Sikkim & Darjeeling
Sandakphu Trek
Sandakphu Trek on Singalila Ridge: Fixed group departures for Spring-Summer 2026 are published and marked in the calendar of the Booking Inquiry…
- Duration
- 6 Days
- Max Altitude
- 3636 m
- Trail
- 45 km
- From
- ₹13,500
The “Sikkim monastery homestay trek” is intended for travellers who wish to visit Sikkim and experience local culture and tradition while staying in simple homestay accommodation and eating as locals do.
The itinerary is designed so that you can get an idea of rural Sikkim and its existence. Most of these Nepalese and Tibetan ethnic people once settled in Sikkim, following Buddhism. It has profound influences on the local culture and traditions.
The circuit we follow is within west Sikkim. The tour selectively caters to places and monasteries that are not popular with tourists but are traditionally important to local people. This one-of-a-kind Sikkim homestay trek will undoubtedly satisfy travellers who want to witness and experience vibrant Sikkimese tradition in a simple and down-to-earth way.



Our Sikkim monastery trail homestay trek circuit starts from Khecheopalri village. A picturesque village that is located on a small hilltop beside the sacred lake from which the village gets its name.


The boot-shaped lake derives its name from Kha-Chot-Palri (meaning the heaven of Padmasambhava/Guru Rinpoche). According to folklore, it is the thorax of the human body, with the other three being Yuksom (the third eye), Tashiding (head), and Pemayangtse (heart).

From Khecheopalri, we start our walk and head to Yuksom, a quaint small town. Historically, this was the first capital of Sikkim, established almost 400 years ago. This is also the start and end point of the most popular trek in Sikkim, i.e. Goecha La Trek. This place has also has a lake, a coronation throne site and monastery to check.



On our walk amidst the forest, we will visit Dubdi monastery, the oldest monastery in Sikkim, and at the end, Tashiding, supposedly the holiest of all. Also, we will look at Yuksom, Hongri, and Sunon monasteries, certainly not the “big ones,” (e.g. Pemayangtse or Rumtek) but indeed serene and mostly untouched.
This walk from one homestay to another is through low-altitude evergreen forest, valleys, and villages. Hikes are of a half-day nature on an easy, well-defined trail, yet they are pretty charming. At the end of each day’s hike, you will settle into a homestay until you move out the next morning.








Day 1: Reach NJP/Bagdogra (latest by 10 am) and drive to Khecheopalri village via Jorethang and Pelling – 150 Km – 7 to 8 hours. Homestay accommodation. Foreigners may also arrive Khecheopalri from Darjeeling via the shorter Nayabazar Jorethang route now (as you can get your ILP/RAP at Ramam Checkpost, West Bengal – Sikkim border).
Day 2: Hike to Yuksom, approx 4 to 5 hours. In the afternoon visit Kathok Lake, Coronation site and the local monastery at Yuksom. Homestay.
Day 3: Today we continue to Dubdi monastery (oldest in Sikkim) then to Tsong vilalge to Hongri – 5 Km – 4 hours. Accommodation in basic homestay.
Day 4: Trek to Chongrong vilalge – Sunon monastery and finally to Tashiding monastery (holiest in Sikkim) – 6 hours. Homestay.
Day 5 : Drive back to NJP or Bagdogra – 130 Km – 7 to 8 hours – Or continue your tour inside Sikkim-Darjeeling.
Note:
You can walk on this trail throughout the year. It is better to avoid this circuit from the month of June to September during monsoon. However there is no restrictions as such for the permits.
Mid February to mid April is Rhododendron blooming season on this trail around ~ 2000 m. November to January remains dry along with clear skies.
If you are keen on local culture and tradition this is perhaps one of the most authentic ways to pay a visit to Sikkim. We deliberately omitted popular places like Gangtok Namchi, Ravangla or Pelling in the itinerary. This is particularly suitable for you who will be travelling Sikkim for a longer duration and adding this unique trail in your Sikkim visit or who like to get a feel of core Sikkim.
Apart from witnessing traditional villages and culture you will get ample chance to document, as you wish, be it through your lenses, in writing, sketches and so on.






Buddhism is a subtle and perceptive philosophy that teaches a way of life that is based on human qualities of kindness, generosity and morality. Over the centuries many schools of Buddhist thought began with great teachers and monks and among them the three most important schools are – Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana.
In Sikkim, where Buddhism only arrived in the seventeenth century, from Tibet, all the monasteries belong to Vajrayana School, or the Thunderbolt Vehicle. At times called the Diamond vehicle, Vajrayana Buddhism is also practised in Ladakh and Bhutan. Vajrayana Buddhism initially absorbed the cult of ancestral gods and local deities which eventually became central to the performance of rituals that are currently held by both village lamas and shamans.


