Bringing over from another thread.
Sikkim is a tiny underexplored place in northeast india with tibetan culture, sandwiched between nepal, tibet, bhutan and bangladesh. i thought the under-exploration and less commercialised environment may spell a more fruitful photographic trip with less tourist. also the colorful festivals in sikkim is going to be interesting, in particularly their colored masks dancing.
There is currently 3 people in the group (2 male, 1 female), trying to see if i can expand the group from 3 to about 6 to maximise transport costs. those confirmed on the duration may book tickets when it is cheaper now, but others are still welcome to join us later.
Interested parties, please post here or email me at zoossh@starhub.net.sg. Please do not pm me.
Who is welcome?
Male and female of any age, interested in photography or flexible with photographers.
As i'm replacing the dzongri trek, it will be just a day trek, and fitness and rains shouldn't be of major concerns.
Flight
Price quoted from misa travels online $360 + estimated $223
Thai airway, stopover at Bangkok
TO: Thu, Jun 5th, 2040 SIN Time to 0045 CCU Time, 6 hrs 35 mins
FRO: Wed, Jun 18th, 0200 CCU Time to 1115 SIN Time, 6 hrs 45 mins
Price quoted from mustafa agent, prices will fluctuate, estimated $550
Air India express, direct, to (mon, wed, fri), return (mon, tues, fri)
TO: Fri, Jun 6th, 1435 SIN time to 1620 CCU time
FRO: Tue, Jun 17th, 0900 CCU time to 1500 SIN time
Probably will take from the former, as my partners will need to return by 18th, unless someone is keen to stay a few more days and leave on Fri, Jun 20th, then we may split towards the end, maybe at darjeeling or calcutta.
Duration
As mentioned above. Excluding the 5th and including the 19th, it will be 14 days duration and 10 working days
Visa
Separate permit required, preferably done in sg. Unfortunately, PRC passport holders will not be allowed permit into sikkim due to territorial claims between the two countries.
General idea
is to go cheap and safe, but reasonably comfortable. It is a free and easy budget backpacking style, where most transport and accomodation are often located insitu (we will pre-plan but not pre-book unless required). Some homework is required, and we will split the work.
Budget estimate per person
Total estimate $1-1.5k and potentially less than 1k.
Flight <$600
Meals $5-10 x 3 x 13 = $100-$300
Accomodation $10-35 per double x 11 = $100-$300
Transport variable but shouldn't be expensive, most probably only for the 2 overnite trains.
Visa+permit $100
Day trek: Guide US$50/4 = $30, each porter additional $30
Locations
Calcutta, South Sikkim and Darjeeling. As the borders are stringent on photography and we will not have time, North Sikkim and Dzongri Trekking is out.
Tentative locations that we may go through include
Calcutta region: street shooting
- Calcutta
- Mahesh (if the car festival coincides)
North Bengal & South Sikkim: mainly for Victorian Nostalgia, sea of rhododendron flowers and tea plantation workers
- Siliguri
- Maybe Namchi
- Maybe Ravangla and Geyzing
- Darjeeling
- Tiger hill
- Singalilia trek
Southeast Sikkim: try to catch Rumtek Drupchen Chaams (Tibetan masked dancing festival)
- Gangtok
- Tsomgo Lake, Lingdum Gompa & other excursions from Gangtok
- Rumtek
Southwest Sikkim: mainly for views of the breathtaking khanchendzonga.
- Pelling
- Keocheopalri lake & other excursions from Pelling
- Tashiding
rough itinerary:
the number denotes the date reaching and leaving the above locations
Bracket denotes locations where nights are spent
5 Flight 6 (late night flight)
6 Calcutta 7 (leave in evening, overnite train)
7 gangtok 9 (stay over 7, 8)
9 rumtek 11 (stay over 9, 10)
11 pelling 14 (stay over 11, 12, 13)
14 darjeeling 16 (stay over 14,15, overnite train on 16)
17 calcutta 18 (stay over 17, overnite fly back on 18, reached sg 19)
Itinerary may be adjusted accordingly when dates of festival are more confirmed, and definitely can be altered with time while we travel. I try to fit at least 2 nites per location to reduce the hecticness of moving our backpacks.
