The Singalila Trek - Detailed Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary:

Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu: 1300m/4265ft (BB)
Arrival in Kathmandu where you will be met and transferred to Hotel, just walking distance to any styles of good restaurants and shops. Our Representative will give you short briefing on hotel facilities and safety. Tonight we only have a short introduction to the area, just what you need to know before the main briefing tomorrow. O/N Hotel in Kathmandu

Day 02: Sightseeing of World Heritage sites (BB)
After breakfast, tour briefing will take place around 9 am and any last minute questions answered. After lunch we explore this medieval capital. We visit Boudhanath, also known as little Tibet. Then we visit Pasupatinath, holy temple of Hindu where cremation takes place by the holy river Bagmati. Later we visit Patan Durbar Square. Evening: welcome dinner hosted by Basanta Adventure. O/N Hotel in Kathmandu

Day 03: Fly to Bhadrapur – Gangtok: 1600m/5248ft (BB)
Meet assist at the airport and drive along the Teesta valley to the Sikkim border at Rangpo and onto Gangtok the capital of Sikkim. Under the shadow of the guardian deity – Mt. Kanchenjunga, the third highest mountain in the world, Gangtok is a busting town and is a happy blend of the traditional and the modern. O/N at Chumbi Residency or similar.

Day 04: Gangtok – sightseeing (BB)
The sightseeing tour includes the Government Institute of Cottage Industry a centre that offers you the opportunity to observe the local artisans at work and their skills being imparted to young boys and girls. If you want to take back souvenirs, the institute's salesroom is well stocked with local handicraft and handloom products. Do-Drul Chorten - One of the most important Stupas of Sikkim built by the late Venerable Trulsi Rimpoche in 1945-46, it contains a mandala of Dorji-Phurpa, holy texts, mantras and is encircled by 108 prayer wheels. Namgyal Institute of Tibetology - Situated close to the Chorten, this institute is a repository of the largest collection of Tibetan artifacts outside Tibet. Also renowned worldwide for the study of Buddhist philosophy and religion, it is a treasure house of rare Thankas, Buddhist icon and objects of art. Flowers Show Pavilion - Situated on the ridge above the city, this centre displays the floral diversity of Sikkim. The famed orchids of the state are on display as also a stunning variety of seasonal flowers. In the afternoon visit the Rumtek Monastery, a magnificent Buddhist monastery established by the late Gyalwa Karmapa, the head of the Kagyupa sect. Built as an exact replica of the original Kagyu monastery in Tibet it is also the international headquarters of the Karma Kagyu centers. O/N Chumbi Residency or similar.

Day 05: Gangtok –Temi – Ravangla (BB)
Distance: 98 km | Time: 3 ½ hrs (approx.) The route passes through the Teesta valley, a major watershed area of Sikkim, through quaint villages, terraced fields and cardamom plantations. En-route a visit to the only Tea Garden in Sikkim at Temi to see the processing of the internationally famed brew. On arrival at Ravangla check in at Mt. Narsing Village Resort, an ideal place to experience the peace and tranquility of the Sikkimese countryside coupled with the warmth of the typical Sikkimese hospitality. O/N at Mt Narsing Village Resort or similar.

Day 06: Ravangla –Village Hike – Pelling (BB)
Distance: 54 km | Time: 2 hrs (approx.) Hike into the nearby villages as a loosening up exercise for the upcoming trek. The hiking trail passes through typical Sikkimese villages interplead with homesteads, terraced fields and lush cardamom plantations. Drive to Pelling. O/N at Norbughang Resort or similar.

Day 07: Pelling – Utteray: 2320m/7610ft (Full Board)
Distance: 26 km | Time: 1 ½ hrs (approx.). O/N Camp.

Day 08: Utteray – Chewa Bhangyang: 3140m/10299ft (Full Board).
O/N Camp.


Day 09: Chewa – Dhond: 3900m/12792ft (Full Board)
O/N Camp.

Day 10: Dhond – Sikkim Megu 4000m/13120ft (Full Board)
O/N Camp.

Day 11: Sikkim Megu – Gomathang 3700m/12136ft
O/N Camp.

Day 12: Gomathang – Thaygyapla: 4000m/13120ft (Full Board)
O/N Camp.

Day 13: Thaygyapla – Dzongri: 4200m/13776ft (Full Board)
O/N Camp.

Day 14: Dzongri – Thangsing: 3930m/12890ft (Full Board)
O/N Camp.

Day 15: Thangsing – Lamune: 4000m/13120ft (Full Board)
O/N Camp.

Day 16: Samiti – Goechala -- Thangsing: 5000m/16400ft (Full Board)
O/N Camp.

Day 17: Thangsing – Tsokha (Full Board)
O//N Camp.

