SIKKIM - TOSHA LAKE TREK

SIKKIM - TOSHA LAKE TREK

HOLIDAY CODE TOL

An exploratory and unique trekking holiday in EasternSikkim, to 'The Lake Where Stars Fall’

Trek a rarely taken route with fantastic views ofKangchenjungaExplore the cultural diversity of both Gangtok and KalimpongSavour quiet trails, colourful wildlife and pristine campingplacesSpend time exploring the sacred and atmospheric ToshaLake

India, Trek & Walk, 16 Days

8 nights camping, 5 nights hotel, 2 nights hotel with swimming pool, 15breakfasts, 15 lunches, 15 dinners, max group size: 12, 9 days trekking,max altitude - 4050 metres

www.keadventure.com UK: +44(0) 17687 73966 US (toll-free): 1-888-630-4415

Introduction

Formerly an independent Buddhist kingdom, Sikkim became the newest of Indian states as recently as 1975.Sandwiched between Nepal, China and Bhutan, it is a mountainous territory including some of the highest ofHimalayan peaks and has always been of great interest to KE. Whilst we have been able to run 2 popular trekkingholidays in the western part of the state for more than a decade, access to other parts of the state has always beenrestricted. So, when we heard that a completely new area was opening up to the north-east of the state capital,Gangtok, we were quick to set up this reconnaissance trek.

The objective of this ground-breaking 9-day trek is Tosha Lake, a small, dark pool at 4000 metres elevation,encircled by peaks and lying within 15 kilometres of Sikkim’s eastern border with China (Tibet). The lake is held tobe sacred by the local Lepcha people and is a site of pilgrimage. At this time, very few foreign travellers have visitedthis area or trekked into these mountains. We begin our journey into this secret world from the small town ofMangan, the principal town of the district of North Sikkim. This is a stunning region with a striking contrastbetween the farmed land at low elevations (cardamom is an important crop) with the forest of bamboo,rhododendron and pine higher up. Our trekking route heads eastwards from Naga Namsar and climbs into analpine world with views of many of Sikkim’s important peaks including Pandim, Jannu, Kanchenjunga (8586m) andSiniolchu (6888m). There is very little permanent settlement on this route, but we will encounter lots of stone hutsused seasonally by local shepherds and we are likely to encounter yaks and other livestock grazing on the roughpasture of forest clearings. Spending a day at Tosha Lake gives us the chance to do some exploration, beforetrekking out to Phamtang on a pilgrims’ trail that is stepped in places. To broaden the appeal of this uniqueadventure holiday, we have included a day for sightseeing in each of Sikkim’s principal towns, Gangtok andKalimpong. The lack of other trekkers, the variety of the landscape, together with some excellent ridge-topcamping places, with far-reaching views across Sikkim, makes this a special experience for connoisseurs ofHimalayan travel.

Is this holiday for you?

This is not a long trek, nor is it at particularly high elevation. However, it is a pioneering undertaking in an areaunused to trekking groups, and as such, paths are rough and challenging in places, but this should be seen as partof the appeal of trekking somewhere where no others venture. There will be village paths and forest tracks, attimes muddy and slippery, as well as sections of paved pilgrims’ trail. We will have to negotiate dense thickets ofbamboo and rhododendron, with little in the way of a path, as well as areas affected by landslides where the pathmay have been temporarily erased. We expect to be walking for around 6 hours each day for 6 or 7 days. This is aholiday for keen hillwalkers with previous experience of remote area travel.

Holiday Itinerary

Day 1: Meet at the group hotel in Delhi. Transfers from Delhi Airport are provided.

Meet at the group hotel in Delhi. Airport transfers are provided for all clients arriving on Day 1. KE Land Onlypackage services begin with lunch. In the afternoon, a city sightseeing tour is provided. Alternatively, you maychoose to take it easy at the hotel.

VIEW DATES, PRICES &BOOK YOUR HOLIDAY HERE

PAGE 2 SIKKIM - TOSHA LAKE TREK


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ACCOMMODATIONHOTEL WITHSWIMMING POOL

MEALS LD

Day 2: Fly to Bagdogra and drive to Gangtok (1650m) the capital of the state of Sikkim.

After breakfast, we head to the airport for our flight to Bagdogra. The flight path runs parallel to the Himalayas so,if the weather is clear, we have views of all of the Himalayan giants including Nanda Devi and Panch Chuli. The8000 metre giants of Annapurna, Manaslu, Cho Oyu, Everest, Makalu appear around us and we land in the shadowof the massive bulk of Kangchenjunga. Arriving in Bagdogra, we are met by our trek leader and we climb aboardthe bus for the drive to Gangtok (1650m) which is the capital and largest town in the Indian state of Sikkim. At first,we drive through flat rice fields and tea plantations, before the road starts to climb into the foothills of theHimalaya. We cross from West Bengal into Sikkim, close to the town of Kalimpong and reach our hotel in Gangtokafter a little more than 4 hours driving.

