on hire basis )​. 4. Tent, Sleeping Bag & Mattress. 5. Entry fees & forest camping charges for Phoktey Dara of Varsey Rhododendron Sanctuary. 6. One group leader from our company 7. Local Guide. 8. Local Porters, Yak / Mule / Horse  for ration & equipment carrying only.  9. Cook during trek. 

*   Food during transit. *   Any extra porter for personal luggage carrying. *   Insurance. *   Any services not specifically mentioned in the inclusions. *   Any Airfare / Train fare / Bus fare. *   Any transportation which is not mentioned in the itinerary. *   Any expenses of personal nature like Room Heater charges / Hot Water Bag charges / Mobile charging fees etc. *   Any kind of emergency evacuation charges.

Fitness Required for Trek

To prepare for a trek, we need to strengthen our 2 prime M’s – Mind and Muscle, the body. Only then, the spending of the 3rd M – Money; a little or more, can bring to us an intense lifelong experience like trekking. At high altitude as the air gets thinner oxygen becomes less abundant. The percentage saturation of haemoglobin with oxygen determines the content of oxygen in our blood. After the human body reaches around 2,100 m (7,000 feet) above sea level, the level of oxygen in our haemoglobin begins to plummet. However, the human body has both short-term and long-term adaptations to altitude that allow it to partially compensate for the lack of oxygen. You can train yourself to run 3 kms in 30 minutes as per the schedule given below. Remember always start your training program with stretching and warm up exercises.

You can follow this stretching before run

• Ankle Rolls
• Wrist Stretch
• Standing Hamstring Stretch
• Standing Quad stretch
• Calf Stretch
• Finish with leg swings

After 15 min of stretching you can follow this training schedule for trekking fitness required.

Week 1: Start with 10 minute of brisk walk and then jog for 10 minutes and finally 10minutes of easy walk. Week 2: 5 minutes of brisk walk 15 minutes of jog 5 minutes of easy walk Week 3: 5 minutes of brisk walk 15 minutes of jog 5 minutes of easy walk Week 4: 5 minutes of brisk walk and jog for 25 min and cool down your body.

MIND, THE MENTAL ENDURANCE : To build our physical endurance prior to trek, we workout in a gymnasium or outdoors nearby. In both the cases, we actually choose a suitable environment for us to sweat. So, even if you get extremely fit before the trek, you don’t get exposed to the versatile environmental or climatic challenges that nature offers during a trek. All these environmental conditions have a deep impact on our body and mind too. A walk through heavy rains or snowfall, even in a normal gradient, becomes more challenging than the same trail in a pleasant weather. And it happens not only because of rain or snow makes the walk more difficult. Also, you need to adjust, tolerate and fight the adverse nature psychologically in which your body and mind are not habituated. Here, your mind comes into play. This is where the game becomes more mental than physical. 1. Bulid your own motivation system. 2. Use your passion to bring more motivation. 3. Study about your trek route to gain knowledge to plan and prepare yourself appropriately. 4. Think positive & stay focused. 5. Visualization is a common technique for handling stress. Developing mental strength is not a one day game. Your experiences are the best teacher. You become more confident after every trek. Cherish your journey after completion of the trek. Sense, the achievement. These will build your mind stronger forever, no matter where you want to use it for, a trek or a life.

THUMB RULES FOR BETTER IMPACT

1. Hire a digital trainer for free. The key is to do it perfect than more in numbers. Use video tutorial, mobile apps, read blogs and use a mirror to make it perfect. 2. Be a regular, rather inconsistent & intense. 3. Drink more water during the exercise routine and more importantly in the time of trekking. Keep dehydration, muscles cramps, and life-threatening hypothermia away. 4. Food is fuel. Maintain a well-balanced diet consist of carbohydrate, fat, and protein during your exercise and trekking days. 5. Sleep well. Finally, the lack of sleep can spoil your whole preparation for a trek.

What's to Carry

Below are the list of personal articles which are required for a trek on the Himalayas. This guide helps you to give an idea about the things that you need to bring in as a trek member. Depending upon the number of days of trek, the articles quantity may vary and this list is made considering the trek duration being 5 to 7 days (week long treks).

Trek essentials:

• 01. Sun hat.
• 02. Torch with extra battery.
• 03. Light Jacket.
• 04. Heavy Jacket.
• 05. Trousers.
• 06. T-shirt.
• 08. Identity Card with photocopy.
• 09. Ruck Sack
• 10. Water Bottle.
• 11. Raincoat or Umbrella.
• 12. Pullover.
• 13. Balaclava or woolen cap.
• 14. Hand gloves.
• 15. Passport size photo.
• 16. Mattress.
• 17. Sleeping Bag.
• 18. Sports shoe.
• 19. Slipper.
• 20. Cold cream.
• 21. Tissue paper.
• 22. Soap Paper.

Always try to avoid unnecessary Cloths, toiletries which are heavy and of little use on mountain. Pack light. For selection of personal gear/equipment and backpacking please read the articles carefully, before buying an item:

