Sikkim Cycling Tour

Travelers are expected to arrive in Bagdogra before 2 pm and depart to Gangtok. This is a 4 ½ hour drive. Once we reach our hotel we’ll freshen up and then meet for dinner and a trip briefing.

We start our day with a morning session of meditation and prayers at the Enchey Monastery. At the gong of the bell we bow down in prayer for blessings for a safe and joyous ride. Our first day is an acclimatization ride around Gangtok. We climb up to Ganesh Tok and Hanuman Tok for the surreal viewpoint that oversees the city of Gangtok and for your first sighting of the Kangchenjunga mountain ranges. We will visit the Institute of Tibetology where your guide will walk you through the rich history of Tibetan studies, Buddhism, traditional art and detail the 11th and 12th Century palm leaf manuscripts which is preserved in the Museum. Evening is spent walking around Gangtok town and readying up for your ride the following day.

Today we cycle out to the Rumtek Monastery, which dates back to the 16th century and is currently the largest in Sikkim. En-route our 23 kms ride we will stop over at the Ban Jakhri falls for some interesting stories of witch doctors from our guide. Our trail today is through misty mountains, Sikkimese villages and paddy fields leading us to our accommodation in a quaint farm stay close to the monastery. The Rumtek monastery also houses some of the rarest Buddhist religious art objects found in the world and is also a renowned centre for Kargyu teachings.

We wake to an early morning walking tour around your farmstay understanding the Sikkimese way of life through their traditional kitchen setting, their sources of self sustenance. Post a nutritious breakfast we ride along to Yangang following the Teasta River. A 55 Kms ride with undulating climbs and thrilling down hills. Places of interest in Yangang include the Mainam Hill and given the time we will visit the Lepcha heritage center to learn of this unique East Indian community and their ways.

Our ride today is through picturesque valleys leading to Ravangla also known as Tathagata Tsal, today is an easy ride day, we explore the roots of Buddhism, its philosophies through stories of Buddha. Our stay is at another quaint farm stay today. Evening at leisure to walk around the Buddha Park and soak in the serene views of the Kanchendzonga mountain ranges.

Given the time, we will visit the Maenam Bird sanctuary in Ravangla early in the morning. Post breakfast we ride to Yuksom it’s a freewheel ride down more than 1500m to Legship, then we cycle up to Tashiding and drive from the bridge near the monastery toward Yuksom. The distance covered is 57kms, we will ride a good part of the distance. The road a little beyond Legship gets slushy and narrow. Your tour leader will decide drive distance depending on how the group is keeping up.

Today is a rest day in Yuksom, a free day to walk around loveable little historic Yuksom. You have an option to laze about in bed till breakfast time or wake up early for a round of birding and hike up to a view point. The town studded with giant prayer wheels is also the first capital of the state and houses the coronation throne of the then king. These are places that you can walk up from your hotel, we will walk about exploring Yuksom and also visit the holy Norbogang lake to make wish or two at the meeting point of the three Lamas. Dinner is a sit down meal sipping on “Chang” (local rice beer) in a Sikkimese home listening to stories of their land that they have called home.

Another day of some great cycling routes, majority of today’s ride is downhill on good tarmac roads. The descent isn’t steep, so look around and enjoy the breathtaking landscape and stop and take photos. Pelling has the best views of the Kangchenjunga mountain ranges and you will see them right outside your room at a quaint homestay we will be staying the night over at. Given the time we will drive up to the Pemayangste Monastery and listen to the evening prayers of the monks.

This has to be the best cycling day yet, we will be crossing state borders from Sikkim to West Bengal. A great way to experience India’s diversities, we will cycle through Buddhism dominated Sikkim to West Bengal with Hindu influences which will be vastly evident through its architecture, people, language and cuisines. We will ride till Jorethang and the drive up to Darjeeling via undulating curves passing through Tea estates welcoming you to the British influenced city of tea factories and toy trains.

Today is a rest day at Darjeeling, we will go to one of the oldest tea estates and learn the nuances of tea processing, making and tasting. A great place to pick up your stash of tea till your next visit, another unique experience is the toy train ride that takes you around and inside the city of Darjeeling, winding and crossing through busy streets. It’s a one of the few steam engines that is still functional in the country and the joy riding in one is nothing short of pure childlike joy.

Today we bid goodbye but before that one last view of the Eastern Himalayas, the Kangchenjunga mountain ranges, and by far the best is from the viewpoint over Tiger hill. We will drive up to tiger hill to watch the sun rise over the Himalayan ranges and drive back to Bagdogra for our onward flights. If you would like to stay longer in Darjeeling or even explore India further, we can assist with accommodation and an itinerary accordingly.