Family Holiday in Sikkim

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Highlights & Route

Sikkim is one of the few Himalayan states where a family with children and grandparents can reach alpine lakes and snow without walking more than a few hundred metres from the car. This nine-day plan starts and ends at Bagdogra airport or New Jalpaiguri (NJP) railway station near Siliguri and covers the three parts of the region most families want to see: Gangtok and its surroundings, the North Sikkim circuit of Lachen, Gurudongmar Lake, Lachung and the Yumthang Valley, and the old hill station of Darjeeling across the border in West Bengal.

We give Gangtok three nights at the start so that everyone adjusts to the hills before heading north. The North Sikkim leg is two nights in simple family-run lodges at Lachen and Lachung, both around 2,700 metres; the roads there are rough and the mornings are early, but the reward is Gurudongmar, one of the highest lakes in the world at over 5,000 metres, and the flower meadows of Yumthang. You return to Gangtok for a night before the easier final stretch to Darjeeling, where two nights give you the sunrise at Tiger Hill, the toy-train landmarks at Batasia Loop and Ghoom, and the zoo and mountaineering institute that children enjoy.

Hotels are family-friendly properties with vegetarian breakfast and dinner, and lunch is added on the North Sikkim days where there are no restaurants on the road. A private vehicle carries you throughout; in North Sikkim the local rules require the smaller permitted jeeps, which we arrange. All Protected Area Permits for Indian nationals are handled by our team; you only need to hand us photo IDs and photographs when you book.

Route

Bagdogra / NJP → Gangtok (3 nights, with Tsomgo Lake and Baba Mandir) → Lachen (1 night) → Gurudongmar Lake → Lachung (1 night) → Yumthang Valley → Gangtok (1 night) → Darjeeling (2 nights, Tiger Hill) → NJP / Bagdogra drop

Good to know before you book

Tsomgo Lake, Nathula and all of North Sikkim are protected areas. Indian citizens need a Protected Area Permit, which we arrange; carry the original photo ID (Aadhaar, Voter ID, driving licence or passport, not PAN) and two passport-size photographs per person, plus a school ID or birth certificate for children. Foreign nationals cannot visit Gurudongmar and have separate rules for the rest of North Sikkim, so please tell us if anyone in the group holds a foreign passport.
Nathula Pass is optional, costs extra, is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, and depends on the day’s permit quota and weather. If you want it, we apply in advance but cannot promise it.
Gurudongmar is above 5,000 metres. Children under five, pregnant women and anyone with heart or breathing problems are advised not to go up; they can rest at Lachen or stop at Thangu while the rest of the family continues. The lake day starts around 4 am.
Lodges at Lachen and Lachung are basic by design: clean rooms, hot water in buckets or geysers at set hours, and simple home-style food. There are no luxury hotels in these villages.
March to May and October to December are the best months. In January and February snow often closes the road to Gurudongmar and Yumthang, and June to September brings heavy rain and landslides; the North Sikkim leg may then be replaced with Pelling or extra nights in Gangtok.
Sikkim has banned packaged drinking-water bottles in many areas; carry a refillable bottle, which hotels and lodges will fill for you.

Yatra Highlights

Tsomgo Lake and Baba Harbhajan Singh Mandir on a day trip from Gangtok
Gurudongmar Lake and Yumthang Valley with nights at Lachen and Lachung, permits arranged
Two nights in Darjeeling with the Tiger Hill sunrise, Batasia Loop and Ghoom Monastery

Day 1 :

Arrival at Bagdogra / NJP, drive to Gangtok

Our driver meets you at your arrival point (airport, railway station or hotel) at the agreed time at Bagdogra airport or NJP railway station. The road to Gangtok is about 120 km and takes four to five hours, following the Teesta river up from the plains and crossing into Sikkim at Rangpo, where vehicles are checked. Gangtok sits at about 1,650 metres. After check-in, stretch your legs on MG Marg, the pedestrian-only main street with its benches, cafes and shops. Dinner at the hotel.

Overnight: Gangtok

Day 2 :

Gangtok local sightseeing

After breakfast a relaxed day around the capital. Morning stops are Tashi View Point for the Kanchenjunga range on a clear day, Ganesh Tok and the small Gonjang monastery nearby. In town we visit the Do-Drul Chorten with its rows of prayer wheels and the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology next door, with its collection of thangkas and manuscripts (closed Sundays). The afternoon takes in the Banjhakri Falls park with its energy-themed sculptures and the Bakthang waterfall on the road north. The Gangtok ropeway over the town is a short optional ride. Evening free on MG Marg; dinner at the hotel.