Rucksack/Back Pack : A Must item. Between 40 to 50 Litres. Don’t buy more than 60L unless you are in expeditions. These will be heavier and can cause discomfort if not fully loaded. You can buy it online or offine from trekking gear store. We can help you to find the right one. Sleeping Bag : You can hire from us or bring your personal one rated for high altitude in case you have. Personal one is always better for hygiene. You can purchase from us. http://www.majestichimalayan.com/final/hire-a-guide Trekking Shoe / Boot : A must item. A good quality trekking shoe/boot must have the following specs : i) A sticky rubber sole with lug (indentations for better grip). ii) Ankle support (Medium or high ankle). iii) Waterproofing membrane. (A must for high altitude and winter treks). Mattress (Foam/Rubber) : It is very cheap. You can buy it from Hardware shop or trekking gear shop. Micro spikes/Anti slip grip & Gaiters : Its necessary only for snow trek, specially in winter time. Rucksack cover (Waterproof): Advised. MUST for protection from rain/dust/stain etc. (Alternately you can keep your clothing and warm jacket inside polythene pack. Do get the pack(s) back to home and re use/recycle). Daypack/Knapsack : Optional (Can carry along with you with water bottle, food, camera and wind/water proof etc.) if you want to offload your Rucksack in permissible routes. T-shirt (Base layer while you are hiking) : A must item and as per need. Take at least one Dry fit/Quick dry type which can ventilate sweat/moisture wicking. These are made of synthetic materials. Cotton T-shirts are NOT advised and avoid especially when you walk. Warm Jacket (Mid layer clothing for warmth ) : A must item. Warm Fleece Jacket/Synthetic fill (Some refer as Hollow Fill Jacket/Down feather Jacket. While hiking you will not require this unless you are hiking in cold conditions. Use this when you cool down at campsite. You can but from us - http://www.majestichimalayan.com/final/hire-a-guide Windproof Jacket/Wind Cheater (Outer layer clothing for protection from wind and rain/snow fall) : A MUST item. A hooded one made of water resistant/repellent material is highly advised. Use this along with Base layer (t-shirt) while hiking unless it is warm and sunny weather. Wear this always as outer later to protect from wind chill be while hiking or at camp site. Thermal wear (Base Layer once you reach campsite) : Upper and lower (Woolly cot). Must for winter treks. Trek pant : A must item. Can be Track pants (avoid cotton), 3 quarter/Cargo or Convertible kind. One Dry fit/Quick dry track pant is advised. Water repellent/proof quality is a plus. For altitude above 5000m/16400ft you should use wind proof and water proof trek pants. Raincoat/Poncho/Waterproof clothing: Waterproofing is MUST during your trek in the Himalayas, be it in summer or winter. This can be achieved by any of the following: i) Use your windproof jacket and hiking pant having water repellent/proofing quality. ii) A Poncho/Raincoat. Balaclava/Woolen skull cap/Monkey Cap : A Must item for protection from cold. Made of woolen/synthetic warm material. Sun cap/Wide-brimmed Hat/Bandana : For protection from sun while you hike. Under garments/Inner wear : As per need. Hiking Socks : 3/4 pair. Use full length socks (Don’t use tennis socks). 100% Cotton socks are NOT recommended as these absorb sweat and dry slowly. A pair of woolen material is nice to have especially in winter treks. Woolen gloves : A Must item. Waterproof gloves : Optional. Useful especially on high altitude treks where snow/ice is encountered. Camp sandal : Can be a strap on sports sandal or a Hawaiian sleeper. Walking Sticks/Trekking Poles/Ski Poles : Nice to have, reduces the pressure on knees and gives balance specially while descending. Advised at least one pole for treks involving snow/ice. Knee cap : Optional. Makes a difference especially if you have knee injuries/problems (Neoprene added variant is better). Water bottle/Hydration pack : Must. Good quality plastic bottle. Sunglasses : This is MUST for all the high altitude treks and winter treks. Polarised/Anti-glare is always a better option in snow with UV400 (UV A & B) protection. Trekkers using spectacle can order custom make powered sunglasses. Torch/Head Lamp with extra batteries : A MUST item. Head torch keeps your hands free. Accessories/Toiletries : Optional and try to share when you travel in group. Sunscreen lotion – Optional. At least 30/40 SPF. Chap Stik/Cold & Moisturising cream – Optional. As per need. Use small tubes/bottles. Tooth brush and tooth paste – Carry smallest available tube of tooth paste. Soap/Soap strip – Carry small pocket size soap, or Soap strip. Hand sanitizer – Optional. Small bottle. Tissue roll ( Toilet paper) – This is a must item as water may not be available in the vicinity. Towel – Medium size (light weight). Anti-Fungal Powder – Optional. This helps to keep the socks and the trek shoe drier and odour free to an extent. Carry smallest container. Camera with extra cells: Optional. Normally there is no charging point on the Himalayan trek routes, carry spare batteries/power bank. Dry food items(Kit): Must. Carry some dry fruits, chocolate/energy/protein bars and GluconD/Tang/Getorade. Personal First-Aid Kit: Optional – Anti septic cream, Betadine/Dettol/Savlon, Band aid, cotton, crepe bandage, safety pin etc. Medicines Kit: This is a simple guide line and a doctor’s consultation is recommended.)

• a) General medicines comprising of headache, fever, vomiting, stomach upset and pain killer (Volini gel/spray)
• b) Anti Diarrhoearal
• c) Antibiotics – ( choose broad spectrum antibiotics for treating a variety of infections – carry a course of each)
• d) Mild analgesics – (Aspirin/Paracetamol etc but DONOT take Codeine based painkillers).
• e) Strong analgesics (Co-Proxamol/Ponstan/Temgesic, use with care).
• f) Anti-inflammatory (Nurofen or diclofenac sodium)
• g) Diamox – This helps in acclimatisation (a proper dosage is must if taken. Drink lot of water as this is a diuretic drug.

Cancellation & Refund Policy

Policy regarding cancellation / no show / early departure.

In case of cancellation of tour/travel services due to any avoidable/unavoidable reason/s we must be informed in writing. Cancellation charges would be effective from the date we receive letter in writing and cancellation charges would be as follows:

• 30 days & prior to arrival – 10% of the tour/service cost.
• 20 days to 18 days prior to arrival – 20% of the tour/service cost.
• 14 days to 16 days prior to arrival – 25% of the tour/service cost.
• 10 days to 08 days prior to arrival – 50% of the tour/service cost.
• 07 days & less, prior to arrival or no show – NO REFUND.

Please note – Irrespective of above mentioned cancellations slabs – in case of cancellation of tour services after the booking is made with us – a minimum 10% service charges would be applicable.

In case you cancel the trip after commencement refund would be restricted to a limited amount that too would depend on the amount that we would be able to recover from the hoteliers we patronize. For unused hotel accommodation, chartered transportation and missed meals etc. we do not bear any responsibility to refund.

In regard to refund of unused / unutilized services (which are paid for and cancelled in advance) the refund amount would be worked out on the basis of cancellation policy as described above and the money would be accordingly refunded to the person who has made the payment to us. Please note that the refund process may take 2 – 4 weeks due to banking procedures. If the refund is made to the credit card account OR to Bank account, the bank charges would be debited from the refund amount.

FAQ & Other Info

1. How do I choose a trek?

Ans : According to your time & fitness.

2. Are there any age restrictions to join Phoktey Dara trek?

Ans : Yes 5 years is the min age. Fitness is required for all ages.

3. I would like to book Phoktey Dara trek, do I need to bring my own equipment?

Ans : We will provide Sleeping bag, Sleeping Mat, Tent.

4. How long do we walk each day?

Ans : Apprx 6-8 km, 4-5 hr. 

5. What is the fitness level required for Phoktey Dara trek and how hard are the treks?

Ans : Phoktey Dara is a moderate trek. But trekkers should practice ( running, Gym ) for 15 days atleast.

6. What would be the process of acclimatisation?

Ans : Walk slowly, be hydrated, proper clothing and be active after reaching at campsite.

7. What do I need to carry ?

​Ans : Carry your personal clothing, Torch, Cap, Waterbottle, Umbrella. For details see whats to carry option.

8. I can’t carry my bag can anyone carry it for me?

​Ans : If you dont want to carry bag then hire a porter ( Extra charge INR 2000 )

9. Do I need trekking poles ?

Ans : Yes, trekking pole is confortable to walk.

10. What are the major difficulties expected on a high altitude Trek?

Ans : Altitude sickness, Lack of oxygen, Headache, acclimatization, Disturbed sleep, loss of appetite.

