North Sikkim Biking Tour

Duration : 9 days
Difficulty : Difficult (Recommended for regular bikers with good fitness)
Tour Code - AS902

Bagdogra - Gangtok (1n) - Singhik (1n) - Lachung (1n) - Yumthang (1n) - Lachen (1n) - Thangu (1n) - Singhik (1n) - Rumtek (1n) - Bagdogra.

The tour originates in Gangtok and takes you to North Sikkim, some of the most attractive high altitude tourist destinations anywhere.

Day 1- Arrival at Bagdogra airport and transfer to Gangtok by vehicle. Check in hotel and relax. Preparation for next day biking. Travel time is about 5 hours and distance covered 125 Km.

Day 2 - Today you start your biking as your bike to Singhik (70 km, 7 hours biking). You will be biking through NH31A and passing through Phodong to reach Singhik (altitude 5,500 feet). The biking surface is moderately uphill. Road traffic would mostly consist of Army and Tourist vehicles. Overnight stay at Singhik.

Day 3 – Today you will be biking to Lachung from Singhik. The route here continues to follow the National Highway and it is moderately uphill. On the way you will pass through Chungthang. Lachung at an altitude of 8,600 feet is the base from where visitors go to Yumthang valley. Today total distance covered by you will be about 55 Km and the biking time would be about 5 Hours.

Day 4 – Today you will visit the Yumthang valley and return to stay at Lachung overnight. Yumthang is also called the valley of flowers and is located at an altitude of 12000 ft. You will reach this hight Biking to Yumthang Valley of flowers and Camp overnight 12000ft. Road condition – mixed surface with gentle climb. Traffic movement – moderate

Day 5 – Bike to Lachen from Lachung. You will follow river Lachung Chu to bike down to Chungthang at the confluence of rivers Lachen Chu and Lachung Chu. From Chungthang you will follow Lachen Chu upstream to reach Lachen (9000ft). The small tourist village is the base for your next day travel to Thangu. You can expect a mix of smooth and rough surface with moderate downhill till Chungthang and Steep climb till Lachen. Traffic movement is limited with mostly Indian army vehicles and tourist vehicles on the road. Total distance covered 55 Km time taken approximately 5 Hours.

Day 6 – The days highlight is a trip to Thangu and Chopta Valley (13200 ft). Biking to high altitude vallyes at Chopta and Thangu (13,200 ft), Camp Overnight at Thangu. Road climbs steep uphill till Thangu. Few vehicles on the road except some army and tourist vehciels. You have to travel about 30 Km in 3 Hours.

Day 7 – Today you will bike down to Singhik. Total distance is about 95 km and the drive is mostly downhill. You will be coming down from an altitude of about 13200 ft to just 5000 ft.

Day 8 - Singhik To Rumtek via Dikchu. The road condition is smooth except in some small stretches. Rumtek at an altitude of about 4500 ft is the most important monastery in Sikkim. Traffic movement is low as this is not the common route. Total distance would be about 60 km travel duration about 6 hours.

Day 9 - Rumtek To Bagdogra by car. Drop at Bagdogra airport 125 km 4 hours. Tour ends at Bagdogra.

Related Issues

Comments :
A relatively tough program. Good physical fitness with experience in mountain biking is required.

Bikes
naturebeyond owns its mountain bikes which are Imported Trek Bikes. Guests may bring their own bike if wished.

Guide
Our guide will be with tour throughout the program taking care of guest needs.

Support vehicle
Support vehicle (4 wheelers) will accompany groups of mountain bikers. In steeper climbs the bikers may use the vehicle.

Accommodation and Food
Accommodation will be arranged in the places as per guest specification and budget. Some of the places traveled may not have much choice of accommodations. Most of the lunches will be prepacked and the other meals will be arranged at the place of stay.

Medical facilities
The team will carry first aid kit, naturebeyond guide is well aware of the first aid procedures. In case of emergency, the support vehicle may be used for transfer to the nearest medical facility. Significant medical infrastructure is available only in the major towns such as Darjeeling, Gangtok, Siliguri, Kalimpong.

Travel Insurance
Travel Insurance is the responsibility of the guest.

Permits
naturebeyond will arrange for all the necessary permits for the tour, guests are required to provide the information and documents as and when required by naturebeyond.

PACKAGE INCLUDES
• Accommodation in all the hotels on single / twin / triple sharing basis.
• Breakfast, Lunch, evening tea and Dinner on all days.
• All prevailing taxes like Service Tax and Luxury tax in all hotels wherever applicable.
• Services of a guide.
• Inter state road tax, toll tax, driver’s allowance, parking etc.

PACKAGE DOES NOT INCLUDE
Expenditure incurred on tips, telephone, beverages, travel insurance, laundry, other expenses of personal nature, any other expense not mentioned in 'cost includes' above. Any lunch, dinner, snacks, mineral water etc. unless mentioned in the itinerary.