This first day of biking begins with a 23 km ride over almost flat terrain to the Dudhia bridge (300m) just below the foothills of the Himalayas. Soon after, the road rises to around 1000m and further on there is a final climb to the beautiful Sumenda Lake near Mirik. On the way you will pass acres of tea plantations as this is a core tea growing area. Overnight at a nice hotel with beautiful views down to the lake. Altitude 120 → 1620m.

Today you’ll cycle north on a local, mostly slowly rising road, and partly right along the Nepalese border. Then the road turns east, enters a large forest, and finally reaches the main north road at Ghoom, the site of an old Buddhist monastery. A quiet road takes you in 7 km to Darjeeling, where great mountain views from your hotel room await you. Altitude 1620 → 1065 → 2130m.

Today you can explore he many sights of Darjeeling, on foot, bicycle or by car. Altitude 2130m.

A steady descent takes you to Jorethang, where you enter Sikkim. Here, the more serious work starts. For 27 km you follow the west bank of the Rangit River, very gradually climbing to Legship. From here to Pelling it is a tough climb (about 1400 m in 23 km). It’s entirely up to you whether you want to take on this final challenge (or skip it by riding the car). Altitude 2350 → 315 → 2050 → 1930m.

After an extended visit to the famous Pemayangtse Monastery, we continue to Yuksom, the ancient capital of Sikkim and trailhead for treks towards Khangchenjunga. On the way, we take a side trip to the beautiful Khecheopalri Lake, perhaps the holiest lake in Sikkim. Overnight stay in Yuksom. Altitude 1930 → 2070 → 1160 → 1825 → 1110 → 1750m.

The first part of today’s ride, from Yuksom to Tashiding, is overall downhill, though interupted by two shorter and one longer climb. We’ll visit the spectacularly located Tashiding Monastery, built in 1641 by a famous sage. After crossing the Rangit River over a hanging bridge (650m), and climbing 1000m, we reach Kewzing, a typical quiet Bhutia village set against a backdrop of magnificent mountains. Overnight in a simple, charming local homestay. Altitude 1750 → 1350 → 1605→ 1200 → 1460 → 655 → 800 → 705 → 1650m.

Today we don’t move base. We’ll do some easy biking and visit the Buddha Park near Ravangla with an iconic 40m high statue, and the nearby Ralang Monastery with an extensive collection of paintings and thangkas. The rest of the day you can just relax in the village. Altitude 1650 → 2055 → 350 → 1650m

No biking today, at least not if you don’t want to. Early morning, we can witness a spectacular sunrise over the Kanchenjunga range from the Tashi View Point near the city. Later, we visit some of the sights, as mentioned in the highlight. Altitude 1650m.

Today and tomorrow you'll bicycle down again, in the direction of Kalimpong. Instead of following the regular road, which follows the Rangpo River gorge, you'll navigate smaller, less used mountain roads along small hamlets and over ridges with great views. Today's destination is a small but pleasant home stay just north of the Rangpo River. Altitude 1620 → 2025 → 1360 → 1560 → 900 → 1100m

After descending to a river, and crossing it, your first climb awaits you. You'll reach the small settlement of Renock. Descending and climbing up again brings you to the hamlet of Pedong, and on an elevated ridge, where you will get very good views to the east and the west, as well as the large town of Kalimpong in the southwest, your last overnight halt on this trip. Altitude 1100 → 600 → 1205 → 600 → 1835 → 1790 → 1800 → 1180m.

After breakfast the car will take you down to Bagdogra where you check in for the flight to Delhi. It depends on the timing of your international flight whether you will need an overnight stay in Delhi. In the latter case we can arrange this for you.