This blog is created from a real-time email query for which we tailored a cultural hiking tour in Sikkim that included village-to-village hikes, meditation and yoga while embedding a spiritual journey. Similar tours are possible in the neighbouring Darjeeling hills as well.
Best time to complete this journey/ vacation: October to April
Here the team already have plans for Bhutan, so we dropped them as required. You may return to Bagdogra or continue to Sikkim and Darjeeling as per your plan.
Dear Himalaya Trekkers Team,
We are a family of four (two parents and two active, travel-experienced teenagers) from Denmark, and we are planning a one-week journey in Sikkim this October. We are very interested in your Sikkim Monastery Trail, and would love to explore a customised version from October 4th to 11th, ending near the Bhutan border.
We are drawn to the spiritual and cultural aspects of the Monastery Trail — especially time at traditional monasteries, quiet village life, and meaningful encounters.
At the same time, we would like to keep a good level of daily physical activity as we enjoy hiking and a bit of challenge.
So ideally the journey includes:
Active days with village-to-village hiking
Opportunities for yoga or meditation in peaceful locations
Homestays or local lodges with character and warm hospitality
Tentative structure (open to your advice):
Oct 4: Arrival Bagdogra – transfer to Yuksom
Oct 5–9: Monastery Trail with trekking and homestay overnights
Combination of active walking and contemplative stops
Local food, mountain views, Buddhist atmosphere
Oct 10: Transfer to Phuentsholing / Jaigaon – maybe stops at piont of interest on the way ?
Oct 11: Cross into Bhutan (Bhutan part arranged separately)
We would kindly ask you to arrange:
Full Monastery Trail package (customised for our time frame and interests)
Local guide, accommodation, meals, permits, and ground transport
Trekking support
Inclusion of places or people who can offer gentle yoga/meditation or spiritual insights
Please let us know, if this itinerary is feasible and if you can arrange the full package, and the estimated cost per person or for the full family (4 people).
We are excited about discovering Sikkim in a way that is active, mindful and connected to local life – and hope you can help us design just the right itinerary.
Looking forward to your response and suggestions.
Dear Emma & family,
Good evening and greetings from India. Thanks for reaching out.
Our Sikkim Monastery Trail trek will mostly suit your requirements as is and with some tweaks it will serve your remaining purposes. This is a village to village trek that is physically not demanding and can be completed with teenagers or kids comfortably. We’ll be happy to guide you through this adventure.
But first, please allow me some time to consult with our ground coordinator regarding where the yoga / meditation activities will fit best on the itinerary and suggest you the itinerary accordingly.
While exiting, do you plan to be dropped off at Jaigaon directly? That’d be ~230 km on a single day and in the hilly roads it’d easily take 9/10 hours including the meal breaks. Or you can break it down like this. Maybe you stay at a forest rest house in the dense woods at the foothills of the HImalayas 2-3 hours before Jaigaon on Oct 10 and then drive to Jaigaon to cross the border the next morning i.e. on Oct 11.
Please let me know your preferences. As per your preferences and after consulting with the ground coordinator I’ll get back to you in detail.
Dear HT,
Thank you so much for your kind reply and for suggesting the Sikkim Monastery Trail. We are delighted to hear that this trek could be a good fit for our family. The “kids” are 16 and 19 and property in better shape than their mother
We are particularly happy that you will consult with your ground coordinator about including yoga and meditation during the trek. We look forward to seeing how it can be integrated.
Regarding the exit towards Bhutan:
We think your suggestion of breaking the long journey before Jaigaon makes very good sense. Staying in a forest rest house on October 10 sounds like a wonderful idea.
That way we can enjoy the final part of Sikkim more peacefully and then cross the border to Bhutan on October 11 in the morning.
We very much look forward to receiving your detailed itinerary once you have consulted with the ground team.
Warm regards,
Emma & family
Dear Emma & family,
Good evening from India.
After discussing with my on-ground team and carefully considering your valuable inputs from both emails, I’m pleased to share that we will be able to incorporate both Yoga and Meditation sessions into your itinerary.
A dedicated guide will join you and lead early morning yoga practices each day. Within the available time frame, the focus will be on:
- Introduction & Induction
- Foundation & Breathing
- Balance & Focus
- Stretch & Mobility
Some of the deeper aspects of yoga—such as Strength & Stability, Flow & Energy, and Advanced Deep Stretching—generally require more time. However, if the schedule allows, the instructor will be happy to introduce elements from these practices as well.
For your meditation experience, we have arranged a special session at the secluded monastery of Hongri. Till date the village is not connected by any functional motorable road and as a result it retains its unique charm and tranquility. At the monastery, you will be guided personally by the Lama (Head Monk) himself.
Having said that, let’s get to the itinerary.
Suggested Itinerary
Day 1: Drive from Bagdogra to Pelling hill station ~140 km – 7/8 hours. – Stay at a Kenchendzongha view homestay. Get your Inner Line Permit (RAP) done at Melli check post while entering Sikkim.
Day 2: Post breakfast take short hikes to the old palace ruins / Rabdentse ruins (second capital of Sikkim )and the adjacent sacred Pemayangtse Monastery (Only a km and half or so from the hotel/homestay/town centre). Drive to Khecheopalri village post lunch – 33 km – 1 to 2hours. You’ll meet your guide for the Sikkim Monastery Trail here at Khecheopalri.
Day 3: Yoga Session starts today at Khecheopalri. Morning hike to Tara Cave and back for a beautiful view of the valley beneath and boot shaped khecheopalri lake. In the 2nd half explore the villages and monastery adjacent to the homestay etc. In the evening we may try to learn/see momo or any local dish preparation in the kitchen.
