Red Panda Tour

Day 1: Drive from NJP/Bagdogra to Dhotrey

Distance: 105 Km

Duration: 5 hours

Altitude: 8,500 ft

Time: 10 A.M

Your journey with us starts upon reaching the frontier town of Siliguri. Depending upon your mode of arrival, pick up will be arranged from Bagdogra, NJP or Siliguri Junction. The cost of the transport from the pick up point to Dhotrey is Rs 6,000/- and is shared by the trekkers.

The road takes you through the bustling town of Siliguri initially, but soon you would be journeying through the tea gardens and lush forests. The ascent starts from after reaching the beautiful lake of Mirik. From there to Dhotrey, it's a constant meandering journey through beautiful tea gardens and mountain forests. On the way to Dhotrey, you will cross the hilly settlements of Sukhia Pokhari and Maneybhanjan. Apart from these, its just you and the tranquil nature for company as you reach the beautiful base camp of Dhotrey. Nestled within a thick pine forest, Dhotrey is truly a sight to behold. If you are lucky, you will get your first glimpse of Kanchenjungha from here itself. Have an early dinner and call it a day as you need ample rest before your trek tomorrow.

Day 2: Dhotrey to Jaubari

Distance: 10 Km

Duration: 4 hours

Altitude: 10,000 ft

Time: 9 A.M

Today will be your first day of trek. It will be relaxed climb of about 1,500 ft and will mostly warm you up for the difficult terrain up ahead. From Dhotrey its initially a gentle climb towards Tumling. You will walk through rich forests of Pine and Coniferous and some occasional appearances of Rhododendron as you slowly gain the altitude. The forest is rich in flora and fauna and you will have multiple sightings of numerous birds. At the halfway point, you will find a beautiful resting stop comprised of a flat land, with mountain views all around and a peak of the Dhotrey village down below. From there it's a bit of a steep climb till you reach Tonglu. From there its just a km of flat walk to reach your destination for the day, Tumling. Reaching there you will receive the warm mountain hospitality as you sip on some tea while taking in the breathtaking views all around. This is the place which gives you a brief trailer of what treat awaits you once you reach your summit. After having a hearty dinner, sleep of to the sound of nature as you prepare yourself for the journey ahead.

Day 3: Tumling to Kalipokhari

Distance: 13 Km

Duration: 5 hours

Altitude: 10,500 ft

Time: 8 A.M

Wake up early to catch the beautiful sunrise from Tumling and catch The Mt Kanchenjungha in its full glory. After a quick breakfast, we start early as we have a long journey ahead of us. A short distance into the trek, we will reach the entry point of Singalila National Park. We will need to complete our entry formalities here. You will need to pay for a camera permit here if you are carrying any. Your trek guide will help you through the process. The Singalila National Park houses a great number of animals like the Himalayan Bear, Leopard cat, Barking Dear, Pangolin and the famous and elusive Red Panda. We will have a relaxed flat walk till we reach the settlement of Jaubari. All along the way, our trail will flirt with the Indo-Nepal border as we criss cross through our neighbor lands. From Jaubari we will have a descent, till we reach Gairibas. Here you can have a small break and also indulge in some snacks. Gairibas houses a rhododendron research centre and has a detailed accounting of the various varieties of Rhododendrons available in the region. From Gairibas we will face the first difficult phase of our trek, as we traverse a steep climb all the way to Kalipokhari. After a strenuous but rewarding climb, we will reach the high altitude lake of Kalipokhari. After a steaming hot beverage to soothe your aching muscles, you can pay a visit to the calm waters of the lake and feel your tiredness ebbing away.

Day 4: Exploration around Jaubari

Distance: 10 Km

Duration: 5 hours

Altitude: 10,500 ft ft

Time: 9 A.M

Today after breakfast, you will set out for your quest to catch a sight of the Red Panda. AT this point, its important to note that you need to strictly adhere to the instructions of your guide and in no point stray from his prescribed path or venture out alone. Also, the sighting is 10 percent effort and 90 percent chance, so in no circumstance is a sighting guaranteed. You will be provided a packed lunch for the trail. Your whole day will be spent in the Jungle in search of the elusive animal.

Day 5: Reserve Day

Distance: 10 Km

Duration: 5 hours

Altitude: 10,000 ft

Time: 9 A.M

Today is a reserve day. If we have had the luck of sighting yesterday, we will move towards Dhotrey otherwise, we would repeat our effort on some other areas of the jungle. We will have our night stay either at Dhotrey or Jaubari.

Day 6: Dhotrey to NJP

Distance: 105 Km

Duration: 5 hours

Altitude: 11,400 ft

Time: 10 A.M

In the case that we had stayed back at Jaubari, we will set out for Dhotrey after an early breakfast. From Dhotrey your cab will take you back to the town of Siliguri. You will follow the familiar road through, Maneybhanjan, Sukhia Pokhari and Mirik. Soon you will reach the station/airport for your onward journey while your mind stays back to your adventure days which will earn quite some bragging point to your friends and collegues.