Buddhism being introduced in Sikkim by Lhatsun Chenpo, who was a resident of Kongbo in the lower valley of the Tsangpo. His name means “the great revered god” with reference to his alleged power of flight. The oldest monastery founded by Lhatsun Chenpo is Dubdi at Yuksom, which was constructed soon after the consecration of Phuntsog Namgyal. Soon afterwards, another shrine seemed to have been erected at Tashiding. Waddell, in his book “Lamaism in Sikkim” (Oriental Publishers, Delhi, 1973, p. 18), has recorded the miraculous appearance of Lhatsun Chenpo in Sikkim and his meeting with two other lamas. These three lamas held a council and sent two messengers to the east in search of Phuntshog, as prophesied by Guru Rimpoche, or Guru Padmasambhava, as he was known in India. Subsequent to Lhatsun Chanpo’s death at the latter end of the seventeenth century, Buddhism steadily progressed in Sikkim.
We may arrange a pickup from NJP/Bagdogra/Siliguri to Khecheopalri and drop to NJP or Bagdogra. A private pick up vehicle like Tata Sumo/Mahindra Maxx Jeep (accommodates 5/6 persons) charges ₹ 7000 for pick up from NJP/Bagdogra to Khecheopalri or from Tashiding to NJP to Bagdogra, one way. One such car can accommodate up to 5-6 people. This cost is NOT included in the TREK FEE and you pay directly to the driver.
To reach the trek base Khecheopalri the access is from NJP/Siliguri/Bagdogra. For details on how to reach nearest railways station/airport and move to trek base independently/public transportation check the details in GETTING THERE TAB.
For Indian Nationals: No need of any special permits. Carry an original Photo ID card with address proof on it (Aadhar/Driving Licence/Voter ID/Passport but NOT Pan card) & 2 photocopies of the same.
For Foreign Nationals and OCIs:
All foreigners (with relaxation to Bhutanese citizens) will require Inner Line Permit (ILP) which is also called as Restricted Area Permit (RAP) to enter the boundary of Sikkim. This is issued free of cost at Sikkim check posts while you enter Sikkim by road.
This takes 15/20 minutes with the strength of your passport and valid Indian visa and 2 copies of your recent passport size photos. An Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) has to go through the same process as of a foreign national. Foreigners don’t require any special permit, e.g. PAP/Protected Area Permit for this trail.
Duration: 3 days of hiking; NJP or Bagdogra round trip in 5 days.
Prerequisite: Ideal for beginners or first Himalayan hike.
Grade: Easy for beginners.
Physicality: 5/10
Trail Length: ~ 20 Km
Highest Point: Hongri monastery ~ 2140 m/7020 ft
Seasons: March to May (Spring/Summer) for Rhododendron bloom. Oct to Feb for clear mountain views (Fall/Winter).
Further Option: You can halt one more day at Hongri and climb the Pa Hongri (ruins on mountain top). You may add Pelling and around sightseeing for a couple of days.
Access: Trek starting point is Khecheoplari and end point is Tashiding
Rail station: New Jalpaiguri (STN Code: NJP)
Airport: Bagdogra (Code: IXB)
| DEPARTURE LOCATION | New Jalpaiguri railway station (NJP)/Bagdogra airport |
| REPORTING TIME | 9:00 AM for a prompt departure to Khecheopalri (Day 1) |
| RETURN LOCATION | NJP/Siliguri/Bagdogra |
| RETURN TIME | Approximately 5:00 PM (Day 5) |
Nearest Rail station: New Jailpaiguri (Station Code: NJP)
Nearest Airport: Bagdogra (Airport Code: IXB)
We may arrange a pickup from NJP/Bagdogra/Siliguri to tour starting point Yuksom and drop from Tashiding to NJP/Bagdogra/Gangtok/Darjeeling. A Tata Sumo/Mahindra Maxx Jeep (accommodates 5/6 persons) charges ₹ 6000 for pick up from NJP to Yuksom and ₹ 5500 for a drop from Tashiding to NJP/Bagdogra. One such car can accommodate up to 8 people. This is NOT included in the TREK FEE and to be payable directly to the driver/owner.
If you wish to reach our Trek Base Yuksom on your own by public transportation:
You have to reach S.N.T. (Sikkim Nationalised Transport) terminus Jeep stand in Siliguri Junction area. Then take a shared jeep for Jorethang in south Sikkim, takes around 4 hours. From there one may get a shared jeep service for Yuksom, but a seat is not guaranteed. The earlier you reach Jorethang the chances are higher to get this service. From Jorethang it is another 3 hours journey to Yuksom. Often It is difficult to reach Yuksom from NJP/Siliguri in one day.
For the treks in Sikkim and Darjeeling , one has to reach the city of Siliguri (considered the corridor to the North-East) in West Bengal.
You can fly or by train reach Siliguri from Kolkata ( good for the trekkers coming from South/central or Western India) or Delhi as per your convenience from any part within India.
