Destinations
Seven valleys
We work in seven parts of the Eastern Himalaya and nowhere else. Each has its own seasons, permits and roads; start with the one that fits your month.
East Sikkim
East Sikkim is the part of Sikkim around Gangtok, the state capital, running up to Tsomgo Lake and the Nathu La border pass and down through the farm villages of Aritar and the Silk Route to Zuluk. Go for monasteries, high lakes and mountain roads; October to December and March to May are the best months.
North Sikkim
North Sikkim is the high, permit-controlled part of the state above Mangan, reached on 2–3 night trips from Gangtok. People come for the Yumthang valley and its rhododendrons, snow at Zero Point, and Gurudongmar Lake at about 5,430 m. Go March to May or October to November, and check road status first.
West and South Sikkim
West and South Sikkim cover the old West and South districts (now Gyalshing, Soreng and Namchi districts): Pelling, Yuksom, Rinchenpong, Ravangla and Namchi. Go for the closest town views of Kangchenjunga, the monasteries and ruins where the Sikkimese kingdom began, and the Goecha La trek. October to May is the time to go, with October, November, March and April best.
Darjeeling
The Darjeeling hills rise from Siliguri in the plains to Darjeeling town at about 2,045 m and Sandakphu at 3,636 m, the highest point in West Bengal. Come for the toy train, the tea estates, sunrise on Kangchenjunga and the Singalila ridge trek. October to December and March to May are the best months.
Kalimpong
Kalimpong is a hill district of West Bengal, east of the Teesta, built around a market town at 1,250 m and a ring of forest villages such as Lava, Rishop, Lolegaon and Sillery Gaon. Go for monasteries, flower nurseries, Kanchenjunga views and red panda forest at a slower pace and lower cost than Darjeeling. October to May is the best time.
Dooars
The Dooars is the strip of forest, river and tea garden between the Darjeeling and Bhutan hills and the Bengal plains. Come for one-horned rhinos at Jaldapara and Gorumara, the old Buxa Fort and quiet tea-garden villages like Samsing. Go between October and May: the national parks close from 16 June to 15 September.
Bhutan
Western Bhutan is the part of the kingdom most visitors see: Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, Phobjikha and Haa, reached by road from Siliguri through Jaigaon and Phuentsholing or by air to Paro. Indian nationals pay a Sustainable Development Fee of ₹1,200 per person per night and need only a passport or voter ID. Go in March to May or October to November for clear skies and festivals.