ACCOMMODATIONHOTEL MEALS BLD

Day 3: A sightseeing day in Gangtok.

Spending a day in Gangtok provides a useful break in our journey up into the hills. It provides a great opportunityto soak up some of the culture and atmosphere of Sikkim, which was an independent mountain kingdom until asrecently as 1975. Gangtok today is a centre of Tibetan Buddhist culture and learning, home to several monasteriesand Buddhist religious and educational institutions. The town is built along a steep-sided mountain ridge and itswinding streets radiate away from a central road which links Rangpo to the south with Mangan to the North. Ourcity tour today will include the temple of Hanuman Tok, the Enchey Monastery and the Tashi Viewpoint where, ifthe weather is kind, we should be able to see the distant snow-capped summits of Kangchenjunga. We can alsovisit the flower market and the Handicrafts and Handlooms Centre. We spend a second night at our Gantok hotel.


Day 4: Drive north beside the Teesta River to Mangan (1195m). Afternoon free to explore.

Leaving Gangtok after breakfast, we drive north on a road that twists and turns through steep-sided valleyscloaked in beautiful mixed forest (4hrs). We catch glimpses of waterfalls, white-water streams and fluttering prayerflags and pass through several villages. After about an hour's drive, we will stop off to visit the Phodang Monasterywhich sits on top of a hill, overlooking the valley. Home to more than 250 monks of the Kagyu Buddhist sect, themonastery was built in around 1740 although it has been rebuilt much more recently. Walking around themonastery grounds, we may also be able to see some of its ancient Buddhist murals. We continue our drive onnarrow mountain roads to Mangan, the administrative centre of North Sikkim. Here, we check in at our hotel andhave most of the afternoon free to explore the local markets.


Day 5: Drive to Naga Namsar and trek to Singane (2405m).

We have a short drive this morning to the start of our trek. We follow the main road for a short distance, beforeturning onto a smaller road that takes us to Naga Namsar (1650m), a village where the main occupation iscardamom cultivation. The trek begins here on a small rough road, with shortcuts on paths which climb steeplythrough bamboo thickets and oak woodland. After about an hour, we reach a small hut and the path improves. Wefollow an old water channel as far as the stream at Rel Khola and cross this on an old iron bridge, where we stop



for lunch. We continue through dense forest up to a yak herder's hut in a small clearing. Reaching a crest, we stopfor lunch (2335m) and then trek for a further 3 hours to another small meadow on the ridge of the Singane Dandawhere we camp for the night.

ACCOMMODATIONCAMPING ASCENT 1100M DISTANCE 6KM MEALS BLD

DESCENT 75M TIME 5 - 6 HRSTREKKING HOURS

Day 6: Trek via Kukhrey (3055m). Acclimatisation walks in the afternoon.

Leaving camp we begin with a climb through bamboo thickets and oak forests, as the path gets steeper. To add tothe nature of the challenge, the path can get slippery after rainfall. We cross streams and open meadows beforeclimbing again across open meadows and oak forests to reach our destination, Kukhrey (3055m). Here we find anopen area on a hill-top, marked with prayer flags and offering wonderful views of the mountains, making this aperfect camping spot. We have lunch at our campsite and there are a number of walks we can make in the area toaide our acclimatisation. We take to our beds, hoping for clear visibility in the morning; the view from here of thesunrise over Kanchenjunga is sensational.

ACCOMMODATIONCAMPING ASCENT 800M MEALS BLD DESCENT 125M

TIME 4 HRSTREKKING HOURS

Day 7: Trek to Odale (3350m).

We begin with a short descent from our campsite and then climb gradually past some abandoned huts, beforeclimbing up to the ridge. It's a nice walk through wide grassy slopes where you can see yaks grazing in very scenicsurroundings. We then climb for another half an hour, before the path steepens to a nice, stone-paved trail comingfrom Phamtam village (this is the Pilgrim trail for the village residents). The path becomes much easier, but thereare some narrow sections . Continuing on this undulating path, we arrive at a pretty meadow at Odale. This sectionof the trek is particularly beautiful, with views of many snowy peaks including Kanchenjunga, Janu and Siniolchu.



Day 8: Trek to Ghumney (3373m).

