Eka Experiences

West Sikkim Homestay Trail

“An offbeat, cultural trekking experience in the foothills of the Kanchenjunga"

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An immersive cultural adventure in Sikkim curated for hiking enthusiasts and offbeat explorers. Here, we follow a lesser-explored trail in the enchanting West Sikkim area hopping from one local homestay to another, under the constant gaze of Mt. Kanchenjunga. 

Absorbing the local culture and the essence of rural Sikkim along the way, we navigate dense forest trails, pass through quaint remote hamlets, walk by picturesque waterfalls, terraced farms and cardamom plantations. We visit ancient monasteries, peaceful sacred lakes and of course find stunning viewpoints to marvel at the spectacular views of the third highest mountain in the world.

  • Duration: 6 days
  • Region: West Sikkim, India
  • Time: November to May
  • Type: Cultural Trek + Homestay Experience
  • Accommodation: Homestays
  • Pickup/Drop-off: Siliguri (NJP/Bagdogra Airport)
  • Discover a remote region steeped in history, heritage and mythology
  • Trek on offbeat and pristine forest trails away from the crowd
  • Visit the oldest monastery in Sikkim and one of the holiest lakes of the state
  • Marvel at some of the best views of the third highest mountain in the world
  • Stay at comfortable family Homestays and enjoy the true Sikkimese hospitality
  • Meet the warm locals and discover their unique culture and traditions
  • Experience farm-to-table local cuisine and sample organic, homemade wine

Experience Itinerary

Day 1-2: The Land of Kanchenjunga

Kanchenjunga Sikkim
Pemayangtse Monastery Sikkim Pelling
Giant Statue Pelling Skywalk
Kanchenjunga Sikkim Peling
Rabdentse pelling palace ruins
Rabdentse pelling palace ruins
West sikkim trek - Pelling Sikkim Culture Flags - Sikkim Tour Packages
Clients Eka Experiences West Sikkim Trip
West Sikkim Trail 28

A 5 hour drive from Siliguri brings us to pretty Pelling, a beautiful and a culturally-rich hill station. Our exploration of West Sikkim homestay trail starts with Pelling, which offers some of the grandest views of the Kanchenjunga range. 

Here, we visit some of the lesser-known viewpoints as well as a few prominent sites of interest including the Pemayangtse Monastery, one of the most renowned and significant Monasteries of Sikkim and Rabdentse, the majestic ruins of the erstwhile Kingdom’s palace.

In the evenings, we enjoy the warm hospitality of our lovely hosts at our cosy homestay. 

Located at the less-touristy section of the town and managed by a local family, our stay offers a fascinating glimpse into the local culture, not to mention the lip-smacking local cuisine with a farm-to-fork experience as well as sampling some delicious homemade and organic wine.

Day 3: Beyond the Beaten of West Sikkim Homestay Trail​

After the warm-up walking exploration of Day 2, today we head out for a trek through a dense forest trail. The walk is a gentle uphill with a few steep portions and mostly over a ridge. After about 2-3 hours of hiking, we arrive at a small lush clearing surrounded by the jungle. 

The place stands at a high part on the ridge and is a great vantage point for some stunning views and also offers a refreshing breather on the way. 

The trail then carries on gradually uphill from this glade, through the forests again and finally starts descending to the pretty hamlet of Darap, where we end our hike for the day.

The whole trek takes us about 4-5 hours depending on the pace of the group. More experienced hikers can carry on further to Rani Dhunga, or the Queen’s rock area which takes a couple of more hours. 

From Darap we drive to the village of Khecheopalri through the winding mountain roads to reach our next local homestay.

Trekking in dense forest trail West Sikkim
Gaddi Dara Meadow Viewpoint Trek
Kanchenjunga Sikkim
West Sikkim Trail 16
Kanchenjunga range foothills pelling
Gaddi Dara Trek Viewpoint Meadow
Flower in Dense forest trail
Homestay West Sikkim Trail
Trekking in dense forest trail

Day 4-6: Nature’s Bounty & Ancient Heritage

Yuksom Monastery West Sikkim Culture Trail
West Sikkim Culture Norbugang Throne Moonastery
Karthok Monastery Yuksom West Sikkim
Kecheopalri Lake view Eka Experiences
Yuksom farmland West Sikkim
Yuksom West Pelling
Yuksom Lake Karthok
Trekking in dense forest trail
Cardamom Plantations
Kecheopalri Lake Eka

Day 4 of our homestay trail starts with offering our prayers at one of the holiest lakes of Sikkim, the Khecheopalri, also called the wish-fulfilling lake. Next, we start our trek for the day from Khecheopalri village to Yuksom, a remote heritage village situated at the edge of the Kanchenjunga National Park.

It takes us 4-5 hours to complete the trail today which is a mix of serene village paths as well as narrow tracks through the dense jungle foliage. 

