South & West Sikkim
Siliguri - Pelling - Ravangla - Namchi
- Witness the majestic gigantic golden statues of Lord Buddha
- Take a spiritual tour to Namchi
- Visit the Temi tea estate and orange orchards
4 days starting at Rs. 0/-
North and East Sikkim
6 Days
Overview
Sikkim’s two largest districts are known for their steep valleys and mountainous terrain where Himalayan glaciers give birth to majestic waterfalls and holy lakes.
NJP - Gangtok - Lachen - Chhangu
It’s hard not to talk about the views of the Himalayas without overusing superlatives. You’ll know the feeling when you’re in Gurudongmar lake, seeing the mountains reflect on the water surface.
Visiting the Indo-China border is an experience of a lifetime, so is being surrounded by Rhododendron flowers in Yumthang valley.
Gangtok, the state’s capital is a tourist’s dream, quickly becoming one of the most visited hill stations in India.
We’ve chosen the best guides and hotels/homestays for your trip. Talk to our expert for further customisation.
This tour lasts 6 days and 5 nights.
Itinerary Details
Perfectly crafted plans to make the most of your stay
Day 1: Siliguri to Gangtok
Your journey begins at Siliguri. After a welcome and refreshments, you’ll head out to Gangtok.
On the way, you’ll pass by Sevoke, a hill station with beautiful teal lakes.
You’ll want to see the views of the Teesta river valleys from the Coronation Bridge, built by the British Empire in 1941.
You’ll eventually reach a lively hill town called Kalimpong (4,100 ft).
A town famous for its schools and hilly roads. The town is also known for its produce – local dried pickles, dried-salted plums and apricots.
Gangtok (5,410 ft), the capital of Sikkim, comes next.
Home to a population of diverse ethnicities, Gangtok is known for its welcoming populace and warm hospitality.
The small city faces the Kanchenjunga mountain range, a fixture in the city’s skyline.
Upon reaching, you’ll be welcomed in your Gangtok homestay where you’ll be served dinner and a room to rest.
Day 2: Gangtok to Lachen
After breakfast, you’ll be heading to Lachen.
On your way there, you’ll stop at several sightseeing zones:
The Bakthang Waterfall – Gangtok’s main water source.
Tashi View Point, a popular place to view the Himalayan Mountain ranges.
And a village named Kabi.
The village is known for ‘Kabi Lungchok’, a sacred place where the native tribes – the Bhutias and Lepchas, had sworn into blood brotherhood, ensuring both tribes could live in harmony in this hidden valley.
As you enter the village, you’ll get to take a walk inside the Kabi Lungchok, through a forest following a stony pathway.
There you’ll see a large statue of Khye Bumsa, Thekong Tek and his wife Ngo-Kong-Ngol, in the middle of the forest.
A 7 km drive from Kabi will take you to Phensang Monastery.
The monastery dates back to 1721, belonging to the Nyingmapa Order of Buddhism and is one of the 6 biggest monasteries in Sikkim, with over 300 monks residing here.
If you visit in December, you can join the celebration of Sikkimese new year, where the monks here perform a sacred dance.
Next is the Seven Sisters Waterfall – named so because you can witness all seven stages of the formation of a waterfall here.
The next stop is Mangan, the District Capital of North Sikkim.
The Dzongu Valley, is a reserved area for the Lepchas, the original habitants of Sikkim. Known for its icy cold streams and hot springs. The valley is a picturesque treat.
You’ll then visit the Singhik hamlet, the multilayered Naga Falls and Chungthang, a small settlement where the river Teesta starts taking form from the glaciers.
At the end of the day’s tour is Lachen, where you’ll be welcomed at your homestay to rest for the night.
Lachen (9,000 ft) is a small village situated in a valley in North Sikkim.
It’s home to about 250 families.
Earlier, the livelihood of the locals mainly came from yak and sheep herding, but as tourism flourished, many families started small hospitality businesses.
The place is grassy, with forests of Rhododendrons and conifers. You can see the Lachen-Chu stream flow through its deep gorges. On the other side of the stream are mountains with snow covered peaks and pine tree forests at their base.
Day 3: Lachen to Lachung
It’s an early trip to Gurudongmar Lake today – one of the highest lakes of the world at the altitude of 17,800 ft, it is also the largest lake of Sikkim. The lake is considered to be sacred by both Buddhists and Hindus.
