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India - Spring Flowers of Sikkim, Darjeeling & Kalimpong
Tour Code: IND51A 16-day botanical holiday to enjoy the superb spring flora of the mountains of northern Sikkim and West Bengal.
£4,495 (Inc flights)
£3,995
Highlights
Tour Itinerary and Reports
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Summary
The former Himalayan kingdom of Sikkim is one of the most plant-rich regions of the Himalaya. Our holiday begins in Darjeeling with some sightseeing and a visit to the Lloyd Botanical Gardens. Next we drive to Gangtok, capital of Sikkim, botanising on our way, then follow in the footsteps of renowned 19th century botanist Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker into the higher Himalayan hills. Around the remote village of Lachung we’ll explore the Yumthang Valley, known as Sikkim’s ‘Valley of Flowers’ which is home to such Primulas as P. sikkimensis, P. calderiana and P. dickieana. On another day we’ll ascend to Yume-Samdong in search of the spectacular Sikkim Rhubarb and other special perennials. This is a remote area populated by Yak herders and this lack of human interference provides a haven for rare orchids as well as Primula and Lilium species among many others. We end our tour with a visit to the Bengali Hill Station of Kalimpong where Buddhist monasteries, wonderful plant nurseries and architecture await us before our journey home.
- 4,000+ species of flowering plant in Sikkim & 700+ bird species
- Over 40 species of Rhododendron & 600 species of orchid
- Ride on the ‘Toy Train’, Darjeeling & visit a tea garden
- Look for Arisaema Concinnum, A. tortuosum & A. galeatum orchids in hills
- Stay in the remote village of Lachung, close to the Tibetan Plateau
- Enjoy wealth of rhododendrons & alpines in Yumthang Valley
- Look for Himalayan Blue Poppy, Primulas, Hooker’s Pleione & Himalayan Lily
- Sikkim Rhubarb & the stunning Prickly Blue Poppy grow on Yume-Samdong
- Its remoteness & lack of human presence makes this a plant-hunter’s paradise
- Search for rare orchids such as Cypripedium himalaicum & C. elegans
- Led by expert naturalist guide
Grading
A/B. Mostly gentle botanical walks; however, there will be some more demanding walks on steep terrain at high elevation (up to 4,000 metres).The former Himalayan kingdom of Sikkim, since 1975 a state of India, is a mountainous region with a small, largely Buddhist, population. Its high rainfall makes it one of the most luxuriant and plant-rich areas of the Himalaya, and its relative obscurity has ensured little recent change in its peaceful villages and monasteries. For a region of such small size, Sikkim’s natural history is somewhat remarkable. As well as over 700 species of birds, 4,000 species of flowering plants — amongst them over 40 species of Rhododendron and 600 species of orchid — have been recorded here! It is this wonderful floral diversity that will be the primary focus on this 17-day holiday, although we will not ignore the other wildlife that we encounter along the way!
Our holiday begins in Darjeeling. Here we will have two days to enjoy the nostalgic atmosphere of this charming, but rather ramshackle, old hill station of the British Raj, situated at 1,980 metres. During our stay in Darjeeling, we will make an excursion to the small village of Tumbling to enjoy its wide variety of flora, including rhododendron trees and magnolias, some of which are over a hundred years old. A stay in Darjeeling would not be complete, however, without a ride on the ‘toy train’ of Darjeeling’s Himalayan railway!