Day 18: Tsokha – Yuksom: 1780m/5838ft (BB)
O/N at Hotel Tashigang.

Day 19: Yuksom to Darjeeling (BB)
In the morning, you will be driven to Darjeeling. On your arrival at Darjeeling, you will be transferred to the hotel. The day will be kept free for you to relax. Darjeeling is a popular hill station in West Bengal and is known and visited by a number of tourists every year for its pleasant weather and natural beauty. O/N Hotel.

Day 20: Drive to Bhadrapur for flight to Kathmandu (BB)
After early breakfast drive to Bhadrapur nearly 5 – 6 hrs trips. Arrive Bhadrapur and fly to Kathmandu. O/N Hotel in Kathmandu

Day 21: Day at leisure (BB)
This pleasant day you may have full day at leisure and either relax at hotel or explore Kathmandu city, shopping etc. O/N Hotel in Kathmandu

Day 22: Holiday extension or transfer to airport for final departure
Today either you’ll have your holiday extension for another tour or we will transfer you to airport for final departure flight.

General Information on Trek: 

Passport Size Photographs: 

Please make sure that you carry enough passport size photographs; some extras would help in case it is needed.

Itinerary: 

The agency reserves the right to amend the itinerary at the last minute without prior notice as per the local conditions.

Health on trek: 

Blistered feet, coughs, colds and minor stomach upsets are the most common troubles on a trek in Nepal. If your feet feel sore, sit down at once and apply a moleskin or fabric Elastoplasts. Do not delay or a blister will form and cripple you for days. We cannot emphasis too strongly the need for comfortable well-fitting training type shoes on low altitude treks and well-broken in boots for those higher altitude treks. Look after your feet!

Sore throats must be guarded against since they are common and can often lead to long-lasting colds and coughs. Ensure that you keep warm especially in the evenings and early mornings.

Stomach troubles do occur while trekking and water is the usual culprit – you need to drink plenty of fluids on your trek. However clean and clear a mountain stream looks assume that all running water is contaminated and is in need of being treated. Bring a supply of purification tablets or iodine crystal solution as an extra precaution if you like. Given sufficient time these will sterilize possibly-contaminated water. To make it more palatable orange-flavored tablets such as Redo on (available from chemists) are a good idea.

For Full Support treks do not on any account drink water that is not boiled for you first by your trek Sherpas. Upon request, water will be boiled in the evenings for use in your water bottles the following day.

Fitness: 

Prior to embarking on a trek it is best to have a medical check-up especially if you are in any doubt about your health. Certain chronic heart and respiratory complaints may be aggravated by physical exertion at high altitudes so inform your doctor of your intentions and the altitude to be reached.

Mountain or Altitude Sickness: 

Mountain or Altitude sickness normally manifests itself at altitudes in excess of 11,000ft and respects no one. A young fit sportsman may suffer when the other older less fit members of the party do not. Every year we arrange treks for many people well into their 60s and 70s and they experience no discomfort; in fact they are probably less susceptible for they tend not to race around the routes as the younger generation do and are more willing to admit they feel unwell. The golden rule is doing go too high too fast. Take things at a leisurely pace in the mountains for trekking is not a forced route march and with this basic rule adhered to, altitude sickness should not be a problem. Above 3000m, the daily net elevation gain should be no more than 500m. Drink plenty of fluids at altitude as the air is extremely dry – the rule of thumb is that unless your pee is clear, you are not drinking enough. Symptoms of Mountain sickness include headaches, dizziness, insomnia, nausea, loss of appetite, shortness of breath and swelling of the hands and feet. One or two of these shouldn't be cause for panic but they are a sign that your body hasn’t yet adjusted to the elevation. You shouldn’t ascend further until you start feeling better or if you do keep going, be prepared to make a hasty retreat if the conditions get worse. Serious symptoms (persistent vomiting, delirium, loss of co-ordination, bubbly breathing and bloody sputum, rapid heart rate or breathlessness, blueness of face and lips) can develop within hours and, if ignored, can result in death. The only effective cure for Mountain Sickness is descent. Anyone showing serious signs of the illness should be taken downhill immediately, regardless of the time of day or night, preferably by porter or pack animal. Recovery is usually dramatic, often after a descent of only a few hundred vertical meters. Barraged by medical advice and horror stories, trekkers all too often develop altitude paranoia. The fact is that just about everyone who treks over 4000m experiences some mild symptoms of mountain sickness but serious cases are very rare and the simple cure, descent, almost always brings immediate recovery. In addition to being physically fit, trekkers should also be prepared to adopt a mental flexibility during the trip. Nepal is a beautiful country with delightful people but a developing country nevertheless and world apart from home. One must adapt accordingly when traveling through a region where there will be different cultures, customs and values.

