Adventure · Sombaria
An early start for Barsey from Sombaria
If you reach Sombaria late, sleep there and leave before dawn for Hilley, 22 km away, to walk the 4–5 km forest trail to the Barsey ridge at about 3,000 m. A practical plan when Okhrey's homestays are full in April.
Photo: Spattadar · CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Hilley, the road-head and checkpost for the Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary, is about 22 km and under an hour from Sombaria via Okhrey. Leave by about 5:30 am and you can be on the trail soon after sunrise, when the forest is quiet and the Kangchenjunga range is most likely to be clear from the top. The trail runs 4–5 km through rhododendron, oak and magnolia to the Guras Kunj clearing at about 3,000 m, gaining about 250 m.
The sanctuary was notified in 1996 and covers 104 km² of the Singalila Range. Rhododendrons bloom from March to May, usually peaking in April; October to December brings the clearest mountain views. Entry is paid at the Hilley checkpost, about ₹50 for Indians; foreigners pay more and need Sikkim's RAP. Check current status before you travel.
A reserved car from Sombaria to Hilley and back, waiting while you walk, costs about ₹2,000–3,000. Allow four to five hours for the walk with time at the top, and be back at the car by early afternoon, when cloud usually rises. Coming from about 1,500 m, walk slowly: the ridge is double the altitude, and breathlessness on climbs is normal.
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Questions travellers ask
Before you book
How far is Hilley from Sombaria?
About 22 km by road via Okhrey, which is 14 km from Sombaria. The drive takes 45 minutes to an hour. A reserved car costs about ₹1,000–1,500 one way, or about ₹2,000–3,000 for a return trip with the driver waiting while you walk to Barsey.
Is it better to stay in Okhrey or Sombaria for Barsey?
Okhrey, if you can get a room: it is closer, quieter and its Sherpa homestays are more comfortable. Sombaria works when Okhrey is full in April or when you arrive too late to drive further. Either way, leave early to reach the Barsey ridge before cloud.
Will I feel the altitude at Barsey coming from Sombaria?
You may feel breathless on the climbs, since Barsey is about 3,000 m and Sombaria about 1,500 m. Serious altitude sickness is uncommon at this height, but walk slowly, drink water and turn back if you feel unwell. A night in Okhrey first helps.
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