The next stop is Thangu (13,000 ft), a valley covered in luscious green meadows, small bushes and beautiful alpine flowers during summers and lovely white snow during winters. You can have some hot beverages and breakfast there.
Trip addition: From Thangu you can take a byway to go to Chopta Valley (13,000 ft). The place offers tranquility, meandering rivers which start to freeze after autumn, grand mountains covered in green, and a vast green land covered in wildflowers.
Kala Patthar (14,850 ft), which means ‘Black Rock’, got its name from the snow covered mountains with black cliffs, is a newly formed tourist destination. The place usually is uninhabited, but occasionally nomad Tibetans settlements are seen to be grazing their yaks below snow covered mountain tops.
Your next stop is Giagong Check Post (13,100 ft)- one of the highest check posts in the world, at an altitude of 15,000 ft.
From here till Dokung, you’ll see a high alpine plateau, rocky mountains and barren lands with rhododendrons scattered throughout.
As you keep going north, you’ll see the Himalayan Range getting strikingly closer, with wonderful snow covered peaks.
Upon reaching Gurudongmar Lake, you’ll be surrounded by snow capped mountains, and the reflection of Mount Kanchenjunga and Mount Gurudongmar on the water is a sight to behold.
During winters the lake, except for a small area, freezes. It is said that Guru Padmasambhava, an 8th century Indian Buddhist, placed his hand on that spot at the request of local villagers who complained that they had no water to drink during the winters.
This is why the lake is considered sacred by Buddhists and Hindus. There’s even a small temple of Guru Padmasambhava next to the lake that you can visit, covered with numerous colorful prayer flags.
After your visit to the lake you’ll head back to Lachen for lunch in the homestay, then pack up and start your journey to Lachung.
You’ll pass a little check point on the way where you need to get the Protected Area Permit to enter Lachung, Yumthang Valley and Zero Point as the international border with China is nearby and the areas are under army’s control.
Lachung (8,610 ft) is a small mountain village which means ‘Small Pass’.
The views along the Lachen-Lachung route are scenic, with mountains on both sides, the Lachung-Chu river flowing across and farmlands and forests decorating the hillsides.
You’ll be served a warm dinner after your welcome at your Lachung homestay, where you’ll spend the rest of your day.
Day 4: Lachung to Gangtok
In the morning, you’ll visit the Lachung Monastery or Lachung Gompa, known for its hand drawn murals and ancient statues.
You can also visit the Carpet Weaving Center, where the local ladies weave magnificent woolen carpets.
After breakfast, it’s off to Yumthang valley.
A checkpoint will lead you to a road across the river which leads to Tibet.
You can take that road and go up to Katao, a place with a magnificent view of Mount Katao.
The place is mostly covered in snow and is well known for winter sports like skiing.
Entering Katao requires extra permits.
You’ll also pass through Yakse, a place where yaks are herded.
Yakse lies in the Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary, home to 24 species of Rhododendrons. If you visit between March and May, you’ll get to enjoy the International Rhododendron Festival.
Yumthang Valley (11,800 ft), which means ‘Valley of Flowers’, is a dense bed of Rhododendrons of various colors and species is spreaded across the valley.
You can also see wonderful views of Pauhunri and Shundu Tsenpa mountain peaks from the riverbank of Teesta.
Near the river is the Yumthang Hot Spring. Rich in sulfur, this hot spring is said to have good healing and medical values. The spring water is directed to a hut with some pools inside where visitors can take a healing bath.
2 km from the hot spring is a Shiva Temple, with a majestic statue of Lord Shiva sitting in meditative state alongside statues of Parvati and Ganesha.
Yumesamdong (15,300 ft) or the Zero Point is about 23 km from Yumthang Valley. It’s the last place civilians can visit, as ahead lies the Indo-China Border.
Yumesamdong is mostly covered in snow. If you visit during summers, you may get to see some yaks grazing.
The place boasts views of the mountains Sebu-Chu, Donkia-Chu and the Yumthang-Chu rivers.
Lastly, you’ll travel back to Gangtok homestay, where you’ll have a warm dinner and rest for the day.
Day 5: Changu Lake, Baba Mandir and Gangtok Sightseeing
You’ll leave early from Gangtok to visit Changu lake.
Tsomgo Lake (12,310 ft), generally called Changu lake, is a glacial lake in Sikkim.
The word Tsomgo means ‘Source of water’.
During summer and autumn, you will find Primula flowers surrounding the lake.
The lake is considered sacred by the locals here and there’s a small Shiva temple nearby.