.
Sikkim is a tiny underexplored place in northeast india with tibetan culture, sandwiched between nepal, tibet, bhutan and bangladesh. i thought the under-exploration and less commercialised environment may spell a more fruitful photographic trip with less tourist. also the colorful festivals in sikkim is going to be interesting, in particularly their colored masks dancing.
There is currently 3 people in the group (2 male, 1 female), trying to see if i can expand the group from 3 to about 6 to maximise transport costs. those confirmed on the duration may book tickets when it is cheaper now, but others are still welcome to join us later.
Interested parties, please post here or email me at zoossh@starhub.net.sg. Please do not pm me.
Who is welcome?
Male and female of any age, interested in photography or flexible with photographers.
As i'm replacing the dzongri trek, it will be just a day trek, and fitness and rains shouldn't be of major concerns.
Flight
Price quoted from misa travels online $360 + estimated $223
Thai airway, stopover at Bangkok
TO: Thu, Jun 5th, 2040 SIN Time to 0045 CCU Time, 6 hrs 35 mins
FRO: Wed, Jun 18th, 0200 CCU Time to 1115 SIN Time, 6 hrs 45 mins
Price quoted from mustafa agent, prices will fluctuate, estimated $550
Air India express, direct, to (mon, wed, fri), return (mon, tues, fri)
TO: Fri, Jun 6th, 1435 SIN time to 1620 CCU time
FRO: Tue, Jun 17th, 0900 CCU time to 1500 SIN time
Probably will take from the former, as my partners will need to return by 18th, unless someone is keen to stay a few more days and leave on Fri, Jun 20th, then we may split towards the end, maybe at darjeeling or calcutta.
Duration
As mentioned above. Excluding the 5th and including the 19th, it will be 14 days duration and 10 working days
Visa
Separate permit required, preferably done in sg. Unfortunately, PRC passport holders will not be allowed permit into sikkim due to territorial claims between the two countries.
General idea
is to go cheap and safe, but reasonably comfortable. It is a free and easy budget backpacking style, where most transport and accomodation are often located insitu (we will pre-plan but not pre-book unless required). Some homework is required, and we will split the work.
Budget estimate per person
Total estimate $1-1.5k and potentially less than 1k.
Flight <$600
Meals $5-10 x 3 x 13 = $100-$300
Accomodation $10-35 per double x 11 = $100-$300
Transport variable but shouldn't be expensive, most probably only for the 2 overnite trains.
Visa+permit $100
Day trek: Guide US$50/4 = $30, each porter additional $30
Locations
Calcutta, South Sikkim and Darjeeling. As the borders are stringent on photography and we will not have time, North Sikkim and Dzongri Trekking is out.
Tentative locations that we may go through include
Calcutta region: street shooting
- Calcutta
- Mahesh (if the car festival coincides)
North Bengal & South Sikkim: mainly for Victorian Nostalgia, sea of rhododendron flowers and tea plantation workers
- Siliguri
- Maybe Namchi
- Maybe Ravangla and Geyzing
- Darjeeling
- Tiger hill
- Singalilia trek
Southeast Sikkim: try to catch Rumtek Drupchen Chaams (Tibetan masked dancing festival)
- Gangtok
- Tsomgo Lake, Lingdum Gompa & other excursions from Gangtok
- Rumtek
Southwest Sikkim: mainly for views of the breathtaking khanchendzonga.
- Pelling
- Keocheopalri lake & other excursions from Pelling
- Tashiding
rough itinerary:
the number denotes the date reaching and leaving the above locations
Bracket denotes locations where nights are spent
5 Flight 6 (late night flight)
6 Calcutta 7 (leave in evening, overnite train)
7 gangtok 9 (stay over 7, 8)
9 rumtek 11 (stay over 9, 10)
11 pelling 14 (stay over 11, 12, 13)
14 darjeeling 16 (stay over 14,15, overnite train on 16)
17 calcutta 18 (stay over 17, overnite fly back on 18, reached sg 19)
Itinerary may be adjusted accordingly when dates of festival are more confirmed, and definitely can be altered with time while we travel. I try to fit at least 2 nites per location to reduce the hecticness of moving our backpacks.
.