Most Inspirational Moment
The hiking. Views on Everest and Kanchenjunga, especially at sunrise and sunset.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Very good
Reviews
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Reviews
Pleasant hike
The trek was very nice. But due partly to exceptional circumstances the driving times were far too long.. And exceptional seems to be recurrent in this part of India. My suggestion for this trip would be to skip Sikkim and find alternatives closer to Darjeeling or the Singalila rirdge and elaborate another trip for Sikkim with hiking further there.
Darjeeling, Sikkim & Singalila
Great trip, very varied itinery visiting towns & some working monasteries, location of hotels is very good. Walking too is varied – lovely walks, through forests & bamboo plus up on the ridge for a couple of days. We were lucky & got sun & clear skies – views of everest and the whole range to kanchenjunga are fantastic. Trekking staff are brilliant.
Most Inspirational Moment
Sunrise & sunset on the ridge both days - pretty special. Also witnessing the monks chanting their blessings.
Thoughts on Group Leader
He resolved the few issues that came up and everything worked well.
Advice for Potential Travellers
It is cold & windy on the ridge at night,be well prepared.
Suggestions
Trek guide/assistant - dipesh?? - was excellent, very knowledgable. Gave us alot of local history, stories & cultural information amongst other things,really nice & approachable man. Food provided by the cook on the trek was exceptional too.
Tough trek but views are amazing!
Great mix of cultural diversity and natural beauty of India – starting and ending in the manic centres of Delhi and Kolkata respectively, the majority of the trip is in quieter parts of West Bengal and Sikkim, which are simply beautiful.
Most Inspirational Moment
Sunrise and cups of tea at campsite 3 with views of Kanchenjunga, Lhotse, Mt Everest and Manaslu. It was cold but an absolutely magical experience! Also, the visit to the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute in Darjeeling - it was quite humbling to see the gear that Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hilary summitted Everest with so many years ago and how the equipment has advanced.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Rajeev Rawat. What can I say - an amazing leader....nothing was too much trouble!
Advice for Potential Travellers
Pack for all kinds of weather. We had a torrential hail storm half way through the Singalila ridge trek, followed by thick fog...so thick that we couldn’t see the tents from the dinner tent! Head torches are a definite must.
Suggestions
The Singalila trek was one of the toughest walks I have done but totally worth it for the views. India is a very different place with so much diversity - take each place visited for its own uniqueness and try everything!
Tough trek but views are amazing!
Great mix of cultural diversity and natural beauty of India – starting and ending in the manic centres of Delhi and Kolkata respectively, the majority of the trip is in quieter parts of West Bengal and Sikkim, which are simply beautiful.
Most Inspirational Moment
Sunrise and cups of tea at campsite 3 with views of Kanchenjunga, Lhotse, Mt Everest and Manaslu. It was cold but an absolutely magical experience! Also, the visit to the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute in Darjeeling - it was quite humbling to see the gear that Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hilary summitted Everest with so many years ago and how the equipment has advanced.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Rajeev Rawat. What can I say - an amazing leader....nothing was too much trouble!
Advice for Potential Travellers
Pack for all kinds of weather. We had a torrential hail storm half way through the Singalila ridge trek, followed by thick fog...so thick that we couldn’t see the tents from the dinner tent! Head torches are a definite must.
Suggestions
The Singalila trek was one of the toughest walks I have done but totally worth it for the views. India is a very different place with so much diversity - take each place visited for its own uniqueness and try everything!
Hiking in the Himilayas
Such a varied and personally challenging tour! At 73, I wondered how well I would deal with the serious elevation hike up to the Ridge. The guide, Rajeev, made hard choices when the weather was difficult. The 3 guides supported us every day so we all did our best. The view at sunrise of the mountain from the Ridge made the effort worth it. The other stops in Darjeeling and Sikkim and Kolcutta gave us a good idea of this part of the country. A well planned and varied experience.
Most Inspirational Moment
Viewing the Himalayas from the Singalila Ridge.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Although younger than the hikers, he acted with knowledge, consideration and organisation. He took all into consideration to guide us quietly. He did not sidestep making hard decisions.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Read the trip notes. Pack for all weather possibilities. We had hail in April.
There and back again; an amazing journey
This is a very varied trip, a mix of culture and exercise where we met some of the friendliest people in the world and eat fantastic food, the highlight for me being the Singalila Ridge trek.
The trip takes you from chaotic streets of Delhi, to beautiful Sikkim and its wonderful people, to Darjeeling and its busy traffic, to the edge of the high Himalayas to trek that wonderful ridge and then back to more manic city streets this time in Kolkata.
Most Inspirational Moment
On day three of the trek we were up at 5:15 and drinking an early morning cup of black tea, we were pleased to see clear skies after the previous nights thick mist. The whole group walked to a low knoll near the camp site to watch the sunrise and see the view of the high Himalaya. As the sun rose the horizon lit up. To the north Kanchenjunga rose high above the cloud, as the sun hit the mountain it lit up and glowed. To the west in the far distance there were three mountains that looked close together, the first of these to catch the sun was Everest closely followed by Makalu and then Lhotse. We were standing at a height of approximately 3500 meters, a reasonable height if you were in the Alps, I was stunned by the thought that these summits were 5 kilometers higher than us; awesome a sunrise I will never forget.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our guide/group leader Sonam was fantastic, nothing was to much trouble, his organisational skills were excellent and he made everything work like clockwork. He had a great sense of humour and I shall always remember his infectious laugh that brought a smile to everyone’s face. He showed huge respect to the local people and customs and was an excellent ambassador for his country and your company If I were to rate him on a scale of 1 to 10 I would have to say, in the words of the bass player in the film Spinal Tap, he goes up to 11. A great guy and an excellent guide/leader
Advice for Potential Travellers
My main bit of advice to potential travelers would be, don’t be put off by the long days travelling. The end result is definitely worth it. Be prepared for any weather conditions you can think of because chances are you will get it. There were a few changes to our itinerary that Exodus informed us of before we left. One of these was the 1100 meter climb to reach the top of the ridge. Don't be put off, take it easy drink plenty of water and enjoy the journey.
