Sikkim Trip + Trek in May

ajay · Apr 20th, 2006, 18:26

Hi Folks,

We are a group of 4 visiting Sikkim b/w 6th and 14th.
It would be grateful if U guys can suggest must see places and the tips for this trip.
We would also like to do a short trek of 2-4 days.

Please help us in this regard,

thanks in advance,
Ajay

clawhammer · Apr 20th, 2006, 19:58

For must see places and tips,see recent threads like Sikkim in May etc.
Prior bookings is a must.
Short treks for 2-4 days may be a problem since the standard Yuksam-Dzongri-Guicha La trek takes about 7 days.Even if you go till Dzongri,you need 5 days.
A few new routes have been opened in Kanchenjunga National park-try out a trekking website for details of the treks.

Satyaa · Apr 20th, 2006, 20:10

Donot miss the GuruDongmar Lake which can be accessed via Lachen and Thangu. It is a beauty. You need permits to go to this place but it is well worth all the pain

Also YumeSamdong is a good place. It is off the Yumthang valley.

Do visit these places if you like less crowds in may

Dr Funkenstein · Apr 20th, 2006, 21:51

Pelling's a beautiful place to relax for a few days. It's got lots of gompas to visit and some good walks into the hills. On a clear day the views of Kanchenjunga are incredible.

Yuksom is a beautiful high-altitude village I'd recommend, too.

Tashiding gompa is out of this world.

Have a look at my photos for a few other ideas.

Can't advise on trekking, I'm afraid. I like looking at mountains but not climbing up them.

ajay · Apr 21st, 2006, 15:48

Hi guys,
Thanks for the reply.

Please advise whether its good to include Darjelling also in this trip of 9 days.

Can you also please guide us in preparing the itenary which includes the best lake, gompa(monastery), Yumthang valley, Nice viewpoint to Kanchenjunga....(please add if i have missed something important)

Note: we start our trip on 6th from NJP and end on 14th and NJP. Rest is not at all planned. So please guide us...

somnath · Apr 21st, 2006, 19:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajay

Hi guys,
Thanks for the reply.

Please advise whether its good to include Darjelling also in this trip of 9 days.

Can you also please guide us in preparing the itenary which includes the best lake, gompa(monastery), Yumthang valley, Nice viewpoint to Kanchenjunga....(please add if i have missed something important)

Note: we start our trip on 6th from NJP and end on 14th and NJP. Rest is not at all planned. So please guide us...

Hi Ajay,
For the Darjeeling and Sikkim trip, you can refer to this thread. But North Sikkim is not included here (as I had never been to North Sikkim so I cannot provide first hand info for the area).
seeking Darjeeling info and advice

- Somnath

clawhammer · Apr 21st, 2006, 20:40

6th NJP to Darjeeling
7th-Darjeeling sightseeing
8th-Darjeeling to Gangtok
9th-Rumtek
10th and 11th-Yumthang
12th-Tsomgo lake
You still have one more day.You can go for Gurudongmar-Yumthang package for 3 days instead of just Yumthang.
Good luck

exacta · Apr 21st, 2006, 21:07

Blooming orchids a visual feast in Gangtok

Gangtok (Sikkim): In fascinating hues of vivid lavender, flaming Ochre and brilliant
blues, orchids of varying shapes and sizes have won the hearts of hundreds of nature-lovers
at a recently held flower show in Sikkim. Among the largest and most diverse of the flowering
plant families, orchids have over 800 described genres and about 25,000 species. With its
sub-tropical climate, Sikkim has the perfect weather for beautiful blooms and is home to
more than 600 varieties of them, besides hundreds of other varieties as well. While its
lower mountain slopes are currently abloom with lush green bamboos and ferns, its northern
valleys are draped with wild cherry, oaks, chestnuts, pines and white magnolia. The orchid
show is a much-awaited event and attracts scores of enthusiasts to Gangtok every year.
This year, the display included more than 100 varieties of Orchid blooms grown by various
horticulturists in and around the city. The Sikkim Flower Festival Committee, which
organizes the show, says it intends to evolve awareness amongst nature lovers, regarding
conservation and growing commercialisation of flowers in the Himalayan region. The orchid
has fascinated aristocrats for many decades with most of them spending big fortunes in
cultivating them. But modern production techniques have ensured the accessibility of
flowers to a larger section of society. Gangtok, bordering China is known for wide
varieties of orchids, the most popular being Cymbidium eburnean and Cymbidium Hybrid.
Around 1,700 species of orchids are found in India of which about 800 are found in the
northeast only. In India, Orchids are cultivated in about 5,000 hectares area of land,
which is up from about 2,000 hectares in 1996.