Overnight: Gangtok

Day 3 :

Tsomgo Lake and Baba Mandir (optional Nathula)

An early breakfast, then the permit road climbs about 40 km east to Tsomgo (Changu) Lake at roughly 3,750 metres, a glacial lake ringed by hills that are snow-covered from late autumn to spring. Yak rides and the lakeside ropeway are paid locally. We continue to the Baba Harbhajan Singh Mandir, a shrine maintained by the army to a soldier believed to still guard the border. If you have opted for Nathula (4,310 metres, the historic trade pass into Tibet) and the permit is granted, we go up to the border gate before returning. Back in Gangtok by evening; dinner at the hotel. Carry warm layers, gloves and sunglasses, and please hand over your documents for the North Sikkim permit tonight.

Overnight: Gangtok

Day 4 :

Gangtok to Lachen

After breakfast we leave in the smaller vehicles permitted for North Sikkim. The route north is about 120 km and takes six hours with stops: Kabi Lungchok, where the blood-brotherhood treaty between the Lepcha and Bhutia peoples was sworn, the Seven Sisters waterfall, the Naga waterfall and the crossing at Chungthang where the Lachen and Lachung rivers meet to form the Teesta. Lunch is at a roadside stop. Lachen, at about 2,750 metres, is a small village of wooden houses; arrive by late afternoon, have an early dinner and sleep early for the lake run.

Overnight: Lachen

Day 5 :

Gurudongmar Lake, then to Lachung

Departure around 4 am with packed tea and biscuits. The road climbs past the army post at Thangu (about 3,900 metres), where there is usually a short halt for breakfast and acclimatisation, and onto the cold desert plateau to Gurudongmar Lake at over 5,000 metres, sacred to Sikkimese Buddhists and Sikhs alike. Visitors must leave the lake by late morning, so time here is limited to 20 to 30 minutes; walk slowly and keep children warm. Return to Lachen for a late breakfast or early lunch, then drive about 50 km, roughly three hours via Chungthang, to Lachung at about 2,700 metres. Dinner at the lodge.

Overnight: Lachung

Day 6 :

Yumthang Valley and return to Gangtok

After breakfast a 25 km drive through the Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary to the Yumthang Valley at about 3,600 metres, a wide meadow beside the Lachung river with snow peaks on either side. In April and May the rhododendrons are in flower; from November it is often under snow. A small hot spring lies across a footbridge. Zero Point, a further 25 km up to the snowline, is an optional extra if the road is open. We return to Lachung for lunch and then drive back to Gangtok, about 115 km and five to six hours, arriving in the evening. Dinner at the hotel.

Overnight: Gangtok

Day 7 :

Gangtok to Darjeeling

A relaxed breakfast, then the drive to Darjeeling, about 100 km and four hours, dropping to the Teesta at Rangpo or Melli, crossing into West Bengal and climbing again through tea gardens and pine forest. Darjeeling is at about 2,050 metres. Check in and spend the evening at the Chowrasta Mall, the open square where the town gathers, with its pony rides, benches and shops. Dinner at the hotel.

Overnight: Darjeeling

Day 8 :

Tiger Hill sunrise and Darjeeling sightseeing

A 4 am start for Tiger Hill (about 2,590 metres), 11 km away, where on a clear morning the first light touches Kanchenjunga and, on the best days, Everest shows far to the west. On the way back we stop at the Batasia Loop, where the toy train spirals around a war memorial garden, and at the Ghoom Monastery with its large Maitreya Buddha. After a late breakfast at the hotel we visit the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, home to red pandas and snow leopards, and the adjoining Himalayan Mountaineering Institute founded after the first Everest ascent (both closed Thursdays). The afternoon can include a tea garden visit and the Darjeeling ropeway, or the toy-train joy ride to Ghoom if booked ahead. Dinner at the hotel.

Overnight: Darjeeling

Day 9 :

Darjeeling to NJP / Bagdogra, departure

Breakfast and check-out. The drive down to Bagdogra airport or NJP railway station is about 70 km to 80 km and takes three to three and a half hours, so we plan the departure time around your flight or train. Drop at your departure point (airport, railway station or hotel). Please book flights after 2 pm or trains after 3 pm to allow for the hill road.

