Soreng district · Theme
Flowers and forests in Soreng
Rhododendrons, orchids and silver fir
Photo: Indranil banerjee · CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
In Soreng, flowers and forests works best in Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary, Hilley and Okhrey. We have 1 package built around it. Sikkim's state tree is the rhododendron and its state flower the noble orchid. Barsey, Yumthang's Shingba sanctuary and the Goecha La trail turn red, pink and white from March to May. We plan around bloom, not calendars.
Rhododendrons flower from about 1,800 m in March up to the alpine zone in late May, so one trip can follow the bloom uphill. Orchids are best in the lower valleys and at the orchid sanctuaries around Gangtok.
Bloom moves with the weather each year. We watch reports from the sanctuaries and tell you honestly if a week looks early or late.
Places
Where to go
sanctuary
Barsey Rh…3,000M
Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary
A 104 km² rhododendron forest reached by a 4–5 km walk from Hilley
viewpoint
Hilley2,750M
Hilley
The road-end checkpost where the Barsey forest walk begins
village
Okhrey2,300M
Okhrey
A Sherpa village of homestays below the Barsey rhododendron forest
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Trips to start from
Indicative prices per person, twin sharing. Each one can be changed.
Budget
Top3,000M
Okhrey, Hilley and Barsey rhododendron walk
Okhrey · Hilley · Okhrey
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Hours that fit the theme
Adventure
Walk from Hilley to Guras Kunj on the Barsey ridge
The classic Barsey day: a 4–5 km forest trail from the Hilley checkpost to the Guras Kunj clearing at about 3,000 m, …
Wildlife and birds
Dawn birding in the Barsey forest
Walk slowly into the Barsey sanctuary at first light with a local guide to look for the Himalayan forest birds that make …
Adventure
A night at Guras Kunj on the Barsey ridge
Sleep on the ridge at about 3,000 m in the basic Guras Kunj trekkers' lodge to see sunset and sunrise over the …
Nature
Rhododendron photo walk in bloom season
A slow, photography-focused day on the Barsey trail in flowering season, timed for soft morning light and the shifting colours of rhododendrons …
Nature
First-light walk into the forest from Hilley
A short, unhurried walk along the first two kilometres of the Barsey trail from Hilley at sunrise, for travellers who want the …
Village life
A night at a Hilley trailhead homestay
Sleep at the road-end in a small family homestay at Hilley, eat a hot dinner by the kitchen fire, and walk into …
Adventure
Walk down from Hilley to Okhrey
Instead of driving, walk the 8 km road and short-cuts down from Hilley to Okhrey after your Barsey hike, through forest and …
Food
Tea, churpi and stories at the Hilley gate
Before or after the Barsey walk, sit at a tea stall by the Hilley gate for sweet milk tea, noodles or churpi, …
Price your own route
Tell us dates, people and budget. We send a day-by-day plan with every cost shown. StartNot sure where to start?
We match districts to your month, your budget and the people travelling with you. StartAsk the Gangtok desk
An itemised quote within one working day. No payment to start. StartStays
Where we would book
Budget
Okhrey Sherpa village homestays
Homestays run by Sherpa families in Okhrey, a village of about 2,300 m below Hilley, the road gateway to Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary. Wood-lined rooms, …
Budget
Sherpa Lodge
A family-run Sherpa homestay in Okhrey, about 30 minutes by car from the Hilley checkpost. Seven wood-panelled rooms with attached bathrooms, all meals included …
Budget
Hilley and Barsey trailhead homestays
A handful of small family homestays at Hilley, around 2,750 m at the road-end entrance to Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary. Basic rooms and hot meals, …
Price your own route
Tell us dates, people and budget. We send a day-by-day plan with every cost shown. StartNot sure where to start?
We match districts to your month, your budget and the people travelling with you. StartAsk the Gangtok desk
An itemised quote within one working day. No payment to start. StartGet my price
Tell us your dates and your budget
Who is travelling, when, and roughly what you want to spend. The Gangtok desk replies within one working day with a day-by-day plan and an itemised price.
- No payment to start
- Permits handled through registered partners
- Every hotel, car and fee listed