Sikkim, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, the Dooars and Bhutan · a planner replies within one working day
Try "Gangtok", "toy train", "rhino", "Bhutan permit"
A five-night road trip from Siliguri up the old trade route through Aritar and Zuluk, over the high road past Nathang and Kupup, and down by Tsomgo Lake to Gangtok. It is for Indian nationals only, because the permit beyond Rongli is not issued to foreigners.
The Silk Route trip follows the line of the old mule road from Kalimpong to Lhasa, climbing from farm villages at 1,400 m to bare ridges at about 4,000 m within two days. It is a road trip at heart: the drive is the sight, from the hairpins above Zuluk to the open valley at Nathang.
We sleep low first, at Aritar, then spend two nights at Zuluk so you have two chances at a clear sunrise from Thambi. On day 4 the car crosses the high road past Kupup and comes down by Tsomgo Lake to Gangtok, where you finish with two easier nights in town.
This route needs a Protected Area Permit for the Silk Route, issued at Rongli for Indian nationals only. Your homestay host or our agent arranges it from scans of your ID sent a few days ahead.
Highlights
Three ways to do it
Budget
₹15,500 pp
The car is the main cost, so sharing it is what keeps this tier cheap
Ask for BudgetValue
₹24,500 pp
Dinner and breakfast included everywhere
Ask for ValueComfort
₹36,500 pp
Rooms at Zuluk stay simple in every tier; the extra goes on Gangtok and the vehicle
Ask for ComfortIndicative, per person, twin sharing, for the whole package. Mix tiers night by night if you like. Your written quote lists every cost.
Day by day
Drive from NJP or Bagdogra up NH10 to Rangpo, then turn off through Rorathang and Rhenock and climb to Aritar at about 1,400 m. Check in to a family homestay and walk around Lampokhari lake in the late afternoon. Dinner is home-cooked. Make sure your host has your ID scans for the Zuluk permit, which will be checked at Rongli tomorrow.
After an early walk to Mankhim viewpoint, drive down to Rongli, where the permit is checked, and climb through Lingtam and Padamchen to Zuluk at about 3,000 m. Arrive by lunch and rest; the jump in height is big, so take the afternoon easy, drink water and avoid alcohol. Watch the light change on the ridges from the homestay before an early night.
Leave before dawn for Thambi viewpoint, about 14 km above Zuluk, to watch sunrise over the Kangchenjunga range and look down on the zigzag road. Continue to Nathang valley at about 4,000 m, see the old war cemetery and the herders' village, then return to Zuluk for a late breakfast or early lunch. The afternoon is free to rest or photograph the loops from below.
If yesterday's sunrise was hidden, try Thambi again on the way out. The road climbs over Nathang to Kupup and Elephant Lake, passes Old Baba Mandir and joins the Nathu La road near the newer Baba Mandir. Stop at Tsomgo Lake for a walk on the shore, then descend through Kyongnosla to Gangtok by mid-afternoon. If snow closes the high road, the car returns via Rongli instead.
A relaxed day. In the morning, drive across the valley to Rumtek Monastery, carrying ID for the gate check, and walk down to the old monastery. Return to Gangtok for lunch and spend the afternoon at Do Drul Chorten and the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, finishing with an evening walk on MG Marg.
Leave Gangtok after breakfast, by 9 am for afternoon flights or trains. The drive down NH10 along the Teesta takes four to five hours, longer in traffic or after rain. Do not book a departure before about 3 pm, and in the monsoon allow more time.
Included
Not included
Where you sleep
Aritar has a good spread of family homestays around Lampokhari lake and the surrounding villages. They are clean, friendly and cheap, and most include dinner and …
Zuluk has no hotels in the usual sense, only family homestays in the small village and army settlement. Rooms are basic but warm, and the price …
A long-running, family-run guest house on Bhanu Path, a short walk below MG Marg. Rooms are simple and warm, the garden is quiet, and the welcome …
An established mid-range hotel on Tibet Road, a few minutes' walk from MG Marg, with rooms that look out over the valley towards Kangchenjunga on clear …
A heritage hotel built in the 1930s as the royal guest house of the Chogyals of Sikkim, now run by Elgin Hotels. It has period rooms, …
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Questions travellers ask
No. The permit for Zuluk, Nathang and Kupup is issued only to Indian nationals. Foreigners can visit Aritar, which lies below Rongli, and Tsomgo Lake on a separate day trip from Gangtok with a Protected Area Permit. Our four-night Gangtok trip suits foreign travellers better. Check current status before you travel.
Aritar is at about 1,400 m and Zuluk at about 3,000 m, with the road above climbing to about 4,000 m. A night lower down lets your body begin adjusting and breaks the long drive from Siliguri. It also gives your host time to finalise the permit for the Rongli check.
The high road around Nathang and Kupup reaches about 4,000 m. You spend only a few hours at that height on days 3 and 4, and you sleep at about 3,000 m in Zuluk. Drink water, move slowly, avoid alcohol and tell your driver if you feel unwell, so you can descend.
If the high road is closed, the car returns from Zuluk to Gangtok the way it came, via Rongli and Rorathang, in about 4–5 hours. You miss Kupup and the drive past Tsomgo, but can visit Tsomgo on day 5 from Gangtok with a separate permit if it is open.
Yes, for families with children who travel well by car. The drives are long and winding, so motion-sickness tablets help. The altitude at Zuluk and above needs care with young children, who may not say they feel unwell. Homestays are warm and welcoming but basic. Avoid midwinter with toddlers.
Aritar is mild, but Zuluk at about 3,000 m drops below freezing on most nights from November to March, and Nathang at about 4,000 m is colder still. Even in April and October, early mornings at Thambi are near zero. Pack thermals, a down jacket, gloves, a warm hat and woollen socks.
No. Your homestay host or our agent applies for it from scans of your ID and photos sent a few days ahead, and the driver handles the checks at Rongli and on the road. You cannot usually apply on the spot as an individual without a registered agent or host.
A short version goes from Siliguri to Zuluk in a day, stays one or two nights, and returns via Tsomgo to Gangtok. It saves money but is harder on the body and leaves only one chance at a clear sunrise. Five nights is a more comfortable pace.
October and November give the clearest skies for Kangchenjunga from Thambi, with open roads. April and May bring flowers and milder nights. December to February brings snow, which is beautiful but closes the high road at times. Avoid June to September, when landslides and cloud are common.
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