Henriette · Jun 15th, 2006, 08:40

Whatever anyone does - do NOT go with Bigfoot (they are based in Kalimpong, Fabian Thamang runs it). We did a ten day trek in Sikkim with him, up to nearly 5,000 meters and there were several nights at high altitude where our guide Fabian was absolutely drunk on moonshine. He wouldn't have been able to help with any mountain sickness or any problems. He was pretty incapacitated. Furthermore he left us in our last night's camp and made his own way down during the night to meet up with an other group. We were left to find our own way down (a trek advertised to take about seven hours down some very steep terrain,we got lost a couple of times). We had no guidance on this last day, nothing to eat or drink throughout the trek even though we had paid for the full day. Much more happened during this trek, and I will write it up for India.mike in a few days. Just wanted to get a few lines on the web. Henriette

somnath · Jun 15th, 2006, 11:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Henriette

.........We had no guidance on this last day, nothing to eat or drink throughout the trek even though we had paid for the full day. Much more happened during this trek, and I will write it up for India.mike in a few days. Just wanted to get a few lines on the web. Henriette

Hi Henriette,
I think you are talking about the Dzongri – Goecha la trail in Sikkim. And it is not a very easy one. Food and drinking water is really a matter of concern here and if your guide is not friendly, you are in a big trouble. Anyway, congratulations for the successful trip.

Please share your travel experience and photographs with us.

Cheers,
Somnath

kiranlal · Jul 6th, 2006, 17:29

hi
i am planing a 10 days programme to Sikkim, from 15th of August ,i really dont know about the weather please advice

and what about following Lonely planet

Henriette · Jul 6th, 2006, 18:06

sorry, can't advise about the weather in August, have been there in April/May. Don't know your interests thus difficult to answer in any way. Just don't use Bigfoot, Fabian for trekking. H.

somnath · Jul 6th, 2006, 19:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by kiranlal

hi
i am planing a 10 days programme to Sikkim, from 15th of August ,i really dont know about the weather please advice

and what about following Lonely planet

Hi Kiranlal,
This is a similar thread:
Is it worth going to Darjeeling in July?
and my experience says it will be rainy.

Apr 20th, 2006, 18:26	#1
ajay Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 2	Sikkim Trip + Trek in May Hi Folks, We are a group of 4 visiting Sikkim b/w 6th and 14th. It would be grateful if U guys can suggest must see places and the tips for this trip. We would also like to do a short trek of 2-4 days. Please help us in this regard, thanks in advance, Ajay

Apr 20th, 2006, 21:51	#4
Dr Funkenstein Joolay !!! Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Manali, Himachal Pradesh Posts: 854	Pelling's a beautiful place to relax for a few days. It's got lots of gompas to visit and some good walks into the hills. On a clear day the views of Kanchenjunga are incredible. Yuksom is a beautiful high-altitude village I'd recommend, too. Tashiding gompa is out of this world. Have a look at my photos for a few other ideas. Can't advise on trekking, I'm afraid. I like looking at mountains but not climbing up them. __________________ Out There Somewhere : My Travel Blog.

Apr 21st, 2006, 15:48	#5
ajay Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 2	Thanks Hi guys, Thanks for the reply. Please advise whether its good to include Darjelling also in this trip of 9 days. Can you also please guide us in preparing the itenary which includes the best lake, gompa(monastery), Yumthang valley, Nice viewpoint to Kanchenjunga....(please add if i have missed something important) Note: we start our trip on 6th from NJP and end on 14th and NJP. Rest is not at all planned. So please guide us...

