Gangtok, April 29: Twenty-five foreigners will take part in the Khangchendzonga International Trekking Programme organised by the Sikkim tourism department in the first half of May.

The trekking, which will begin on May 3 and end on May 31, will be an opportunity for around 1,000 people, who will fan out in batches, to explore new areas in West Sikkim.

The programme, to be conducted by the adventure division of the state tourism department, will be funded by the Union tourism ministry and supported by the Travel Agents’ Association of Sikkim and the Sikkim Association of Adventure Tour Operators.

The trekkers from Finland, Poland, France, Germany, Canada, Israel and Australia will leave Gangtok for the base camp in Soreng on May 1 and acclimatise to the weather there. On May 3, the team will be flagged off from Soreng where six more persons — three Sikkimese and the rest from Bengal — will join in.

On day one, after a 16km trek, the team will reach Barsey, famous for its rhododendron sanctuary, and spend the night there.

The team will cover over 100km during the eight-day trek and visit Jorebutey, Singalila peak, Kalijar, Chewabhanjyang, Uttarey and Hee Bermiok before returning to Soreng.

Besides seeing rhododendrons in bloom in Barsey, the trekkers will also have a glimpse of both the ranges of the Everest and the Kanchenjunga from Singalila.

Each trek will be for a period of 10 days and 90 per cent of the cost will be borne by the Sikkim government as part of its endeavour to promote adventure tourism in the state. For the foreigners, each has to shell out $6 per day — thus the total cost will be around Rs 2,000 for the entire expedition.

Normally, private agencies charge between Rs 15,000 and Rs 20,000 for a trek during peak seasons.

State tourism department officials told The Telegraph that the programme was being organised at a very low rate to promote Sikkim as an ideal and ultimate ecotourism destination in the Himalayas.