11. What is the source of drinking water? Is it safe to drink?

Ans : Natural sources like river, Falls. Yes it is safe but you can use Geoline, Chlorine table as water purifier.

12. How to stay healthy during a trek?

Ans : Consume plenty of water, Proper diet, Sleep, proper clothing. Be active & happy always.

13. Does anyone need to purchase snow shoes for Phoktey Dara trek?

Ans : Yes you can but a good trekking shoe is sufficient for the trek.

14. What will the daytime and night temperature be?

Ans : Day time temperatures will range from 13-18ºC and night time temperature will range from -1 to 5ºC in May. Expect temperatures to be lower by a few degrees in October/November.

15. How many people will share a tent?

Ans : 3 /4 person.

16. Is it safe for girls? What if I am the only girl on the trek?

Ans : Yes its safe. We will provide you a separate tent.

17. What kind of food do you provide in Phoktey Dara trek?

Ans : We will provide Veg & Non-Veg both.

18. Do I need to carry any documents with me?

Ans : Yes you should carry your identity card.

19. Is there any medical assistance during the trek?

Ans : Yes our trip leader is well known of medicine and for any emergency we will transfer the trekker to Uttarey Health centre & then Jorethang..

20. Do we get mobile signal during Phoktey Dara trek?

Ans : You will get mobile signal till Uttarey. 

21. Are smoking and drinking permitted on the trek?

Ans : It is advisable to not take any liquor & smoking objects.

22. Is diamox is advisable?

Ans : Yes you can start it before trek as per doctor advise.

23. Will I be able to recharge camera batteries ?

Ans : No the last charging point will be at Uttarey. You can carry power bank. 

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Uttaray Round Trek

Destination, duration (in days), accommodation.

Homestay, Camping, Lodges, Hotels

142000/- per person

This new trek route falls entirely within Sikkim. We begin in the small village of Uttarey and trek to Chiwabhanjang on the Singalila ridge to continue on to Goechala. Opened as recently as the year 2000, this trail is not much frequented by trekkers. There are sections of narrow paths, ups and downs, and some scree walking but for the most part, the trek follows a good path used mainly by yak herders in Sikkim.

On this wilderness trail, we walk up towards what is actually the border between Nepal, Sikkim and West Bengal. Dotted with beautiful high altitude lakes and passing several passes, this trek gives the opportunity of viewing Mount Everest – Kanchenjunganot and many more. Only once at a specific high point but several times over the days as you cross the passes. This trail finally joins with the main west Sikkim trekking trail at Dzongri where the option is to continue to Goechala – the final viewpoint where the left shoulder of Kanchenjunga stands just 9km away as the crow flies or descend to Yuksom for those with time limitations. The advantage of this trek is that it is a round trip. Still, a relatively new trek, the Sikkim Ridge trek promises to be among the best with its crowning glory of Kanchenjunga seen from several vantage points along this trek.

Day 1 Pickup from Bagdogra airport, transfer to Darjeeling. Overnight @ Hotel.

Day 2 Transfer from Darjeeling to Uttarey. Overnight @ Lodge / Guest House.

Day 3 Trek to Chiwabhanjyang from Uttarey. Overnight @ Tent

Day 4 Acclimatization at Chiwabhanjyang. Overnight @Tent

Day 5 Trek to Ghairi from Chiwabhanjyang. Overnight @ Tent

Day 6 Trek to Dhor from Ghairi. Overnight @ Tent

Day 7 Trek to Pare Megu from Dhor. Overnight @ Tent

Day 8 Trek to Lam Pokhari from Pare Megu. Overnight @ Tent

Day 9 Trek to Gomathang via Dafey Bhir. Overnight @ Tent.

Day 10 Trek to Pangden from Gomathang. Overnight @ Tent.

Day 11 Trek to Bikbari from Pangden. Overnight @ Tent.

Day 12 Trek to Dzongri from Bikhbari. Overnight @ Tent.

Day 13 Trek to Thangsingh from Dzongri. Overnight @ Tent.

Day 14 Trek to Lamey from Thangsingh. Overnight @ Tent

Day 15 Trek to Tshoka from Thangsingh. Overnight @ Tent

Day 16 Trek to Yuksom from Tshoka. Overnight @ Lodge / Guest House.

Day 17 Drive back to Darjeeling or Bagdogra airport from Yuksom.

• Experienced English speaking guide.
• Transport to and from Darjeeling
• All necessary paperwork and permits in Mountain and National park (entrance and permit fees)
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
• Accommodation during the trek at guesthouse/lodge or family homestay
• Evening Tea
• Hot water for drinking
• Our guide will carry a comprehensive medical kit including high altitude sickness tablets
• Medical examination (if required) and vaccination costs
• Personal expenditure i.e. soft drinks/beer on the trek, extra snacks for the trek.
• Meals in Darjeeling before or after the trek Travel insurance
• Bikhbari , Chiwabhanjang , Kanchenjunga , Uttarey , Yuksom

Gokyo – Chola Pass – Everest Base Camp Trek

Sandakphu blue dragon special trek, everest base camp via renjo pass, rock climbing with the professionals, annapurna mountain bike trip, langtang trek, upper mustang mountain bike trip, mt. kanchenjunga expedition, annapurna circuit trek.

© Blue Dragon Adventure and Travel. All Rights Reserved

Design & maintain @ darshan thapa: [email protected].

Home » Shop » Singalila Phoktey Dara Trek

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Singalila Pass – Phoktey Dara Trek

A prevalent pristine jungle trail with charming beauty of panoramic High Nepal/Sikkim ranges is mere to describe Phoktey Dara trek. Staying entirely at campsites inside treeline is an ideal beginning for many trekkers. The trail inside Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary goes through the last few remaining undisturbed patches of forests in Sikkim. Forest types ranging from Montane Wet Temperate Forests, Mixed Coniferous Forests, Sub-alpine Birch-Fir and Conifer Forest and Moist Dry Alpine Scrub (Rhododendron and Juniper scrubs) in varying altitude. The atmosphere inside dense forests are mostly wet and damp, age old trunks with clinging ferns, growing mosses and lichens. Rhododendrons trees or scrubs ( on higher altitudes) and giant Magnolias blossom in spring. Rich ground flora comprised of primulas, potentillas, gentians, poppies and aconites. Even during winter the forest remains deep green in contrast with Maple foliage during fall. Clouds hover around from spring to fall ! Forests are full of life, thanks to the rich biodiversity. Flycatchers & Warblers, Sun birds, Thrushes & Babblers, Tits & Fiches tweet and sing relentless. Colourful flowers attract hundreds of butterflies. Spreading across an area of 104 Square Km, this sanctuary is home to endangered Red Panda, Barking Deer (Kakar), Himalayan Black Bear, Marbled Cat and many other mammal species.  But this is just one side. Due to the proximity of Sikkim and Nepal High Himalayas, the views of High Himalayan ranges are fascinating. Singalila Pass and Phoktey Dara the two spurs offer majestic views of gigantic massif of Kanchendzongha range in a famous “Sleeping Buddha” formation. Sunrise and sunset panorama are surreal and profound. On a clear day, 4 out of the 5 highest peaks in the world, Mt. Everest, Kanchendzongha, Lhotse and Makalu are distinctly visible. Campsites are strategically on glades to enhance the grandeur experience. Jannu (Kumbhakarna), Pandim, Kabru North/south/Dome, Simvo are noteworthy in the vicinity. This less trodden trail is devoid of any human existence, grazing cattle and is uncommon to find other group(s) travelling alongside. For amateur and experienced photographers the route is bountiful of wild life, flowers, panorama and certainly the Himalayan ranges and peaks. This is indeed a must trek for all Himalayan nature lover, botanist and birders.

