Sikkim awaits discovery. Until recently a Buddhist mountain kingdom, the newest state of India, situated between Nepal and Bhutan, retains a pristine quality amidst modern comforts and amenities. Its rich forests harbor unusual wildlife and stunning floral displays, including hundreds of wild orchid species and dozens of rhododendron varieties. Kanchendzonga (8,586m/28,169ft), guardian mountain of Sikkim, and other peaks soar above rushing streams. New ecotourism policies aim to regulate tourists’ impacts while serving local needs.
Your Sikkim jourey begins at the base of the Eastern Himalaya (by flight from kahtmandu, Calcutta or Dehli) and continues by road up to Gangtok (1,547m/5,075ft), hillside capital of Sikkim. Day and overnight trips visit Rumtek monastery, seat of the 17th Reincarnate Karmapa, colorful,l bazaars, tea gardens, and the lush forests of north and west Sikkim.

• Dzongri Rhododendron Trek
  15 days travel (5 or 9 days trekking). Moderate to Moderately Challenging. Camping and Lodge Trek. Min/Max: 1,790m-4,030m.
  One of the greatest wonders of the Himlalya is the spring rhododendron bloom: 10 meter high trees covered in crimson red blossoms, floral bouquets of yellow or lavender, and tiny clusters of orange and cream colored petals carpeting the high altitude slopes.
  This trek through Sikkim’s spectacular rhododendron forests begins at Yuksom (1,790m/5,872ft), and follows well tended paths through misty fir forests to the village of Tsoka, and on to a panoramic viewpoint at Dzongri (4,030m/13,218ft). The shorter trip returns to Yuksom; the longer continues on to the glacial lakes at Goeche La (4,940m/16200ft) at the base of Kangchendzonga. The trai circles back to Tsoka via another route, and ends with an overnight stay at Pemayangtse monastery.
  
  
• Buddhist Sites of Sikkim and Darjeeling/Kalmpong
  8-10 days trave, no trekking. Gentle. Overland Cultural Trip. Min/Max: 1,500m-2,500m.
  After a tour of Gangtok, you’ll venture into the countryside where roaring waterfalls and bird song are back-drop to a restful respite. Wistful prayer flags line the seldom traveled roads. Day trips take you to Rumtek and Phodang monasteries, one humming with scholastic activity, another in sleepy meditation. Then you’ll head west to visit the Temi tea estates en route to Yuksom, quiet vale and site of Sikkim’s oldest monastery, Dubdi. Continue on by vechicle to sacred Kechepari Lake, ringed in prayer flags, and then to Pemayangtse monastery, holding treasured of the previous royal lineage, and famous for its overlook on the Himalaya. Two nights stay at Darjeeling or Kalimpong recalls the charms of these historic hill stations and trade posts, panoramic views of the eastern Himalaya.
  
  
• Extensions: North sikkim
  3-4 days travel, no trekking. Gentle. Overland Cultural Trip. Min/Max: 1,500m-2,500m.
  Recently opened to tourists, the Lachung Valley of North Sikkim holds cultural fascination amidst its physical grandeur. This glacially carved valley is graced by snowcapped ridges, magnificent fir and rhododendron forests, and an isolated serenity. Sikkimese hospitality abounds in alpine style mountain lodges, where local foods and drink are customized to your taste.
  
  
• Darjeeling/Kalimpong
  4-6 days travel, no trekking. Gentle. Overland Cultural Trip. Min/Max: 1,500m-2,100m.
  Renowned as one of India’s most popular hill stations during the British Raj, Darjeeling still holds its historic glamour: the narrow-gauge railway, Victorian guest houses, and the taste of freshly grown local tea, amidst today’s attractions including an excellent mountaineering museum, a zoo and botanical garden, and mo0ring sunrise on Kanchendzonga. On a nearby hilltop, Kalimpng claims its own history as a border trade post to Tibet. Now a sleepy town knows for its flowers and idyllic climate, a short stay in Kalimpong offers a relaxing finish to your eastern Himalayan holiday.