Do not forget - the common effects of altitude such as:

• You may feel breathlessness on exertion; some headache is treatable by aspirin.
• May be some difficulty sleeping and a little loss of appetite. 
• You might also wake up suddenly at night trying to catch your breath. Do not panic! Your metabolism has simply slowed down.
• You may also experience an exaggerated thumping headache, which will not go away, breathless even at rest, extreme nausea. 
• The lack of oxygen in the system will first affect either the brain (HACE - Height Altitude Cerebral Edema) causing loss of physical and mental coordination OR the lungs (HAPE - Height Altitude Pulmonary Edema), coughing up persistent sputum or both.
• Do not drink any alcohol on the outward trek. It seriously impairs the ability to acclimatize, and confuses the symptoms of AMS.

Other health considerations on the mountain: 

Understandably, much emphasis is placed on the prevention of Altitude Sickness but frostbite and hypothermia also pose a threat to trekkers, especially those trekking above 3000m.

The symptoms of hypothermia are similar to those of Mountain Sickness – slurred speech, fatigue, irrational behavior and loss of co-ordination. Low body temperature is the surest sign. Heat is the treatment. Put the victim in a good sleeping bag, preferably with another person for body heat, and ply with warm food and drink.

Frostbite appears initially as small white patches on exposed skin, caused by local freezing. The skin will feel cold & numb. To treat, apply with warmth. Avoid a second dose of frostbite as this can lead to permanent damage.

The following medication has been found to be helpful:

Diamox the common name for Acetazolamide originally developed as a diuretic, but pragmatically found to aid acclimatization available in Kathmandu pharmacies. Some people feel it is ‘cheating’, but as trekking at altitude is not a competition and you are here to enjoy it to altitude, not just mask the symptoms. It will make you pee more as intended, and possibly give you a tingly feeling in your fingers, but is understood to have no more serious side effects. Taking it is entirely down to personal choice, but if you do decide to use it as a preventative we have found that a half a 250 mg tablet works just as well as a whole one and minimizes the side effects, each morning and evening, from the night before the trek through to the start of the descent from the highest point. 

Getting into shape: 

For all but the most strenuous routes, walking is the best training for trekking. Do as much as you can in the weeks prior to your trek. If you are a regular hill walker or rambler you can cope with almost any trek in the Nepal Himalayas. Trekking is not a tough, masochistic exercise, but a slightly strenuous walk through some of the world’s most magnificent mountain scenery. If you are reasonably fit and healthy you will enjoy it all the more. However, for long treks at high altitude you cannot be fit enough and we advise a serious training programme. 

High altitude treks are quite safe provided that you are physically fit and prepared for walking. Treks follow trails through the mountains and merely require walking not climbing. Going too fast is a certain recipe for trouble and this is why our expert Sherpa sirdar gauges the pace of the trek according to the physical abilities of each individual.

Oxygen Cylinder: 

We provide reserve oxygen cylinder in our private tours. There will be minimum charges for using it. 

Tipping: 

It is customary to give US$75 each to Guide and Driver per week. It is not compulsory to tip, only if you believe staff have done remarkably good job putting extra effort to make your trip enjoyable. 

NOTE: I suggest you to buy few prayer flags and Khadas (scarf) from Kathmandu to offer to your guide

Mountains

Sikkim has a very rugged topography and the flat lands are difficult to come by. The towering mountains that define this paradise of the nature also create a barrier to efficient agriculture. The two mountain ranges are Singalila: on the Western Border and Chola: on the Eastern Border

The Singalila Range is an enormous spur of the Great Himalayas. The crowning glory of this range is the 8596 m elevated summit, of Mount Khangchendzonga. This peak - the third highest in the world, is a difficult mountain to climb, because of unpredictable weather and winds. The Sikkimese believes that it is not meant to be climbed, but only worshipped, as it is the abode of five treasures of the snows. In deference to local sentiments, no expedition has set foot on the summit- but remained a few meters below. For those of us who cannot attempt the climb, the 5000 m high viewpoint at Goechela (the Lock Pass) offers a superb alternative. A depression, between Mount Pandim, and a spur of the Kabru Peak form the pass. It looks down into the Talung Valley, with the mighty Talung Glacier, winding its way down below. One is surrounded by great white peaks - Khangchendzonga (8596 m), Simvo (6811 m), Siniolchu (6888 m), Pandim (6691 m), Kabru (7338 m) and Rathang (6087 m). The awe inspiring sight, instills a feeling of standing in the very lap of Khangchendzonga, and gazing up at its face

Temperature: 

During Summer- Maximum 20 Degree Celsius 

During Winter Minimum 7 Degree Celsius 

Adventure: Trekking, Mountaineering, Rafting and Yak Safari.