We climb from our camp, across a stream, to the top of hill, where there is a shepherd's hut. As we continue ourwalk, the trail descends and ascends further for another hour to the next ridge (3616m) where we are rewardedwith panoramic views of the mountains. From here, we descend to Sokborongchu. The trail today gets tricky inseveral parts, interrupted by narrowing sections, streams and small landslides . We camp in a beautiful meadow,surrounded with pine forests, with a river flowing from Toshar Lake.





Day 9: Trek to the beautiful Tosha Lake (4050m) and explore its surroundings.

Today we trek to Tosar Lake (4055m), to return to our campsite at the end of the day. A little after leaving camp, wecross a river on a log bridge and trek through beautiful pine and rhododendron forests on a well defined path,climbing gradually all the way. We being to climb steeply to the last ridge line, where we are rewarded with out firstview of Tosha lake. We have lunch at the lake, soaking up its remote and mystical atmosphere before heading backto our campsite.

ACCOMMODATIONCAMPING ASCENT 1020M DISTANCE 7KM MEALS BLD

DESCENT 1020M TIME 7 HRS HOURSDay 10: Retrace our steps back to Odaley.

Starting our walk out from this sacred location, we return, initially, on the route we came. However, following thisroute westwards gives us a completely different perspective on the trails and a whole different set of views,dominated, of course, by Kangchenjunga, the world's third highest peak. We reach the meadow camping place atNaremchu Patam in the early afternoon.



Day 11: Trek to the spectacular camp at Meyoung Taar (3280m).

This morning we continue to descend following the route of our walk-in for around an hour or so to the old hut,where the route from Kukhrey meets the paved trail we are now on. From here, we divert off and descend steeplyinto a narrow valley and follow a stream for a short distance, before climbing to the meadow of Gahan Taar(3320m). There are wonderful views from here of Himalayan peaks including Jannu, Kanchenjunga, Pandim,Siniolchu and many others. Continuing by way of a series of ascents and descents, we reach another meadowbelow the Thingre Danda, where we pass a yak herder's hut and start the climb up onto the ridge. Descending fora short distance, we climb again to reach our fantastic camping place at Meyoung Taar (3280m). This is a lovely,open area with panoramic views of the Kangchenjunga group, as well as Kokthang, Rathong, Kabru, Talung,Shimvo, Pandim and a host of others. We can also look down onto the rolling hills and villages further down thevalley. A pleasant walk today with great views.


TIME 6 - 7 HRSTREKKING HOURS

Day 12: Trek down to 'Meadow Camp' (2520m).

Leaving camp, we begin with a climb to the top of Jhanji Danda (3660m) which takes a little over an hour. The routetakes us on a stone paved path through beautiful pine and rhododendron forests. There are continuously excellentviews of the mountains and at the top is a prominent cairn, festooned with prayer flags. We can now see Gangtokfar below us, as we descend, steeply at first, then more steadily along the ridge on the paved trail; passing throughbamboo thickets. Today is mostly about descent, although there are some flat sections and short ascents.Continuing to descend amongst a forest of bamboo, home to the elusive red panda, we finally emerge onto openpastureland dotted with shepherds' huts. This is 'Meadow Camp' (2520m) and our home for the night.





Day 13: Descend to the roadhead at Phamtang (1590m) and drive to Kalimpong.

We have just a couple of hours of trekking this morning, descending quite steeply through forest and passing acouple of grazing areas and several shepherds' huts. After a couple of hours, we can see the houses and prayerflags of Phamtang Village ahead of us and continue the descent through fields of cardamom and millet to theroadhead at around 1590 metres elevation. Our vehicles will be waiting here and, after loading up, we will set offon the three and a half hour drive, firstly to Gangtok and then onwards to the town of Kalimpong.

ACCOMMODATIONHOTEL ASCENT 70M MEALS BLD DESCENT 1000M


Day 14: A leisurely day in the laid back town of Kalimpong.

A free-day to explore Kalimpong, which begins with a sunrise view of Kangchenjunga (weather permitting). Afterbreakfast, we have a short sightseeing trip, which can include visits to Durpin Monastery, to a paper factory, toflower/cactus nurseries and to an intriguing Catholic church built in the style of a Tibetan monastery. Theafternoon is free for relaxing in the grounds of the hotel, with the option to take a walk around the bazaar in theevening.


Day 15: Drive to Bagdogra Airport, fly to Delhi and transfer to the group hotel.

We have a reasonably early start for the drive back to Bagdogra Airport, where we check in for the flight to Delhi.Arriving in the Indian capital in the afternoon, we transfer to our airport accessible hotel. This evening we will havea 'farewell' dinner. Overnight at the group hotel.

ACCOMMODATIONHOTEL WITHSWIMMING POOL

MEALS BLD

Day 16: Departure day. Transfers to Delhi Airport are provided.

