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Jon Prosser
Yorkshire, England 13 - 22March, 2018Jon Prosser & Nina Sikkim Trip Yes we really enjoyed our trip to Sikkim. Our unusual needs were well met but our guide Anand. He was
Village walking tour of Sikkim
Walking tour that delves deeper into village life.
6
Days
VILLAGETOUR
Trip highlights
- Explore Upper Martam, Temi Tea Garden village and smaller one along the roadside whilst driving
- Visit attractions and sights in Gangtok
- Interaction with villagers, school Visit, scenic moderate village hike.
- Visit factory in Temi Tea Garden, interaction with Tea workers, walk in Tea garden.
A few can claim to be a short trip but it's good enough to cover some of pleasantly old fashioned yet charming villages in east and southern Sikkim. This 5 nights/ 6 days trip is specially curated so that we can delve deeper into life sustained in villages combined with adequate amount of walking as the title itself suggest. Arguably, through setting pace of walk of our own, it can be best way to feel the pulse of life in village. We can make a spirited effort to be part of system, ambience and daily life of villages by striking chord with friendly locales through greater interaction, school visit, cooking and learning the art of making local cuisine, home stay etc.
Also, we have incorporated excursion visit to bustling & youthful capital - Gangtok and not to miss attractions and sights. Temi Tea Garden is the only tea garden in Sikkim that just not only boast of bio - organic tea but also great weather. Watch tea workers in action -plucking fresh leaves and also making of tea in factory. Visit villages that revolve on tea garden for the living, etc.
Outline Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Upper Martam Village (4500 feet)
Pick up could be from Bhutan/India border, Bagdogra airport or NJP train station in Siliguri. Meet guide & Driver and arrive in upper Martam village (East Sikkim). Toward evening take a gentle walk to visit Martam village which is close by. This will be first introduction to village life in Sikkim. Overnight in Hotel
Day 2: In Martam
Today, embark on a scenic hike to visit next village. It takes around 2 hours one way and hike is a mixture of forest and terraced rice field trail walk. It traverses rich sub tropical forest, traditional houses with granary, vast expanse of rice field. Traditional lunch in local home. After, visit Hindu Krishna Temple and village tour. On the way back, we'll take different route that end near the school. School and village visit.
Overnight in Hotel
Day 3: Excursion to Gangtok. (5250 feet/36 km/ 1 - 2 hours)
Gangtok is the exuberant capital of Sikkim. After breakfast, drive to Gangtok. Visit prominent attractions such as Directorate of Handloom and Handicraft, Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, Enchey Monastery, Flower Exhibition Centre, Do Drul Chorten, vibrant Lal Bazar Market. On the way back, visit Rumtex Monastery - main seat for Karma Kagyu lineage of Vajrayana Buddhism. After, take a short hike of 1 -2 hours to cover 6 km stretch to reach the hotel. Its on paved road but with very less vehicular traffic. Overnight in Hotel.
Day 4: Drive to Temi Tea Garden (6900 feet/98 km/ 3- 4 hours)
After breakfast drive to organic Temi Tea Garden. The drive profile are it's a brief descent and on relatively flat road for almost 30 km, after as you ascend there is distinct changes in vegetation, gradually sub tropical vegetation give way to temperate, such as pines, conifers, fir Hemlock combined with perennial clear white clouds add to mystical allure. Stop at Ravangla and visit Buddha Park. Upon arrival, take a walk in beautiful tea estate. Overnight in Hotel (Option of Home Stay)
Day 5: In Temi.
Full day in Temi Tea Garden Hotel is idyllically located on the top overlooking lush green tea garden and mountain ranges. After breakfast, we will visit village, which is nearby to hotel. Interact with villagers, delve into their daily life. Later visit School, Tea factory, walk in Tea garden and interaction with Tea worker. Overnight in Hotel. (Option of Home Stay)
Day 6: Transfer to Bagdogra airport (4- 5 hrs)
Ideally, we start early to cover traffic congestion nearby airport, if any.
Optional:
We can arrange local cultural show in evening.
Meeting & interaction with some literally figure such as one who has published books on Sikkim (Subject to availability).
Learn and cook the local cuisine.