About 12 km from Tsomgo lake is Baba Mandir (13,123 ft).
According to a legend, this temple was built as a tribute to a soldier named Harbhajan Singh.
After the Mandir visit, you’ll be driven back to your Gangtok homestay for lunch.
You can then enjoy your evening at MG Marg, the heart of Gangtok.
Mahatma Gandhi Marg is the state capital’s town center – a road that is always busy and full of life. With no vehicles allowed, the road stays clean and lively.
Restaurants, cafes, bars and businesses live on both sides of the road.
All the buildings are painted in beautiful shades of green, displaying their government’s green initiative.
Victorian lamps light the stretch of road at nighttime, making it a beautiful spot for a late night walk.
Don’t forget to visit the Statue of Unity, one of the main attractions of MG Marg.
The statue includes the Bhutia Chieftain – Khye Bumsa, the Lepcha Leader – Thetong Tek and his wife Ngo-Kong-Ngol.
The statues represent the peace, love and harmony amongst the several diverse groups of people there.
If you visit in December, make sure you attend the Annual Food and Culture Festival that is held here on MG Marg, as the entire town turns into a giant carnival.
When night falls, return to your homestay for a nice warm meal and some much needed rest.
Day 6: Gangtok to Siliguri
After breakfast, it’s time to say goodbye to Sikkim and head back to Siliguri.
Until next time.
When to Visit
Sandakphu welcomes travellers during Spring, Autumn and Winter.
March - May
The Spring is when most flowers like the Rhododendron and other wild as well as garden flowers are in bloom. The forests are luscious and green. This is also some of the best times to be birdwatching.
October - November
October is when the tourist season starts. You’ll want to avoid the Puja rush if you can. However, this is when the weather is pleasant in most parts. The clear, blue skies provide great views. Rivers, streams and waterfalls are in full flow after the monsoon rain.
November - January
The winter months are cold, but that’s when the skies are clear and views unhindered.
Most areas are covered in beautiful, white snow.
What to take
Things that will help make the trip easy
1. Documentation
You’ll need to carry the following legal documents for Protected Area Permit (PAP) and Homestay/Hotel check-ins:
- Original and photocopy of government photo ID: Any one of your Passport, Voter’s Id, Driver’s Licence, PAN or Aadhar Card for identification.
- Two passport size photos.
- Passport and Visa/e-Visa are mandatory if you’re a foreign national.
Note: Aadhar Card can only be used for check-ins, and is no longer applicable to get PAP.
2. Clothing and Accessories
Depending on when you visit, what you carry will vary.
During the summer, light cotton clothes, and an additional layer (sweater/sweatshirt) will suffice in and around towns. You will need a thick, windproof jacket, some warm gloves/mittens, a wool cap and a muffler, if you’re visiting snow covered areas.
For the autumn and winter months, some wool or fleece layers and thermal underlayers are essential. A thick windproof jacket, and some comfortable trek pants will keep you warm when you’re outside. You’ll also need some warm gloves/mittens, a wool cap and a muffler.
3. Cutlery and Toiletries
Carry a 1 litre thermos flask with you if you want to carry warm liquids.
A moisturiser or cold cream might be necessary during the colder months, along with lip balm.
Your homestay will provide shampoos, soaps and towels.
4. Medical Kit
Carry the following medicine with you at all times, in case of emergencies. Do not take any medicine without consulting your guide.
- Paracetamol: For fever and mild pain.
- Avomine: For motion sickness. Take one half an hour before starting a road journey.
- Combiflam: For muscle strains and leg pain
- Digene: For indigestion
- ORS: To prevent dehydration and replenish salts.
- Knee brace: Carry a knee brace if you are prone to knee injury or suffer from knee pain.
Any medical emergencies will be handled by your tour guide. Consult your tour guide for any medical query.
Talk to an expert about North and East Sikkim
Homestays
Carefully vetted by Homestay Tour
Things to remember
What you need to know before embarking on the journey
Guides
A guide will be provided to take you to the best offbeat locations.
Homestay Tour will make sure you get the best guide available at the time.
Your guide is an expert. Please follow all instructions at all times.
Power and Network Coverage
You may face some network coverage issues for most of your trip.
Food and lodging
3 meals will be provided to you by the homestays during the trip.
If you want to try out local snacks or different local food, you can order separately.
You can buy packaged snacks, bottled drinking water, tea, coffee or beverages along the route.
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