Gangtok, Oct. 17: The extreme west of Sikkim just got more extreme.

In an invitation adrenaline junkies will find hard to pass up, state tourism minister R.B. Subba yesterday spoke of plans to jack up the toughness quotient of the Yuksom-Dzongri trail, ensuring more thrills, chills and, for the unwary, more spills.

Back after a weeklong recce of the route, Subba, who was accompanied by officials of the tourism and forest departments, said the alternative route from Soreng would pass through Hilley, Varshey Rhododendron Sanctuary, Dentam, Uttarey, Chewabhanjyang and Bontok before elbowing west and touching Dzongri.

The traditional route to Dzongri climbs from Yuksom past Bakhim, Tsokha and Fedang.

The main reason to provide trekkers with a tougher, longer route, the minister said, was to woo foreign hikers and open more of west Sikkim to tourism.

Subba?s trek took him all the way to Doodhpokhri (16,000 feet), up the muscle-wrenching climb to Tsokha and Dzongri, just below Rathong glacier (source of the Rathong river). Rathong and Frey peaks overlook Doodhpokhri.

?We felt the present 10-day trek was too short and decided to give hikers the option of enjoying the luxuriant wilderness of the Singalila range,? the minister said.

The new route will take 20 days to cover and the trekkers will be treated to several lakes and glaciers along the way. Looming peaks of the Singalila range, close to the Sikkim-Nepal border, will be another attraction for those choosing to walk this trail.

?My trek was made more interesting since I was able to interact with around 20 groups of foreign trekkers from whom I received valuable insights into their experiences,? Subba said.

These insights have prompted the minister to promise an upgrade of the existing rest houses and camping sheds and build new ones as well.

?The traditional route, which has been damaged at several places, will also be repaired. Two bridges on the route had been completely damaged by landslides in August and these will be restored immediately,? he added.

Officials are also contemplating on extending the rest-house facilities to porters who accompany trekkers.

The Dzongri trek, Sikkim?s most famous trail, was opened by Everester Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and his wife Dako in the early sixties.

The route, which winds past Dzongri through forested Thangsing and a turquoise lake called Sunmoteng, ends at Goecha-la, from where trekkers can get an up-close and personal view of the majestic Kanchenjunga.

From Dzongri, the popular turnaround point for some trekkers, trails branch out to Goecha-la and Bikbari just below Doodhpokhri.

The new route, when opened, will give hikers who were for so long forced to take the same route back to Yuksom, the option of exploring new areas.