Trekking in Sikkim

On The Trekking Trail

Sikkim is also a major trekking destination. There are many types of treks available, from the easy trek of Versay to the hard trek in the rarefied air of Green Lake. Good pair of lungs, strong legs and an adventurous spirit is all that is required of a good trekker.

Yuksam - Dzongri Trek 
The best season for this 5 day trek or add another 2 days if you plan to go further into Gochala are the months of April-June and September-November. 
Yuksam at 5,500 ft is the launch pad for the trek where all items, porters and yaks are available. The first day is the 16 km trek to Tsokha at 9,000 ft. While it is a relatively easy walk for the first hour however the climb suddenly becomes steep as you test your lungs. You can either stay at Bakhim, at 8,000 ft, where there is a Forest bungalow or walk up another 2 km to Tsokha village where other makeshift establishments are available.
The next day is the 10 km trek to Dzongri at 12,800 ft which has just a couple of trekker’s huts. The massive view of the Khangchendzonga range from the Dzongrila pass is a feast for sore eyes. The trail here bifurcates, one to the base camp of the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute at 15,000 ft and the other to Gochala at 16,400ft. The peaks of Kabru, Frey, Pandim and Rathong tower above the base camp. Further treks across the base camp leads you to the numerous lakes, called pokhari in Nepali, inhabiting the foothills of the Khangchendzonga range. The prominent among them being the Majur Pokhari, Lami Pokhari and the twin lakes of Ram and Laxman Pokhari.
The 14 km trek to Gochala from Dzongri first rises and then falls to Thangshing at 12,400 ft where a trekker’s hut is available. Sungmoten, also known as Samiti Lake, is reached after a 2 km trek from Thangshing. A further kilometer away lies Zemathang at 15,700 ft from where Gochala is just 4 km away. The spectacular view throughout the whole journey is a memory to cherish. At Gochala, Khangchendzonga stares right at you.

Uttarey-Chiwabhanjyang Trek
This trek is slowly gaining fame for the magnificent view it offers of both the Khangchendzonga range as well as that of Mount Everest.
The trek begins at Uttarey in West Sikkim, 38 km from Gyalshing and 60 km from Jorethang. Chiwabhanjyang is 10 km from Uttarey and trekkers can follow the footpath. The walk is pretty steep as you walk through dense forests amidst call of birds. Chiwabhanjyang has the last police check post on the western side beyond which lies Nepal. Kalijhaar is a gradual 4 km walk beyond Chiwabhanjyang where there are a couple of trekker’s huts. Phoktey Dara is a 15 minute climb above Chitrey. This is the only place in Sikkim from where the both the peaks of Everest and Khangchendzonga can be viewed at the same time.

Hilley-Versay Trek
This two hour trek is favoured by many during the months of April-June when the rhodendrons flowers are in bloom. Hilley can be reached by road from Sombaria 29 km away. The distance between Hilley and Versay is a mere 4 km but the change in altitude is over 1000 ft. 
The trek begins at Hilley at 9,000 ft amidst hemlock and silver fir which slowly gives way to only rhododendrons as one nears Versay at 10,100 ft. The entire landscape is a riot of colours from the flowers of the rhododendron tree. Trekkers can stay the night at Versay at a resort there, return or trek on to Soreng or Hee. 

Hee-Versay-Chiwabhanjyang Trek 
This is one of the latest trekking routes being promoted in West Sikkim. Hee, situated 37 km from Gyalshing and 14 km from Rinchenpong, is the starting point for the trek and here the trekkers can visit the Hee Bermiok Heritage Village. The first day is the climb to Samma Taar Nature Camp and the next day to the rhododendron-rich Versay.
From Versay the trek stretches on to Jorbutey via Deoningaley Dhaap. The fourth day is Kalijhaar via Thulo Dhaap. Phoktey Dara ,above Kalijhaar, is famed for its view of both the Mt Khangchendzonga and Mount Everest. After the night halt here you descend down to Chiwabhanjyang and then onwards to Uttarey.
Trekkers can go onwards from Kalijhaar to Dzongri and Yuksam.

