Day 07 - Climb Dzongri top and trek Thangshing 3800 mts
Up at four for the climb to Dzongri top, and worth the lost sleep! After half an hours steep climbing we attain the ridge, with the ghostly images of the peaks that separate India from Nepal visible in the starlight, and the multihued horizon south colored by the approaching sun. After an hour we reach the prayer flags that mark the top, and have hot tea and coffee as we watch Kanchenjunga and the summits around turn pink in the first rays of the sun. With full light the massed ranges are revealed, summit beyond summit. Then down to a huge breakfast...we still have trekking to do! Eating done, we climb briefly away from camp to contour around hillsides of heather and juniper against snowy peaks, before dropping to the rest house at Kochu and another crossing of the Prek Chu. In all, three hours walking from Dzongri to our camp in the wide pastures of Thangshing.
Day 08 - Acclimatization trek
This is a day to get our bodies used to the higher elevations we are heading to soon, we contour slowly up and away from camp through forests of moss draped rhododendrons. An hour out we see Kanchenjunga, easily identified by the silvery grey summit pyramid. As we climb even higher, Pandim, Tenzin Khan and Jopunu, all 6000m plus, greet us. Looking west, we can pick out the Kabru range and Ratong peak. The trail crosses wide pastures watered by streams that resemble nothing so much as Scottish glens, with the mist and low cloud so typical of Sikkim adding to the illusion, soon dispelled as the mist clears and 6000m peaks appear. Two hours walking brings us to a forest rest house, and three to a view across Lam Pokhari lakes, where we lunch - and drink in the views. Then we race back down to enjoy the last of the spring sunshine at camp.
Day 09 - Thangshing - Lamoni 4100 mts
Today is an easy walk, just four hours, after an hour with the Kanchenjunga massif revealed, across open hillsides with juniper and heather scenting the air. The views get ever more spectacular as we approach the old moraines and glacial rubble, and we arrive and make camp by the old herders hut at Lamoni for lunch. After lunch relax and take in the views, or take a walk up valley to the beautiful Samiti Lake.
Day 10 - Lamoni - Goecha la and Thangshing 3800 mts
3.30 in the morning is the time, with those extra layers, gloves, and headtorch laid out ready the night before. Hot drinks, then we move. We follow the flickering torches of those ahead, gently rising at first and then steeply up glacial rubble. After two hours we see the same shadowy peaks as from Dzongri top, but much closer; after three a viewpoint a lot of trekkers - but not us - seem happy with, from where we see the first light catching the peaks. Steeply down across the bed of what was |
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once a lake, then up along a ridge, and there is the pass with the full mass of Kanchenjunga behind. And here we have time to take it in...snacks, hot drinks, and of course, cameras. Sinochuli, Kabru dome, this viewpoint is one of the best in the Himalaya. When we do leave, another lovely surprise, as we passed in the dark through some of the loveliest high pastures in the Himalaya...and now we see them with their sublime backdrop. By noon we are at Samiti lake, and an hour later, still high on all the beauty, a huge meal before heading down to Thangshing.
Day 11 - Thangshing - Tshoka 2900 mts
A different route, contouring around hillsides and walking on air after our high points. By Late afternoon we are back at Tshoka, unbelievable that we have packed so much into just one week..
Day 12- Tshoka - Yuksam
Down! over 1000m of it, through forest, the temperature rising as we descend...by three we are back at our hotel, hot showers and cold beers, and a special goodbye for our crew.
Day 13 - Yuksam - Darjeeling
A beautiful drive through tea plantations and forest against a stunning Himalayan backdrop.
Day 14 - Darjeeling to Bagdogra - Delhi
An early morning drive through the lush green scenery and hills to the airfield at Bagdogra, and our flight to Delhi
Day 15 - Delhi Depart
We take you to the airport for your flight home.
Trip End Here.
