Fax: 
91-11-22772800
E-mail: 
cspandey@vsnl.com
hrtpl@del2.vsnl.net.in

Day 1:- Arrival day October 23, 2010 (Saturday) MIRIK (DARJEELING AREA) 

Everyone receives a number to be used for identification on luggage, room lists, and to be worn during the race. You should be given an ID tag for all your bags upon arrival at the Delhi airport. Normally, you will fly to Bagdogra airport as a group from Delhi. Passports must be collected and stamped before leaving the airport. Several buses will transfer the group and all baggage to Mirik Lake Resort, near Darjeeling. It takes about 1 1/2 hours to drive by bus. Upon arrival, you will have a room key waiting for you. If traveling alone, you will be sharing with another person (men with men, women with women). You will find your key by locating your ID number and by name. The Indian staff can have difficulty with foreign names so the value of using your ID number will become quickly obvious. A buffet dinner will be served about 7 pm in the dining room. Personal baggage to be used during the 5 day Stage Race should be packed in locked bags and ready for pickup at 08:00 am the next morning. You should organize the majority of your clothing and baggage in advance of arrival in Darjeeling with all items needed on the Stage Race already packed. The clothes you wore to India and will wear tomorrow, can be left at the Hotel laundry if you wish. You may leave a bag in a private storage room with your valuables and items you do not want to take on the Stage Race. Baggage should always be locked when in storage or transit. Meals taken at Mirik Resort are included in the price, but not drinks of any kind. Please stick with bottled drinks without ice and hot drinks. A Race Briefing will begin after dinner in the dining room for about 1 hour plus question time. Please bring this PDI for reference. 

Day 2:- October 24, 2010 (Sunday)
MIRIK (5500 ft)

Breakfast is from 7:00-8:00 am. Baggage needed during the Stage Race should be placed outside your room door by 8:00 because it must be transported by jeep to Sandakphu, sorted by your ID tag, then distributed to the bungalow where you will be staying on Wednesday and Thursday night. Drop bags for Race Day 1 should be kept with you as well as some clothing to keep warm during the starting ceremonies. These drop bags will be taken for you to aid stations and on to Sandakphu by jeep. A video of the trip will be running from time to time. There will be a course map and list of aid stations displayed (also see the PDI). The rest of the morning will be free. Lunch will be at 12:00-1:00 pm. After lunch there will be guided sightseeing around Mirik to see the monastery, viewing spots, a tea estate, and shopping markets. An optional day trip to Darjeeling (7000 ft) will depart at about 5:30 am. It is a 2 hour drive to Darjeeling. Lunch will be available at your convenience at the Local Restaurant, Darjeeling. The guided tour will include a ride on the famous Toy Train and visits to the Himalayan Mountaineering Museum and Ghoom Monastery. Shopping is an attraction in Darjeeling. The bus to Mirik will depart at 4 p.m. Dinner will be at 7:00 pm. Mirik Resort provides personal safe deposit boxes or you can leave valuables in your locked bag in the storage room. You must take your passport on the Stage Race because there are several check points where it may be required.