Note: If you are looking for a shorter hike with families and kids then you can check our Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary trek . This is indeed a fantastic opportunity to enjoy the ecstatic jungle around Barsey.

Brief Itinerary:

Day 1: From NJP/Bagdogra to Hilley by car – 150 Km – 8 hours Day 2: Trek from Hilley to Barsey– 4.5 Km – 2/3 hours Day 3: Trek to Joributey via Deolinga Dhap – 12 Km – 6/7 hrs Day 4: Trek to Kharka Dara/Kalijhar via Thulo Dhap – 12 Km – 6/7 hrs Day 5: Trek to Phoktey Dara and Singalila Pass, back to Thulo Dhap via Kalijhar – 10 km – 6/7 hours Day 6: Trek to Uttarey via Achaley – 12 Km – 6/7 hours Day 7: Drive from Uttarey to NJP – 170 Km – 8 hours or Drive to Gangtok – 6/7 hours.

*** You need to reach NJP/Bagdogra latest by 10 am on Day 1. Similarly you will return to NJP/Bagdogra by 6 pm on Day 7. Arrange of tickets accordingly ***

• There is another variant of Phoktey Dara trek which starts from Uttarey and climbs through Chitrey, Chewabhanjung and eventually meets our trail at Kalijhar. This Uttarey to Phoktey Dara trail is steep inside jungle and doesn’t offer any mountain views till one reaches Kalijhar. As this route is outside Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary, Yaks/Horses are allowed on the trail. Hence logistically this trail is much easier to arrange and economic. However there is no comparison of views that you can get from our proposed trail.
• Due to unavailability of water we may have to camp at Thulodhap instead Kharka Dara, specially during November to March. In this case we will visit Phoktey Dara and and Singalila Pass starting early in the morning and return to Thulodhap. It will take 7/8 hours for a round trip from Thulodhap.

Watch this glimpse of Phoktey Dara trek video

 TREK FEE: ₹ 15,950 (Hilley to Uttarey) + 5% GST

The above TREK FEE is applicable for Fixed Departure treks as we schedule time to time. Also we can customise this trek, if you are looking for a private trek or if the our date(s) is not matching with you. Expect similar TREK FEE if you are 8 to 10 persons together forming a group. For 4/5 persons trekking logistics and overhead is too heavy that it is not sustainable.

TREK FEE includes everything which you will require once you reach at Hilley and till you end the trek at Uttarey. Tented accommodation during trek, all meals, trekking guide, porters to carry the logistics and equipment, all permits   and camping charges. This also includes Accidental insurance policy (Indian nationals only) for 7 days covering NJP to NJP. Check COST INCLUSIONS tab for specific details.

Seasons for Phoktey Dara trek:

Being in the Nepal/Sikkim border this area observes longer monsoon. Clouds start to hover from April and prolong till October beginning. There are two distinct seasons when this year trek is particularly beautiful:

1) Spring/Summer for Rhododendron season: From mid of March to Mid of May. Flowering starts from early March in the lower elevation, and gradually towards end of spring on higher altitude. Rhododendron and Giant Magnolia are two most famous along with several other wild flower species. Cloudy or misty atmosphere is common during Spring. Though clear mountains views are not uncommon, specially during morning.

2) Fall/Winter for clear weather: From mid October to January. In the beginning of October clouds start moving out from this region and weather becomes clearer. November is  particularly known for its crystal clear views of the mountains.

Important notes on  Camping grounds for Phoktey Dara trek:

This trail inside Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary has limited water source at intervals. The streams are seasonal and it is difficult to get water around Kharka Dara and Kalijhar campsite apart from months of April to September. For camping, proximity of water is a must and we may have to camp as per availability of water. However, we will cover Phoktey Dara top and Singalila Pass as mentioned in the itinerary.

Access to Phoktey Dara trek base (Hilley):

We will arrange a pickup  from NJP/Bagdogra/Siliguri to Hilley and drop from Uttarey to NJP/Bagdogra. This will be shared by the team members on actual basis and paid directly to the driver. Typically a Tata Sumo/Mahindra Maxx type Jeep charges Rs 5000 one way. One such car can accommodate 6 to 8 people. This cost is NOT included in the TREK FEE.

To reach the trek base Hilley the access in from NJP/Siliguri/Bagdogra. For details on how to reach nearest railways station/airport and move to trek base independently/public transportation check the details in GETTING THERE TAB.

Click here to view the List of Things to carry in Singalila Phoktey Dara trek

Permit requirements to enter and trek in sikkim including phoktey dara trek:.

Sikkim has some restrictions regarding travelling and special permits are a must to obtain. It is a good space to write the details regarding the different permits and fees required by the administration. Also we hope that this section will help those people who want to reach independently to Sikkim. Indians may skip this section if you don’t have a travel plan specifically in North Sikkim.

(A) For Indian Nationals: Trekking permit is required inside Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary and can be obtained at Hilley Forest checkpost. Two recent passport size photos, One personal photo ID card with address proof in it (Aadhar/Driving Licence/Voter ID/Passport) along with photocopies of the same are to be submitted along with a self declaration at Yuksom police outpost. Below is a handy guide for those having plan for additional holidays/destinations in Sikkim. Even Indians need Protected Area Permit (PAP) for visiting North Sikkim or Nathu La. http://www.sikkimtourism.gov.in/Webforms/General/faq.aspx

(B) For Foreign Nationals:

Any foreigner (some relaxation to Nepalese and Bhutanese citizens) will require Inner Line Permit which is recently renamed as Restricted Area Permit (RAP) to enter the boundary of Sikkim.

http://www.sikkimtourism.gov.in/Webforms/General/Essential%20Information/Entry.aspx

• Nationals of Bangladesh, Pakistan, Myanmar, Nigeria and China can only apply for ILP/RAP through Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, New Delhi.
• Any other foreign national’s with the strength of valid Passport and Indian visa can obtain the ILP (RAP), Free of cost, at the below check points while entering Sikkim.