Direct flights are available from New Delhi and Kolkata. All the flights to Bagdogra reaches late in the morning or early afternoon. It becomes difficult to reach the trek base like Yuksom/Hilley/Uttarey on the same day unless a car is booked (takes around 8 hours to reach). One can stay the night in Siliguri and start the travel to the trek base next morning. It is better to reach Siliguri by flight/train to Kolkata and then take an overnight train to NJP unless you are coming from northern India.
There are several overnight trains running between Kolkata (Howrah or Sealdah) to NJP. Day trains are also available.
From airport (Dumdum, CCU) , Sealdah railway station is 15 Km and may take 1 to 2 hours depending upon the time you travel. Howrah is 17 Km and may take up to 2 hours during the heavy traffic in the rush hours. Howrah and Sealdah are only 5 Km apart, though it may take an hour to travel. Pre Paid taxi booths are available.
DARJEELING MAIL – Train No. – 12343 (Good option to reach NJP in the morning. Starts around 10 pm in the night and reaches NJP 8 am in the morning.)
PADATIK EXPRESS – Train No. – 12377 (Good option to reach NJP in the morning. Starts around 11 pm in the night and reaches NJP 9 am in the morning.)
KANCHANKANYA EXPRESS – Train No. – 13149 (Starts at 8:30 pm in the evening and reaches NJP 7:30 am in the morning)
SHATABDI EXPRESS – Train No. – 12041 (Day train, starts 2:15 pm in the afternoon and reaches NP at 10:20 pm in the night. There are hotels/lodges outside the railway station at a walking distance of 5 minutes. Otherwise book an auto rickshaw/taxi to Siliguri, which takes around 15 minutes. There are several hotels around Siliguri Junction/Tenzing Norgay Bus Terminus/S.N.T (Sikkim Nationalised Transport stand).
There are other trains also of which some run daily and some on particular days of week.
Avoid booking wait listed (WL) tickets in AC classes (1A/2A/3A) or Chair Car (CC). Book Sleeper class (SL)/Second Sitting class (2S) tickets which have normally more seats/berths and hence much better chance to get confirmed.
From Kolkata(CCU) take a flight to Bagdogra (IXB). From airport book a taxi to reach Siliguri which is 10 Km away.
Following trains are good to reach NJP and run daily.
DIBRUGARH RAJDHANI – Train No. 12424 (arrives NJP late in the morning @ 10:45 am)
NORTH EAST EXP – Train No. 12506 (arrives NJP @ 8:20 am in the morning)
BRAHMAPUTRA MAIL – Train No. 12424 (arrives NJP at 5 am in the morning. But this train runs late frequently.
Always avoid booking wait listed (WL) tickets in AC classes (1A/2A/3A) or Chair Car (CC). Book Sleeper class (SL)/Second Sitting class (2S) tickets which have normally more seats/berth and hence much better chance to get confirmed.
From Delhi (DEL) take a flight to Bagdogra (IXB). From airport book a taxi to reach Siliguri which is 10 Km away.
Trekkers reaching on the previous day (Day 0) before the journey to the actual trek base need to stay the night in Siliguri/NJP. There are several options in Siliguri for spending a night while staying in Standard or Budget accommodation. It is better to reach to the centre of Siliguri called Siliguri Junction (adjacent to Tenzing Norgay Bus Terminus and Sikkim nationalised Transport/S.N.T stand). It takes 30 minutes from Bagdogra or 15 minutes from NJP. Also you will get hotels 5 minutes walking from NJP station.
Normally you reach NJP/Bagdogra from any trek base by 5/6 pm in the evening. You can take any train after 7 pm to Kolkata safely, which reach early in the morning. Accordingly arrange your homeward journey from Kolkata onward.
Note: This tour is designed as a customisable private tour. We don’t publish a fixed departure for this trek.
Inclusions:
4 night’s accommodation at Khecheopalri, Yuksom, Hongri and Tashiding homestay on twin sharing basis. Simple and basic in nature, clean beds and toilet, running hot water/geyser is NOT available at Hongri and Chongrang homestay.
All meals (Day 1 dinner to Day 5 breakfast) during the tour, apart from the ones during transit. All meals cater to local food habit, dishes and delicacies. Vegetables are mostly local and organic), breakfast, hot lunch and dinner (optional non veg on availability) along with tea/local drink.
Any permit required for the tour.
A simple English speaking hiking guide for the trail. Your guide will be a local to this particular area and has good knowledge of local custom, tradition and culture.
Permit, food and any expenses for the guide.
First Aid kit.
Exclusions:
