Arrive Bagdogra Airport in West Bengal and you will be received by the tour leader of India Bicycle Trips on arrival. A 3-hour drive along the raging Teesta river will take you to a well-appointed hotel in the hill town of Darjeeling. The town bordering Sikkim is known for its colonial-era buildings and Buddhist monasteries. Darjeeling is a town in India’s West Bengal state, in the Himalayan foothills. Once a summer resort for the British Raj elite, it remains the terminus of the narrow-gauge Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, or “Toy Train,” completed in 1881. It’s famed for the distinctive black tea grown on plantations that dot its surrounding slopes. Its backdrop is Mt. Kanchenjunga, among the world’s highest peaks. Darjeeling, nestled among rolling mountains, is a perfect destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Popular places to visit include Tiger Hill, Batasia Loop and the War Memorial, and the Himalayan Zoological Park and Snow Leopard Breeding Center. What should you bring home? Tea, tea, and more tea.

Today morning we will take you on an a amazing walking tour of the old town with our fun and entertaining storytellers. This walking tour will give you a great induction of the city, its history, its vibrant culture, and its people with lots of wonderful stories about the city, fun facts and must do things in the city. Our walks are blend of historical elucidation and curious anecdote laced with mildly scurrilous talk about past and present celebrities and defunct royals. We will cover some of the city highlights along with hidden places and forgotten nooks of the old city during the walk. Rest of the day we will explore around the tea town of Darjeeling.

After an early breakfast, you will be transferred from Darjeeling to the hill town of Rinchenpong in Sikkim. En-route, you have the mandatory halt at the check post to submit requisite documentation to enter the North Eastern Indian state of Sikkim. Located in the Himalayan foothill region, it has astonishing landscapes which includes the Kancheniunga towering 8486m from sea level. It is also known for its valleys, forests, glaciers, alpine meadows, variety of windflowers and Buddhist monasteries. You will travel on a 4-hour ride northwards through the valleys to reach a homestay at a farm in Rinchenpong. The hill town is known for its ancient Buddhist monasteries. After freshening up and lunch, you would be going on an acclimatization walk around local village and farms. You will also be visiting the 18th century Rinchenpong Monastery which is located at an elevation of 1700 Meters and housing the rare Adi (Primordial) Buddha statue. The valley offers you a scenic view of the countryside, hill settlements, and monasteries with the Rangeet River skirting it.

After an hour’s transfer to the start point of the trek – Hee Patal, you will enter the Barsey (Vershay) Rhododendron Sanctuary. The Sanctuary covers an area of 104 sq kms bordering Nepal and boasts of unique Rhododendron forests, deciduous, wet hill forests and alpine meadows. You will trek uphill through thick vegetation and bamboo forests to pass by a small stream further up the trail. By noon you reach the forest camp where a hot lunch will be served. Post lunch, the terrain gets steeper, the forest trail gets thicker with orchids abloom on the wayside and strawberries growing wild on the ground. Today’s trek will culminate at the first campsite at Samatar, a flat grassland area well inside the forest and ideal for camping. The starry night sky is a spectacular sight that will remain with you as a treasured moment long after your trip.

Today you have a comparatively shorter trek, an uphill trail of steps cut in stone to reach a forest hut. Further, you will walk through Rhododendron and bamboo forests and climb atop a narrow ridge. The distant view of hills, valleys and villages from the viewpoint on the ridge with Buddhist prayer flags around evokes a feeling of timelessness and serenity. You pass by a watch-tower used by the forest department, to cross the ridge and reach Barsey Forest Barracks and Huts by noon. Your camp, with a view of mountains covered in a lush emerald panorama, will be set up nearby and lunch served at the camp itself. You have the option to walk to a small lake nearby in the afternoon.

Today is the day you trek the longest distance of this adventure across undulating terrain and through thick Rhododendron forests. You will carry packed lunch for today’s trek. Along the way, you will be traversing the canopy of the cloud forest interspersed with the white, pink and red Rhododendron flowers lighting up the trail. The tree ferns, orchids and moss all along the narrow and meandering path are unique to the area and provide complex hues of green. Your will have your lunch at a picturesque grassland along this trail. The chirruping of birds and the warbling of streams and rivulets add to the sounds of the lively forest. After a steep uphill section, you will reach the Jorbutay camp by evening. The camp looks out on an immensely scenic Himalayan landscape.

Today is a Challenge day as you face up to the toughest trek of the tour. You will be taking packed lunch today also. You exit from the thick rhododendron forests and trek the initial undulating terrain to reach meadows and grasslands. Here, villagers with grazing yaks are a common sight. Gear up for the steepest climb to Kalijhar near the Indo Nepal Border using the big steps along the scenic trail. Camp will be set up at Kalijhar – the highest campsite throughout the trek. You will get another chance to view the mighty Kangchenjunga range, Border Military camps and Uttarey village along the route, from the Kalijhar camp. An optional two hour walk to a viewpoint nearby highlights the spectacular view of Mt Everest and Mt Kangchenjunga on a clear sky day. Your camp at Kalijhar is near the international border.

You will trek along the Indo Nepal border to reach border police and army outpost camps. After submitting requisite documentation, you progress further downhill using the numerous stone steps with wooden cladding. Take your time as the descent can stress your knees. You will have lunch near Military Camp at Chitrey. After lunch, you descend further to exit the sanctuary and enter the unspoilt Uttarey village, crossing busy fish farms and numerous streams on small wooden bridges. With fond memories of the forest behind you and carrying forward the high spirits of accomplishing the Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary trek, you now set out on a drive along mountain roads, all the while gazing at the stark beauty of the craggy valley below. You will reach the well-appointed and cozy hotel located in the scenic town of Pelling to re-energise your body after the last weeks adventure.

You will be transferred from Pelling to Siliguri. En-route, you have to halt once again at the check post to submit requisite documentation to exit Sikkim. This would be a long drive through the countryside, endless scenes of the valley with dramatic views of landscapes along the river Rangeet will take you to Siliguri. We will be stopping en-route to stretch those tired limbs and rest. This North East Indian state of West Bengal is situated at the foothills of the Himalayas, surrounded by tea gardens and scenic landscapes. Once at the hotel it is now time to celebrate the end of an exhilarating and spectacular week’s Himalayan adventure with a celebratory meal at the hotel.

You will be transferring to airport after the great trip in Sikkim.