Sikkim Mountain Holiday

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Highlights & Route

This is the whole of Sikkim in one journey, with Darjeeling added at the end. Over ten days it covers every region the shorter tours take separately: Gangtok and the Tsomgo road in the east, Lachen and Lachung in the north with Gurudongmar Lake and the Yumthang Valley, Namchi, Ravangla and Pelling in the south and west, and finally the Tiger Hill sunrise and heritage railway of Darjeeling. For yatris who are unlikely to come this far east twice, it is the tour to take.

The plan is built to manage altitude sensibly. Two nights in Gangtok and a day at Tsomgo (about 12,300 ft) come first, then a night in Lachen before the pre-dawn drive to Gurudongmar Lake at about 17,100 ft, one of the highest lakes in the world and sacred to Buddhists and Sikhs. From there the route drops to Lachung and the flower meadows and hot springs of Yumthang, and returns to Gangtok for a night’s rest before the gentler western half.

The west is about the old kingdom and its newer shrines: the giant Buddha of Ravangla and the Char Dham replicas of Siddheshwar Dham at Namchi, Pelling’s Pemayangtse monastery of 1705 and the forest ruins of Rabdentse palace, all under the closest view of Kanchenjunga on the circuit. Darjeeling closes the journey with Tiger Hill, Ghoom Monastery, the Batasia Loop and tea gardens. Permits for the protected areas are arranged by us for Indian citizens; the document rules are strict and are set out below.

Route

Bagdogra or NJP → Gangtok (2 nights) → Tsomgo Lake and Baba Mandir → Lachen (1 night) → Gurudongmar Lake → Lachung (1 night) → Yumthang Valley → Gangtok (1 night) → Namchi and Ravangla → Pelling (1 night) → Darjeeling (2 nights) → Tiger Hill → Bagdogra or NJP drop

Good to know before you book

Tsomgo Lake, Baba Mandir and Nathula lie in a Protected Area. Indian citizens need a permit, which we arrange: carry an original voter ID, passport or driving licence and two passport photos. Aadhaar is not accepted for Sikkim protected-area permits, and children need a birth certificate or school ID.
Gurudongmar Lake and Nathula Pass are open to Indian citizens only; foreign nationals may visit Tsomgo and Yumthang with permits but go no further than Chopta Valley on the Lachen side. Nathula is optional and generally closed to tourists on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Children under five and anyone with heart, lung or blood-pressure problems should not go to Gurudongmar; the checkpost can refuse entry on medical grounds.
March to May and October to mid-December are the dependable months. Monsoon landslides (June to September) and deep-winter snow (January to February) can close the North Sikkim road.
Lachen and Lachung hotels are simple guesthouses with all meals included; mobile data is unreliable there. A Sikkim-registered vehicle with a local driver is used for the North Sikkim section.
Tiger Hill means a 4 am start, and the toy train joy ride is an optional extra booked through IRCTC.

Yatra Highlights

Gurudongmar Lake at about 17,100 ft and the Yumthang Valley of flowers
Tsomgo Lake, Baba Mandir, Ravangla Buddha, Siddheshwar Dham and Pemayangtse monastery
Kanchenjunga from Pelling and at sunrise from Tiger Hill, Darjeeling

Day 1 :

Bagdogra or NJP to Gangtok

Pickup at Bagdogra airport or New Jalpaiguri station at your arrival point (airport, railway station or hotel) at the agreed time and drive about 125 km, four to five hours, up the Teesta valley into Sikkim at Rangpo. Check in at Gangtok and hand over the IDs and photographs needed for the permits. Evening walk on MG Marg. Dinner at the hotel.

Overnight: Gangtok

Day 2 :

Gangtok sightseeing

A relaxed day to settle in and to let the permits be processed. After breakfast, visit Tashi viewpoint and Ganesh Tok for the Kanchenjunga panorama, Gonjang monastery, the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology and the Do Drul Chorten stupa with its 108 prayer wheels, and the Banjhakri and Bakthang waterfalls on the edge of town. The Gangtok ropeway from Deorali gives a view over the whole ridge. Dinner at the hotel.

Overnight: Gangtok

Day 3 :

Tsomgo Lake and Baba Mandir

After breakfast, drive about 38 km and two hours up to Tsomgo (Changu) Lake at roughly 12,300 ft, and on to Baba Harbhajan Singh Mandir, the army-kept shrine to a soldier of the Punjab Regiment. On open days and with a separate permit, Indian citizens can add Nathula Pass at about 14,140 ft (optional, extra cost). Return to Gangtok; this day doubles as acclimatisation for the far higher Gurudongmar. Dinner at the hotel.

Overnight: Gangtok

Day 4 :

Gangtok to Lachen

After breakfast, change to the North Sikkim vehicle and drive about 120 km, six hours, along the Teesta past Seven Sisters and Naga waterfalls to Chungthang, then up to Lachen at about 2,750 m. Visit the village monastery in the evening. Early dinner at the hotel; the next morning begins before dawn.

Overnight: Lachen

Day 5 :

Gurudongmar Lake, then Lachung

Depart about 4 am with tea and a packed breakfast, climbing through Thangu and the Chopta Valley onto the high plateau. Gurudongmar Lake, about 65 km and three hours away at roughly 17,100 ft, lies among snow peaks with a small gurdwara and Buddhist shrine on its shore; a part of it is said never to freeze after Guru Padmasambhava's blessing. Keep the stop to 20 to 30 minutes, walk slowly and drink water.

Return to Lachen for lunch, then drive via Chungthang to Lachung, about 45 km from the junction, by evening. Dinner at the hotel.