Transportation from NJP/Bagdogra to Okhrey and return from Hilley to NJP/Bagdogra. A Tata Sumo/Mahindra Maxx Jeep (accommodates 5 to 6 persons) charges ₹ 7000 for pick up from NJP or Bagdogra to Khecheopalri or return from Tashiding, one way. We can arrange on request, you pay directly to the driver.
Any entry ticket for a monument/monastery/sightseeing point and any camera charges there within.
We assume that you will carry your personal rucksack or backpack with all your personal belongings. If you want to offload your backpack or duffel Bag (No suitcases or strolleys) and carried by a Porter then you need to pay additional ₹ 2000 per day. This will cover his wage and stay plus food. One porter will carry up to 15 Kg of luggage. Also you can leave some luggage at Khecheopalri and collect from Tashiding while returning (transfer by a car, ₹ 2000, no valuable items or important document).
Any tip or gratuity to the staff or guide.
Anything which is NOT mentioned in the “Inclusions” or personal in nature.
If you need more clarifications write in to [email protected]
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Tour Reviews
I recently had the pleasure of trekking with Himalayan Trekkers, and I must say it was an incredible experience! The trek itself was definitely not easy, which is what made it so rewarding. The challenge of the terrain really brought out the beauty of the journey. One of the standout features of the trip was how well- organized everything was with the help from Sapta from the office. From the moment I signed up, I felt confident that every detail had been taken care of from the permits to the accommodation and transport. The hosts were incredibly warm and welcoming. They made sure we were well taken care of and even shared fascinating insights about the local culture, which made the trek even more enjoyable. The highlight for me, though, was the delicious local food. Every meal was a treat, offering an authentic taste of the region that made the whole experience even more immersive. I also really appreciated how personalized the experience was. The trekking company made an effort to accommodate everyone’s needs, ensuring that each trekker had a memorable and enjoyable experience. Overall, it was a fantastic adventure, and I would highly recommend Himalayan Trekkers to anyone looking for a moderately challenging yet well-supported trek in the Himalayas for 50 yr old plus trekkers. Truly an unforgettable experience!
I was fortunate to locate the Sikkim Monastery Trail when researching how to spend a week in West Sikkim. Himalayas Trekkers were terrific to deal with – going above and beyond the basics to facilitate this hiking trip for me as a solo traveller and at short notice. The trip was personalised as I wanted to spend 7 rather than 5 days and Sapta even provided urgent late night help with train ticket logistics for travel after the hiking.
Once I arrived on the ground in Pelling I met with local guide Bhaichung and instantly I realised that this was going to be a wonderful week. The pitch and atmosphere of the journey was exactly what I was looking for and my week in the hills of western Sikkim will remain in my heart forever.
We had the most wonderful time on our 5-day homestay trek through West Sikkim! Everything was perfectly organized and our local guide was super helpful and knowledgeable. We met lovely people on our way, enjoyed the stunning nature, had amazing food and learned a lot about the spirit and soul of the kind-hearted Sikkimese people. Thanks you so much to everyone at HT for creating these wonderful memories!
I’m a bestselling travel writer (“Turn Right at Machu Picchu,” etc.), who needed to assemble a somewhat complicated tour to Sikkim that combined serious trekking with deep cultural reporting–and to set it all up in less than two weeks, from a 10 1/2 hour time difference. Sapta at Himalaya Trekkers asked all the right questions, tailored the trip to my exact needs (including visits to hidden places even his team had never gone before), assembled an A-plus group of guides, translators and support staff (cook, driver, porters, etc.) and brought the whole thing in at a very reasonable price. Two months later, I’m convinced of two things: Everyone should see Sikkim once in their lifetime, and they should hire Himalaya Trekkers to handle the job.
We had a wonderful trekking tour, “Monastery-Trek“ in Sikkim with Himalaya Trekkers. Our guide Rhik was the perfect guide, very polite and prudently, very helpful and an interesting guy with a lot of knowledge about Buddhism and Sikkim culture. Service and safety standard was also very good. We enjoyed the tour very much and would book with Himalaya trekkers again.
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