Offbeat Sikkim Explorer: May 14th to 22nd'2022
One of the Himalaya’s best-kept travel secrets, this tiny Indian hill state of Sikkim prides itself on pristine alpine forests, lofty snow-capped mountains, landscapes dotted with quaint villages and a rich culture brocaded with different tribes and languages. Towered over by the sublime Khangchendzonga, Sikkim’s breathtaking landscape is strung out along spectacular mountain ridges draped in evergreen alpine forests. Intriguing monasteries, secluded villages, hot springs, lakes, streams and waterfalls add to its overall appeal, and make it ideal destination for the offbeat traveller. Our ” Sikkim Explorer ” is an offbeat journey, other than the essential Gangtok stay and sightseeing. Homestays in beautiful locations, village and culture trails in Dzongu, Lachung and Zuluk, the mesmerizing beauty of Yumthang valley in North Sikkim and Zuluk Valley in East Sikkim, drives through beautiful Himalayan countryside and last but not the least local experiences are the highlights of this journey.
Essential Info
Cost: Rs 32500/- per person
Country: India
Start: Bagdogra
End: Bagdogra
Start Date: May 14th’ 2022
End Date: May 22nd’ 2022
Duration: 9 Days
Group Size : Min 5 | Max 15
Theme: Culture, Adventure
Highlights
– Visit Yumtang Valley and Lachung in North Sikkim
– Stay with the Lepcha people the original inhabitants of Sikkim in Dzongu
– Beautiful Himalayan mountain drives
– Visit Offbeat Zuluk and Natang Valley
– Visit the high altitude Tsongo Lake
– Try Bhutia, Lepcha and Nepali cuisines
– Stay with local families in Lachung, Dzongu and Zuluk
ITINERARY
Day 1 : May 14th : Bagdogra to Gangtok ( 125 kms / 5 hours )
Arrive and Bagdogra Airport and transfer to Gangtok. Evening free to roam around M G Marg and explore Gangtok. Overnight at Gangtok.
Day 2 : May 15th : Gangtok
Day to walk around and explore Gangtok town, Mall road, and market and explore the different food and shopping options. We could go for an authentic Sikkimese lunch experience. Free time in the evening. Overnight at Gangtok.
Day 3 : May 16th : Gangtok to Lachung ( 100 kms / 4.5 hours )
After breakfast drive to Lachung in North Sikkim. On the way enjoy a few wonderful locations like Kabi Lungstok, Naga Waterfalls, Twin Waterfalls, Bhim Nala Waterfalls and the confluence of Lachen chu and Lachung Chu at Chungthang. The road leads through Rhododendron plants of the Singha Forest Reserve extended up to the Tibetan Plateau – Picturesque landscape, snow-peaked mountains, flowing rivers blooming rhododendrons. Check into hotel and evening free to stroll up to Lachung monastery. Overnight at Lachung.
Day 4 : May 17th : Lachung to Yumthang Valley and back
After breakfast leave for Yumthang nearly at a distance of about 26 kilometers from Lachung. Yumthang valley is situated at an altitude of nearly 11800 feet with the river Lachung Chu flowing through the valley and where the tree line ends and the cold desert starts. Visit Yumthang valley, hot spring, Yumey Samdong and Katao. The drive to the valley is beautiful with blooming Rhododendron enhancing the beauty of the place. Back to Lachung in the evening and free to stroll up to Lachung monastery. Overnight at Lachung.
Day 5 : May 18th : Lachung to Dzongu ( 60 kms / 2.5 hours )
Leave Morning breakfast and then drive to Dzongu through less travelled mountain roads. Arrive and settle into a traditional Lepcha Homestay at Dzongu in North Sikkim. Dzongu, the holy land of the Lepchas, lies in the North District of Sikkim amidst steep inclines and deep valleys in the last range of earth covered hills ahead of the rocky Himalayan snow clad peaks. An almost virgin territory with a scanty population of Sikkim’s native inhabitants, the Lepchas. Post lunch one can go for a light walk to the monastery atop the hill, walk down to the river and take a bath OR visit the hot spring nearby. Overnight at Dzongu home stay.
Day 6 : May 19th : Dzongu to Gangtok ( 80 kms / 3.5 hours )
After breakfast travel back to Gangtok. Late afternoon and evening free to explore Gangtok. Overnight at Gangtok.
