CAMPING IN NORTH SIKKIM

ARRIVAL

• After your arrival at Bagdogra airport/N.J.P., you will proceed towards Lachen, Sikkim, and arrive there by late afternoon.
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• Overnight stay at a homestay.

EXPLORE LACHEN

• After breakfast, walk up to the 160-year-old Lachen Monastery, built by Karchen Dorjie Drak in 1858. 
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• You will be able to see the monastery, which has a small casket containing a flat stone bearing the amazing footprint of the Kham Gomchen who stayed at Thangu Monastery along with a stone shaped like a ‘Tshebum’ or vase of longevity, kept at the altar.

It is said that one day when the third Lachen Gomchen Rinpoche was meditating at Deuthang hermitage, he told his pupil lama Samdup that he would find something floating down the river flowing nearby the next day and he should bring it to the hermitage. Early the next morning he went down to the river and started looking around. About midday, he saw a stone shaped like a vase floating down the river. He grabbed it and took it to his master. The master said that it is a Ter (religious artifact) and directed him to keep it in the monastery, now called the Tshebum or the vase of longevity.

• After lunch, start your hike on the bird trail. It starts near the monastery and goes above the Lachen village. 
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• Some of the common birds that can be seen are blood pheasants, kalij pheasants, satyr tragopans, accentor, and finches. 
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• Overnight stay at the homestay.

LACHEN – TARUM HOT SPRING

• After breakfast, start on the trek from Lachen School Ground towards Chapten village on the Red Panda Trail. The trail winds its way down toward the Chapten village.
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• You will be walking along the boundary of Khangchendzonga National Park. The chances of sighting the most elusive Red Panda are quite high on this trail. 
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• By lunchtime, you will be at Tarum Bridge for hot lunch. From here you will start the hike for Tarum Hot Springs. Initially, the climb is steep but gradually it levels out to a comfortable walk through bamboo and oak forest. 
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• Overnight stay at the camp.

TARUM HOT SPRING - LACHEN

• After breakfast, take a dip in the hot springs.
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• Walk back to Tarum Bridge.

Tarum Hot Springs - A little beyond the hut (which is Tarum), after crossing the stream, there are two hot springs where one can have a relaxing dip. The one at the top and hotter of the two is considered as the male and the lower one as the female. As per tradition, one must always enter the female pond on the top before entering the male one. 

• Return back to Lachen taking the same route.
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• Overnight stay at the homestay.

DEPARTURE

• After breakfast, you will proceed towards Bagdogra airport/N.J.P.
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• Your trip concludes. Head back home with lots of pictures and awesome memories.