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Trekking in the Sikkim Himalayas
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About TrekSikkim We are pleased to offer to our Rare Earth Explorers exclusive expeditions guided by Hope Leezum Namgyal, Princess of Sikkim. These treks in the Sikkim Himalayas in India are of moderate difficulty and are designed and arranged by TrekSikkim. For brochures, further information or questions, please contact: Ann LeibowitzBelow is some background information on TrekSikkim and their treks. FIRST INTERNATIONAL TREKKING COMPANY IN SIKKIM NEW YORK, Oct.1 -- In 1963, newspapers around the world headlined the fairy-tale marriage of American Hope Cooke to Palden Thondup Namgyal, King of Sikkim, a tiny principality nestled between Nepal and Bhutan. Today, Hope Leezum Namgyal, the youngest daughter of that marriage, is leading some of the world's most avid trekkers on expeditions through her father's remote and mystical kingdom, high in the Himalayas. Only recently opened to foreign tourists, Sikkim remains much untouched by the outside world. With TrekSikkim, Namgyal's full-service trekking company, travelers can discover intricately painted Buddhist monasteries, traditional Lepcha villages, sacred lakes, and unspoiled trek routes and mountain passes. TrekSikkim offers complete trekking itineraries highlighting a rich variety of flora and fauna as well as challenging explorations of a rarely travelled area of the Himalayas. On the regularly scheduled "Sunrise at Khangchendzonga," trekkers follow an ancient trail upward to the base of the world's third highest mountain, beginning at the mystical coronation site of Sikkim's first king, and climbing through primeval rhododendron forests and high alpine meadows. After camping in a small valley, trekkers arise before dawn to hike up to the prayer flags atop Dablakhang (14,000 ft.), a peak sacred to the Sikkimese from which to worship Khangchendzonga, and watch the sun rise over the eastern Himalaya. For a more rigorous trek, groups can arrange to continue on to the Goeche-la Pass (16,500 ft.), at the base of Mt. Khangchendzonga. With "A View to Tibet and the Headwaters of the Ganges," Namgyal leads travelers to the remote northern region where snowpeaks and sheer granite rises mark the nearby Tibet border, and Lepcha and Bhutia villagers retain their mystical ways. Or, trekkers can choose to hike up the circuit to the Singalila Pass on the Nepal border for majestic views of Khangchendzonga, Makalu, and Everest. Namgyal's is the first full-service trekking company based in Sikkim that meets the highest international standards. From the moment of arrival in Delhi -- where company representatives escort guests from airport to hotel, to a traditional Sikkimese farewell banquet, Namgyal and TrekSikkim cater to trekkers' every need. Every possible comfort is provided on the trail: like wake-up tea in bed each morning and a hot water bottle in sleeping bags each night. Namgyal's cooks are specially trained to meet western standards of hygienic food and water preparation, and TrekSikkim's English-speaking local guides have intimate knowledge of their mountains, gained from many years' experience. Raised in both Sikkim and New York City, Namgyal both understands western travelers and is able to give them a special inside view of Sikkimese culture. Since she first began climbing and trekking at the age of five, Namgyal has nurtured a passion for the mountains and a strong commitment to the traditions of the Sikkimese people. After graduating from Georgetown University with a degree in International Relations, and then working for several years in New York, Hope has returned to Sikkim to help preserve and present the Sikkimese culture. Licensed to lead adventure-travel expeditions, Namgyal currently lives in Gangtok. TrekSikkim is based in Gangtok, Sikkim with a representative office in New York. For more information call Ann Leibowitz at (212) 996-1758. |
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