The unspoiled forests, valleys and mountains –tea gardens – Darjeeling – majestic view of Kanchenjunga and mount Everest – dzongu – lachung – yumthang valley – yume samdong – ravangla – pelling – Pema Yangtse monastery – tashiding – yuksom – rumtek – Gangtok – phodong – Labrang – Kalimpong –
Come join us on Sikkim Darjeeling Motorcycle Tour. SIKKIM is in Eastern Himalayas, sandwiched between Nepal to its west and Bhutan to its east. In the north is Tibet. To the south is the Indian State of West Bengal. It is the second smallest state in India (approx. Area 7300 sq. km), only 112km in length and 64 km wide. Flatland is a rarity. Sikkim once covered a much larger area, but now begins at the foot of the mountains. It is dominated by Khangchendzonga, which means the ‘Five Treasures of the Great Snows’. According to Sikkimese belief, it is the repository of minerals, grains, salt, weapons, and Holy Scriptures. On its West Side is the massive 31km long Zemu glacier. Sikkim Darjeeling Motorcycle Tour will cover Part of North, South, East and West Sikkim and Darjeeling. Sikkim has formally become India’s first fully organic state after it successfully implemented organic farming practices on around 75,000 hectares of agricultural land.
Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive in DELHI / KOLKATTA.
We will meet you at Delhi Airport or Kolkatta Airport and transfer you to your Hotel. Because fellow group members may be arriving on different flights, we will wait to meet the fellow group members on the next day at the breakfast table and the staff at the dinner table.
Day 2
DELHI / KOLKATTA – BAGDOGRA – GANGTOK
Today we rise very early to board our flight to Bagdogra. On arrival in Bagdogra, we will be transferred to Gangtok by minibus which takes approx. 3 – 4 Hrs. We have to stop at the Sikkim border to get the Sikkim Inner Line Permit.
Day 3
AT GANGTOK (1650 M / 5400 FT)
Post breakfast We will meet the tour staff waiting with the motorcycles and have a briefing to cover safety precautions, touring style, road conditions, and check personal equipment, with time to select our bikes and become familiar with starting procedures, control layouts, and bike handling. We do a trial ride through Gangtok city (Capital of Sikkim), visiting Tashi View Point, Lingdum, and Rumtek Monastery.
Post breakfast we ride to Lachung North Sikkim through a beautiful scenic road. Passing through waterfalls famous for Bollywood movie shots. From March till May the seasonal wildflower blooms and birding. We can view the Himalayas to their optimum beauty and grandeur and the panorama is completed by the mighty Kanchendzonga. Visit Lachung Monastery and Village.
Day 5
AT LACHUNG
Today will be a day excursion ride to YUMTHANG VALLEY (3600 M / 11800 FT) and YUME SAMDONG (4725 M / 15500 FT). From the month of March till May, Yumthang Valley is full of Rhododendrons, 38 different species of Rhododendrons grow in Yumthang Valley – Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary.
Post breakfast ride to the hidden part of Sikkim – Dzongu. We will ride back to Mangan on the same road and cross the bridge over the Teesta River towards the Dzongu area. We have to stop in Mangan to get a protected area permit to visit Dzongu. Post lunch Ride up to Lingthem Monastery to have a magnificent view of Kanchenjunga.
Day 7
AT DZONGU
(80 Kms Round trip) Today we will ride in the Upper Dzongu area – offroad and road on the river bed in the sand, water crossing. Roads can be really fun today if you like off-roading. We will ride through the villages of the Dzongu region and will have some time to relax in the medicinal hot springs.
Post breakfast we will ride taking the narrow mountain roads through deep valleys, remote passes, and Tea Plantations, visiting Ravangla Tibetan settlement and the beautiful village Ravangla located on the ridge separating the Teesta valley from the Rangit valley. The prime attraction of Ravangla is the unobstructed views of the snow peaks it offers breathtaking views of Kanchanjungha along with its sister peaks of Pandim, Kabru, Sinialchu, and many others. After a long, twisty motorcycle ride at various altitudes. We will visit Buddha Park and Ralang Monastery.
Post breakfast we will ride through terraced farms, lush sub-tropical vegetation, and occasional villages till you reach Pelling en route we will visit Tashiding Monastery and Yuksom which is the oldest capital of Sikkim where the first king of Sikkim was consecrated in 1642 A. It is set in loneliness and tranquility amidst the beautiful mountainous backdrop. In Pelling, we will visit the second oldest Pemayangtse Monastery of Sikkim built-in 1716, ruins of Rabdantse.
We will wake up early and ride to the Sangacholing Monastery where sunrise over Kangchenjunga and the adjoining peaks can be seen on a clear day. Post breakfast we will be riding out of Sikkim through the Melli to get an exit from Sikkim. We will ride through lush sub-tropical vegetation, villages, and Tea Gardens with the view of the Majestic Kanchanjungha.
Day 11
AT DARJEELING
Today you have the option to do a tour without a Motorcycle visiting Tiger Hill early in the morning to have a view of the Himalayan Mountain Range at 4 AM (If the weather is clear and nice you can even see Everest. Post breakfast a short train ride on the 100 years old Himalayan railway (Steam Engine) Visit Himalayan Zoo, Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, and Tea factory.
Post breakfast ride to Gangtok via Kalimpong “the city of gladiolas” 80% of Indian Gladiolas are produced here. Visit the town and ride further to Gangtok. Stop at Melli Check Post to get the Sikkim Permit for 1 more day.
Day 13
GANGTOK – BAGDOGRA – KOLKATTA / DELHI
Post breakfast drive to Bagdogra to board the flight to Delhi / Kolkatta.
Day 14
KOLKATTA / DELHI
Transfer to the Airport to board the flight back home.
Cost Includes:
Royal Enfield Standard 500cc / Himalayan 411cc / Himalayan Scram 411cc
Spare parts for the bikes
Support Vehicle for luggage.
Toyota Innova / Small Bus.
Mechanic
English Speaking Road captain / Tour guide
Fuel & Oil
First Aid Equipment
Breakfast, Lunch, dinner
Hotels 3*-4* / Heritage
Fixed Camp
Internal Flights
Inner Line Permit
Oxygen in the unlikely event of altitude sickness
Cost Does Not Include:
Any part broken while riding will be payable extra
The expense of personal nature viz laundry, telephone calls, tips, mineral water, beverages, etc.
Expense arises due to unforeseen circumstances like roadblocks, landslides, flight cancellation, etc.