Group SizeAny group Size
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MealsFull Board
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Trip Accommodation1. In Upper Martam Village - Martam Retreat hotel
2. In Temi Tea Garden - Cherry Resort/ Local Home Stay -
RouteMartham- Gangtok-Temi
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Trip Type Cultural Tour
Village Tour
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Trip SeasonsThis tour can be done throughout the year due to its ideal altitude of 1300 to 2100 m. Except it can be reasonably wet during july and August. Even peak winter can be pleasant with clear blue sky and warm sun.
Best MonthsJanuary, February, March, April, October, November, December
Good MonthsMay, September
Lean MonthsJune, July, August
Prices & Dates
Starting from USD$ 550 based on group size, travel date, hotels etc. Please ask us for details.
Included
- Accommodation on twin sharing basis in tourist standard hotel.
- All meals
- All transfer and sightseeing in good quality vehicle.
- English Speaking guide.
Not included
- International Airfare
- Any aspect that is not enlisted in Included Section
Accommodations
Hotels in Gangtok
Hotels in Temi
Cherry Resort
Set amid a lush green carpet of manicured tea gardens, with 360 degree views of Mt. Kangchendzonga and the Tista River gorge nearly 8000 metres below, Cherry Resort sets a new standard for Himalayan hill resorts. Every spacious room has a deck lookin...
Trip Guide/Leader
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Anand Thapa
×Anand Thapa
Anand Thapa who hail from Jaigoan – one horse town that border with south west commercial hub, Phuentsholing, Bhutan. He had his schooling in Bhutan. Later he went to Darjeeling to pursue further education. With the lush green tea garden, colonial churches and looming Mt Kanchenjunga captured his imagination, this is how travelling struck him deep.
After his studies, he went to Kathmandu and to different cities in India, making a living doing odds jobs. Finally, he joined Wind Horse tours overlooking the affairs of guests relations, marketing in 2013. Meeting and interaction with guests from different walk of life have fuelled his passion to a new height and claims to be a huge influence as a learning experience.
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Nima Dhondup Bhutia
×Nima Dhondup Bhutia
Nima Dhondup Bhutia is the senior most guide for Darjeeling, Sikkim and Doars Tour. From past political turmoil to changing tourism scenario in the region, he has seen it all from close quarter. His career as guide started from 1980, and going great gun still. His experience along with amicable nature and soft-spokenness brings forth a subtle difference in every tour that he conducts.
He was born and brought up in Tibetan Self-help camp in Darjeeling, when it was still quaint and serene towns unlike now. He still remember fondly the days of yore and growing changes that the time dictates. He graduated from one of prestigious school – Mt Hermon school in 1977. You will still find vestige of old school of English in his accent.
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Dawa Lama
×Dawa Lama
Dawa Lama hails from queen of hills – Darjeeling. He is well versed in cultural aspects but his love for mountains, wilderness of Trek is more profound. For his love for the trek, he treaded many paths less travelled. He feels at peace and at home in mountains and he believes that being in mountain is being close to his root and to his very existence. To give wings to his passion, he enlisted in mountaineering course in H.M.I. Darjeeling and disaster management course and completed in flying colours after one and half years .
Following the tradition, he started as a a cultural guide in 2008, simultaneously, he was pursuing his degree course also and completed in 2004. His early education was in school run by Jesuits father. He grew up watching the sun rises at far horizon of eastern Himalayas from Tiger hill, which still is one of his favorite place.
Reviews / Testimonials
Trip Photos
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- Rumtex Monaster – main seat of Karma Kagyu Lineage of Vajrayana Buddhism.
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- View of Upper Martam Village
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- Tathagata Tsal or Buddha Park in Ravangla
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- Kids after school in Temi Tea Garden
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- Lady Tea Worker in Temi Tea Garden
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- Students in traditional Nepalese dress before Teacher day celebration
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- Students in Lepcha dress (indigenous people of Sikkim) before Teacher Day celebration in Martam Village School.
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- Mask at Directorate of Handloom and Handicraft in Gangtok
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- Lady Tea Workers in action in Temi Tea Garden
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- At Flower Exhibition Centre (Gangtok)
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- measured share of Vegetable for sale at local market
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- Lady in traditional Nepalese dress selling spices at Local Market.