Day 3:- October 25, 2010 (Monday) SANDAKPHU (Stage Race Day 1) 24 miles 

Depart at 0530 for the 1 1/2 hour drive to Maneybhanyjang (6600 ft) for the start of the Himalayan 100 Mile Stage Race at 07:30. All your personal baggage not left at Mirik Resort will already be in Sandakphu at your bedside awaiting your arrival. A small bag may be transported from the start for you. It is also possible to have personal drop bags placed at aid stations; details will be discussed at the Race briefing. After a Tibetan ceremony blessing all participants, runners proceed 24 miles to Sandakphu (11815 ft). Expect trail running conditions over a cobblestone surface; aid stations on the average every 2 miles; jeep support for runners and walkers. The jeep road is easy to follow and well marked as needed. Constructed in 1948, this road is the boundary between India and Nepal. Jeep #1 departs before the start to set up aid stations and carry small personal bags to Sandakphu, which is about 4 hours away by jeep. The course starts up steeply, then goes gradually down and rolling for a few miles before turning up again. Terrain becomes rolling, but turns steeply up at the last miles to Sandakphu. The fastest running time has been 4:00 hours; the fastest mountain biking time has been 7:00 hours. See race time sheet and altitude profile in the PDI. Slower runners are requested to anticipate darkness by leaving a drop bag with a jacket or warm wind proof suit and flashlight at Garibans aid station. Walkers have their own guide and may start anytime. They take short cuts through Nepalese villages and catch rides on the support vehicles as available. Walkers will have transport from Garibans at the 15 mile point (9480 ft) to Sandakphu as this last hill is quite steep. Walkers are advised to ride. Jeep #2 is for professional photographers and journalists, but may have room for walkers to catch a ride at times. Jeep #3 will come behind the last runners and pick up walkers as needed. Additional jeeps will be available depending on the size and make-up of the group. Aid stations will be stocked with bottled mineral water, bananas, and biscuits. If you have access to a supply of energy bars, drink mix, or other sponsor donated food items, you are encouraged to bring them for use by all runners. Our staff will help while you are in the aid station. You are responsible for packing and labeling with your ID number any personal drop bags containing special foods or clothes for aid stations. All runners should obtain drinking water at each aid station and fill their own water bottles. Runners must carry a water bottle as nobody is allowed to drink directly from water bottles remaining at aid stations used by other runners. If you have a favorite fluid replacement drink or energy bar, it would be wise to carry some or send it up in a drop bag. Fluid replacement will be monitored during Stage day 1 and 2 to reduce the effects of altitude sickness and dehydration. Details will be discussed at the Race Briefing. On arrival in Sandakphu, hot soup, bread, and snacks will be available. A complete dinner will be served by our staff about 5:00 pm. A menu of all meals is included in the PDI. Bringing personal snacks, favorite freeze dried meals, and other personal food items are encouraged because at 11,815 feet most food looses it's familiar taste. Runners and walkers will overnight together. There are about 6 tourist bungalows at Sandakphu with a total of about 75 beds. Each room has 2 to 10 beds. Married couples can be together although others may also be in the same room. Everybody needs to bring a sleeping bag. Beds have cotton mattresses, pillows, and blankets. Dining will be organized in a large communal tent or one of the bunglow. It is not large enough to fit everybody in at one time however. Food may be collected at the dining tent or bangalow so eating of main meals will most likely take place inside each bungalow. No showers are available, but hot washing water will be provided in "washing tents or one of the bangalow". Out-house toilets are available in Sandakphu and a few places during the day. A food menu and listing of aid stations and toilets is in this PDI. Expect daytime temperatures 50-70 degrees; night time 25-50 degrees. 

Day 4:- October 26, 2010 (Tuesday)
SANDAKPHU (Stage Race Day 2) 20 miles.

Many people are up about 5:00 am for the panoramic sunrise views of Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and Kanchenjunga. These four mountains are the highest in the world, except for K2 (located in Pakistan). Sandakphu National Park is the only place in the world where 4 of the 5 highest mountains can be seen at one time. Breakfast starts at 5:30. See the menu in the PDI. Mornings are clear and crisp as the sun rises to warm us up. Your warm clothes will feel good. Jeep #1 is off at 5:30 am to set up aid stations about every 4 miles out to Molle (11655 ft). An early start at 6:30 am means there is more time to see the views before mid-morning clouds may roll in. This is an out and back day. An altitude profile of the 10 miles to Molle is in the PDI. We follow a well marked jeep track again today so there is no chance of getting lost. We may see yaks, wild horses, and the small Red Panda today. The area is part of Sandakphu National Park so there are no villages. After the last runner leaves Molle, Jeep #1 will return and pickup walkers and support crew. Jeep #2 will move right after the start to carry photographers. Walkers can stay around Sandakphu all day or walk to Molle. They can walk or ride back. It is usually sunny with temperatures warming to mid-60 range, but feels warmer due to the thin air at 11000+ feet. Food and accommodations are the same as the previous night.

Day 5:- October 27, 2010 (Wednesday)
RIMBIK (Stage Race Day 3) 26.4 miles. 

