The trek to Green Lakes, the base camp of Mount Khangchendzonga on the Zemu glacier is one of the most beautiful trekking trails in Sikkim. Green Lakes doesn’t mean there is a lake, but one will see unbelievable stretch of green frozen glacier, which is known by the name Zemu Glacier. The view of Mt. Sinolchu (6887m) there is no other mountain that can equal Sinolchu in beauty and boldness. As mentioned by Doglas Freshfield, who had seen many mountains on earth, Green Lake trek starts from Zeema 6ckm ahead of Lachen. Lachen is a beautiful village itself where we set our base of this trek. Gangtok to Lachen is a day’s journey of 5 - 6 hours by car.
PERMITS
With the relaxation by the Govt. of Sikkim we can get the permit after payment of fees to Home department, with their recommendation we have to apply to the Home department Govt. of India New Delhi and finally a Defense clearance is a must. Thus we collect your documents 20days before the trek in order to apply the permits. Required Documents are; Photo copy of your passport details, visa details, 3pc of pp size photo with your home address.
ITINERARY
DAY 01
Gangtok - Lachen (3100 m, 130 km, 5-6 hours):
Drive including stoppage en-route for lunch and tea, we cross the District head quarter of North Mangan, and then sub-Division of Chungthang, a small town at the junction of Lachen and Lachung valleys. After about 2 hours you are in Lachen village.
DAY 02
Lachen-Tallem (13 km, 6-7 hours):
The trek starts after crossing Zemu chhu this river will be a constant companion now onwards, by late evening you are at Tallem, where the Lhonak chhu from the north meets Zemu chu. Camp out.
DAY 03 Tallem-Jakthang (3300m, 8 km, 4-5 hours):
Today after having a mesmerizing view of Massif Khangdzonga and breakfast we leave for Jakthang, after leisurely climbing zedang and Shobuk we descended to Jakthang at the bank of the river, exactly opposite the valley leading to Kyeshong la in Tholung.
DAY 04
Jakthang-Yabuk (3850 m. 12 km, 5-6 Hours):
The path to Yabuk climbs through the forest and after about three hours walking on the moraines and herbal bush you are at Yabuk
DAY 05
Yabuk - Rest Camp: (4500 m, 9 km, 5 hours):
Today the path will be more rugged and more moraines, after crisscrossing with glacial stream and pass rest camp you are in front of the Mt. Sinolchu 6887m. Overnight camp out.
DAY 06 Rest Camp - Green Lake: (5050 m, 8 km, 4 hours):
The trail from rest camp climbs gently up the valley. The walking pace is usually slow at this height, on the clear day this is one of the finest walk in the Himalayas, Sinolchu, Simvo,Twinpeaks, Nepal peak dominates the horizon. Khangchendzonga is only 12 km away from you. Camp out.
DAY 07
Rest Day at Green Lake:
Spend the day lazing around or try 600m more climbs for better views of Khangchendzonga and a grand panorama of distant Chomolari in Bhutan. Overnight camp.
DAY 08
Green Lake - Yabok: Return journey, it is possible to make the march from Green lake to Yabuk in one day for about 6 hours as the trail is mostly downhill.
DAY 09
Yabuk - Jakthang - Tllem:
Depending on the stamina one can descend down to tallem and if time and stamina permits can reach up to Zema, which is the road head. Drive to Lachen. Trek end, enjoy Chhang .
DAY 10
Lachen - Gangtok:
or extended tour to Lachung for hot spring dip for overnight.
