Hike in the shadow of Kanchenjunga with MTS favorite Jamling Tenzing Norgay

Join Everest summiteer Jamling Tenzing Norgay (son of Tenzing Norgay, who made the first ascent of Everest in 1953 with Sir Edmund Hillary) on his favorite trek: an eight-day hike on his home turf of Sikkim, culminating in unbelievably spectacular views of mighty Kanchenjunga (28,208'), third highest mountain in the world. Jamling, a devout Buddhist, also tells us that this trek is a significant spiritual journey because Padmasambhava—the 8th-century saint who brought Buddhism to Tibet—is said to have meditated in the caves along these same trails. While in Sikkim, you’ll also visit grand monasteries that are thriving centers of Sikkim’s Mahayana Buddhist tradition, and have a festive farewell repast at the Tenzing Norgay residence, where you’ll have a chance to mingle with other legendary Everest climbers (friends of Jamling) and gain insight into 50 years of mountaineering history.

Activities

8 days of strenuous hiking at high elevation (max. 16,400' including optional hikes)

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

• Hike the mountain trails of Sikkim with Everest summiteer (and Sikkim local) Jamling Tenzing Norgay
• Visit the home of legendary Everest hero Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and visit his personal museum (not open to the public)
• Take in spectacular views of Kanchenjunga, third highest mountain in the world!
• Meet the Tibetan and Lepcha people, inhabitants of the eastern Himalaya

Duration: 13 days Start Location: Delhi End Location: Delhi

BRIEF Itinerary

• Day 1 : Arrive in Delhi

  Arrive in Delhi, India.

• Day 2 : Delhi to Darjeeling (7,500')

  Fly to Bagdogra and drive to Darjeeling (7,500'), the gem of British colonial hill towns. (3 hours driving)

• Day 3 : Darjeeling

  Tour Darjeeling, enjoy the first views of Kanchenjunga, and visit the Norgay family’s Darjeeling residence.

• Day 4 : Darjeeling to Yoksum (5,800')

  Drive to Yoksum. Visit the sacred monastery and the coronation site of the first king of Sikkim. (5 hours driving)

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  Day 5 : Yoksum to Bakhim (8,800')

  Hike to Bakhim through scenic woods and the Ratong Valley. (6 hours hiking)

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  Day 6 : Bakhim to Dzongri (13,221')

  Today is the most challenging day of the trek as we gain altitude and ascents are steep on the way to Dzongri. (6 hours hiking)

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  Day 7 : Day hike to Gingay Dara (14,200')

  Day hike to Gingay Dara for panoramic vistas. (4 hours hiking roundtrip)

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  Day 8 : Dzongri to Thangshing (12,900')

  Hike to Thangshing with fantastic views of Kabru, Sinolchu, Siomvu, Pandim and Goecha peaks. Optional afternoon hike to Jopuno (15,000').

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  Day 9 : Thangshing to Lamuney (13,700')

  Hike to Lamuney through Onglathang Valley. Optional day hikes to Samiti Lake (14,400') or the base of Mount Tinchin Khang’s glacier (15,500').

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  Day 10 : Day hike to Goecha La (16,400') – Thangshing (12,900')

  Day hike to Goecha La (16,400') for the best views of the Kanchenjunga massif, then return to Thangshing. (7 hours hiking)

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  Day 11 : Thanshing – Phedang – Bakhim

  We'll spend today trekking back to Bakhim along a trail that passes through Phedang and Choka. (6 hours hiking)

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  Day 12 : Yoksum - Darjeeling

  Hike to Yoksum and meet our vehicle for the drive to Darjeeling. We'll cap off the trip with a farewell dinner with Jamling and his family. (3 hours hiking, 5 hours driving)

• Day 13 : Darjeeling to Bagdogra/Delhi

  Return to Bagdogra and fly to Delhi. Fly home in the evening, or join us on an extension trip in India!

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  Elgin Hotel

  Darjeeling

  The Elgin Darjeeling A luxury heritage hotel in Darjeeling.

  Darjeeling- from ‘ Dorji Ling' means the ‘God of Thunder'. Small wonder then that in the quaint little hill station, the weather varies from the pleasant, to cold to very cold. As you enter The Elgin - warmth hugs you and makes you feel at home with a glass of sparkling cherry liquor and a silken Khada draped around your neck. Snug and cozy in an interior decked with etchings of G.Douglas, lithographs of Daniell, period Burma teak furniture, oak floor boards and paneling, crackling fireplaces, candle-lit tables and strains of music from the grand piano, you realize the meaning of palpable ‘old world charm' which has played host to dignitaries like the US Ambassador and the Crown Prince of Sikkim to Dominique Lapierre and Mark Tully. The hotel has stories to tell from the time of its first owner the Maharaja of Cooch Behar to Nancy Oakley in the 1950s.

• Radisson Hotel

  New Delhi

  The closest hotel to the Delhi Airport (3 miles), the five star Radisson Hotel Delhi is located near the business hub of Gurgaon in the New Delhi National Capital Region (NCR). This business hotel in New Delhi has a large inventory of rooms, exceptional services for the corporate traveler and on-site dining at The Great Kabab Factory, 
  
   

Properties shown are representative of the accommodations we use on this trip, may not be inclusive of all accommodations we use, and are subject to change.

Expert leadership is the key to an exciting, unforgettable experience. Our trips feature gifted leaders for whom leading trips is a true vocation. Besides showing you wonders you’d never find on your own, they make sure everything runs smoothly and safely without a hitch. They are knowledgeable about all aspects of your trip, and take great pleasure in sharing their insights with you. More than just guides, they positively elevate your experience by being teachers, companions, and the best of friends. You’ll be in good hands with them every step of the way.

• Jamling Tenzing Norgay

  In 1996 Jamling Tenzing Norgay realized his childhood dream of climbing Mt. Everest with the IMAX Everest Film Expedition and unfolded the Tibetan flag on the summit. The son of Tenzing Norgay, who summitted Everest in 1953 with Sir Edmund Hillary, Jamling is a charming young man gifted with many skills besides his outdoor exploits. A black-belt karate instructor and avid rafter and skier, Jamling had led many treks in Sikkim, Nepal, India and Bhutan. We are very proud of his association with Mountain Travel Sobek and are confident you will greatly enjoy his leadership. He was featured in a recent article in the San Francisco Examiner and is one of the protagonists of the new National Geographic Imax film on Everest.

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