Introduction
Travel Duration: 19 days
Price: On Request
Trip Grade: Difficult
Season: May-November
This high altitude trek lies in close proximity to the Tibetan plateau in North Sikkim and is quite a demanding one. The notable rigours of this trek are well compensated with the fact that the route encompasses some of the most beautiful areas within Sikkim.
Your adventure begins with a daylong drive from Gangtok to Lachen along the North Sikkim Highway from where you begin this trek on the following morning. At the end of your weeklong foray into high alpine wilderness, you will set foot at the Green Lake and be rewarded with an awesome spectacle of a superb close up of Mount Khangchendzonga including an extensive Himalayan panorama that reaches as far as Mount Jhomolhari in Bhutan.
Heading further north, the next portion of the trek will take you past the Zemu Glacier and into the domain of the Drokpas, a semi-nomadic tribe-people who rear yaks and sheep for their livelihood. During the second week of this trek you are well within the Tibetan plateau – a harsh barren and inhospitable land that somehow still exudes a bewitching spell to the traveller with its stark ethereal beauty.
In the course of this trek, you must cross several high passes, and some above 5,000 metres: Theu-la, 5,212 m., Lungnak-la, 5035 m., and Sebu-la, 5352 m. From Sebu-la, the route gradually turns southwards as it approaches Yumesamdong. Then its altogether southward bound for the last few days as you venture into the enchanting Yumthang Valley and end your trek at Lachung.
Detail Itinerary
| Day 01: | Gangtok to Lachen (2728 m) 123 km 6 hrs drive by jeep along the North Sikkim Highway, passing through several sites of touristic interest where you have the option to stop and view. These include Tashi View Point, Kabi Lungtsok, Phodong Monastery, and the towns of Mangan and Chungthang. Overnight at lodge in Lachen |
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| Day 02: | Lachen to Tallem (3468 m) 13 km Your trek starts early in the morning to Tallem and we arrive there by lunchtime. Rest of the day is free to wander around the vicinity for sightseeing in the area where the Lhonak Chu from the north meets Zemu Chu. |
| Day 03: | Tallem to Jakthang (3176 m) 4-5 hrs This route is a walk in the paradise passing through at least twenty different kinds of Rhododendron varying in colours from white to the deepest red, and in height from trees of 6m to scrubs of not more than a foot. |
| Day 04: | Jakthang to Yabuk (3978 m) 4 hours You have to literally wade through bushes at many places and ford a small bridge over Thomphyak Chu. |
| Day 05: | Yabuk to Rest Camp/Marcopolo Camp (4570 m) 5 hours Today we traverse through desert-like long moraine fields. |
| Day 06: | Marcopolo Camp One day halt for acclimatisation. |
| Day 07: | Rest Camp to Green Lake (4935 m) 6 hours If the day is clear you will see Mt. Siniolchu (6887 m) titillating against the sky lifting its silver spar, reckoned by many a mountaineer to be the most beautiful peak in the world. |
| Day 08: | Green lake / Sightseeing above 600 m. Today, we take a 4-hours hike to ascend 600 meters above the Green Lake. From here, you are rewarded with a grand panorama of the Khangchendzonga divide and distant Jhomolhari in Bhutan. |
| Day 09: | Above 600 m to Zemu Glacier. Descend to the bed of Zemu Glacier in the midst of several small green lakes. |
| Day 10: | Zemu Glacier to Rest Camp Today we backtrack to the Rest Camp. |
| Day 11: | Rest Camp to Thieulacha (5212 m). Today we encounter quite a steep zigzag route with giant rhubarbs (Rheum nobile) along the way including thick scrubs of Juniper. |
| Day 12: | Thieulacha to Langbo. The trek from Thieulacha to Langbo takes around 5 hours. |
| Day 13: | Langbo to Muguthang (4520 m) You have to cross Tablhe Plateau to get to Muguthang. |
| Day 14: | Muguthang to Chopta (3920 m) A steep trek from Muguthang to Chopta fording the Charub Chu and crossing the Lugnak La pass. At Chopta, there is a good view of the meandering river. |
| Day 15: | Chopta to Sebu (5352 m) Today, a 5 hours walk passing through Thangu village and climbing up gently till Phalung, where yak races are held twice every year on Tibetan New Year’s Day and Drukpa Tsheshi. |
| Day 16: | Sebu La to Yumesamdong (4824 m) A 5 to 6 hours walk along the views of Sebu Chu, waterfalls and the hot spring of Yumesamdong. |
| Day 17: | Yumesamdong to Yumthang (3485 m) Descend into the Yumthang valley while viewing the heights of Donkya-Ri (6190 m), and Pahun-Ri (7125 m). |
| Day 18: | Yumthang to Lachung. Your last day of trekking of around 5 hours passing through Yumthang’s famed ‘valley of flowers’, which are in bloom from April through July. Overnight at hotel/lodge in Lachung |
| Day 19: | Lachung to Gangtok. |
