Birds & Mammals of Cold Desert Of North Sikkim
7 Nights / 8 Days
Day 1
Arrival at Mangan
Arrive at Mangan. Overnight stay in Mangan, Homestay
Day 2
Mangan – Lachung
After morning birding around Mangan and restricted area permits are ready head to Lachung (Lachung is a town and hill station in northeast Sikkim, India. It is located in the North Sikkim district near the border with Tibet. Lachung is at an elevation of about 9,600 feet (2,900 m) and at the confluence of the Lachen and Lachung Rivers, both tributaries of the River Teesta. The word Lachung means “small pass”. The town is approximately 125 kilometers from the capital Gangtok) Travel time – 06 hours. We will be birding all the way to Lachung.
Day 3
Lachung – Yumgthang – Zero point – Lachung
A day excursion to Yumgthang Valley ,Singhba Rhododendron Sanctuary and beyond for birding in the beautiful Yumgthang valley the Yumthang Valley is a grazing pasture surrounded by the Himalayan mountains. It is at an elevation of 3,564 meters (11,693 ft.), it is popularly known as ‘Valley of Flowers, which has over twenty-four species of the rhododendron. Yumthang is closed between December and March due to heavy snowfall. Species to look out for the day include Snow Pigeon, Blood Pheasants, White-throated Dipper, Spot-winged Grosbeak, White- winged Grosbeak, Grandala , Goldcrest , Gould’s Shortwing(May) and many more. Overnight stay in Lachung.
Day 4
Lachung – Kalep
Early morning birding on the way head to Kalep (3500 meters) time travel to Kalep is 03 hour but we will ascend slowly birding and acclimatizing to the altitude. Kalep is the base to the Chopta Valley and Gurudongmar Lake. Overnight stay in Kalep.
Day 5 & 6
Kalep – Gurudongmar – Kalep
The Trans Himalayas beyond Kalep /Thangu is home to Grandala, Hume’s Groundpecker, Robin Accentor, Great Rosefinch, Streaked Rosefinch, Rufous-necked Snowfinch, Tibetan Snowfinch, and White-rumped Snowfinch. For anyone interested in trans-Himalayan species then this is one of the favorite sites for birding. The plateau is also home to many mammals like Tibetan Sandfox, Tibetan Argali, Tibetan Gazelle, Wolly Hare, Black-lipped Pika, Himalayan Marmot, Blue Sheep and Southern Tibetan Kiang Foreign Nationality is permitted only till Thangu and Indian are allowed only till 12 PM noon in Gurudongmar area due to extreme weather Overnight stay in Kalep.
Day 7
Kalep – Mangan
After the morning session of birding around Thangu and Kalep head to Mangan-08 hours.
Day 8
Mangan – Airport Drop
Farewell and conclusion of the tour
Tips for the Tour
- Warm Cloths, Jackets & Gloves as temperature can go to minus, Sunglasses
- Medicine for headache, bodyache, high-altitude sickness etc
- Good trekking shoes and pants
- Water bottle
- Binoculars and Camera