1) Assistant Director– Tourism Department , Melli, Near Melli Police Check Post, South Sikkim, Mobile No: 9775453611, 03595-248536, PLS NOTE: ILP issuing time is from 8 am to 8 pm everyday (Though we struggled to keep them stay after 6 pm!)- On the way to West Sikkim (Yuksom, Pelling, Hilley, Uttarey etc) 2) Assistant Director, Tourism Department, Sikkim Tourism Office, Rangpo , East Sikkim phone no: 03592-240818 – On the way to Gangtok and East/North Sikkim.

• If you produce a proper itinerary (additionally if any supporting booking documents) then the authority will usually issue an ILP up to 30 days initially. It can be extended to another 30 days but you to get an extension we need to exit Sikkim and apply again when you re-enter.
• Travellers who arrive initially in Darjeeling (state of West Bengal) has to get the permit from the above two check posts. There is shorter route from Darjeeling to Jorethang via Jamuney (40 Km, 2 hours maximum)  but foreigner’s are not allowed to enter Sikkim along this road. You have to go via Darjeeling – Jorbanglow – Teesta route.
• You may obtain an ILP online, but that doesn’t make much sense. This is a document valid only when it is signed physically in any of the above two offices. It takes 10/15 minutes to process the ILP at Melli/Rongpo with the strength of your valid passport and Indian visa.

Foreign national tourists who wish to trek to Dzongri/Goecha La, Singalila/Phoktey Dara (Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary), Round Singalila Dzongri (Uttarey to Dzongri) will require an additional permit called Protected Area Permit (PAP, often referred as Trekking Permit). This is issued to a minimum group of 2 persons or more from the following office on strength of signed and valid  ILP/RAP. Adventure Cell of Tourism & Civil Aviation Department, Govt. of Sikkim, Gangtok http://www.sikkimtourism.gov.in/Webforms/General/pdf/RAP.pdf

( Note: Green Lake trek in North Sikkim requires Alpine Mountaineering Expedition permit, which in turn needs more approvals, time and high expenses. Total 5 different permits are needed from Sikkim state and Delhi for both Indian and foreign nationals.)

If you (foreign nationals) wish to book Phoktey Dara/Goecha La/Dafeybhir trek or any other with us (HT) in Sikkim then:

• We will require at least one additional day to process the PAP/Trekking Permit. This can’t be processed in advance and we can only apply once we receive your signed copy of ILP. This means that you can’t start the trek very next day you enter Sikkim. We would recommend a couple of days in advance.
• Tourist’s who are having plan to visit other places in Sikkim can obtain the ILP as mentioned and send the same to us for processing the Trekking Permit.
• We charge an additional  ₹ 3000 as Service Charge per person to process the Trekking Permit and to counter the differential of various permit fees inside Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary/Kanchendzongha National park for Non Indian nationals. It is indeed expensive to send someone to Gangtok for processing the Trekking Permit and get it back at the respective trek base like Yuksom, Hilley, Uttarey etc.

In easy words it is not difficult to get the required permits to trek inside Sikkim (apart from Green Lake trek) if you (minimum of a group of 2) have couple of additional days to spend in Sikkim before the trek;

Do carry multiple copies (both hard and soft versions) of your recent passport size photo and photocopies of your documents (Passport/Visa/ILP) to avoid any showstopper on mountains!

Duration: 5 days of trek; NJP/Bagdogra to NJP  return in 7 days.

Prerequisite:  Ideal for beginners/first Himalayan trek. Descent is steep and sustained.

Grade: Easy

Physicality:  5.5/10

Trail Length: 50 Km

Highest Point: Singalila Pass ~ 3700m/12150 ft

Seasons:  March to May (Spring/Summer) and October to January (Fall/Winter)

Further Option:  From Singalila Pass descent to Phalut in West Bengal via Toriphuley and then move out via Gorkhey and Rimbick. 75 Km long Moderate grade trek.

Access:  Trek starting point is Hilley and end point is Uttarey.

Rail station: New Jalpaiguri (STN Code: NJP)

Airport:  Bagdogra (Code: IXB)

Upcoming scheduled dates for Singalila Phoktey Dara trek:  

• You can check the scheduled Fixed Departure dates in the calendar available inside Booking Form or inside REGISTER NOW form. Tour starting Dates are highlighted as per our itinerary (Day 1 of 7 days itinerary) .
• At present BOOK NOW functionality is disabled . You can get all the information in your email by submitting the REGISTER NOW form.
• If you are a group of people and available dates are not matching then you may select Custom date mode  (by clicking the Select your custom date) and fill in the displayed form.
• You can also check all the available dates at a glance in our TREK CALENDAR .
• Trekkers need to reach NJP on Day 1 morning or the previous night. Return to NJP on Day 7 evening by 6 pm. Arrange your tickets for inward journey and return accordingly.

How to reach Hilley (The trek base):

Nearest Rail station:  New Jailpaiguri (Station Code: NJP)

Nearest   Airport:  Bagdogra (Airport Code: IXB)

We will arrange a pickup  from NJP/Bagdogra/Siliguri to Hilley and drop from Uttarey to NJP/Bagdogra. This will be shared by the team members on actual basis and paid directly to the driver. Typically a Tata Sumo/Mahindra Maxx charges Rs 5000 one way. One such car can accommodate 6 to 8 people.  This is NOT included in the TREK FEE and to be payable directly to the driver/owner.

If you wish to reach our Trek Base Hilley on your own by public transportation:

• Reach NJP in the morning and take a shared auto to Siliguri Junction/SNT(Sikkim Nationalised Transport/Tenzing Norgay Bus Terminus. From  there board a shared vehicle to Jorethang in South Sikkim. This is the entry point for South & West Sikkim. If you reach there by Noon then probably you will get your seat in one of the few jeeps plying Between Jorethang and Okhrey. From Okhrey you have to book a vehicle for Hilley which is 10 Km apart.
• From NJP/Bagdogra reach Darjeeling Mor (crossing/chowk in Siliguri on the way to Darjeeling) on Hill Cart Road. From here you get shared services for Sukhiapokhri. From Sukhia you can reach Chitrey as mentioned earlier. Be sure that you have enough time as you may have to wait long for your turn. Sometime you may get a direct Maneybhanjung service (essentially the cars returning to Srikhola) in around noon/early afternoon.
• While returning from Uttarey you can book a seat in the shared vehicle which leaves for Jorethang by 6 am in the morning. From Jorethang you will get vehicle for Siliguri till 3 pm.

How to reach NJP:

For the treks in Sikkim and Darjeeling , one has to reach the city of Siliguri (considered the corridor to the North-East) in West Bengal.