KE Land Only package services end after breakfast at the hotel. Airport transfers are provided for all clientsdeparting on this day. If you wish to extend your stay in India there are lots of extensions that can easily be addedto your trip. Why not complete your experience with one of our fantastic extensions to Dharamsala, the Taj Mahalor even the whole of India's classic Golden Triangle? Speak to our Sales team for further information.

MEALS B



Extend Your Holiday

Extensions

When booking your holiday, you will be able to 'add an extension option'.

Once we have received your booking we will contact you to discuss additional services required for the extensionand to take any additional deposit.

Agra & The Taj Mahal Two Day Tour

Agra And Jaipur Four Day Extension

Our two-day extension is for those who wish to explore Agra andthe surrounding area at a relaxed pace. We start by exploring theoft overlooked Agra Fort, itself an awe-inspiring and magnificentcomplex of palaces and ancient forts, before waking before thenext day to see the sunrise break over the Taj Mahal. Needing littleintroduction, the Taj Mahal was built by the Moghul emperor ShahJahan as a mausoleum for his beloved wife Mumtaz. It is widelyconsidered to be the most beautiful building in the world. This touralso gives us an opportunity to explore the fascinating abandonedghost city of Fatehpur Sikri.

Agra & the Taj Mahal two day tour 2 days From €430 per person

The Golden Triangle needs little introduction and is rightlyconsidered a classic trip in its own right. Easily accessible fromDelhi, this excursion takes in the wonders of the magestic AgraFort, the incomparable Taj Mahal, the abandoned ghost-city ofFatehpur Sikri and the architectural jewels of Jaipur and Amber.This four day trip ensures you get the most out of these stunningattractions at a relaxed and unhurried pace.

Agra and Jaipur four day extension 4 days From €610 per person



One Day Tour Of Agra And The Taj Mahal

Dharamsala And The Dalai Lama

Holiday Information

What's Included

• An experienced English-speaking leader• Delhi Airport transfers on group arrival and departure days• All internal flights and land transport involved in the itinerary• All accommodation as described in the trip dossier• All meals throughout the trip• Full trekking service including food and all equipment (excluding personal equipment)

The Taj Mahal needs little introduction. Built by the Moghulemperor Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for his beloved wife Mumtaz,it is widely considered to be the most beautiful building in theworld. Nearby is the oft overlooked Agra Fort, itself an awe-inspiring and magnificent complex of palaces and ancient forts.Traveling from Delhi on the express train and returning by privatevehicle, our one-day extension to Agra is perfect for those withlimited time who wish to complete their India experience withexploring one of the most admired and loved buildings on theplanet.

One day tour of Agra and the Taj Mahal 1 day From €235 per person

Dharamsala is a former British Raj hill-station in the Dhaula Dharmountain range and currently home to the Dalai Lama and the TibetanGovernment in exile. On this four day extension, you will be able tosample a flavour of life in Tibet and enjoy visits to the Dalai Lama’stemple complex; the Norbulingka Institute; the Tibetan children’svillage and visit a local Gaddi Tribal village to experience the life of thepeople who traditionally inhabit the lower reaches of the Dhaula Dhar.

Dharamsala and the Dalai Lama 4 days From €995 per person



What's Not Included

• Travel insurance• Delhi Airport transfers (other than on group arrival and departure days)• Indian Visa• Tips for trek staff• Miscellaneous expenses - drinks and souvenirs etc.

Joining Arrangements & Transfers

Changes To Flights

Please be aware that the flight industry is experiencing a high level of service fluctuation and changes to yourflights may occur. This may also require amends to the transfers and joining arrangements. Thank you all forcontinuing your patience and understanding.

All clients arriving in Delhi on Day 1 of the Land Only itinerary will be met at the airport by a KE representative, whowill arrange the transfer to the group hotel. At the end of the holiday, transfers are provided back to Delhi Airporton Day 16. Clients should let us know if Delhi Airport transfers are not required. Independent Delhi Airporttransfers can be arranged to meet clients arriving prior to Day 1 or departing after Day 16 at additional cost. Hotelcontact details and an emergency number will be provided with your booking confirmation.

Meal Plan

All meals are included.

Food & Water

The food served during the trek is a mixture of local and Western, mostly purchased locally and cooked for us byhighly trained trek cooks. The emphasis is on providing a high-carbohydrate and largely vegetarian diet, which wehave found to be easily digestible at high altitude. In Delhi, Gangtok and Kalimpong we take our meals in the grouphotel or in nearby restaurants. All meals while on trek and while staying in hotels are included in the trip price.