Next we will drive to Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim, passing through the attractive temperate forests of Sikkim’s hills in which we’ll look for orchids and such Arisaema species as A. concinnum, A. tortuosum and A. galeatum. From Gangtok we’ll head north-east, following in the footsteps of renowned 19th century botanist and plant-hunter Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker, into the higher hills of the Himalaya. Here we will stay in the remote village of Lachung, situated at 3,000 metres and home to Tibetan and Bhotia people. Lachung offers fine mountain scenery, and its proximity to the Tibetan Plateau, rhododendron forests, alpine pastures and their special flora makes it an ideal base for our botanical explorations over the next two days. We will explore the Singba Rhododendron Sanctuary and the Yumthang Valley (3,600 metres) above it, where the tree-line ends and the high plateau begins. Yumthang is known as Sikkim’s ‘Valley of Flowers’, on account of its wealth of rhododendrons and alpines that present a riot of colour each spring. We will look for Himalayan Blue Poppy, such Primula species as P. denticulata, P. sikkimensis, P. calderiana and P. dickieana, Arisaema griffithii and A. utile, while, in the region’s fir and larch forests, we should find Hooker’s Pleione (Pleione hookeriana) in bloom as well as irises and the giant Himalayan Lily (Cardiocrinum giganteum) in its early stages. On the following day we will drive to Yume-Samdong, situated at a height of 4,500 metres. This rugged alpine zone is the habitat for the spectacular Golden Himalayan Poppy (Meconopsis paniculata), as well as species of Eriophyton and Cathcartia villosa; the stunning Prickly Blue Poppy (Meconopsis horridula) will also be high on our list of target species and it is a real treat to find this endangered poppy growing alongside the other perennials which thrive in these harsh conditions.
We will explore other high hamlets, valleys and gorges of the plateau and mountains around Lachung, including the tiny settlement of Lachen, and the Thangu Valley (3,900 metres). This is a remote area populated by hardy Yak herders who graze their animals among the pastures along the Tibetan border during the summer months. The remoteness of this land, and lack of human interference, brings wonderful benefits to the keen plant-hunter, and on the slopes above Yathang and Thangu we will search for rare orchids such as Cypripedium himalaicum and C. elegans, which we should see in bloom along with several other orchid species, plus a wide variety of Primula and Lilium species.
After our botanical exploration of northern Sikkim, it will be time to descend to Gangtok and from there to the attractive Bengali hill station of Kalimpong, where beautiful views of the Himalaya, Buddhist monasteries, colonial architecture and fascinating plant nurseries provide a fitting end to our holiday.
Outline Itinerary
What's Included?
- Flights
- Accommodation: Comfortable tourist hotels. All rooms have private facilities.
- Food: All included in the price.
Dates & Prices
2025
2026
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[description] => Botanical Tours – See Wild Flowers with our Expert Botanical Guides
There are few more pleasing sights in the natural world than a meadow filled with wildflowers. Seeing plants in their native habitat is always exciting and our flower tours offer you an incredible choice, from dazzling tropical blooms and the thrill of finding elusive orchids or delicate alpines, to seeing island endemics or British flora. Our tours range from week-long holidays focusing on the ‘Alpine flowers of the Swiss Alps’, the ‘Italian Dolomites’ and the ‘Alpine Flowers of Slovenia’s Julian Alps’, to orchid-hunting on Italy’s Gargano Peninsula and searching for the Autumn Plants of Greece’s Peloponnese. We also visit more remote areas of the world in search of plant-life, from the Tien Shan Mountains of Kazakhstan where we look for wild tulips, to the rainforests and spiny deserts of Madagascar where over 80% of the flora is endemic.
Many of us want to know more about the plants we see around us. Whether inspired by an appreciation of the aesthetic appeal of flowers, or a more focused desire to identify individual species, everyone with an interest in botany will derive pleasure from joining one of Naturetrek’s flower tours.
Why choose Naturetrek’s botanical holidays?
- All our botanical holidays are led by expert botanist guides
- All levels of interest and expertise are catered for, from hobby gardeners and complete beginners to keen botanists who wish to explore a new area with the help of a knowledgeable leader
- We keep the overall focus on flora, though expert guidance is also given on other wildlife
What can I expect on a typical Naturetrek botanical holiday?