We walk past little mountain hamlets, lush farmlands, and cardamom plantations, crossing small streams and forested trails while meeting the smiling locals in their traditional houses along the way.

Yuksom is where we check in to our last local homestay for the trip. A charming little settlement with its own sacred lake and exquisitely crafted monasteries, Yuksom was the first capital of the Sikkim Kingdom and has immense religious and cultural significance.

The next day, we explore all the natural beauty that Yuksom has to offer along with discovering its rich past and ancient heritage. We will also do a short hike on a well-marked track to reach the state’s oldest monastery located blissfully on a hilltop for hundreds of years. 

On the last day of the trip, we thank our hosts and bid farewell to this magnificent region, not just rich in culture and nature’s beauty but also with warm, welcoming, and kind people.

Book now

TRAVEL REVIEWS AND TESTIMONIALS

Reviews Platform Logo
EXCELLENT
138 reviews on
EXCELLENT
104 reviews on
"We had a great time during our West Sikkim trip and can absolutely recommend Eka for unique experiences far from the usual touristy crowd! The home stays were great and the families there were more than welcoming. Although we got surprised by rain, the organisers quickly adjusted the schedule so that we could still make the most out of the trip. From breathtaking mountains, lush green jungles, beautiful monasteries and amazing food (not to forget the traditional drink Chang 🙂 ), this trip really had everything!"
Jenny Poser
Jenny PoserGermany/Goa
"Did the ‘Nomad trails of Changthang Plateau in Ladakh’ curated by Eka Experiences during July 2022...Right from guiding the team members during the preparation stage, to food, tents & other misc amenities...every minute detail was well taken care of...Full credit to Jeet for keeping us engaged with different games, group activities, stories, anecdotes etc etc. The sessions were an absolute blast..... Thank you Eka for providing such a wonderful experience. I am filled with happiness and gratitude when I remember those moments. Looking forward to planning the next outing with you guys."
Ankur Gupta
Ankur GuptaBangalore
"A group of us successfully completed the Kashmir Great lakes trek in July 2022 under the guidance of the Trek Guide, Indrajit and his very experienced support team. This trek is NOT for beginners. Its scale of difficulty ranges from moderate to difficult. This is one of the more challenging treks I hv done. Thanks Indrajit for everything that made this as very awesome experience for me and made us feel safe!. Looking forward to more treks with your company."
Jayakumari KM
Jayakumari KMSingapore
"..On high altitude Himalayan trek we are more concerned about safety than anything else....I was trekking with son and daughter. After interacting and discussing with Abhirup we were confident that we are in right hands. Soft spoken, energetic, dependable and best of all well qualified in mountaineering, high altitude crisis handling, emergency medication, etc. Assisted and treated my daughter when she fell sick on the first day itself. Kept whole trek group in good humour throughout and was continuosly sharing all information about the Himalayas, surrounding mountains...."
Ravilochan Achar
Ravilochan AcharMangalore
"they try to strike a balance between sticking to the targets and reaching the destination while making every bit of the journey filled with exciting experiences. You have the liberty to enjoy your solitude, yet have the opportunity to mingle and melt into a variegated group of people. They give you a holistic experience encompassing learning, adventure, thrill, cultural life, delicious local food, homestays, camping, scenic views and many more on the list.. The experience is unparalleled, transcendental. Guys, go and grab your own EKA experience!!"
Simantini Pattanayak
Simantini PattanayakDehradun
"Abhirup is a very talented individual with an unparalleled understanding of the Himalayas, a keen star gazer and a very knowledgeable bird watcher too... Trekking with him as the leader is one of the best experiences one can have - he takes people high up on the alpine ranges but most importantly brings everybody back safely."
Sayantan Mandal
Sayantan MandalHyderabad
"Highly recommend Eka experiences for offbeat trails...recently been to the West Sikkim trail. Very well organized by Abhirup right from the transport, very good homestays in all places , amazing local cuisine and great trekking experiences. Would definitely love to do more adventures with Eka in future."
Shruti Raiturcar
Shruti RaiturcarGoa
"...A wonderful person with a great experience. The treks are fun and adventurous. We went to such beautiful places which we could just dream of. Photos would not make enough justice to the places. The treks are well organised, on time, with all safety measures in place. We were taken care of the best we could get in such remote places. Abhirup was always around to help, to take care. We were checked each day of our health, of our vitals both before and after the trek. Overall a wonderful experience, which we can never forget!!"
Krishnan KN
Krishnan KNBangalore
"You know it's an incredible experience when it leaves an imprint on you. We did the Kashmir Great Lakes trek with Eka Experiences and i keep going back to it ever since I got back about a month back. The team at Eka experiences is experienced, quality centric and passionate about what they do....Indrajit and Abhirup are onto something here. Carving niche experiences within an industry that's crowded and easily motivated to provide substandard experiences in the race to scale their businesses. Eka experiences ensured that each trip is curated. Looking forward to our next trip. "
Pritesh Kamani
Pritesh KamaniBangalore
Previous
Next