Simultaneous with the Mt. Everest Challenge Marathon. Expect another bright and sunny morning as Jeep #1 prepares to leave by 05:30 am with runners starting at 06:30. Runners retrace the previous days' 10 miles to Molle, continue 4 miles to Phulet (11380 ft) where they turn around and return 4 miles to Molle before turning down hill toward Rimbik. At Molle, the jeep track stops, aid stations are not as frequent, and no portable toilets can be found. The trail gets steeper and becomes a grid of ruts, some several feet deep. Runners pick their own line and speed for the next few miles. As the trail drops 4,000 feet, the treeless ridge line is replaced by dense tropical vegetation and beautiful flowers. There will be 12 water stops today. As you enter the upper parts of the hill village of Siri Khola, the trail becomes a maze of paths zig zaging down to the bridge crossing the big river. Smiling villagers waive greetings as you pass. With no roads, they see few foreigners passing this way. After crossing the river, the trail becomes more populated with the houses of farmers until reaching Rimbik (6350 ft). There are several lodges we use in Rimbik. Accommodations are allocated based on the final make-up of the group. The Sherpa Lodge is the finish point on Race Day 3 and starting point for the 4th Race Day. Do not expect personal luggage before late afternoon. The Nepalese lodges we use have just a few hot showers and toilets each. We supplement their facilities with our own gas burners to heat water, washing tents, and portable toilets. There are some 2 person rooms and some communal dormitory rooms at the lodges. Food has been pre-ordered and will be served upon request when you arrive. It is normally warm and sunny at Rimbik. Walkers may leave Sandakphu anytime after the runners. Walkers follow a shorter route to Rimbik as it is not advisable to attempt walking from Sandakphu to Molle to Rimbik in one day. Runners can check the race time sheet in PDI. Darkness falls early and everybody going the long route must be capable of reaching Rimbik by 4 pm at the latest. Walkers retrace 2 miles of the first day, including a sizable hill, then turn down a steep 6 mile trail which leads down to the village of Rimbik (6350 ft). This is a very pleasant walk passing through jungle and small farming communities. The scenery is virtually the same as the runners see on the their downhill leg. The jeeps will haul all personal baggage to Rimbik except for a change of clothes for the runners. Porters/mules will carry all these items in one or two bags on the short route followed by the walkers. Some runners will arrive before the walkers and the porters. Everyone will arrive before the jeeps carrying baggage. Some cooking staff will walk to Rimbik to help in food preparation. Beer is available for sale in Rimbik. This is the only place where you may want some money to spend. Stage Race Runners also complete Mt. Everest Challenge Marathon Today.

Day 6:- October 28, 2010 (Thursday)
PALMAJUA - RIMBIK OVERNIGHT
(Stage Race Day 4) 13 miles

The hill village of Rimbik is located at the end of a rough, but paved road. There is very little traffic on the road so this day will favor road runners more than trail runners. Jeep #1 departs well in advance of the runners to set up aid stations. Jeep #2 and the bus carries photographers. Starting time is 9:00 am. Initially, there is a big downhill to 4975 feet, then flat above the river, until starting a climb which takes us to Palmajua at 6560 feet. Temperatures are in the 70 degree range during the day. Runners return by bus to Rimbik for lunch and relax or explore the area on their own or with guides. Walkers can do a day walk to visit Siri Khola, a small monastery, and other sights nearby. Local villagers will perform traditional Nepalese and Tibetan folk dances in the evening. As the last night before reaching civilization in Mirik, there is a festive atmosphere.

Day 7:- October 29, 2010 (Friday)
MANEYBHANJYANG MIRIK
(Stage Race Day 5) 17 miles. 

Breakfast is available starting at 5:30. At 6:30 am runners will return to Palmajua by bus to start where they finished the previous day. Normally, slower runners start at 7:00 am while faster runners have a choice of starting at 8:00 am. After the start, runners continue uphill through lush vegetation and large pine trees. After cresting the hill, the scenery is beautiful along a gradual downhill road to the finish of the Stage Race in Manebhanjang (6600 ft). There are aid stations every 3-4 miles. Walkers can ride from Rimbik past Palmajua to the top of the hill at 8555 ft and then start walking gradually down to Maneybhanjyang. Expect the fastest men to arrive in 2 hours, fastest women in 3 hours so this gives plenty of time for all runners to arrive. Walkers can ride or walk as they choose. Food and drinks will be available at the Finish Line. Buses will carry everyone to Mirik.In the evening Awards Ceremony will take place. After the Awards you will have time to pack, have dinner, and get a good rest. A bus will take all luggage directly from Rimbik to Mirik so it will be waiting in your room when you arrive. 

Day 8:- October 30, 2010 (Saturday)
MIRIK BAGDOGRA airport End of trip. 

After breakfast, we drive to Bagdogra airport to catch the Indian Airlines flight to Delhi. The trip ends at Bagdogra airport. For those not staying in India for an optional extension, a hotel night may be needed in Delhi with airport transfers. This must be booked and paid for in advance of arrival in India.

Price includes: 
Transfers from/to Bagdogra airport serving Mirik and Darjeeling,guided sightseeing, transport to/from Race starting point, hotel & lodging on a shared basis, all meals, aid stations and bottled mineral water during Race, guides for walkers, T-shirt, race trophy, race certificate, and Pre-departure booklet. 

Price does not include:
Air flights, train services, or transfers in India to connect to Bagdogra, any meals or services outside the Bagdogra-Mirik-Darjeeling area, airport taxes, visa fees, or tipping kitty (....... is optionally donated by each passenger toward a group tipping kitty to cover all services during the trip). 

PRE & POST CULTURAL SIGHTSEEING EXTENSIONS

1.  GOLDEN TRIANGLE (DELHI/AGRA/JAIPUR)

2.  WILDLIFE / BUDDHIST SECTOR etc.

Itinerary and cost details contact Race Director