Darjeeling, Sikkim & The Singalila Ridge

Guide

The trip is led by a qualified, English speaking, local leader. On trek there will be a cook, assistants and mules to carry the baggage. Our Indian team has proved very popular with clients with their incredible knowledge, passion and hospitality adding greatly to the experience. There is no better way to experience Indian culture than letting an Indian guide show you around their country.

Meals

All breakfasts, 7 lunches and 10 dinners are included. You should allow at least 1,600-2,000 rupees (approximately US$20-US$25) per day for lunch and dinner (where not included). You can eat out very cheaply in India, but if you go to the more expensive restaurants most of the time, you will spend more than the suggested amount. Please note that service in restaurants can be quite slow. Tea and soft drinks are very cheap. A (large) bottle of beer is approximately 300 rupees (approximately US$4). Whilst camping we have a cook and assistants who will prepare simple but plentiful nutritious food. Breakfasts will be porridge, cereals, eggs and toast with plenty of tea, coffee or hot chocolate. Lunches will usually be a picnic lunch with soup, various kinds of local breads, cheese, eggs, tinned fish and meat and fruit where available. There will be afternoon tea and biscuits on arrival at camp followed later by dinner which is usually soup, a pasta, rice or potato based main course with fresh vegetables, followed by dessert, tea, coffee or hot chocolate. You will be provided with safe boiled drinking water whilst on trek. Drinking Water Staying hydrated is important when undertaking any physical activity. We strongly encourage you not to buy bottled water as this contributes to the growing problem of plastic pollution in India During the trek the cooks will collect and boil drinking water from the mountain streams and fill up your water bottles for you, but you may need to collect water during the day and may wish to use your own water purification treatment as well. We also suggest that you may like to bring a reusable bottle with a wide opening (Nalgene or similar) with you and use a SteriPEN to treat any non-boiled water. A SteriPEN is a handheld UV water purifier – small, lightweight and battery powered so easy to pack for a trek. It’s quick to use, far more effective than purification tablets, and the water is ready immediately. It’s fine to use a SteriPEN on non-boiled water so long as it isn’t cloudy or full of sediment (which is uncommon in these regions). SteriPENs are widely stocked on Amazon, outdoor shops and other online retailers; look for the latest models but avoid USB charging ones. Models which take lithium batteries are best as they last longer, especially in cold conditions. Using a SteriPEN means you won’t leave behind a single plastic bottle – and you can keep it for future trips.

Others

All transport and listed activities Sikkim permit

Transport

In Delhi and Calcutta transfers will be by bus or minibus depending on the size of the group. In Darjeeling and Sikkim transport will be in jeeps. During periods of heavy rain, landslides can occur and some journeys in the Darjeeling and Sikkim region may take longer due to traffic diversions. Your Leader will advise when this may be the case.

Accommodation

7 nights hotels, all en suite, 1 night basic hotel/guest house, 1 night sleeper train and 5 nights full-service camping In Delhi we stay in a comfortable hotel; usually the Hotel Jaypee Sidtbsdharth, a 4-star hotel with a swimming pool, conveniently located close to the metro. We stay in standard hotels in Darjeeling, Gangtok, Martem, Pelling, and Calcutta (Kolkata); all rooms have en suite facilities. The hotel in Gangtok is usually the Netuk House Hotel, a traditional Sikkimese family house, now run as a small hotel with splendid food and traditional service. In Uttaray, the accommodation is a basic hotel/guest house. The trek itself is on a full-service camping basis, meaning that our camp staff will erect and dismantle the tents for you, cook, and do all of the camp chores for you. You need only carry your daypack. Most of the camping on this trek is wild camping. We stay in two-person tents which have enough room inside for your kitbags. Sleeping mats and sleeping bags are not provided – please see the packing section. We also have a dining tent complete with table and folding chairs, and at least one toilet tent (usually two) for use during the evenings. No running water is available whilst camping. You will be camping close to a water source and the camp staff will provide bowls of warm water (to wash with) whilst trekking. Overnight Train Journeys - The overnight train will be booked in 2-Tier or 3-Tier sleeper A/C. Although there are many excellent trains in India, the standard of seating and sleeping is not in line with European standards. All seats are pre-allocated at the time the tickets are issued, meaning that we are not able to guarantee the whole group are together on the train, your leader will manage this as best as possible and will always check on you during the journey. Indian trains are safe to travel on however we would recommend that you keep any valuables with you at all times. Snacks are often offered on board (at an additional cost) but you may wish to purchase your own food prior to the journey. Whilst some trains have western-style facilities, the majority of services are equipped with squat toilets. Please note trains sometimes get delayed for numerous reasons, which is obviously beyond our control, however, we endeavour to minimise the impact of these delays on the overall itinerary. Should you wish to extend your stay, we can book additional nights for you either before the tour in Delhi, or after the tour in Calcutta - please enquire at the time of booking. Single rooms and tents are available for a supplement: the price may depend on the season you are travelling. Please advise the sales team at the time of booking if you wish to add this to your booking and they will confirm the price for you. Please note this does not include the overnight sleeper train journey.

Others

— Travel insurance — Single accommodation (available on request), excludes sleeper train — Visas or vaccinations