Suggestions
A huge thank you to all the support team, the pony boys who moved the gear every day on the trek, the cook’s team for managing the camp and ensuring a regular supply of tea. Special thanks to the cook who produced fantastic food throughout the trek and the genius who produced roast potatoes at 3500 meters; to Dipesh our local trek guide. He was incredibly knowledgeable about the local area and was great fun to be with. Last but by no means least I must say thanks to our fellow trekkers, a great bunch of people and great fun to be with. Hope to trek with them again sometime in the future it was a great trip.
My perfect India trip,
From the madness of New Delhi to the beautiful unspoilt Sikkim area. This India trip does it all.
Most Inspirational Moment
Walking though farms and villages that have not had tourists though the area before. truly magical moments.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Sonam and Dipesh, where both great leaders, full of information and kept all the group together. Any questions asked and problems where quickly answered and sorted.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Make sure you have warm clothes,it’s gets cold and windy at night on the ridge.
Suggestions
I wanted a holiday with walking and hopefully to meet local people, this trip did all that and more..if you get chance arrive a few days before and take in the delights of New Delhi. I’m glad the itinerary was changed around to do the sightseeing first, it’s helps to get to know the rest of the group before starting the trek and gets you acclimatised to the food ( if you know what I mean )
Darjeeling , Sikkim & the Singalila Ridge
This trip is wonderfully varied with each day having something different to the last. The accommodation throughout is very comfortable especially if you love an adventure. There are highlights such as heritage and eco hotels and lodges , and full service camping with roomy tents . In March and the beginning of April the weather included sunny days in the cities of Delhi and Calcutta , contrasting with cold fresh nights on camp , with a hail shower . The hotel in Delhi has a pool and relaxation facilities , and for anyone arriving earlier , there is time for city tours to see the sights . The drives from the plains to the Himalayan hill stations revealed beautiful rivers , terraced tea plantations and habitations on high and steep slopes . We visited colorful Buddhist temples and the Unesco World Heritage site of the Toy Train at Darjeeling .
Most Inspirational Moment
Being woken at 0500 and being lead by Rajeev our leader , to the top of the ridge near the Kalijar campsite to see the sunrise lighting up Kachenjunga , the 3rd highest mountain in the World , and seeing the whole range of the Himalayan snow capped mountains in front of us , which included Mount Everest in the distance . Rajeev was tremendous in pointing out and naming each individual summit . The team took the trouble to ensure we even had cups of tea and had lots of time to savour the amazing view and take photographs.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Rajeev was excellent in leading our group which had walkers with varied experience , and walking pace . He gave detailed information about the region , farming methods , his country and the mountain ranges , and answered our many questions . He is a very capable leader .
Advice for Potential Travellers
Come prepared to try out different food , and with fitness preparation for walking to summits on fairly steep slopes. Bring a camera too !
Suggestions
I think the highlights wee often the optional parts of the trip like walking to the summit of Singalila , and seeing the Everest range on a clear day so make the most of these . The 16 Zoe's , a cross between a Yak and a cow , were the fantastic animals that carried our camping gear for us , and the team of herdsman and cooks provided an amazing service during our camping trek .
Freezing but worth it
Having completed the Annapurna circuit two years ago I was looking for more Himalayan trekking but somewhere different. The views of Kanchenjunga in the sunrise and sunset are breathtaking and (weather permitting) you see Everest too! An excellent trip with a good mix between trekking and cultural exploration
Most Inspirational Moment
Waking up at dawn, in a frost covered tent, before getting to see the sun rise on the mountains.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Sonam was brilliant fun to be with. He took good acre of all of us and made sure that any backmarkers on the trek part were supported. He was kind and engaging and had a wicked sense of humour. He also brought the best cook ever to cook for us on the trek.
Advice for Potential Travellers
This trek is less strenuous than Annapurna but it's still at altitude and the fitter you are the more you will enjoy it. It got really cold in the tents and the ground was harder than you think! I'd suggest getting the thickest, warmest inflatable mattress you can afford and making sure you pack good quality merino and a really decent sleeping bag.
Suggestions
Bring earplugs if coming at Diwali. They like their fireworks loud.
Superb from start to finish
This was truly a wonderful 2 weeks. From Delhi to Calcutta, the ridge, the people and those others on the trek made this a trip to remember.
Most Inspirational Moment
The views of the Himalayas, walking along the ridge between India and Nepal and the great food we had to eat
Thoughts on Group Leader
Sonam was superb, full of knowledge and always smiling. A great character that made us laugh but lead the group well.
Advice for Potential Travellers
In autumn (mid October) it was very cold on the mountain (at night). Be ready for it. Otherwise no issues, even on the train. Make sure you get up early for the best views of the mountains (although evenings were also great). Relax, forget the world and enjoy! When it says dont take photos, dont take photos (army check points on trek)
Suggestions
Even with the weak STG, it was still cheap there.