TRAVEL REVIEWS AND TESTIMONIALS

Reviews Platform Logo
EXCELLENT
138 reviews on
EXCELLENT
104 reviews on
"We had a great time during our West Sikkim trip and can absolutely recommend Eka for unique experiences far from the usual touristy crowd! The home stays were great and the families there were more than welcoming. Although we got surprised by rain, the organisers quickly adjusted the schedule so that we could still make the most out of the trip. From breathtaking mountains, lush green jungles, beautiful monasteries and amazing food (not to forget the traditional drink Chang 🙂 ), this trip really had everything!"
Jenny Poser
Jenny PoserGermany/Goa
"Did the ‘Nomad trails of Changthang Plateau in Ladakh’ curated by Eka Experiences during July 2022...Right from guiding the team members during the preparation stage, to food, tents & other misc amenities...every minute detail was well taken care of...Full credit to Jeet for keeping us engaged with different games, group activities, stories, anecdotes etc etc. The sessions were an absolute blast..... Thank you Eka for providing such a wonderful experience. I am filled with happiness and gratitude when I remember those moments. Looking forward to planning the next outing with you guys."
Ankur Gupta
Ankur GuptaBangalore
"A group of us successfully completed the Kashmir Great lakes trek in July 2022 under the guidance of the Trek Guide, Indrajit and his very experienced support team. This trek is NOT for beginners. Its scale of difficulty ranges from moderate to difficult. This is one of the more challenging treks I hv done. Thanks Indrajit for everything that made this as very awesome experience for me and made us feel safe!. Looking forward to more treks with your company."
Jayakumari KM
Jayakumari KMSingapore
"..On high altitude Himalayan trek we are more concerned about safety than anything else....I was trekking with son and daughter. After interacting and discussing with Abhirup we were confident that we are in right hands. Soft spoken, energetic, dependable and best of all well qualified in mountaineering, high altitude crisis handling, emergency medication, etc. Assisted and treated my daughter when she fell sick on the first day itself. Kept whole trek group in good humour throughout and was continuosly sharing all information about the Himalayas, surrounding mountains...."
Ravilochan Achar
Ravilochan AcharMangalore
"they try to strike a balance between sticking to the targets and reaching the destination while making every bit of the journey filled with exciting experiences. You have the liberty to enjoy your solitude, yet have the opportunity to mingle and melt into a variegated group of people. They give you a holistic experience encompassing learning, adventure, thrill, cultural life, delicious local food, homestays, camping, scenic views and many more on the list.. The experience is unparalleled, transcendental. Guys, go and grab your own EKA experience!!"
Simantini Pattanayak
Simantini PattanayakDehradun
"Abhirup is a very talented individual with an unparalleled understanding of the Himalayas, a keen star gazer and a very knowledgeable bird watcher too... Trekking with him as the leader is one of the best experiences one can have - he takes people high up on the alpine ranges but most importantly brings everybody back safely."
Sayantan Mandal
Sayantan MandalHyderabad
"Highly recommend Eka experiences for offbeat trails...recently been to the West Sikkim trail. Very well organized by Abhirup right from the transport, very good homestays in all places , amazing local cuisine and great trekking experiences. Would definitely love to do more adventures with Eka in future."
Shruti Raiturcar
Shruti RaiturcarGoa
"...A wonderful person with a great experience. The treks are fun and adventurous. We went to such beautiful places which we could just dream of. Photos would not make enough justice to the places. The treks are well organised, on time, with all safety measures in place. We were taken care of the best we could get in such remote places. Abhirup was always around to help, to take care. We were checked each day of our health, of our vitals both before and after the trek. Overall a wonderful experience, which we can never forget!!"
Krishnan KN
Krishnan KNBangalore
"You know it's an incredible experience when it leaves an imprint on you. We did the Kashmir Great Lakes trek with Eka Experiences and i keep going back to it ever since I got back about a month back. The team at Eka experiences is experienced, quality centric and passionate about what they do....Indrajit and Abhirup are onto something here. Carving niche experiences within an industry that's crowded and easily motivated to provide substandard experiences in the race to scale their businesses. Eka experiences ensured that each trip is curated. Looking forward to our next trip. "
Pritesh Kamani
Pritesh KamaniBangalore
Previous
Next

For Trip Booking, Costs and More Details, Please Contact Us:

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A personalized itinerary can be crafted based on your group’s interests, expectations, and preferred dates and time duration. For tailoring a suitable West Sikkim Homestay tour plan just for you, please Call/Whatsapp on +91 8951064013 or mail us at contact@ekaxp.in