- Travel with a group of like-minded people
- Stay at a comfortable hotel or lodge, close to an area of outstanding botanical interest
- Enjoy a series of leisurely day excursions with ample time to appreciate the local flora
In addition to our dedicated flower tours, we also offer holidays with a wider theme to encompass birds, butterflies and other aspects of natural history as well as the flora. Our spring tours to 'Crete' and ‘The Island of Cyprus’ are both timed to allow us to enjoy the botanical highlights as well as the spring bird migration, whilst ‘Croatia and Slovenia – Spring in Istria’ also allows time to enjoy a little of the local culture. ‘Romania – the Wildlife of Transylvania’ combines an appreciation of the flora of the Carpathian Mountains with birding, butterflying and a trip to look for Brown Bears from a purpose built hide, and our holidays in both the ‘French Pyrenees’ and the ‘Spanish Pyrenees’ combine birds, butterflies and botany throughout the week.
Our specialist recommends...
David Tattersfield - Tour Leader
Combined Walking and Wildlife Tours
Naturetrek started by, and still specialises in, organising bird-watching and wild flower treks to remote and mountainous regions of the world. Though our broad programme of holidays now includes many tours which involve little or no strenuous walking, we still offer an excellent choice of walking and trekking wildlife holidays, from the Himalaya to the Pyrenees and the Camino de Santiago to the Inca trail.
Walking Wildlife Holidays on Offer:
These tours involve walking all day on most of the days, and tend to be 8 days in the mountains of Europe (although not exclusively) and are either botany or general natural history in focus. Often in remote areas where there are very few other people, our expert naturalist guides will lead you through some of the most majestic scenery, whilst at the same time helping you discover the wonderful flora and fauna that inhabit the region. These tours are for those who enjoy spending a whole day on foot, being able to cope with some strenuous terrain on sometimes uneven ground, and their reward will be, apart from the memorable landscapes and wildlife encounters, a hearty dinner at the end of each day and a great sense of satisfaction at the end of the holiday! Some of our favourite destinations are:
- The Alps, which offer classic mountain vistas. Switzerland, in particular, with its beautiful alpine meadows, spruce forests and glaciers, is hard to beat for a superb holiday combining botany and walking
- The Pyrenees – we offer various itineraries with tours on both the French and Spanish sides. Wilder and less manicured than the Alps, this mountain range has a large number of different habitats and a wealth of natural history as a result
- The little visited Picos de Europa in northern Spain rewards those who visit with outstanding natural history – birds, plants and butterflies galore!
- Italy has a number of regions which are ideal for walking and afford plenty of wildlife – alpine flowers and butterflies in the Dolomites and unknown Sibillini Mountains, and Marsican Brown Bear in the Abruzzo National Park (in the Apennines)
- Zambia - walking between bush camps in Zambia’s South Luangwa National park, home to over 500 species of bird and 60 mammals, is a unique and unforgettable experience!
Looking for something even more adventurous?
Strenuous treks as the main feature of the tour – lasting up to 15 days – in some of world’s most spectacular and sparsely populated mountain ranges, we offer a selection of trips, including the Himalaya & Nepal’s Langtang Valley, where we go in search of breeding birds, alpine flowers, mammals and other wildlife. Here are a few more choices:
- We have two options in Ladakh searching for Snow Leopards - our original trip which involves camping for several nights and a new departure staying in a recently opened lodge, for those who prefer a roof over their head!
- Mount Everest & the Gokyo Lakes of Nepal to enjoy the world’s highest peaks & their unique natural history
- A holiday to Bhutan’s Bumthang Valley, an area with the most temples and historic sites in the this secretive country, in search of spring flowers, particularly rhododendrons
- Our Peru – Macaws & Machu Picchu trip has the option to complete the infamous Inca Trail, which culminates after 5 days of trekking with the best view of Machu Picchu, looking down at the monumental Inca city from the Sun Gate.
Be it day walks or trekking, in mountains, hills or the savannah, we offer a wide variety of holidays where you can truly stretch your legs, breathe in the cleanest of air, and enjoy the natural history of our world on foot.
Our specialist recommends...
David Mills -Managing Director
Why Naturetrek?
At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:
- The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
- Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
- Outstanding value and exceptional customer service
Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!