Day 7 : May 20th : Gangtok – Tsongmo Lake – Baba Mandir – Zuluk ( 100 kms / 4 hours )
After breakfast travel to Zuluk in East Sikkim through some of the best scenery on the trip stopping at Tsongmo Lake and Baba Mandir. Located at a height of around 10,100 feet on the rugged terrain of the lower Himalayas in East Sikkim, Zuluk or Dzuluk is a small village beside a winding road. It was once a transit point to the historic Silk Route from Tibet to India. It is relatively an emerging and offbeat destination in East Sikkim. We stop at some of the view points like Lungthang View point and Thambi View point to see the panoramic views of the Kanchanjanga range. We pass through Padamchen, Lungthung, Nathang, Kupup Lake, Tukla Valley and all other spots in the Silk Route circuit. Zuluk has high diversity of Himalayan fauna. The place shelters variety of birds like Monal Pheasant, Blood Pheasant, Khaleez Pheasant, Snow Pheasant and others. If you are lucky you may also catch a glimpse of Himalayan Weasel or Martin. Sighting of Red Panda, wild dog and deer in the high hills have also been recorded. Reach Zuluk by evening and overnight at Zuluk Homestay.
Day 8 : May 21st : Zuluk to Siliguri ( 140 kms / 5 hours )
After breakfast we drive to Siliguri on the final leg of our journey. On the way see the Kuekhola Falls, Lingtam, Padamchen and Lampokhari lake. Reach Siliguri by late afternoon. Overnight at Siliguri.
Day 9 : May 22nd : Departure
After breakfast transfer to airport.
Trip Info
Gangtok
Dzongu
Lachung
Yumthang valley
Zuluk Valley
Gnathang Valley
Natang Valley
INCLUDED
– 2 nights stay at Gangtok, 2 night stay at Lachung , 1 night stay at Dzongu , 2 night stay at Zuluk, 1 night stay at Siliguri
– Breakfast on all days
– Entry permits to North Sikkim & East Sikkim
– All land transfers and transportation in SUV
– Service charges
– Taxes
EXCLUDED
– Flight Charges ( To Bagdogra and return )
– Any extra excursions and tours other than mentioned
– Entry tickets & Camera charges at sightseeing points ( wherever applicable )
– Dinner & Lunch
– Other than mentioned
- Rs 2000/- Discount ( For repeat travelers )
- Rs 1500/- Discount ( For 2 to 4 person booking together )
- Rs 3000/- Discount ( For 5 or more people booking together )
- Stay will be in Standard category hotels, Bed n Breakfast places , Homestays at good locations with good reviews on double/twin sharing basis.
- Indian and local food available at all places.
- Breakfast ( Included ) with me mostly Indian or local at most places.
- Transportation and transfers will be in SUV / Car
For this trip
Our Sikkim tour is designed for travelers to experience the natural beauty, culture and the offbeat locations of Sikkim.
For all our trips
Our small group tours also allow enough time for yourself ( mostly in the evenings ) and the group leaders will assist you too if you need to do your own thing.
Stay and the food is a big part of the travel and we make sure you are made comfortable and therefore we choose some of the best-reviewed places to stay and eat.
We try to incorporate more local experiences on our tours with the help of our experienced tour leader and local guides to make your experience even more memorable.
Our tours are not standard sightseeing package tours, it’s more experience-oriented so as to give a real travel value to the guests.
Who are we?
Exotic Expeditions is an experiential based travel company founded in 2010. We are based out of Bangalore and Mumbai and we create uniquely designed tours that have high travel value. We include activities, local interactions, and offbeat destinations so that the guests go back with experiences to remember for a long time.
What are all included in our tours?
A comprehensive list of inclusions and exclusions is mentioned on the respective trip page, but across all our trips, we have these in common: private transfers, breakfast on all days, good accommodation, unique experiences, expert guides and an experienced trip leader who’s there to assist you around the clock.
Are flights & visas included in your costs?
No.We don’t include flights and visa costs in our prices unless specified. We, however, will help you with booking flights and getting the visa done.
What is the typical group size?
We believe that a small group is can enjoy the journey better and have closer interactions with the group members, therefore, we restrict our group size to a maximum of 15. Group size typically between 5 and 15. Our travelers are
friendly, open-minded, well traveled and we have a good gender mix on our tours.
Who can join this trip?
Anyone above 18 years of age can join our trips. Participants below the age of 18 must be accompanied by an elder.
Which cities do travelers come from?
Our travelers come from all over India. Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Chennai, Hyderabad and Calcutta are represented the most.
What are the payment options?
You can make payments through credit and debit cards, net-banking, cash or cheque. Installment options are also available.
Can solo travelers join one of the tours?
Yes. On most of our tours, we have a high turnout of solo travelers seeking a different travel experience. Many of them even end up becoming friends after the tour.
How safe is it to travel with you?
Your safety is our number one priority and we design our travel journeys keeping this in mind.
- You can contact us at contact@exoticexpeditions.org / exoticexpeditions@gmail.com
- Call / whatsapp us at 9986450370
- Bookings can be done by online bank transfer / cash/ cheque or credit / debit card
- Installment options are also available
