Tour To ZULUK (East Sikkim)

so quick ......dont forget to come back with trip report

Right Thanks

Fellow IM'ers, I planning a trip to silk-route in mid october, Please verify my travel plan below:
Saturday, October 13, 2012: reach NJP and travel to Pedong, Night stay @ Pedong, Jelep La resort,
Sunday, October 14, 2012: Pedong Sight seeing:Silent Valley,Tinchuley Viewpoint,Sillery Village,Ramitey View point,Damsang fort,Rikissum, LAVA monestry
Monday, October 15, 2012: travel from Pedong to Zuluk, Night stay @ Dil maya Retreat
Tuesday, October 16, 2012: Zuluk Local sightseeing + Sunrise @ thambi point
Wednesday, October 17, 2012: Nathang Valley, Kupup, Kalpokhari Lake,Tukla Valley, Jelep La pass, Hati Lake, Changu, Night stay @ Aritar/Mankhin
Thursday, October 18, 2012: Aritar sight seeing: Aritar Lake, Lampokhari, Makhim/Mankhim top
Friday, October 19, 2012: Aritar to NJP


Now question time:
1. I'll be travelling with my parents (58 &60), any issue regarding altitude sickness? Any precaution needs to be taken?
2. Plan is ok or need modification?
3. From NJP how to reach pedong? I can ask Mr. Pradhan to pick me up from pedong and drop me at aritar right? How to reach NJP from Aritar?
4. Mr. Pradhan can take care of the permits right?

1. I'll be travelling with my parents (58 &60), any issue
regarding altitude sickness? Any precaution needs to be taken?
[COLOR="Blue"]Diamox Tabs/Coca-30(homeopathy) may act as precaution. But note that you need to take diamox 10-12 hrs before you embark to high altitudes.A general check up with your Home Physician is always a confidence booster.


2. Plan is ok or need modification?
[I]Plan is okay. With a couple of comments.
Oct-15: You should be aware that there is nothing to see in Zuluk.You wont be able to see the Kanchendzonga range from Dil Maya Retreat and in the later part of the day - from 12 PM it remains very foggy and I felt depressed and on top of that, in January when we visited, there was no television in the rooms. So, it will be kind of a pain to while away the time. The Photos that you must have seen in google and associate with Zuluk are taken from the upper reaches - which are absolutely brilliant for the tourist.This is not to discourage you, but to make you aware.
On a personal level: the best thing is Zuluk is Mr. Gopal Pradhan - who will try to make you comfortable in every way he can - a thorough gentleman, anyone who has met him will say.
Oct 17:OPTIONAL - You may opt to stay in Gangtok too, in case, you want to get a "city" feel.

3. From NJP how to reach pedong? I can ask Mr. Pradhan to pick me up from pedong and drop me at aritar right? How to reach NJP from Aritar?
Mr. Gopal Pradhan will arrange all the transport.

4. Mr. Pradhan can take care of the permits right?
Absolutely.

You may read this detailed travel of Zuluk of mine:
http://sayakskitchen.blogspot.in/201...-to-zuluk.html

http://sayakskitchen.blogspot.in/201...g-through.html

http://sayakskitchen.blogspot.in/201...y-part-ii.html

Hi sayak,

Thanks for your response. I have modified my plan:

Saturday, October 13, 2012: reach NJP and travel to Zuluk, Night stay @ zuluk, Jelep La resort,
Sunday, October 14, 2012: Zuluk Local sightseeing + Sunrise @ thambi point, Night stay @ zuluk, Jelep La resort,
Monday, October 15, 2012: Nathang Valley, Kupup, Kalpokhari Lake,Tukla Valley, Jelep La pass, Hati Lake, Changu,gangtok, night stay @ gangtok
Tuesday, October 16, 2012: North Sikim Tour for 3d 2n
Wednesday, October 17, 2012:
Thursday, October 18, 2012: Reach Gangtok by night
Friday, October 19, 2012: gangtok to njp

Now my question is Monday, "October 15, 2012: Nathang Valley, Kupup, Kalpokhari Lake,Tukla Valley, Jelep La pass, Hati Lake, Changu,gangtok, night stay @ gangtok" is it feasible?
Booking a north sikkim trip (I'll book a dedicated vehicle all together) on 15th night itself possible?

I would suggest a rest day in Gangtok primarily for your parents.

Now my question is Monday, "October 15, 2012: Nathang Valley, Kupup, Kalpokhari Lake,Tukla Valley, Jelep La pass, Hati Lake, Changu,gangtok, night stay @ gangtok" is it feasible?
Yes it is. Basically its the Old Silk Route and would take you 6 hrs to reach Gangtok from Zuluk.So, pack all your baggages and embark on this trip.

Lastly - You can book on 15th Oct - for the north sikkim trip the next day. But heres the advice: Since you are going with your family and it will be the Pujo time there is no way you can deny the mad rush of people. So,its advisable to book in advance.

Thanks Satyaki for your prompt response,
I have dropped my plan to north sikim, will try to stick to my earlier plan, could you provide me any ides if I take a dedicated vehicle from NJP itself, or should I take help from Mr. Pradhan?

hiring car from other source except the host, may be a problem getting permit from Rangli

Hi Pkanti,

Thanks for your response, I just spoke to Mr. Dilip Tamang.

Please find my modified itinerary below:

Day1: Reach Silary gaon, stay @ Dilip Tamang's home stay

Day2: Sight Seeing @ Silery Gaon, including Tinchuley view point, Damsang fort, Silent valley, Ramitey view point, Rikkisum etc.

Day3: Silery to Zuluk, stay @ Dil maya retreat(preperty of Gopal Pradhan), Zuluk

Day4: Zuluk sunrise@ Thambi & sunrise trip @ early morning (900 extra)

Day5: Zuluk to Mankhim top, via Gnathang valley, Kupup, Kalapokhri lake, Tukla valley, Jelep la pass, Old baba mandir. Night stay @ Mankhim top @ Mr. GS Rai's hotel

Day6: Sight seeing @ Mankhintop: Aritar lake, Lamapokhri etc.

Day7: Drop @ NJP

He is asking 2800 per day for bolero cab and per day per head 600 for accommodation for 2 separate rooms along with 40% advance. Is this reasonable enough or should I bargain more?

car rate is higher i think............ask Suraj Pradhan to pic you up from Silarey

what should be a reasonable rate in your opinion?

its not economical to hire car for entire trip while touring in those areas ................ better to hire car as spot to spot............ask your hosts for rates

See I have booked the following hotels:
Lolegaon: Paradise Plaza
Rishyap: Paradise Villa
Pedong: Damsung Guest House
Juluk: Gopal Pradhan's Dil Maya
Gangtok: Wang Di (Not booked yet, but thinking so)
Are they O.K?
And one more thing- Is it possible to visit only Gurudongmar from Gangtok? We have only 02 days time and not interested to go to Yumthumg in November. Please express your views. Its urgent.

itinerary & hotels sound ok

possible:
D1: Gangtok-Lachen
D2: Lachen-G'lake-Lachen (lunch)-Gangtok***

*** it'll be hectic and dont forget start within 4am from Lachen to G'lake

Thanks