Overview

Daring Dzongri Trek - Sikkim Adventure Tours

A tour of Sikkim goes hand in hand with exploring its trekking trails. With so many fantastic treks to choose from, it’s difficult to zero in on a favourite. Still, the Dzongri trek in Gangtok vies for the top spot on the list of the best treks in Sikkim. Situated at an altitude of 4200m, the Dzongri trek offers a mix of thrill and love of nature. It is part of the longer Goechala Trek that stretches across a 50- kilometre trail usually covered in 7 days. The Dzongri trek is a condensed route that is favoured by trekkers from across the country because of its challenging terrain. Yuksom is the starting point of the trek and continues across Tsokha to finally reach Dzongri. The Dzongri view point offers spectacular views of some of the most famous peaks in the Himalayan range including Mt. Kanchenjunga, Mt. Pandim, Mt. Kumbhakarna, and Mt. Rathong among others. If you love adventure and love the mountains then this tour is for you.

Best time to visit: March to May / September to November

Please Note: This trek is recommended for seasoned trekkers and those who are physically fit. It is a fairly strenuous trek and not recommended for children below 16 years of age and those with any physical impediments like arthritis. 

6 Nights 7 Days Available on request
Inclusions/Exclusions
What we'll give. What we won't

What is included in the tour

  • Accommodation in guest house in Yuksom
  • Accommodation in tents (twin-share basis) in Tsokha, Dzongri
  • Airport/railway station transfers
  • All local transport in luxury SUV
  • All meals specified in itinerary

What is NOT included in the tour

  • Any meal not specified in itinerary
  • Any personal items including alcohol, medication etc
  • Travel Insurance
  • Air travel/train fare
  • Any personal purchase
Highlights
What makes this tour special
  • Enjoy the beauty of Kanchenjunga National Park when you stay at Yuksom
  • Take in the views of several important peaks from Dzongri
  • Enjoy overnight stays in tents at Tsokha and Dzongri
  • Discover the Buddhist landmarks of Yuksom
Itinerary
Day 1 (NJP/Bagdogra to Yuksom) (-, L, D)
  • Arrive at New Jalpaiguri Railway Station or Bagdogra Airport where our staff will receive you. From here, we drive for 5-6 hours to reach Yuksom, stopping for lunch on the way.
  • This will be the primary base for most of our trip. This picturesque hill town situated at an altitude of 1785 metres serves as a base for all the major treks in Sikkim and offers stunning views of the surrounding mountain range as well as the verdant meadows below.
  • In case you don’t have an Inner Line Permit (ILP), get it at Meli en route. We reach Yuksom in the evening and check into our guest house. A welcome drink awaits you here and after an early dinner, you can retire for the night.
  • This first day is used as a day of acclimatizing before we begin our trek.
Day 2 (Trek 14 kilometres from Yuksom to Tsokha) (B, L, D)
  • We set out early today after a quick breakfast at the guesthouse. Our trek starts fr om the local market of Yuksom from where we move northwards. Our trail brings us out of the gorge and near the right bank of the Ratong Chu River.
  • We continue trekking in the northwest direction and cross four steep overpasses to reach the small settlement of Bakkhim. From here we continue for another 3 kilometres through dense forests of rhododendron and magnolia to finally reach Tsokha.
  • Situated at an altitude of 3000 metres, Tsokha is a quaint settlement on the fringes of Kanchenjunga National Park and a popular stop for trekkers making their way to the Kanchenjunga base camp.
  • Today’s trek takes 5- 6 hours and we set up camp at Tsokha. Enjoy spending the evening around a bonfire while discussing the next day’s itinerary.
  • After dinner, retire to your tents for an early night.
Day 3 (Tsokha to Dzongri 10 kilometre trek) (B, L, D)
  • Today we make our way to our final destination- Dzongri. We set off from our campsite after breakfast and walk north across the village. The trail takes us through a dense rhododendron forest to reach the small town of Phedang (3650 metres).
  • This is a steep but picturesque ascent across pristine waterfalls and silvery brooks and takes 3 hours to reach. This is where we halt for lunch at a local restaurant. Phedang is another popular rest stop for trekkers en route the Goechala Trek.
  • From here, we continue our trek and after an exhausting 3 hours reach Dzongri. Situated at an altitude of 4030 metres, Dzongri is part of the longer Goechala Trek.
  • The Dzongri view point offers spectacular views of some of the most famous peaks in the Himalayan range including Mt. Kanchenjunga, Mt. Pandim, Mt. Kumbhakarna, and Mt. Rathong among others.
  • We cover an estimated distance of 10 kilometres today. The day’s exertions are rewarded with a lovely bonfire dinner at campsite.
  • Rest your limbs and soak in the beauty of the surroundings as you tuck into a hot meal and then retire to your tents for some well- deserved sleep.  
Day 4 (Rest day in Dzongri- acclimatization) (B, L, D)
  • After the exertions of Day 3, we will spend today resting and acclimatizing to the altitude. Explore the idyllic surroundings of Dzongri today.
  • Take a leisurely hike to the top of the hill for a panoramic view of some of the most famous mountain peaks. On a clear day, you can see Pandim (6691 metres), Narsingh (5825 metres), Ratong (6678 metres), Kabru (7353 metres) and the piece de resistance Kanchenjunga (8534 metres).
  • You can also see the spectacular Singalila Ridge in the west. Nepal stands on the other side of the Singalila and you can see the ranges on the Nepalese side from Dzongri top.
  • Return to the campsite for a bonfire dinner after which you can retire to your tents for the night.
Day 5 (Dzongri to Tsokha) (B, L, D)
  • Today we leave Dzongri and make our way back to Tsokha. We begin our return journey after breakfast at the camp and then begin our descent.
  • The trail takes us along the same route that we followed while coming to Dzongri. Once again, we halt at Phedang for lunch and a short rest before continuing the final leg of the trek to Tsokha. As before, this 10 kilometre trek takes 5- 6 hours.
  • The campsite at Tsokha is kept ready for our arrival and we can enjoy a bonfire dinner in the evening.
Day 6 (Tsokha to Yuksom) (B, L, D)
  • This is the last day of our trek. We leave Tsokha campsite after breakfast and begin our 14 kilometre descent to Yuksom.
  • The trail must be familiar by now and we stop to take some photographs on the way. As before, we walk through an enchanting rhododendron forest to reach the small village of Bakkhim where we halt for lunch.
  • From here, we continue our trek along the banks of the Ratong Chu River to finally reach Yuksom. Check into our guest house at Yuksom for your final night of the tour.
  • In the evening, you are free to explore the town and visit some of its landmarks like the Norbugang Coronation Throne and Kartok Monastery, both significant seats of Buddhist culture in Sikkim.
Day 7 (Tsokha to NJP/Bagdogra) (B, -, -)
  • After an early breakfast at the guest house we set off for the long drive back to New Jalpaiguri Railway Station or Bagdogra Airport.
  • The drive takes 5- 6 hours and you can see the topography change as we make our way down the winding mountain slopes to plainer ground.
  • Our car drops you off at the station/airport where the tour ends and you can continue your onward journey. 
Route Map