It is not recommended to drink untreated water from the taps. If you are on a trekking or cycling holiday, water issupplied to fill up your individual bottles. This will be boiled, filtered or provided in large jerry cans or 5 litre bottles.Additionally you should take purification tablets or a filter bottle (such as a Water-To-Go bottle) to treat your waterwhen in towns or where water is not supplied. We do not encourage the purchasing of single use plastic bottles.

Special Diets

Whilst we can cater for vegetarians, albeit sometimes with a more limited choice, we cannot always provide specialdiets. Due to the nature of some of the trips that we operate and the countries in which we operate them, it canbe very hard (and sometimes impossible) to cater for a wide range of dietary choices and you may have tosupplement your diet with food/snacks from home. If you have specific dietary requirements please do speak toour sales team and they will be able to advise you whether or not we will be able to offer your specific choice.Please note that we are unable to provide separate menus and cannot accept liability for any problems arisingfrom special dietary requirements or intolerances.



Accommodation

On arrival in Delhi and for one night after the trek, we stay at a hotel close to the airport which providescomfortable accommodation as well as pleasant gardens and a pool. Being near the airport makes the wholetravel experience more relaxing. Our itinerary also includes 2 nights in a hotel in Gangtok, 2 nights in a hotel inKalimpong and 1 night in a hotel in Mangan. On trek there will be 8 nights camping. All accommodation is allocatedon a twin-sharing basis. If you are travelling by yourself, you will be paired up with another single client of the samesex. It is possible to hire a single tent while on trek and, depending upon availability, it may be possible to arrangesingle room occupancy at each of the hotels.

Group Leader & Support Staff

The group will be led by an experienced English-speaking trek leader who will meet the group in Bagdogra. Whilein Delhi the group will be looked after by a KE representative. During the trek, the trip leader will be assisted bylocal guides, camp staff including a cook and a team of porters.

Altitude

This holiday involves going to high altitude. During the course of your trip you will reach altitudes in excess of 3500metres. This is not something that you should worry about; the human body is quite capable of adapting to a verywide range of altitudes, but it is important that we follow some simple rules in order to acclimatise successfully.Before coming on this holiday you should read the advice on trekking at high altitude. You can also talk to one ofour trekking experts if you have any concerns about altitude.

Spending Money

Approximately £200 (or equivalent in Euros / US dollars etc.) changed into local currency, should be allowed formiscellaneous expenses, including porter and trek crew tips and soft drinks, etc. It is not necessary to purchaselocal currency (Indian Rupees) before you travel. We recommend taking your personal spending money in cashsince you will be changing the majority of this into local currency on the day of arrival. Sterling, US dollars andEuros are readily exchanged in Delhi. Credit cards can be used to purchase many goods in Delhi and areparticularly useful for more expensive souvenirs. It is also possible to withdraw cash (rupees only) from cashmachines in Delhi using credit and debit cards.

Guidance On Tipping

Tips are the accepted way of saying ‘thank you’ to your local guides and porters. Tips do not form part of theirwages. KE always pays local crews the best rates of pay, no matter what country they are in and any tips theyreceive are seen as a personal thank you from group members. For our part, we advise local teams that tips arenot a duty or a prerequisite but are a bonus and entirely dependent on the service that was given. Most people willwant to tips their guides and support staff and we recommend that you do this as a group. As a guide, we suggestthat a contribution of approximately £60 (in Indian rupees) from each group member will provide a sufficient poolfor these tips. At the end of a trek many people also like to donate various items of their equipment to the portersand trek staff who work so hard to make the trip a success. Boots, gloves, hats, scarves and even socks (clean ofcourse) are always warmly received by the porters and ponymen, many of whom are simple farmers earning extracash by porterring for trekking groups. Technical clothing and equipment such as head-torches and trekking polesare highly prized by the local guides and camp crews.

Beat The Jet Lag



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Our holidays are normally designed with minimal 'down time' at the start of the trip, but having a day or two at thebeginning will have the additional benefit of allowing you time to get over the stress of a long journey or travellingacross time zones, leaving you refreshed and ready for your holiday. We can easily arrange for you to haveadditional nights and airport transfers.

Baggage Allowance

For this holiday you should take one piece of luggage, which should be a soft and sturdy duffel bag, and a daypack. Your bag on trek will be carried by porters or pack animals and should not weigh more than 15kg. Pleasenote that the check-in baggage limit on all internal flights within India is now 15kg and you are responsible for anyexcess baggage charges that the airline may apply. It is possible to leave travel clothes and any other items notrequired on trek at the group hotel.

