Sikkim Tour Sep 22 - Sep 28

Govindaswamy Mudali

Hi,

I have finally decided on the timing for two of us during Sep 22-28 , 2007 for Sikkim from Chennai. Thanks to indiamike.com, its members like Radjesh for all the help.

We are spending 3 days in and around Gangtok and 4 days to cover North Sikkim. We are travelling from Chennai and to get to Bagdogra itself is a big task!! Anyways, We have decided to go through a tour operator since this is our first to the north.

We are right now dealing with a tour operator called Alpine Nature Beyond Pvt. Ltd, which claims to be the leading operator in this part of India. How credible is this company? Please advice?

The short version of their itinery is as follows

Day 1 - Arrival at NJP station or Bagdogra and transfer to Gangtok. We assist you to check in at hotel.

Day 2 – Gangtok to Tsongo Lake

Day 3- Gangtok to Lachen – 130kms in 7hrs,

Day 4 - Lachen to Chopta valley, Gurudongmar and to Lachung.

Day 5 – Lachung to Yumthang and Back to Lachung. detour to Katao/ Yamsedeong

Day 6 – Lachung to Gangtok (124kms in 6hrs).

Day 7 - Depart from Gangtok. Leave Gangtok by 12.00Noon.

We are staying at either Norbugang Resort/Sonam Delek at Gangtok and Himalyan Residency at Lachung and Lachen

tacita

hi GM, and welcome to indiamike!

i'm sorry that your post has gone unacknowledged for a five days now. hopefully, some of the sikkim trekkers will be along soon to offer their assessment of your northern sikkim itinerary. although i was in sikkim in february, i went drirectly from gangtok to west sikkim, so i can't offer much in the way of advice on trekking or about northern sikkim.

that being said, i don't think you need a tour operator except to arrange the northern leg and, of course, to secure your permit to go to tsomgo lake. once you arrive at bagdogra by plane, you can easily take a pre-paid taxi from the airport to gangtok and check into your hotel yourself. it's a great dive up from bagdogra. the formlity of the border crossing is interesting and so arcane! any guidebook or the members here can help you identify suitable accommodations in gangtok and you won't have to pay a commission.

3 days in and around gangtok should be plenty and you can also arrange this part of the trip more easily and less expensively yourself. just wander down to the taxi stand and hire a taxi for the day and ask to go on a three-, five-, or seven-point tour of the local sights. peruse a guidebook and make i list of the palces you'd like to see, and a driver can arrange them in the most efficient order. of course, if you are more comfortable putting everything in the capable hands of a local, that's what you should do--it's your trip!

as for a tour operator, i am not familiar with alpine, which doesn't mean anything. i had a tour operator arrange my jeep hire for 5 days after i left gangtok because i couldn't possible appreciate the (significant) geographic constraints between various points. he took me to yuksom, pelling and then darjeeling. i used potala treks and tours, and they were very professional and responsive to emails. you can find their contact info in this subforum. others here have used them for treks and had good impressions of/experiences with them, i believe.

sorry i can't be of greater assistance. hopefully, the sikkim gang will be along soon. i'll bump you with this and check back in a few days...

have a great trip--you'll love sikkim!

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Bhaswaran

How much are they charging? You can save a lot of money by doing it on the spot.

Remember, the fooding/lodging facilities at Noth Sikkim are very basic. COpe with them, but on scenic beauties, nothing can compare them.

You itiniary is okay.

You can book a hire taxi from Siliguri to Gangtok (Rs. 125 per head) or at this rate you can take the whole jeep/sumo (Rs. 1250 approx).

At Gangtok, you will find plenty of tour operators organising these trips.

If you book a jeep for Tsongmo and Babamandir, it will be within Rs.1500.

You can also bargain for the North SIkkim trip as well.

Gangtok hotel is good.

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joneall

On a similar note, a tour operator has offered me the Tsongo Lake tour for 45 euros (for 2 people), i.e., about $60 dollars today. That seems awfully steep for me. I suppose I'd do better to arrange that when I arrive in October. Right?

Any recommended tour operators there for the trip?

Thanks for all your help.

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John

Bhaswaran

John,

Just go to Gangtok and you will find plenty of travel agencies beside the streets, especially in the main market area. Just go in an enquire, and bargin, say that you already know the prices.

Tsongmo Lake and Babamandir in a jeep (8-10 seater) should be approx INR 1500. Yes, pay in INR and not dollars. If you go to Nathu-La (India-China border post at 14000 feet), it will become double.

Be sure about your permits.

If someone has said 45 EURO, then he is a robber.

joneall

I have my Sikkim permit along with the Visa. Doesn't the tour operator get the Tsongo Lake permit? Can non-Indians visit Nathula now?

I suspected I was being set up with that 45€ price:

Thanks a lot.

smnray

To find out the reliability of tour operator, you can always contact sikkim tourism, their office and phone numbers are available in internet. They can give you names of govt recognized tour operator's name.
- thanks,
smnray

nomad28

Hi, I am part of "naturebeyond". Hope that doesnt disqualify me from writing a couple of words here.

There are many ways to check the credentials of a tour operator Search in google or indiamike with the words "nature beyond" or "naturebeyond". You can also check with several authorities in the region like Sikkim tourism, West Bengal tourism, Travel agents association of bengal or eastern himalaya travel and tour operators association. Almost each have own website.

Can the tour be done independently. Yes ofcourse..... and at a lower cost than what established operators would charge. I agree learning things on the go may be fun in itself for many. But there are certain disadvantages too. Last april, the cost of Nathula went up to Rs. 8000 on the ground. Which in other times may be 3-4 k per vehicle. We had born the excess cost and not our guests.

Just wanted to share my two cents worth.

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Bhaswaran

I am aware of what happened for Nathu-La in this summer season.......and only for Nathu-La the prices soared up........but not for others like Tsongmo and Babamandir which falls on the same route as well as Yumthang....lets guess........recently photography has been permitted at Nathu-La...and for travellers, its a chance to see China and take pics with REd Army soldiers as well as shoot the CHinese territory.......it is an enough tip to market the Nathu-La trip.

joneall

The 45€ price I quoted was for an Ambassador for two people. Maybe that changes things. All the way to Nathula was 85€, same circumstances. Does that sound better?

45€ is currently about Rs. 2475. 85€ is Rs. 4675, which is less than the Rs.8000 mentioned above.

In any case, I think the tour operator is legitimate. He is approved by the Indian Ministry of Tourism (Incredible India web site).

Actually, can an Ambassador make it up there?

Guess I'll wait until I get there. Thanks for all your suggestions.

nomad28

It happened last summer as well. The reason is a demand supply mismatch. There is restriction on the number of vehicles going to Nathula. Tsongo is relatively flexible. Personally I dont think the pics are worth spending such money.

Ambasadar to Nathula? thats something new for me.