The nearest Railway Station is New Jalpaiguri (NJP), 5 Km from Siliguri and the airport Bagdogra is 10 Km.

You can fly or by train reach Siliguri from Kolkata ( good for the trekkers coming from South/central or Western India) or Delhi as per your convenience from any part within India.

Direct flights are available from New Delhi and Kolkata. All the flights to Bagdogra reaches late in the morning or early afternoon. It becomes difficult to reach the trek base like Yuksom/Hilley/Uttarey on the same day unless a car is booked (takes around 8 hours to reach). One can stay the night in Siliguri and start the travel to the trek base next morning. It is better to reach Siliguri by flight/train to Kolkata and then take an overnight train to NJP unless you are coming from northern India. 

From Kolkata to Siliguri:

1) by train:.

There are several overnight trains running between Kolkata (Howrah or Sealdah) to NJP. Day trains are also available.

From airport (Dumdum, CCU) , Sealdah railway station is 15 Km and may take 1 to 2 hours depending upon the time you travel. Howrah is 17 Km and may take up to 2 hours during the heavy traffic in the rush hours. Howrah and Sealdah are only 5 Km apart, though it may take an hour to travel. Pre Paid taxi booths are available.

DARJEELING MAIL – Train No. – 12343  (Good option to reach NJP in the morning. Starts around 10 pm in the night and reaches NJP 8 am in the morning.) PADATIK EXPRESS – Train No. – 12377  (Good option to reach NJP in the morning. Starts around 11 pm in the night and reaches NJP 9 am in the morning.) KANCHANKANYA EXPRESS – Train No. – 13149 (Starts at 8:30 pm in the evening and reaches NJP 7:30 am in the morning) SHATABDI EXPRESS – Train No. – 12041  (Day train, starts 2:15 pm in the afternoon and reaches NP at 10:20 pm in the night. There are hotels/lodges outside the railway station at a walking distance of 5 minutes. Otherwise book an auto rickshaw/taxi to Siliguri, which takes around 15 minutes. There are several hotels around Siliguri Junction/Tenzing Norgay Bus Terminus/S.N.T (Sikkim Nationalised Transport stand).

There are other trains also of which some run daily and some on particular days of week.

Avoid booking wait listed (WL) tickets in AC classes (1A/2A/3A) or Chair Car (CC). Book Sleeper class (SL)/Second Sitting class (2S) tickets which have normally more seats/berths and hence much better chance to get confirmed.

2) By flight:

From Kolkata(CCU)  take a flight to Bagdogra (IXB). From airport book a taxi to reach Siliguri which is 10 Km away.

From Delhi to Siliguri:

1) by train:.

Following trains are good to reach NJP and run daily.

DIBRUGARH RAJDHANI – Train No. 12424  (arrives NJP late in the morning @ 10:45 am) NORTH EAST EXP – Train No. 12506  (arrives NJP @ 8:20 am in the morning) BRAHMAPUTRA MAIL – Train No. 12424  (arrives NJP at 5 am in the morning. But this train runs late frequently.

Always avoid booking wait listed (WL) tickets in AC classes (1A/2A/3A) or Chair Car (CC). Book Sleeper class (SL)/Second Sitting class (2S) tickets which have normally more seats/berth and hence much better chance to get confirmed.

From Delhi (DEL) take a flight to Bagdogra (IXB). From airport book a taxi to reach Siliguri which is 10 Km away.

For night stay in NJP/SIliguri:

Trekkers reaching on the previous day before the journey to the actual trek base need to stay the night in Siliguri/NJP. There are several options in Siliguri for spending a night while staying in Standard or Budget accommodation. It is better to reach to the centre of SIliguri called Siliguri Junction (adjacent to Tenzing Norgay Bus Terminus and Sikkim nationalised Transport/S.N.T stand). It takes 30 minutes from Bagdogra or 15 minutes from NJP. There are hotels 5 minutes walking from NJP also.

Return from NJP/Bagdogra:

Normally you reach NJP/Bagdogra from any trek base  by 5/6 pm in the evening. You can take any train after 7 pm to Kolkata safely, which reach early in the morning. Accordingly arrange your homeward journey from Kolkata onward.

Drive from NJP/Siliguri/Bagdogra to Hilley via Jorethang – 150 Km – 8 hours

Pickup in the morning from NJP/Bagdogra and reach Hilley (~2600m, 8500ft) in 8 hours. The road goes inside the Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary at Sevok and then enters to Sikkim through Malli. Til Jorethang (~900m, 3000ft). The road goes along the moist evergreen forests of foothills while we cross Kitam Bird Sanctuary. From Jorethang the metalled road gains  height rapidly . The car takes 7/8 hours to cover the distance of 150 Km. Hilley isn’t a village but a small settlement of people working for Forest department’s horticultural garden and nurseries. Many endemic medicinal plants grow inside these. 2/3 privately owned lodges are available to stay and they serve food. Hilley doesn’t have any shop and the last market to shop and ATM’s are in Jorethang. Hilley has forests as well as clearings in the surroundings. Red Crossbill and Parrotbills  are the speciality and delight for the bird watchers. The viewpoint is a 15 mins walk and offers first views of Sikkim ranges. Night stay in lodge.

Trek from Hilley to Barsey – 4.5 Km – 2/3 hours

Today we start our exciting journey through woods. The Check-post of Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary is a 5 minutes walk from the lodge. There is a small restaurant/shop beside. Obtaining our permit (if you are a student, do produce the identity card for a discounted permit charge) we enter the sanctuary gate to a cakewalking trail on soft earth. Barsey is just 4.5 Km away  skirting the hills through evergreen forest. After half an hour we reach our first resting shelter. There will be few more ahead. Continue your walk gently amid quintessence of forest, avoid talking loud. Enjoy the pristine nature in silence. If you are lucky enough, you may witness an endangered vividly colured Satyr Trogopan or a Kalij Pheasant crossing the trail. During March and April, this trail changes to riotously red with one of the major species Rhododendron arboreum, locally called Gurans. High altitude vegetation is frail, avoid trampling, always follow main trails and do not pick plants or flowers. Following the trail for another hour we reach a clearing with an artificial reservoir on the left side of the trail.