Day 4: Hike to Yuksom ,the first capital of Sikkim in approx 4 to 5 hours. In the afternoon visit Kathok Lake, Coronation site and the local monastery at Yuksom. Homestay.
Day 5: Today we continue to Dubdi monastery (oldest in Sikkim) then to Hongri via Tsong village – 5 km – 4 hours. Accommodation in a basic homestay. Meditation Session in the afternoon.
Day 6: Trek to Chongrong village – Sunon monastery and finally to Tashiding monastery (most sacred in Sikkim) – 6 hours. Homestay. Today is the last day of the Yoga Session. The Sikkim Monastery Trail guide will debrief you here.
Day 7: Drive to Panjhora Forest Rest House via Jorethang, Melli, Coronation Bridge, Chalsa -~145 km – 7/8 hour – It’s a Govt run Forest Rest House right at the edge of Chapramari WLS by the side of Murti River. We’ll book your stay here but we can’t pre order food for you here. You need to order food here on arrival. Enjoy a serene night here. If you’re lucky, you can witness several wildlife such as Gaur (Indian Bison), Wild Boar, Elephant, Leopard, Rhinoceros coming down to the river bed to drink water. Needless to say it’s a paradise for birdwatchers.
Day 8: Drive to Jaigaon at the India Bhutan Border Checkpost via Hasimara – 88 km – 2-3 hours – crossover and continue your trip to Bhutan.
Important Notes:
- You need to reach NJP/Bagdogra latest by 11 am on Day 1, if travelling directly to Pelling. Similarly you will reach the India-Bhutan border at Jaigaon around 12 pm on Day 8. Please book your tickets accordingly.
- This itinerary is for those people who wish to leisurely walk half a day from one village to another and visit the monasteries on the trail. This is a no luxury, simple and authentic way to spend your holidays in traditional villages of Sikkim. None of these homestays offer central heating, WiFi to name a few modern amenities. Hongri is the most basic among these. It doesn’t have indoor plumbing and attached washroom facilities. Location wise all these places are secluded, serene and away from the crowds of mass tourism.
- Since you have additional days for the vaaction, we have extended the tour, keeping you at Pelling on Day 1 and taking additional side hikes to Tara Cave from Khecheopalri on Day 2.
We broke up your long day to Jaigaon and planned your stay inside the Govt-run Panjhora Forest Rest House on Day 7 i.e. on 10th Oct. Here food is not included in the package. We can only book your stay here in this Govt run Forest Rest House. Here they have a kitchen and on arrival the staff prepare food for the guests upon order. - Food during transit is not included. Your designated driver will know the area like the palm of his hand and will stop for tea/meal breaks whenever required.
- Throughout the trip major mobile networks like Airtel / Jio will work. While hiking/driving the reception may be interrupted.
- There are no ATMs available after Pelling. However, the ATMs at hilly areas i.e. Pelling/Joretang are often out of cash. Take out your cash at / before Siliguri.
TREK FEE:
INR XX,XXX + 5% GST per person, Pelling to Jaigaon, considering 4 persons joining (Including all car transportation)
The quoted TREK FEE will essentially cover all your food, stay, guide, permit and car expenses apart from your food during transit & food on Day 7, 10th Oct. Below you’ll find the detailed inclusions on the TREK FEE.
It includes:
Transportation for the entire tour as per the itinerary, in a private taxi like Toyota Innova/similar car, starting with pickup from Bagdogra Airport and Drop at Jaigaon-Phuentsholing (India-Bhutan Border) checkpost. This includes parking charges, toll taxes, permit charges and driver expenses. The driver will be able to communicate in basic English.
Yoga Sessions for 4 days (Day 3-6).
Meditation Session by the Lama (Head Monk) of the Hongri Monastery at Hongri Monastery.
Any entry tickets for Monasteries or any other tickets during the Sikkim Monastery Trail trek.
Accommodation for 7 nights in homestays on twin sharing basis during the trekking trip. Simple and basic in nature, clean beds and toilet. Running hot water/geyser, in door plumbing etc is NOT available at Hongri homestay.
All meals (B,L,D) during the trip (Day 1 dinner to day 7 breakfast). Freshly prepared Indian style vegetarian food with choice of non veg depending upon availability.
An experienced Trekking Guide for the Sikkim Monastery trail Trek, who will be able to communicate in simple basic English
Expenses of the guide.
All necessary permits for Sikkim Monastery Trail.
It doesn’t include:
Food during the car transits.
Food at Panjhora Forest Rest House on Day 7, 10th Oct.
Personal expenses such as laundry, bottled water, soft drinks etc are not included.
Any tips or gratuity to tour guide, support staff etc.
Any form of insurance.
Anything that is not particularly mentioned under inclusions
We would require ~50% of the Total TREK FEE as a Booking Deposit in the following account to ensure your participation. Your booking will abide by these Terms & Conditions. The balance payment is to be paid at least two weeks prior to the departure date.
If you have a non-Indian bank account, then we strongly recommend using money transfer apps like Wise (Erstwhile TransferWise) or Revolut, new and easy ways to send the money. These are much faster and charges/commissions are much lower than the traditional and often pretty complicated wire transfer from an International bank to an Indian bank account.
Hope that I have not missed anything important. Please review the above proposal and let us know what you think.
Dear HT,
Thank you so much for this detailed itinerary – it looks truly wonderful! We are very excited about the combination of trekking, yoga, meditation, and cultural experiences, and we look forward to this adventure with you.
We will make sure to arrange the deposit payment as soon as possible.
Warm regards,
Emma & family
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