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DAFEYBHIR PASS TREK

Trek to Sikkim's Best Kept Secret

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DIFFICULT

Difficult

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TREK DURATION

10 Days

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HIGHEST ALTITUDE

15,015 ft

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AGE LIMIT

13 to 55 years

Trek to Sikkim's Best Kept Secret

Dafeybhir Pass (also called Danphebir La or Dafeybhir La) is a high altitude pass at approximately 15,000 ft. The name means ‘Mountain of the Himalayan Monals’.

The Dafeybhir Pass trek takes you close to the Sleeping Buddha range (Mt Kanchenjunga and its family of peaks). So close that the view you get from Phalut seems miles away in comparison.

The next best thing on this trek is a plethora of azure alpine lakes near the Pass that will leave you wanting more.

Know Your Trek

We have always wanted trekkers to be well-informed before they go on a Himalayan trek. Knowledge is the difference between a safe trek and a dangerous one. It’s also the difference between a wholesome experience and a superficial experience.

Use this section to learn about the Dafeybhir Pass trek. It has in-depth information about each day of the trek, what to expect, and how you need to prepare for it. Many years of expertise have gone into this content. Trekkers find that extremely useful.

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Why I Believe Everyone Must Trek: A Note from the Founder

Trekking transforms lives. It has completely changed my life. When I see my colleagues at Indiahikes, all of them have been impacted greatly. The transformations have been profound and irreversible. 

I see it in our trekkers too. I have seen them change professions, careers or start a new life. I have seen them get in and out of relationships, and start new projects. These are life-changing experiences. 

I have seen children building resilience. I have seen families come together. When I see those above 55, I see them rediscover passion and a sense of purpose. These are not small gains.

In the mountains new professions, new economies and new businesses have opened up. Our staff no longer go to cities to earn their living. Their income has increased. Above all, they are happiest working in this world. Trekking has been truly transformative.  

Everyone must trek. It transforms lives far more than you imagine.

Why I Believe Everyone Must Trek: A Note from the Founder

Trekking transforms lives. It has completely changed my life. When I see my colleagues at Indiahikes, all of them have been impacted greatly. The transformations have been profound and irreversible. 

I see it in our trekkers too. I have seen them change professions, careers or start a new life. I have seen them get in and out of relationships, and start new projects. These are life-changing experiences. 

I have seen children building resilience. I have seen families come together. When I see those above 55, I see them rediscover passion and a sense of purpose. These are not small gains.

In the mountains new professions, new economies and new businesses have opened up. Our staff no longer go to cities to earn their living. Their income has increased. Above all, they are happiest working in this world. Trekking has been truly transformative.  

Everyone must trek. It transforms lives far more than you imagine.

Trek Highlights

Highlights

Highlights of the Dafeybhir Pass Trek

1. The Sleeping Buddha

If there is just one highlight on the Dafeybhir Pass trek, it has to be the view of the Sleeping Buddha. This trek takes you as close as you can get to seeing the sleeping Buddha formation of Mt Kanchenjunga and its family of mountains without breaking it.

While we agree the same can be seen from the Sandakphu – Phalut trek, we were blown away by the proximity at which we were seeing these mountains.

Our Slope Manager, Akshay Upreti says, "This trek probably offers the closest views of Mt Kanchenjunga while still retaining Sleeping Buddha formation. While Goechala trek takes one closer to the range, one can not see the Sleeping Buddha formation."

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A sea of clouds form below you as the first light of the sun hits the Kanchenjunga massif. Picture by Akshay Upreti

2. The Alpine Lakes

Next, the alpine lakes at more than 14,000 ft take our vote as a major highlight on the Dafeybhir Pass trek. There are not just one or two, but more than five alpine lakes that you can explore near the Dafeybhir Pass.

You’ll be camping right next to Lampokhri, a huge azure lake that shines under the clear sky in Spring and Autumn, but turns milky white after freezing in Winter.

Along with Lampokhri, there are Lakshmi Pokhri, the twin lakes of Zumley Pokhri, Timbu Pokhri and many other small, unnamed lakes sprinkled all around Dafeybhir Pass.

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Lampokhri Lake remains frozen till the end of winter, just below Dafeybhir Pass. Picture by Akshay Upreti

3. The thrill of trekking along the Indo-Nepal Border

For more than half of the trek, you will trek along the border of India and Nepal. Many a time you will find yourself placing one foot in India and the other foot in Nepal!

The only other trek that provides this experience is Sandakphu - Phalut.

While you are trekking on the ridge that separates the two countries, you are treated to unobstructed views of Mt Everest cluster on your left, and Mt Kanchenjunga cluster straight ahead.

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A milestone that says 'Nepal' at the Indo-Nepal border on the Dafeybhir Pass trail. Picture by Akshay Upreti

4. The beautiful Rhododendron, Oak, Fir and Bamboo forests

A trek is incomplete without the existence of magical forests on the trail. And the Dafeybhir Pass trek has them in abundance.

Right from Day 1, you’ll trek inside the Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary which is lit with scarlet, pink, and yellow rhododendrons throughout the Spring season. Along with rhododendrons, the forests are filled with silver oak, fir and bamboo trees that keep you company.

You enter the rhododendron forests again on the last day of the trek which is a sight for sore eyes!

Forests in such abundance naturally attract a lot of birds, which in turn makes them a birder’s paradise.

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The Dafeybhir Pass trail is filled with rhododendron, oak, fir and bamboo forests that keep you company on the trek. Picture by Akshay Upreti

Leaving the Mountains Better

Green Trails is our promise to leave the mountains better. We have removed over 1 lakh kilos of the waste left behind by others on trekking trails. Yet this is a small percentage of what we do. Green Trails dives into reducing the use of resources, reducing our carbon footprint and bringing about a change in the daily practices of our trekkers too.

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