This place is specially notable for different types of birds species, most notably the Green-tailed Sunbird, Fulvettas and Yuhinas. Walk along the reservoir and follow the trail for another 10 minutes. From the bifurcation take the main trail on right and follow till we reach the opening of Barsey (~2750 m/8900 ft). It is situated on the top of this ridge and the main ridge line continues toward left. First views of Kanchendzongha will spellbound you looking straight in the north. The area is surrounded by dense vegetation of Rhododendron trees. Total distance is 4.5 Km and at a leisurely pace may take 2 to 2 and half hours. There is a Log-house with one dormitory and 2 rooms (called “Guras Kunj”) and a Forest-hut for accommodation. They can serve food if informed earlier. Camping ground is inside the boundary of Guras Kunj. In the afternoon walk along the trail  going away from the hut to a small hilltop. Stones are carved accompanied by a small Buddhist Chorten. Enjoy the freshness of air. If you stay here for an additional day, you can trek to Guras Tal (There isn’t a lake though) on top of a hill some 5 Km away. But this requires hiking a full day, up and down. For the tourists who don’t want to go further towards Singalila range, it is wise to stay one more day here to explore the area. There is a trail descends through the forest to Dentam (a small town of West Sikkim) 10 Km away and another leading to Soreng. These are spectacular bird watching forest trails. A binocular is recommended . Night stay in tent.

Trek to Joributey via Deolinga Dhap – 12 Km – 6/7 hours

Today and tomorrow you will probably see the best among the alpine forests in Sikkim. There is no flowing water source in today’s trail, fill up your bottles from Barsey. The trail continues traversing from one hill to another and going interior towards Singalila range. There are two trails opposite of the Guras Kunj compound, one going down to Dentam, another going towards left inside the Sanctuary. We take the the later, and start our journey inside rich forest. The trail is almost on a flat level, actually going down a bit. Canopied by Rhododendron, Magnolia and Bamboo, the trail receives just enough sunlight that it remains dusky green even in the morning. Undergrowth is so dense that at times you have to look for the marking trail. There are glades inside jungle in continuous interval to surprise you. Day’s walk is divided in to 3 equal parts. After walking for 2 hours and 4 Km, we reach the first opening between two hills a small sized dry swamp called Lassuney. Crossing the field we cover another 4 Km to reach  Deolinga Dhap, much bigger in size. A team can camp, at the fringe of the this swampland, but it is two early for us to pitch the tents. The last stretch of 4 Km is also easy undulating till we reach our campsite at Joributey (~2700 m,/8850 ft). Distance is 12 Km and may take 6 hours. Joributey is a clearing on the slope of the hill. A low swamp is just beside the camping ground and the accompanying hill slope thickly covered with Magnolia and conifer forest. This is a beautiful camping ground and the opening attracts different type of bird species. In the evening  sit outside the tent and enjoy the silence of the jungle in soughing wind. An alarm call of Kakar (Barking dear/Muntjac) is common. Tent for the night.

Trek to Kharka Dara/Kalijhar via Thulo Dhap – 12 Km – 6/7 hours

We start our trek taking the trail from the campsite going along the slope of the hill. A small climb on the gradient will take us to the shoulder of this hill and  a clearance in the jungle. Here is small lake down on our right called Hans Pokhri, and we turn right . Forest beside the trail here is not thick and we walk on gentle track for 30 minutes. Again we enter in to the dense forest and gain some height for an hour to reach the clearing of the hill top called Achaley. From here a trail goes down on our right to Uttarey. This top has recorded sighting of Red pandas. Clear weather will produce magnificent view of Kanchendzongha and surrounding high peaks. Continue walking straight through the top and descend along the trail to enter into jungle once again. This is a damp and moist forest , and a small ravine alongside. Walk silently to listen to the hundreds of birds chirping and singing in the bushes. Climbing up and down to two small hillocks we reach the largest of the swampland called Thulo Dhap (~2800 m/9300 ft) in this trail. Walk carefully on the swamp to protect the shoes from getting wet in muddy water. A small stream cuts the grassland in between. Take some rest and enjoy the vista once you cross. Fill in the water bottles and start climbing the trail. This is a moderate zigzag climb of nearly ~300 m/1000 ft and can take one hour or little more.

The jungle is a series of stretches of Rhododendron, Birch and Far trees.Finishing the climb we reach another hill top surrounded by alpine scrubs called Tiktiki.

From here we follow the trail gently upwards in to a glade called Kharka Dara (~3350 m/11000 ft). Depending up on the time, either we camp here or at Kalijhar (~3400 m/11500 ft), 30 minutes further ahead. Distance is 13 Km and may take 6/7 hours. Water is scarce at both the camp sites. As these campsites are situated facing the barren high Himalayas, wind is fierce in the afternoon and evening. During sunset Shifting patterns of light turns the snow capped mountains from golden hue to magenta. Night temperature will drop to below freezing in the night and early morning. Frost forms outside the tent even in April or November. Normally mornings are calm and offers enigmatic view of Sleeping Buddha. Night stay in tent.

Trek to Phoktey Dara/Singalila Pass and back to Thulo Dhap – 10 km – 6/7 hours

Early morning we wake up to witness the surreal  sunrise. You can see either from Kharka Dara or Kalijhar. We will visit Singalila Pass, the top point in this ridge and return. The first rays on Kanchendzongha create magical reality. It is a brilliant display of radiant colours. Bright streaks of red, pink, and orange. After an early breakfast we start following the wide trail on level ground and skirting one table top we reach Kalijhar. Below on our right the trail on the ridge goes to Chewabhanjung and we can see the SSB camp. Kalijhar is another clearing with alpine conifers and scrubs,  surrounding the campsite. The top of Kalijhar is Phoktey Dara and a spectacular viewpoint and you can climb in half an hour.

From here we traverse the hill while the treeline recedes. This particular stretch in the morning is abundant of several bird species. We would prefer it call it as “Sunbird Trail” . Fire-tailed Sunbird with its magnificent plumage perch and play in this alpine shrubbery.

After continuing our walk for 45 minutes we reach the base of the Singalila Pass. The pass is clearly visible from this point and about ~200m/650 ft higher. Endless ridge-lines are visible in the south and east till Barsey. We commence our final ascent to the pass and reach in 30 minutes. Breathtaking view from left to right encompassing majestic Nepal and Sikkim Himalaya to the north. Most of these peaks are towering above 7000 m. In the far left (west) we can see the Everest group of peaks and to the right Three sisters, Chamlang, Baruntse, Kanchendzongha, Simvo, Pandim, Tinchenkhang one after another. The entire Kabru range (North, South, Dome) Fork I/II, Rathong, Frey peak (just above Chaurikhang, HMI base camp area) are south to the gigantic Kanchendzongha and form a semicircle in front of the massif. Spend around an hour and start retracing the trail to return.

We return to our campsite and take lunch. Distance to Singalila Pass and return is around 8 Km and may take 4/5 hours. After lunch we descent to our camping ground at Thulo Dhap.In the afternoon we are free to explore the surrounding area. Night stay in tent.

