Hello All,
There had been an overwhelming response on traveling to Sikkim recently. Traveling to Northern Sikkim is expensive if you are going alone or with a small group. The main purpose of this thread is helping you cost cutting your entire travel budget.
You can post your date of travel with contact details and May be you can find travel companions for sharing your expenses.
Regards
Team Thinking Particle
Hey i am travelling from 7th Nov - 13th... Anybody during the period pls post
hello..
i am moinak,from kolkata
i am planning to visit north sikkim along with my 4 friends in february 2012(19-24)
i would like to know about the most economical tour possible and if possible kindly make an itenary too about the best places to be visited during out span of the tour and from where to take travel agents and cars for our trip ..
we are 5 people, reaching gangtok on 20th february, return train on 24th february night
please help,asap
regards ..
Hi Moinak,
Feb is a fantastic time to come to Sikkim and Darjeeling.
It's cold though...
Best way forward is actually to take a SUV reserved @ Rs 2,500.00 per day as you'll be able to stop and pause as you like....
Alternately , you get share taxi's from Gangtok too to North Sikkim.
Do expect road block due to the recent earthquake.
If you ask me , Darjeeling and Kalimpong make a safer bet.
warmest Himalayan regards,
Siddarth
Hi Siddarth,
Welcome to Thinking Particle and Thanks for providing your inputs on the thread.
looking forward to see you more often here and helping fellow travelers with their Himalayan odyssey.
Regards
Vishnu
Hi Vishnu,
Thanks for your warm welcome....
I'm always ready to provide the right information as i want people travelling to remote areas make informed decisions.I also do a lot of research before embarking on a tour.It's a part of travel nowadays with limited resources (of time )and the variety of options one has to choose from.
I'm a tourism consultant for the Himalayas and my areas of expertise are in Ladakh , Sikkim ,Darjeeling , Uttrakhand and Himachal Pradesh areas.
We do mostly private journeys for FITs but also accommodate GIT's lately.
Our new focus market segment is school and college groups who come to the Himalayas for "edu-tainment."
Our tours focuses a lot of the geo-political , socio-economical , cultural and spiritual side of a local area.We combine the worlds of living cultures of music, education, art and dance forms.
More generic info can be obtained from our webpage: www.9mantra.com
I also provide consultancy to mostly eco-initiatives and heritage projects (guided walks, conservation , conferences,etc) and also am in soft skill training for mountain guides, tour escorts and tourist drivers etc.I'm a lecturer on tourism and travel management also.
SO in short , yes , i will endeavor to assist anyone who has a query for the Himalayas.Being a local from Darjeeling, i will always have a bias to my hometown and region though....hahahah.....
warmest Himalayan regards to u and to your team at Thinking Particles,
Happy New Year 2012.
Siddarth
Siddarth,
That's a tempting job you are into...pretty fascinating to me... Himalayas are my favorite destination in India.... However I am yet to devote a dedicated year or so in exploring this majestic mountain range. I have traveled a bit here and there but not extensively... I can understand how important it is to get a local advice while trekking Himalayas. I had been to Darjeeling couple of times and hoping again to make it there soon...I love sikkim though i could not make to Cholamu lake (Topping my wish-list)...
Thinking Particle is not a big team... we are just two guys ( Vijay and I) maintaining entire site from coding, testing, bug fixing, article writing, travel photography etc...
Well...We will keep in touch.... :)
Regards
Vishnu Kumar
Hi Siddath,
There are many queries on our thread about Gangtok travel where people ask about the current weather situation and road conditions. I believe that you will be the best person for answering those queries. Will really appreciate if you can participate in that thread.
http://thinkingparticle.com/forum/gangtok-sikkim-travel-discussion
Regards
Vishnu
I am a single traveller..any one is doing any trips(specially north india) contact me....i will accompany you guys....
Following is our itinery, please suggest any additions
slso we have 2 kids with us who are 4 years, so is it safe to visit guruthong lake near lachen.
04.05.2012 (Friday): NJP Rly Station / IXB Airport – Darjeeling
Meet & Greet on arrival at NJP Railway Station / IXB Airport & transfer to Darjeeling. On arrival check-in to hotel & rest of the day at leisure. Overnight stay at Darjeeling.