Lachen-Green Lake Trek 
This 6 day trek is among the toughest as you are trekking through very high altitudes. The starting point is at the 6th km on the Lachen-Thangu road. Crossing the Zemu River you make way to Zema I at 9,800 ft and a further 8 km to Talem at 10,400 ft. There are no paths here as you walk across rockslides and streams. The night halt can be made at Jakthang at 10,800 ft which is 5 km from Talem across the Lhonak River.
Yabuk at 12,700 ft is 8 km above Jakthang and many make a halt here so as to acclimatize themselves before climbing higher. Sona Camp, getting its name because of the night halt made here, at 13,500 ft is 4 km from Jakthang. As the Zemu glacier is in a process of movement rocks have spilt all over making this a difficult route, add to that the rarefied air. The view of the Siniolochu peak, amongst the rarest ones, is as magnificent as it gets.
As you walk across the Zemu glacier you come across a series of peaks in their resplendent glory – Sinolochu, Twin, Nepal and Khangchendzonga. Green Lake is 7 km from Sona Camp and is a drying lake owing to the erosion of its landmass caught in the movement of the Zemu Glacier. It is not the lake that the trekkers come for but for the view of the humungous mountains that surround you in a semi-circle.

Thangu-Green Lake Trek 
This is another one of the many routes to Green Lake. The trek starts at Kala Pathar at 14,500 ft which is 2km from Thangu. The 5 km steep climb to Lungnala at 18,400 feet is a killer as within a short span you are climbing almost 4,000 ft. 
The descent from Lungnala to the Lhonak valley at 17,000 ft is as steep as the climb. The Lhonak valley is home to the Dokpas or yak herders who lead a nomadic life taking everything with them as they move the yaks from one pasture to another. Borders for them mean nothing as they move from Sikkim to the Tibet Autonomous Region of China and back as per the availability of the pastures. These yak herders are now into their last stretch as they are giving up their way of life. 
Muguthang at 16,500 ft is one of their villages. Huts made of stone dot the desolate landscape which are empty for most of the year, the yak herders come here in the months of June-July when they hold their annual festival during Drukpa Tshechi. Yak races form a part of their celebrations along with other games which they compete with the army personnel placed on the borders, their only companions in this wilderness.
From Muguthang the trail, if there exists any, bifurcates one to Chorten Nyimala and the other to Green Lake. Chorten Nyimala, 18 km from Muguthang, is the pass that opens to China. At Chorten Nyimala there is a stupa from where it gets its name and also a couple of lakes. This place is supposed to be a pilgrimage for all those committing the sins of fratricide or incest. Buddhists from Tibet and higher reaches of Nepal come to wash their sins in the cold lake. Green Lake is 15 km from Muguthang via Thechala.

Ravangla- Maenam Trek 
Ravangla at 7,000 ft is the base for the trek. Maenam hill at 10,800 ft towers above Ravangla and the 10 km trek to the top takes approximately 4 hours as you move through the bamboo groves, rhododendrons and magnolia. An old monastery sits on the top of the hill from where it commands a breathtaking view. 
A further 5 km walk along the ridge leads you to Bhaley Dunga so named because the rock resembles a rooster’s comb. The cliff has a sheer steep face from where the view of the Teesta valley can be seen.
You can either return to Ravangla from here or carry on to the village of Yangang.

Damthang-Tendong Trek 
Damthang at 7,200 ft is 14 km from Namchi and 20 km from Ravangla. The 5 km walk from Damthang to the top of the Tendong hill at 8,600 ft takes approximately an hour and half. The view from here is supposed to be among the best in Sikkim as you catch the entire Chola range in the east, the Singalila range in the west and also the peak of Pawo Hungri in the north east. Glimpses of Nathula, Gangtok, Darjeeling and the plains of Siliguri on a clear crisp morning can be obtained from only here.
Tendong hill is sacred to the Lepchas as it was this hill which saved them from the great deluge. Offerings and prayers are held here during the festival of Tendong Lho Rum Faat. 

Pangthang-Tinjure Trek 
For people who have come to Gangtok and want a short refreshing trek, this is the ideal one. Pangthang is 11 km from Gangtok and a km away from Tashi View Point. The trek begins at the premises of the G. B. Pant Institute from where within an upward climb of two hours you reach the top of Tinjure at 7,500 ft. Tinjure is called so because it is the meeting point of three ranges. From the observation tower you can see Gangtok town to the east, Phodong and Phensang to the North and Khangchendzonga range to the west. The plains of West Bengal too can be seen on a clear day.