Trek to Uttarey via Achaley – 12 Km – 6/7 hours

Weather on mountain is only predictable to an extent and changes frequently. If the weather remains clear we will visit Phoktey Dara to witness the sunrise and unbelievable panorama. It is only 30 minutes walk from the campsite and on the top of a table mountain. The unmistakable Sleeping Buddha dominates the eye shot. An irresistible temptation for the shutter bugs to try different angles, panorama and hues. We return to the campsite and complete the breakfast. Today is our last day of this charmingly beautiful trek. We return to Achaley top via Tiktiki and Thulo Dhap, this time almost entirely gentle to moderate descent. From here two trails split , the one on the right through which we came and the other which we take now and descents on the slope traversing on our left. The down slope goes through conifers and Rhododendrons in the beginning and evergreen forest at later stage, occasionally passing between glades. After 3 hours we suddenly enter in to a large opening with few homes at fringe. These can be considered upper peripheral houses of Uttarey. Birds eye view of the entire valley of Uttarey is fantastic , a monastery and mobile tower on a hillock, the main bazaar stretch, the swampland alongside the road down below. It is another 3 Km to reach Uttarey (~2000 m/6550 ft) main bazaar. Total distance is 14 Km and may take 6/7 hours. Night stay in lodge.

Drive from Uttarey to NJP/Bagdogra – 170 Km – 8 hours or Drive to Gangtok – 6/7 hours

In the morning we take the car from Uttarey and start the return journey to NJP/Bagdogra. The Singshore bridge is just 5 Km from Uttarey on our return. This suspension bridge is almost 250m long and 300m/1000ft above the gorge and said to be 2nd highest in Asia. The road is scenically blessed and we cross beautiful hill stations like Dentam, Hee, Barmiok and Rinchenpong to reach Jorethang. Have your lunch here. Continue journey to reach Siliguri/Bagdogra by 5 pm. Our trip ends here.

P.S.: Distances and altitudes are approximate and may not be exact.

  TREK FEE: ₹ 15,950 (Hilley to Uttarey) + 5% GST  

The above TREK FEE is for published fixed group departure date(s). However we seldom arrange a group departure for this trek. Usually we arrange customised private tours for this trek. Expect a similar TREK FEE with same inclusions when you are a group of 6 to 8 members for your private trek.

Inclusions:

 2 night’s accommodation at Hilley (Day 1) & Uttarey (Day 6) in lodge on sharing basis and dinner.

 All meals during the trek. Regular Indian style nutritious vegetarian food during the trek (including occasional eggs), breakfast packed/hot lunch (depending upon the time you reach a campsite), snacks, dinner along with coffee/tea/soup.

Excellent Mountain Guide, who will be a local to this particular area and has profound knowledge of the trekking trails around.

 Specialised Cook, Support staff, Porters/Packed Animals for carrying the central logistics of the trek.

 Stay in tents (3 persons dome or ridge shaped tents) on sharing basis during the trek.

Camping equipment like Sleeping bag, Carry mattress, Gaiters, Micro spikes/Crampon. (Bring your own sleeping if you have a high altitude specific personal Sleeping Bag. This is always better for hygienic reasons.)

Kitchen tent, dinning tent and toilet tent as required during the trek.

All permit fee, camping charges, forest levy required for the trek inside Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary.

 Basic Medical & First Aid kit.

Accidental Insurance Policy covering high altitude trekking tours (For Indian nationals it is included in the TREK FEE, up to 60 years of age). It covers your trek as well as your return journey to NJP/Bagdogra.

Exclusions:

Transportation from NJP/Bagdogra to Hilley and return from Uttarey to NJP/Bagdogra.

We assume that you will carry your personal Rucksack/Backpack with all your personal belongings. If you want to offload your Rucksack and be carried by Porter then you need to pay additional ₹ 3500 for the entire duration of the trek. The Rucksack should not weigh more than 10 Kg.

We charge an additional ₹ 4000 as Service Charge + 5% Govt. Tax per person to process the Trekking Permit/PAP and also to counter the differential of various permit fees/entry tickets inside Kanchendzongha National Park (KNP) for  Non Indian nationals/Foreigners/OCIs . In this process we get your PAP from Gangtok and send it back to Hilley.

 Any tip/gratuity to the HT supports staff.

Anything is is NOT mentioned in the “Inclusions” or personal in nature.

• We assume that you have read and understood our “Terms & Conditions” ( https://himalayatrekker.com/terms-and-conditions ) before Booking a trek/tour.
• To reserve your place in a scheduled Fixed Departure trek or a Customised/Private trek  pay 25% of the TREK/TOUR FEE  as the initial  “Booking Deposit” . You can pay by Net banking/Draft/Cheque/Credit/Debit/AMEX cards. This will ensure your participation in the desired trek and we will reserve your place in the scheduled date. You need to pay the remaining amount at least  15 days before Trek Starting Date .
• If you book a Trek/Tour before 14 days or less from Trek/Tour Starting Date, you need to pay the full TREK/TOUR FEE .

  Cancellations:

• “Booking Amount” i.e. 25% of the TREK/TOUR FEE is Non-Refundable  at any stage.
• If in case you are not able to make it due to unavoidable reason(s), we provide you a very flexible choice of Shifting to another trek within next one year . One year is counted from the starting date of the trek/tour you booked initially with us.
• In case you postpone your trip you need to inform minimum of 15 days before  the trek/tour starting date. (Though we suggest to inform us earlier if known)
• In case you postpone a trek/tour before 15 days of the scheduled Trek/Tour Starting date or prior , you may shift to another group of the same trek/tour scheduled in the same season or within next one year. You may shift to another suitable route also. For changing any, you need our approval first. Your request must be in written communication through your registered email with us.
• If you cancel/postpone a trek/tour from 14 days to 8 days before tour starting date , your Booking Amount is Non-Refundable. We will not take any request of shifting dates. We will charge 50% of the amount as Cancellation Charges and process refund of remaining 50%. You may also shift to another group within next year but 25% Booking Amount will be deemed as Cancellation Charge and the rest amount will be transferred to the shifted group.
• If you cancel a trek/tour  7 days (i.e. a week) before Trek/Tour Starting Date or later , there will be NO REFUND.
• In case of any unforeseen incident including but not limited to natural calamities like flood, earthquake, landslide, forest fire or any political unrest, if we are compelled to cancel the trek/trip, you will be entitled to redeem the full amount for the same/similar kind of trek/trip within next one year.

If you need more clarifications write in to [email protected]

Tour Reviews

HT understood our needs very well and planned our trek accordingly. The support staff was extremely good and they took care of us really well. The food that they cooked was fantastic and they catered to our participants’ requests. The staff even cooked vegan food for us. The experience on the whole was a beautiful one. Keep it up HT!

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Submit this form that we can email you all the necessary details and call you to discuss., tour starting date: green boxed dates indicate starting of a scheduled fixed departure tour (day 1 of our tour itinerary). please check the calendar and choose a suitable fixed departure date (green boxed) unless dates are not matching or you are looking for a customised/private trip., i accept the terms & conditions.