Group Size & Holiday Status

For each holiday there is a minimum number of participants required to enable it to go ahead. Once the minimumnumber is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to run'. You can check the trip statusfor each departure in ‘Dates and Prices’ table. Other than in exceptional circumstances, we will not cancel a triponce it has achieved this guaranteed to run status and so you are free to proceed with your international flightbooking and other travel arrangements.

Recommended Outdoor Retailers

Many of the Equipment items listed above are available from Cotswold Outdoor - our'Official Recommended Outdoor Retailer'. When you book a holiday with KE you will receive15% discount voucher from Cotswold Outdoor and other retailers.>> Find out more

Travel Insurance

It is an essential condition of joining a holiday with KE Adventure Travel that you have a valid travel insurancepolicy to cover the cost of medical treatment and to protect the value of your holiday in the event of cancellation.When taking out insurance please ensure the policy you choose covers you for the activities and altitude includedin your itinerary.

For appropriate insurance cover we recommend Campbell Irvine Direct. Please go to our Travel Insurance page forfurther information and to get a quote.

General Information

Passport & Visas

The information that we provide is for UK passport holders. A passport with 6 months remaining validity at the endof your stay is generally required, and you should have at least 2 blank pages for each country that you visit.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct travel documents and visas for your holiday.Please ensure that you check for the latest advice before travel. For the most up to date information on entryrequirements, please visit the UK Government website.



http://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/

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/data/web/ke-uat/about-us/booking-with-ke/travel-insurance

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

Visa India

All nationalities require a visa. For UK and US citizens, we recommend you apply for an e-Visa. You need to applyfor this online at least four days prior to departure at https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/tvoa.html. Pleasedownload the detailed information document: Visa PDF India

Health & Vaccinations

Severe Allergies

If you have a severe allergy please inform the KE office before you travel. We will do all we can to help, but wecannot guarantee an allergy free environment on KE trips. You will need to carry your own treatment for theallergy with you, as 'adrenaline auto-injectors' are not carried as standard by KE leaders and staff. You shouldinform your leader on arrival of your allergy, and let them know where you keep your adrenaline pen.

Vaccinations

You should contact your doctor or travel clinic to check whether you require any specific vaccinations or otherpreventive measures. You should be up to date with routine courses and boosters as recommended in the UK e.g.diphtheria-tetanus-polio and measles-mumps-rubella, along with hepatitis A and typhoid.

Malarial prophylaxis is not usually required for trips in the mountains, however if you are visiting rural and remotelow lying areas then they might be necessary. On holidays to more remote areas you should also have a dentistcheck up. A good online resource is Travel Health Pro.

Dengue Fever

Dengue fever is a known risk in places visited. It is a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes.There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid beingbitten. We recommend you take precautions to avoid mosquito bites.

Zika Virus

Zika virus has been confirmed as active in this country. It is a tropical viral disease spread by daytime bitingmosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available and therefore the best form of prevention is toavoid being bitten. We recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites. The mosquitoes thattransmit ZIKV are unlikely to be found above 2,000m altitude. For more information, visit the website of theNational Travel Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) at https://travelhealthpro.org.uk

Currency

The currency of India is the Indian Rupee.

Electricity Supply & Plug

We recommend you check if you require an adaptor for your electrical items at:

http://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plugs-and-sockets/



https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/tvoa.html

http://travelhealthpro.org.uk/country-information/

https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/factsheet/38/insect-and-tick-bite-avoidance

https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/

https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/

http://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plugs-and-sockets/

Preparing For Your Holiday

It makes a lot of sense to spend some time before coming on a trekking trip getting some additional exercise. Thefitter you are, after all, the more enjoyable you will find the experience. For this trip you need to be aerobically fitand also comfortable with walking up to 6 or 7 hours each day. We would suggest that you adopt a weekly exerciseregime leading up to your trip. Regular hiking in hill country is the best training but any regular excercise will begood for developing cardio vascular fitness and stamina. Before departure, we suggest that you try to fit in anumber of long walks in hilly country.

Climate

In the post-monsoon, autumn season when we propose to run this holiday the maximum daytime temperature atGangtok will be between 15°C and 20°C. Up above 3000 metres on trek it will be cooler at around 10°C and nighttime temperatures at our highest camps will drop close to freezing. The influence of the annual monsoon shouldbe over by the time we run the trek, but you should be aware that the eastern end of the Himalaya receives morerainfall than further west in Nepal. It can and does rain here and you should be prepared for this. Generally, theperiod outside of the monsoon is stable, but weather in the Himalayan foothills is notoriously difficult to predictand short-lived storms can occur at any time of the year.

