Sikkim Kanchenjunga Trek - 20 Days

Sikkim Kanchenjunga trek is certainly a popular trek among the tourists from across the globe. It is because this trek offers superb views of high mountain peaks, a floral sight in summer, a spectacular wildlife slight and views of pristine forests. Truly a heaven, Sikkim Kanchenjunga trek will take you along some of the beautiful forests of Sikkim. During the spring season, the beauty of this trail increases with Magnolias, Rhododendrons and other varieties of flowers. The Mount Kanchenjunga (8534 mts) is the third highest peak in the world and highest peak in India. Located in the India, it is a part of Himalayan mountain range.

We, at Trekking in India offer an exclusive Sikkim Kanchenjunga Trekking Tour of 20 days to turn your dream of trekking on this challenging trek into a reality. You can closely watch Mount Kanchenjunga and have a lifetime experience by availing our exciting 20 days long Sikkim Kanchenjunga trekking tour. Starting from Delhi to Darjeeling, you will be taken to Yuksam in the western Sikkim. From here, you will pass through forests of orchids, pine and many other varieties of flowers to reach Dzongri. Continuing with the journey, you will visit Thangsing, Samity Lake, Goecha La, Thangsing and Tashiding, an isolated monastery in Sikkim. The tour will end at Gangtok.

On the way to Sikkim Kanchenjunga trek, you will be crossing many higher valleys and can see fields used for cropping by the local yak-herding Lepchas. Note that, you need to be physically fit for trekking on this trek since it is a tough and challenging trek to walk on. The best times for this trek are mid-March to early-May and October to mid-November.

Day 01:

Arrive Delhi, where you will be met and transfered to your hotel. (Hotel B&B)

Day 02: Delhi- Bagdogra (by plane) - Darjeeling (2130m) by car

A charming 4-hour journey, through Assam tea plantations and tiny villages takes us to Darjeeling. Built on top of a ridge, Darjeeling faces the Himalaya and is a popular destination for Westerners and Bengalis alike.

Day 03: Visit Darjeeling

We could take an early trip to Tiger Hill to see the sunrise. Afterwards we visit the famous Ghoom monastery that enshrines an image of the Maitreya Buddha (the coming Buddha). Later on we can visit the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute and tea plantations.

Day 04: Darjeeling - Yuksam (1760m) in 7h.

En route, we visit the Pemayangtse monastery, perched at 2800m, and one of the oldest and most impressive gompas in Sikkim.

Day 05: Yuksam - Tsoska (3030m) in 6h.

The trail leads up the Rathong valley, through thick, semi-tropical forests. Afterwards a steep climb takes us to the tiny Tibetan village of Tsoska. The landscape has now changed into pine, rhododendron and magnolia forests. We get excellent views of the entire Himalayan range and Kanchenjunga.

Day 06: Tsoska - Dzongri (4020m) in 5h.

A steep trail zigzags up through temperate forest and large clusters of rhododendrons, to the vast clearing of Phedang. During April and May, the spectacle is gorgeous, as the land becomes a mass of flowers (400 species have been listed so far). After 300m, we follow the ridge to Dzongri, a pasture area for Yuksam yaks from April to October.

Day 07: Acclimatizing

Depending on the fitness of the group, we could head northwest to the Dzongri, where the panorama is stunning, over the Rathong glacier and further out towards the summits on the border with Nepal. Or we could also organize a shorter ascent towards the Dzongri Peak (4320m) and enjoy a great view of Kanchenjunga (8586m), the third highest summit in the world.

Day 08: Dzongri - Thangshing (3930m) in 4h.

We descend through rhododendron forest towards the glacial Prek river. We establish our campsite on the grassy pastures of Thangshing. The southern ridge of Kanchenjunga and the Onglakhing glacier are visible directly ahead and there are close-up views of Pandim.

Day 09: Thangshing - Samity Lake (4200m) in 3h.

A pleasant walk below the west side of Pandim, through dwarf azaleas and rhododendrons to Zemathang. We take our first footsteps on the Onglakhing glacier, and climb up to the shores of the Samity lake, reputed to be the sacred source of the Prek river. Ringed by prayer flags, the lake reflects Forked Peak, Kabru North, Gocha Peak and other snow-capped peaks.

Day 10: Samity Lake - Gocha La (4940m) - Thangshing in 7h.

We have to leave quite early this morning, as fog and clouds descend on the pass shortly after sunrise. The track to Gocha La climbs steeply through moraines. From the pass, ringed with colorful prayer flags, we can see Kanchenjunga and beyond that, the Talung glacier.

Day 11: Thangshing - Lam Pokhari (4230m) in 5h.

After a steep descent, we climb through alpine areas and pass by tiny lakes.

Day 12: Lam Pokhari - Kasturi La (4500m) - Kasturi Odar (3500m) in 6h.

A steep ascent leads to the pass, from where we descend through a luxuriant tropical forest.

Day 13: Kasturi Odar - Labdang (2000m) in 6h.

Today we will walk in the half-light of the undergrowth, through a dense forest, where lianas tangle and moss and orchids hide tree trunks.

Day 14: Labdang - Tashiding (1740m) in 5h.

An easy walk, in an atmosphere becoming more humid and heavier as we descend.

Day 15: Tashiding - Martam by car in 4h.

En route, we visit the Tashiding monastery, one of the most isolated in Sikkim, perched on the top of a hill set between two rivers.

Day 16: Martam - Gangtok by car in 1h.

We visit Rumtek monastery, reputed for its religious Tibetan art. Visitors are welcome to attend prayers.

Day 17: Visit Gangtok

We will enjoy a visit of the amazing Orchid Sanctuary, where we can see a few of the 454 orchid species listed in Sikkim. To complete the day we will visit the Enchey and Do Drul monasteries, and the Tibetology Institute which houses one of the richest collection of thankas and religious works in the world.

Day 18:

Gangtok - Bagdogra (by car) - Delhi (by plane). (Hotel B&B)

Day 19:

At leisure in Delhi Safety day for your international flight. (Hotel B&B)

Day 20:

Transfer to airport and fly back home.