Overnight: none (tour ends)

Night	Place	Hotel (or similar)	Room type
1	Gangtok	Hotel confirmed at booking	Standard room, sharing basis
2	Gangtok	Hotel confirmed at booking	Standard room, sharing basis
3	Gangtok	Hotel confirmed at booking	Standard room, sharing basis
4	Lachen	Hotel confirmed at booking (family-run lodge)	Standard room, sharing basis
5	Lachung	Hotel confirmed at booking (family-run lodge)	Standard room, sharing basis
6	Gangtok	Hotel confirmed at booking	Standard room, sharing basis
7	Darjeeling	Hotel confirmed at booking	Standard room, sharing basis
8	Darjeeling	Hotel confirmed at booking	Standard room, sharing basis

Frequently Asked Questions

Expand all

Which permits do we need and who arranges them?

Indian citizens need a Protected Area Permit for Tsomgo Lake and Nathula, and a separate one for the North Sikkim circuit (Lachen, Gurudongmar, Lachung, Yumthang). We apply for both through our Gangtok office using copies of your photo ID and passport photographs, which is why we ask for them when you book. The permits are issued the day before each leg and are checked at army and police posts along the way, so keep the originals of your ID with you. Foreign nationals need different permits and cannot visit Gurudongmar; please tell us in advance so we can plan accordingly.

Is Nathula Pass included?

No. Nathula is optional and charged extra because its permit and vehicle charge are separate and the daily quota is limited. It is closed to tourists on Mondays and Tuesdays, and in bad weather the army closes it at short notice. If your Day 3 falls on a permitted day and you want to go, tell us at booking and we will apply; if the permit is refused, only the Nathula charge is refunded.

Can grandparents and young children do the Gurudongmar day?

Fit older adults who have spent three nights in Gangtok and one in Lachen usually manage the trip, as long as they move slowly and spend only a short time at the lake. The authorities advise against children under five, and we advise against it for anyone with heart or breathing problems. Those who skip it can rest at the Lachen lodge or come up as far as Thangu and wait in the vehicle. The drive is long and bumpy, so decide as a family rather than feeling obliged.

What are the hotels like in Lachen and Lachung?

Both are small mountain villages with no large hotels. The lodges we use are clean and run by local families, with attached bathrooms, hot water at fixed times (often by geyser or bucket), heaters on request and simple vegetarian meals. Electricity and mobile signal can be patchy. Treat these two nights as part of the adventure; the Gangtok and Darjeeling hotels are of normal city standard.

When is the best time to visit?

March to May brings rhododendrons at Yumthang and clear mornings; October to mid-December gives the sharpest mountain views and the best chance of a good Tiger Hill sunrise. Late December to February is cold and snow often blocks the roads to Gurudongmar and Yumthang, although Tsomgo stays open most days. June to September is the monsoon, with landslides and poor visibility; we do not recommend North Sikkim in these months.

Will we get vegetarian or Jain food?

Yes. Hotels in Gangtok and Darjeeling serve both Indian vegetarian and local food, and the lodges in North Sikkim cook simple vegetarian meals (dal, rice, vegetables, roti, Maggi) when told in advance. Jain food without onion and garlic can be arranged in Gangtok and Darjeeling with notice; in Lachen and Lachung the options are limited, so carry some dry snacks.

How much time do we actually get at Tsomgo and Gurudongmar?

At Tsomgo you can spend an hour or more walking around the lake, taking the ropeway or a yak ride. At Gurudongmar the altitude and the official closing time mean about 20 to 30 minutes at the lakeside, which is enough for photographs and a quiet moment at the small shrine. Most families find Yumthang the most relaxed of the three, with an hour or two in the meadow.

What does the Gangtok day cover on this family package?

Day 2 is a relaxed day around Gangtok. The morning covers Tashi View Point for the Kanchenjunga range on a clear day, Ganesh Tok and the small Gonjang monastery. In town we visit the Do-Drul Chorten with its prayer wheels and the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology next door, which is closed on Sundays. The afternoon includes the Banjhakri Falls park. Entry fees are paid directly.

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Get the plan and price for your dates

Highlights & Route

Route

Good to know before you book

Yatra Highlights

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Inclusions & Exclusions

Included

Not included

Hotels

Documents & Fitness

Documents to carry

Fitness and health

Cancellation Policy

Frequently Asked Questions

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