Travel Aware

As a reputable tour operator, KE supports the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's ‘TravelAware’ campaign to enable British citizens to prepare for their journeys overseas. The 'Travel Aware' websiteprovides a single, authoritative source of advice for all kinds of travellers and we recommend that prior to travel,all KE clients visit the official UK Government website at travelaware.campaign.gov.uk and read the FCDO TravelAdvice for their chosen destination. North Americans can also check out the U.S. Department of State website:www.travel.state.gov for essential travel advice and tips.

KE treat the safety and security of all clients as the most important aspect of any trip we organise. We would notrun any trip that we did not consider reasonably safe. Should the FCDO advise against travel for any reason, wewill contact everyone booked to travel to discuss the situation. We receive regular updates direct from the FCDOand are in constant touch with our contacts on the ground. If you have any questions about government traveladvice, please call our office.

Single Use Plastic

KE do not encourage the use of single use plastic items. We are ensuring that our agents all over the world areworking together to reduce the problem and educate those around them. We are leading by example in our KEoffice by reducing our plastic use. We have pledged to AITO’s Project Protect that 70% of our agents stop usingsingle use plastic bottles.

Books

• Top Treks of the World. New Holland /Steve Razzetti

• Trekking in the Indian Himalaya. Lonely Planet

• India. A Travel Survival Kit. Lonely Planet

• The Trekkers Guide to Pakistan and India.Hugh Swift

• Exploring the Hidden Himalaya. Kapadia and Mehta



https://travelaware.campaign.gov.uk/



http://www.travel.state.gov/

Maps

Sikkim Himalaya – 1: 150,000. Schweizerische Stiftung für Alpine Forschung (Swiss Foundation For AlpineResearch).

Although a monochrome map (black and white detail with a sepia coloured relief shading), this map is much moredetailed than some other more colourful maps. As well as the relief shading it has 100 metre contours, spotheights, peaks, passes, and glaciers, and graphics to show various types of terrain. It is not possible to pick out theroute of this trek on this map and the lake shown to the west of Chumapa (peak) may or may not be Tosha Lake.

Flight Information

Flight Inclusive Or Land Only?

On our website we display a UK Flight Inclusive package price and Land Only package price for the majority of ourholidays.

Flight Inclusive Notes

The FLIGHT INCLUSIVE dates and prices are based on UK flights from London (Heathrow) to Delhi. Outboundflights will usually depart the UK in the evening, arriving in the morning of the following day (day 1 of the itinerary).Return flights will usually depart from Delhi Airport in the late morning of the last day of the itinerary, arriving inthe UK later the same day. Regional departures are available on request.

Please be aware that there are often only a limited number of seats available at the advertised price. To avoidpaying flight supplements, we recommend that you book as early as possible, especially during peak times. If weare unable to secure seats at the price shown, or you have requested regional departures, we will contact you withan alternative quote. Please note that you may be asked to pay for your flights in advance of your final holidaybalance. Note that if you book a package including flights with KE you will benefit from full financial protection.

Land Only Notes

The LAND ONLY dates and prices are for the itinerary joining in Delhi. For clients making their own flightarrangements, Delhi Airport is the most convenient for transfers to the group hotel. Please refer to JoiningArrangements and Transfers for further details.

Flights SHOULD NOT be booked until you have received your booking confirmation and the departure is showing'Guaranteed to Run' or 'Limited'.

Why Choose KE Adventure Travel?

Why Choose KE Adventure Travel?

Operating since 1984, KE Adventure Travel has some of the most experienced staff in the business, with theproven ability to set up and operate a worldwide programme of adventures. Everyone has adventure travel atheart and joins at least one trip a year. It is this depth of experience that makes KE stand out from other adventuretravel operators. When you contact KE, by phone or e-mail, or visit our office, you will find the help and advice youneed, from someone who has actually done the trip and can give you the benefit of their first-hand experience.



KE can guarantee the very best in trip support, excellent food, a good standard of hotel and other accommodation,plus the back up of one of the most respected companies in the business. Client satisfaction is at the top of ouragenda and almost 50% of our bookings each year come from repeat business. If you are looking for adventurethen look no further than KE.

Group Tour Leaders

All of our holidays are accompanied by an experienced leader, some of whom have worked with KE groups formany years. Many are professional guides and instructors with an unrivalled knowledge of the areas in which theywork. In many parts of the world, we recruit local guides with appropriate training and experience. In addition tohaving the technical skills to ensure your safety, KE expects its leaders to be active members of the group. Aleader should be fun to travel with and ready to share with you their enthusiasm for adventure travel and theirknowledge of the area. Alongside the group leader, there will be a local support crew, which could be just a driver,or a complete team of guides, drivers, porters, mule-herders and cooks. The hard work of our support crews, alongwith the fascinating insight they can offer into their local culture, is integral to providing you with the very bestadventure travel experience.