05.05.2012 (Saturday): Darjeeling Sightseeing
Early Morning (at 4.00 am) drive to Tiger Hill to watch the spectacular Sunrise over Mt. Khangchendzongha (28,208 ft. Worlds 3rd highest peak), on your way back visit Ghoom Monastery and Batasia Loop. After breakfast visit Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, P.N. Zoological Park (Thursday closed) Tenzing Rock, Tibetan Refugee Self-help Centre (Sunday closed), Tea Garden (outer view), Ava Art Gallery and Japanese Temple (4 hrs from 9.00 to 13.00 hrs). Evening free for shopping & leisure. Overnight stay at Darjeeling.
06.05.2012 (Sunday): Darjeeling - Gangtok
After breakfast departure for Gangtok. On arrival at Gangtok check-in to your hotel. Overnight stay at Gangtok.
07.05.2012 (Monday): Excursion to Tsomgo Lake & Baba Mandir
After breakfast start for an excursion to Tsomgo Lake (12,400 ft.) & Baba Mandir (13,200 ft.) which is 55 kms one way from Gangtok city. Overnight stay at Gangtok.
08.05.2012 (Tuesday): Gangtok – Lachung (116 kms / 6 hrs)
After breakfast pick up from hotel & transfer to Lachung (8,800 ft.). Enroute visit Singhik View point, Seven Sister Water Fall, Naga Water Fall, and arrive Lachung by evening. Dinner & Overnight stay at Lachung.
09.05.2012 (Wednesday): Lachung – Yumthang Valley Excursion
After breakfast drive to Yumthang Valley (11,800 ft. known as Valley of Flowers). On the way back, visit Hot Spring considered to have medicinal properties. Back to resort for lunch. Overnight stay at Lachung.
10.05.2012 (Thursday): Lachung - Gangtok (116 kms / 6 hrs)
After breakfast departure for Gangtok, enroute witness the wonderful Bheema & Twin water falls. On arrival at Gangtok check-in to your hotel. Overnight stay at Gangtok.
11.05.2012 (Friday): Gangtok Local Sightseeing
Start for a Full day city tour covering Tashi view point, Ganesh Tok & Hanuman Tok, Ranka Monastery, Banjakhri Falls, Cottage Industry, Dro-dul Chorten, Institute of Tibetology, Flower show and Handicraft Centre (maximum 6 hours). Overnight stay at Gangtok.
12.05.2012 (Saturday): Gangtok - Pelling
After breakfast drive to Pelling (6,100 ft.). On arrival check-in to your hotel. Overnight stay at Pelling.
13.05.2012 (Sunday): Pelling Sightseeing
After breakfast start for full day sightseeing. 1st Half tour - Darap village, Rimbi water Falls, Sewaro Rock Garden, Khecheopalri Lake & Khangchendzongha waterfalls. In afternoon start for 2nd Half tour - Pemayangtse Monastery, Rabdantse Ruins, New Halipad Ground. Overnight stay at Pelling.
14.05.2012 (Monday): Pelling - NJP Rly Station / IXB airport
Visiting N.Sikkim in 1st week of August 2012.....Interested please contact me.
Hey All,
Visiting Sikkim from 12th May to 16th May'12. Planning to go to N Sikkim on 14th to 16th May. Will be more than glad to accompany any interested folks to make it more memorable.
Best Regards.
Vishwapati.
Planning to visit Gangtok - July 14 to July 20, 2012. I am a male single traveller. Please advise if this is the right time to travel and can I engage in some adventure activities like trekking or camping. Fellow travellers are welcome to join me in the trip as travel partner and will help to share costs... Cheers, SKH.
Hi SKH,
July is the monsoon time so you may witness heavy downpour in the foot hills of Himalayas and near Gangtok... However for trekking and camping activities, you need to head to West Sikkim... You can try Sandakphu Trek & The Goecha La trek... Solo-trekking is generally not recommended so you need to first find a fellow traveler... It's a good start...
Regards
Vishnu Kumar
Hi ,
I am a Guy from Mumbai travelling to Sikkim and Darjeeling alone from 1 st March to 10 th.Looking for travel companions.If interested do drop me a mail at vinayakandy@gmail.com
Hi guys,
We have planned a trip for 8 days in Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Gangtok.
Please find my Itinerary as follows:
Reach NJP on 22nd March in the afternoon
Taxi to Darjeeling
Stay at Darjeeling from 22nd to 24th March
Leave Darjeeling on 25th March early morning and reach kalimpong
Leave Kalimpong on 26th March and reach Gangtok
Stay at Gangtok is from 26th March till 29th March
30th March early morning leave for NJP Rly Stn.
I need your help in planning my visits to various places in and around Gangtok.
I will be visiting with my wife and 2 sons aged 7 & 2 years.
Regards,
Kabir
