The Armageddon Guide to Sikkim: Himalayan Peaks, Landslide Pivots, 40 Friends, and 100 Rupees

"Are we sure this is a good idea?"

That’s probably what a sensible person would have thought, standing at the IIMC campus ATM at 9PM, realizing it was broken, and then getting on a bus for what would then be an 8-day Himalayan trek with exactly 100 rupees (about one euro) in their wallet.

But this was the "Armageddon" trip to North Sikkim. And from that first second, I knew "sensible" wasn't really the point. The experience and the memories were the point! And I was definitely in for a good one!

The bus ride itself set the tone. All 40 of us, packed in, buzzing with excitement. The journey wasn't just travel; it was a party. Music blasting, card games, endless jokes, sharing memes, and strengthening bonds that would, in a few days, make us feel like a family. We didn't sleep, but we didn't care. We were energized.

And then there’s the driving. For us Europeans, Indian driving is an art form, a philosophy. We quickly learned the "law of the strongest" (la legge del piú forte). The bigger the vehicle, the more right you have to pass. The honking is a language of its own, a constant, beautiful, chaotic symphony. It’s amazing. Lol. 

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We hit Siliguri, hopped into 10-person jeeps, and the real transformation began. We watched the city traffic melt away, the roads change in real-time, and the air get quieter and cleaner. And then I saw it, for the first time in my life: a road sign for "Elephant Crossing." Followed by countless monkeys on the roadside. As we climbed, I just stared out the window, realizing how incredibly blessed I was to be finally approaching the Himalayas, a place I’ve always been drawn to.

After the passport check at the Sikkim border, the "real journey" began. And by that, I mean the roads ceased to exist. It was incredible. But also, our whole plan had to pivot because of a landslide that hit our road some time before we passed, and we couldn't reach our planned homestay.

This turned out to be the first of many blessings.

We slept somewhere else, and when we woke up, we realized we had one of the best views on the planet: a clear, stunning sight of Mount Kanchenjunga, the 3rd highest peak in the world.

The hospitality of our host family was overwhelming. They were so friendly, so caring. The food was simple, delicious, and made with love. They made us feel completely at home. They even got a video of me trying the Dalle Khursani, one of the spiciest chilies in the world. I ate the hottest part, and my mouth was on fire. I think I was burning. They even gifted us traditional items as a memory.

The next day, we walked across these crazy long, moving suspension bridges. The kind that made us thrill-seekers feel amazed and scared. And then you’d see a local kid just stroll across, no big deal. It was their daily commute. Every bridge was covered in colorful prayer flags, fluttering in the wind. We saw temples and landscapes so mesmerizing, it was hard to believe. Life can really be that simple and that good. Organic food, drinking water from the source. It was the simplicity we’re all born with but forget.

Then: the hike to Tholung Monastery. We were introduced to our new best friends: leeches. We were covered in them. This was, as you can imagine, definitely not a “princess activity." But it was hilarious!

The hike itself was outstanding. Completely lost in nature, just the sound of the forest, the sweat, the effort. As we gained altitude, the water became pure, and we drank straight from the streams. We finally arrived, 40 of us, a sweaty, leech-bitten, ecstatic family. We spent the night there, all together. No personal space, no shame, just pure happiness. Slept there, ate good food, and made memories together all night.

On the way down, a tiny moment felt huge. I was almost the last one, and I saw a little lumaca (snail) on the path. I moved it to safety because I feared it would be crushed to death by someone else stepping on it.

Moments later, I was at the monastery. The monk in charge was closing up but saw me and made an exception, telling me to take a quick look at the temple.

Once I savored the beauty of the temple without wasting his time, I was surprised when he told me to follow him. He took me upstairs, made me put my hands in a bag of rice, pray, and pour my intentions and blessings into it. I drank their holy water. He said a monk would come to bless the rice. I was the only one at that moment. Then Gaynom, our organizer, arrived and got his blessing too. Just us two.

What if the spirit of the mountain witnessed what happened with the snail, and decided to bless me? I will always remain with that thought. 

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Amongst other things that happened, we got stuck in another landslide. Our car broke down and we had to stop and repair it. We had to get out and cross a broken wooden bridge on foot. We saw giant bamboo and Ashwagandha plants. At one homestay, there was a crazy thunderstorm, the power went out, and we were literally in the himalayan peak amongst the clouds with thunder shaking the building.

Gangtok was amazing. We spoke to monks, witnessed their rituals, and wandered a city filled with peace, simplicity, and beauty. People kept stopping us to shake our hands or take pictures. Apparently, not many Europeans make it up there! And fair enough.

The trip ended as chaotically as it began. We almost missed our bus back to Kolkata because of Durga Puja and being at the wrong station, catching it with literally two minutes to spare.

This was more than a trip. It was a glimpse into another version of life that I never even envisioned as a possibility. Truly humbling and formative. A huge, heartfelt thank you to Gaynom and Prashant for coordinating everything, for your kindness, and for giving us this authentic, local experience. We felt so welcomed. You didn't just show us Sikkim, but you made us part of it.

To go back to the first sentence, YES, this was a GOOD idea! 

Definitely recommend this experience!