Overnight: Lachung

Day 6 :

Yumthang Valley, return to Gangtok

After an early breakfast, drive 25 km through the Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary to Yumthang Valley at about 11,700 ft, a broad meadow beside the Lachung river with hot springs across a footbridge; in April and May the slopes are covered in rhododendron. Zero Point near the snowline is optional and arranged locally. Return to Lachung for lunch and drive down to Gangtok, about six hours. Dinner at the hotel.

Overnight: Gangtok

Day 7 :

Gangtok to Pelling via Namchi and Ravangla

After breakfast, drive south-west, about 130 km and six hours including stops. Visit the Tathagata Tsal (Buddha Park) at Ravangla with its 130 ft Buddha and the Siddheshwar Dham complex at Namchi, where a 108 ft Shiva statue stands among replicas of the four Char Dham shrines and the twelve Jyotirlingas; the Guru Padmasambhava statue on Samdruptse hill faces it across the valley. Continue to Pelling by evening. Dinner at the hotel.

Overnight: Pelling

Day 8 :

Pelling sightseeing, drive to Darjeeling

Be up early for Kanchenjunga from the hotel or the helipad ground; Pelling has the closest view on the circuit. After breakfast visit Pemayangtse Monastery, founded in 1705, with the carved wooden Zangdok Palri model on its top floor, and walk the forest path to the Rabdentse ruins, the palace of Sikkim's second capital. Stop at the Pelling Sky Walk and Chenrezig statue above the town.

Around noon, drive to Darjeeling, about 75 km and four hours via Jorethang, crossing into West Bengal. Check in and spend the evening at Chowrasta. Dinner at the hotel.

Overnight: Darjeeling

Day 9 :

Tiger Hill sunrise and Darjeeling sightseeing

A 4 am start for Tiger Hill (2,590 m) and the sunrise on Kanchenjunga, with Everest visible on the clearest mornings. Return via Ghoom Monastery (Yiga Choeling, 1850) and the Batasia Loop. Breakfast at the hotel.

Later, the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park and the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (closed Thursdays), the Tibetan Refugee Self Help Centre (closed Sundays), the Japanese Peace Pagoda and the Happy Valley tea estate. The optional toy train joy ride to Ghoom fits into the afternoon if booked in advance. Dinner at the hotel.

Overnight: Darjeeling

Day 10 :

Darjeeling to Bagdogra or NJP

Breakfast and check-out. Drive down about 70 km and three hours to Bagdogra airport or NJP station. Drop at your departure point (airport, railway station or hotel); please book departures after 1 pm.

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	Standard room, sharing basis
5	Lachung	Hotel confirmed at booking	Standard room, sharing basis
6	Gangtok	Hotel confirmed at booking	Standard room, sharing basis
7	Pelling	Hotel confirmed at booking	Standard room, sharing basis
8	Darjeeling	Hotel confirmed at booking	Standard room, sharing basis
9	Darjeeling	Hotel confirmed at booking	Standard room, sharing basis

Frequently Asked Questions

Expand all

Is ten days too long, or can it be shortened?

Ten days is what it takes to see all four regions without a driving day longer than six hours. If you have less time, our six-day Gangtok-Lachen-Lachung tour covers the north and our seven-day Gangtok-Pelling-Darjeeling tour covers the west; this package simply joins them with one shared Gangtok stay.

Who should not go to Gurudongmar Lake?

Children under five, pregnant women, and anyone with heart disease, asthma or other lung conditions, or uncontrolled blood pressure. Checkpost staff can refuse entry on medical grounds. Healthy elderly yatris do visit, but should take the Tsomgo day as a test and be honest about symptoms.

Which documents are needed for the permits?

An original voter ID, passport or driving licence for each adult, and about five passport photos, since separate permits are issued for Tsomgo and for North Sikkim. Aadhaar and PAN are not accepted. Children need a birth certificate or school ID. Scanned copies sent to us in advance let us file the applications before you arrive.

Can foreign nationals take this tour?

With changes. Foreign nationals need a Sikkim Inner Line Permit, can visit Tsomgo, Lachung and Yumthang in a group of at least two, but cannot go to Gurudongmar or Nathula; on the Lachen side they may go up to Chopta Valley. Tell us at the time of booking and we plan Day 5 accordingly.

When is the best time?

March to May for rhododendrons and flowers in Yumthang, and October to mid-December for the clearest mountain views. The North Sikkim road can be cut by monsoon landslides from June to September and by snow in January and February.

What are the hotels like in the north?

Simple and clean guesthouses in Lachen and Lachung, with attached bathrooms, limited hot water and electricity, set vegetarian meals and heaters for a charge. Everywhere else the hotels are regular tourist-class properties. We say this plainly so there are no surprises on the two northern nights.

Is vegetarian food available throughout?

Yes. Hotel meals on the tour are vegetarian, and Gangtok, Pelling and Darjeeling have good vegetarian restaurants. In Lachen and Lachung the hotels serve set vegetarian meals, which is why all meals there are included.

Is Nathula Pass included in this Sikkim package?

No, it is optional. On Day 3, after Tsomgo Lake and Baba Mandir, Indian citizens can add Nathula Pass (about 14,140 ft) on open days with a separate permit; the permit and vehicle cost extra. Nathula is generally closed to visitors on Mondays and Tuesdays and is not open to foreign nationals. Tell us when booking so the extra permit can be filed with your Tsomgo papers.

Yatra package	Duration	Starts from	Price
Sikkim Mountain Holiday (this page)	10 days / 9 nights	Bagdogra / New Jalpaiguri	From ₹88,500
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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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