Mallory and Irvine Memorial Expedition to Sikkim with Rebecca Stephens

You will be met by a World Expeditions representative on arrival and transferred to the Lalit hotel. On arrival you will have an initial briefing focusing on the transfers and flight the following day. Your main briefing will be conducted on arrival at Darjeeling.

Meals:  Nil

We transfer you to the airport for your morning flight to Bagdogra. On arrival you will be met by your local expert guide and then transferred to Darjeeling. Although the drive is around 70km the time will vary considerably depending on traffic conditions when ascending the main highway. On arrival in Darjeeling we savour the cool mountain air and our first glimpse of the snow capped Himalaya. This evening Rebecca Stephens and your local leader will brief you while arrangements will be made for the distribution of your kit bag, sleeping bag and down/fibrefill jacket.

Meals:  B,D

Darjeeling is set on the top of a wooded ridge with commanding views both to the plains and high mountains including Kangchenjunga. Today we will include a visit to the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute and the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park that has a rare collection of animals, including Siberian Tigers, Red Pandas and the elusive Snow Leopards. No trip to Darjeeling is complete without a trip to one of the famous tea plantations established in the 19th century. Later we have time to explore the local markets and appreciate the rich spectrum of peoples including Sherpas, Tibetans and Bengalis who have made Darjeeling their home. A visit to the Tea Planters club is also recommended for it was here that the British interwar expeditions stayed before assembling their Sherpa crews that would accompany them on the long march through Sikkim and across Tibet to the base of Everest.

Meals:  B,L,D

Leaving Darjeeling we start the long drive to the border of southern Sikkim before ascending through the foothills to Uttarey. Our journey is broken by fabulous views and a visit to the Pemayangtse Monastery, one of the oldest and most sacred Buddhist monasteries in Sikkim, and the ruins of the palace at Rabdentse, which was the second capital of the former Kingdom of Sikkim from 1670 to 1814. Overnight in Lodge (2200m)

Meals:  B,L,D

A gentle start to the trek leads us through rainforest before a final steep ascent for a couple of hours to Chiwa Bhanjyang on the border of Sikkim and Nepal. Overnight in camp

Meals:  B,L,D

An acclimatization day includes a 5-6 hr trek to Singali La peak (3,500m) before returning back to our camp.

Meals:  B,L,D

Today we make our way in a northerly direction along ancient pathways that follow the border of Sikkim and Nepal, climbing steeply up and down at times, through forests and across open hillsides. Villages and towns are left behind with the only signs of habitation the occasional yak herder’s hut and prayer flags. Far below us are rice fields and cardamom plantations and in the distance, the high peaks of the Himalayas. Sadly, geopolitics of the day don’t allow us to walk the exact same route as Mallory and Irvine, over the Jelep La into Tibet, but today we enjoy the first of many wonderful panoramic views to Mount Everest and Makalu in the distance, and Kanchenjunga. This less-trodden path on the Singalila Ridge also allows us to imagine something of the remoteness and beauty of Mallory’s and Irvine’s pioneering walk to Everest.

Meals:  B,L,D

Early risers can climb to the viewpoint to watch the sunrise on Everest, Makalu and Kanchenjunga. Today’s walk is up and down and over two passes while overall maintaining a steady height, camping at Paharay Megu.

Meals:  B,L,D

We walk on a good trail through woods until we begin a steady climb up a broad valley where we obtain wonderful views of the Mount Kabru range dominated by Mount Pandim (6,691 m). A further two hours of ascent will get us to our camp where weather permitting, Everest and a host of other Khumbu giants can be seen dominating the distant skyline. After a shorter day, we have an afternoon for rest and acclimatization.

Meals:  B,L,D

Now we are in the high mountain country above the treeline. For the past two days we have been walking on the Nepalese side of the border between Nepal and Sikkim and today we pass the sacred lake of Lam Pokhara, which marks our entry back into Sikkim. Today we climb to our first pass, the Danphe Bhir La at 4,530m, “the pass of the pheasant”. Views of Sikkim, as well as Tibet and Bhutan, stretch before us. We climb over a second pass, Kag Bhir La, with views of Kanchenjunga, and then descend steeply through open land and pine and juniper forests to Gomathang.

Meals:  B,L,D

Today we contour the mountainside and cross a small river before climbing up and over a pass at 4,309m to Pangding.

Meals:  B,L,D

Dzongri is a vast, windswept area where yaks from Yuksom graze throughout the summer months. From Pangding, we cross the river before climbing over a pass to Dzongri. We get excellent views of Rathong (6,679m) and other impressive peaks as well as Kanchenjunga. Dzongri is on the main trail from Yuksom to Goecha La and it is here for the first time that we can expect to see other trekkers on this more popular route.

Meals:  B,L,D

From Dzongri we head off early across a series of meadows before the trail descends steeply through forests to the Prek river. It is then a short and sharp ascent along a boulder strewn river bed before a final hour along the valley to our lunch spot at Thansing (3930m). We divert along a forest trail that leads directly to Pethang meadow. From Pethang we descend to our camp at Tsokha (3050m) and a birds eye view all the way down to Yuksom.

Meals:  B,L,D

Our last day of trekking, we descend through forest of pine, rhododendron, and magnolia, abundant with bird life and rich with the smells of vegetation. We cross bridges spanning cascading rivers and finally walk down into Yuksom, the former capital of the Kingdom of Sikkim. Yuksom is the gateway to the Kangchenjunga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that we can now say we know intimately having trekked through its inspiring landscape for 10 days. Yuksom is also an ancient historic town, home to the coronation throne made of stone for the first Chogyal (monarch), in 1642. For those with the energy, there are many beautiful monasteries to visit, including the Dubdi and Sangachoeling monasteries, and the splendid holy lake, Khecheopalri. This will be our last evening with the trekking staff – an evening to celebrate our achievements with a warm thanks to the local staff who made it possible.

Meals:  B,L,D

After breakfast we will drive south over the Rangeet River, leaving Sikkim and once again entering West Bengal, to the town of Kalimpong. Perched on a ridge above the Teesta River, Kalimpong was an important trading post between India and Tibet and again a town that Mallory and Irvine stayed on their way to Everest in 1924. It is home to colonial-era buildings like MacFarlane Memorial Church, named after a Scottish missionary, as well as the hilltop Durpin Monastery, and Zang Dhok Palri Phodang, among others.

Meals:  B,L,D

After breakfast we take our last look back at the Himalaya. The drive to Bagdogra Airport on the Indian Plains is about 3 hours. Trip concludes in Bagdogra, from where the group can fly to Delhi or Kolkata and home.

Meals:  B