Sustainable Tourism

Since we ran our first trip in 1984, we have been committed keeping the world's most beautiful places pristine byminimising our environmental impact. Recognising the fragility of the world's wilderness environments, we keepour groups small and operate according to a ‘Mountain Code’, which is provided to all groups, trek leaders, agentsand staff. We make sure that our local staff are well treated and well paid, we respect indigenous cultures, takecare to protect the environment of the places we visit and take every opportunity to make a positive contributionwherever we travel. Our philosophy of 'leaving nothing but footprints' has been integral to KE's approach rightfrom the start over 30 years ago. In recognition of our efforts we are proud to have achieved the highest award of5 Stars for Sustainable Tourism by AITO.

We continue to travel responsibly, and more information on our policy, practice, and specific projects can be foundat www.keadventure.com, and on the website of our partner charity the Juniper Trust: www.junipertrust.co.uk. KE'sMountain Code is issued to our staff, trek leaders and overseas agents, and we recommend it to our clients, too!

Booking Your Holiday

The easiest way to make your booking is online. You will need to pay a deposit at the time of booking. This isnormally £200 but for some holidays with special permit fees or internal flights, this may be more. The amount ofdeposit required for an individual holiday is given on the dates and prices page of the holiday. Late bookings willrequire full payment. We cannot confirm any booking until we receive your fully completed booking form.

Adventure Travel Insurance

It is a condition of joining any of our trips that you are insured against medical and personal accident risks (toinclude repatriation costs, air ambulance and helicopter rescue services). We also strongly recommend that youtake out holiday cancellation insurance, as all deposits paid are non-refundable. Please ensure that your insurer isaware of your KE Adventure itinerary and can agree to cover the activities being undertaken. You will then need toadvise us of your policy details and complete an Insurance Declaration Form.

CAMPBELL IRVINE DIRECT travel insurance is available to EU residents and will cover the majority of KE Adventureholidays. It has been designed to provide cover for activities normally excluded by other insurers such as trekking,mountain biking and climbing. Please note that certain activities may attract a higher premium. In addition



https://www.junipertrust.co.uk/

‘Campbell Irvine Direct’ cannot provide cover for KE climbing trips above 6000m. Cover for these can be obtainedthrough either the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) or Snowcard.

TRAVELEX is a USA based insurer offering travel insurance, which can be used by US citizens and US residents only.KE recommends the "Travelex Select" package for our holidays. If your holiday involves using mountaineeringequipment (ropes, harness or crampons), for climbing or glacial travel, you should consider the "Adventure PlusPak" optional upgrade on the Travelex Select Plan. Please refer to the 'Description of Coverage' for a summary ofthe terms, conditions, exclusions and limitations of the applicable Protection Plan. This policy will also cover KEclimbing trips above 6000m.



Equipment List

The following checklist should help you with your packing. As a general rule, you should always try to keep theweight of your equipment to a minimum. The packed weight of your trek bag whilst trekking should be no morethan 15 kgs.

You Must Bring The Following Items:

• Hiking boots• Trainers or sandals for river crossings and camp use• Trekking trousers• Waterproof overtrousers• Thermal baselayer - leggings• Baselayer shirts Shirts• Fleece jacket or warm jumper• Waterproof jacket• Warm jacket (down)• Sunhat• Warm hat• Gloves• Headtorch and spare batteries• Daypack 30 to 40 litres• Water bottles 1 litre (x2) (we encourage re-filling water bottles rather than single use plastic)• Water purification tablets• Sleeping bag (comfort rated -10ºC)*• Sunglasses• Washbag and toiletries• Small towel• Antibacterial handwash• Basic First Aid Kit including: antiseptic cream, throat lozenges, diarrhoea treatment (Imodium), painkillers,

plasters and blister treatment, and re-hydration salts (Dioralite).• Sun protection (including total bloc for lips, nose etc.)• Small padlock (to lock your KE trek bag)

The Following Items Are OptionaL

• Thermarest (note that foam mattresses are provided)• Trekking poles (recommended)• Insect repellant• Spare laces• Shorts• Scarf or buff• Sleeping bag liner• Travel clothes• Pen-knife (note: always pack sharp objects in hold baggage)• Repair kit – (eg. needle, thread, duct tape)• Camera• Reusable cloth bag for shopping (to avoid plastic bags)



Equipment Hire / Rental

Items marked * can be hired / rented through KE Adventure Travel. Please make requests at least 6 weeks prior tothe trip departure.

Note all hire / rental equipment will be issued in Delhi.

Please note: This document was downloaded on 20 Mar 2022, and the trip is subject to change.



Documents

SIKKIM - TOSHA LAKE TREK