Apr 21st, 2006, 21:07	#8
exacta according to my best recollection i don't remember Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: GALAXIES Posts: 78	Blooming orchids a visual feast in Gangtok Gangtok (Sikkim): In fascinating hues of vivid lavender, flaming Ochre and brilliant blues, orchids of varying shapes and sizes have won the hearts of hundreds of nature-lovers at a recently held flower show in Sikkim. Among the largest and most diverse of the flowering plant families, orchids have over 800 described genres and about 25,000 species. With its sub-tropical climate, Sikkim has the perfect weather for beautiful blooms and is home to more than 600 varieties of them, besides hundreds of other varieties as well. While its lower mountain slopes are currently abloom with lush green bamboos and ferns, its northern valleys are draped with wild cherry, oaks, chestnuts, pines and white magnolia. The orchid show is a much-awaited event and attracts scores of enthusiasts to Gangtok every year. This year, the display included more than 100 varieties of Orchid blooms grown by various horticulturists in and around the city. The Sikkim Flower Festival Committee, which organizes the show, says it intends to evolve awareness amongst nature lovers, regarding conservation and growing commercialisation of flowers in the Himalayan region. The orchid has fascinated aristocrats for many decades with most of them spending big fortunes in cultivating them. But modern production techniques have ensured the accessibility of flowers to a larger section of society. Gangtok, bordering China is known for wide varieties of orchids, the most popular being Cymbidium eburnean and Cymbidium Hybrid. Around 1,700 species of orchids are found in India of which about 800 are found in the northeast only. In India, Orchids are cultivated in about 5,000 hectares area of land, which is up from about 2,000 hectares in 1996. __________________ To a man with imagination, a map is a window to adventure

Jun 15th, 2006, 08:40	#9
Henriette Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Whangarei, New Zealand Posts: 8	Bigfoot trekking in Sikkim Whatever anyone does - do NOT go with Bigfoot (they are based in Kalimpong, Fabian Thamang runs it). We did a ten day trek in Sikkim with him, up to nearly 5,000 meters and there were several nights at high altitude where our guide Fabian was absolutely drunk on moonshine. He wouldn't have been able to help with any mountain sickness or any problems. He was pretty incapacitated. Furthermore he left us in our last night's camp and made his own way down during the night to meet up with an other group. We were left to find our own way down (a trek advertised to take about seven hours down some very steep terrain,we got lost a couple of times). We had no guidance on this last day, nothing to eat or drink throughout the trek even though we had paid for the full day. Much more happened during this trek, and I will write it up for India.mike in a few days. Just wanted to get a few lines on the web. Henriette

Apr 20th, 2006, 19:58	#2
clawhammer Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: kharagpur Posts: 137	For must see places and tips,see recent threads like Sikkim in May etc. Prior bookings is a must. Short treks for 2-4 days may be a problem since the standard Yuksam-Dzongri-Guicha La trek takes about 7 days.Even if you go till Dzongri,you need 5 days. A few new routes have been opened in Kanchenjunga National park-try out a trekking website for details of the treks.

Apr 20th, 2006, 20:10	#3
Satyaa Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 26	Donot miss the GuruDongmar Lake which can be accessed via Lachen and Thangu. It is a beauty. You need permits to go to this place but it is well worth all the pain Also YumeSamdong is a good place. It is off the Yumthang valley. Do visit these places if you like less crowds in may

Apr 21st, 2006, 20:40	#7
clawhammer Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: kharagpur Posts: 137	6th NJP to Darjeeling 7th-Darjeeling sightseeing 8th-Darjeeling to Gangtok 9th-Rumtek 10th and 11th-Yumthang 12th-Tsomgo lake You still have one more day.You can go for Gurudongmar-Yumthang package for 3 days instead of just Yumthang. Good luck

Jul 6th, 2006, 17:29	#11
kiranlal The only one of its kind Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Trivandrum,Kerala,India,Malaysia,Singapore Posts: 522	Sikkim in August hi i am planing a 10 days programme to Sikkim, from 15th of August ,i really dont know about the weather please advice and what about following Lonely planet __________________ A big world and small people

Jul 6th, 2006, 18:06	#12
Henriette Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Whangarei, New Zealand Posts: 8	Sikkim and Bigfoot, Fabian sorry, can't advise about the weather in August, have been there in April/May. Don't know your interests thus difficult to answer in any way. Just don't use Bigfoot, Fabian for trekking. H.

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