Sikkim, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, the Dooars and Bhutan · a planner replies within one working day
Try "Gangtok", "toy train", "rhino", "Bhutan permit"
The full North Sikkim circuit from Gangtok: a night in Lachen, a dawn trip to Gurudongmar Lake at about 5,430 m, then two nights in Lachung for Yumthang and Zero Point. Best for healthy Indian travellers in spring or autumn.
This is the trip for travellers who want both valleys of North Sikkim. You drive from Gangtok to Lachen, sleep, and leave before dawn for Gurudongmar Lake. After returning to Lachen you cross through Chungthang to Lachung for two nights, with Yumthang and Zero Point in between.
It is demanding. There are long drives on four days running, a 4 am start, and two climbs above 4,500 m. It is meant for healthy adults and older children. Gurudongmar and Zero Point are open only to Indian citizens. The route depends on the Chungthang link between the two valleys, which was badly hit by the October 2023 flood, so confirm before booking.
Highlights
Three ways to do it
Budget
₹9,500 pp
Lowest cost, fixed schedule with other travellers
Ask for BudgetValue
₹17,500 pp
Your own car and schedule, warmer rooms
Ask for ValueComfort
₹28,500 pp
The most comfortable rooms on the route
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
Leave Gangtok around 10–11 am once the permits are ready. The road runs north through Kabi, Phodong and Mangan to Chungthang, then turns left up the Lachen river. Checkposts verify your permit on the way. Reach Lachen at about 2,750 m in the evening. Eat lightly, drink water, skip alcohol and pack your day bag for the next morning before you sleep.
Leave Lachen around 4 am. Stop for tea at Thangu, then cross the plateau to Gurudongmar Lake, reaching it at about 7–8 am. Spend 30–45 minutes, walking slowly. Return to Lachen for a late breakfast, then drive down to Chungthang and up the Lachung valley, reaching Lachung by evening. This is the longest day; anyone unwell should skip the lake and rest.
Leave Lachung at about 6 am for Yumthang, 24 km north. Walk the valley floor and, if you feel well, continue to Zero Point for snow at an extra vehicle charge. Keep the stay short. Stop at the hot spring on the way back. Spend the afternoon resting or walking up to Lachung Monastery.
Drive back down the Lachung and Teesta valleys, stopping at Bhim Nala and Naga falls. Reach Gangtok by late afternoon. Stay the night in Gangtok if you are flying or catching a train the next day, as delays on this road are common.
Included
Not included
Where you sleep
Simple family-run lodges and homestays in Lachen, used by almost every Gurudongmar package. Basic, warm-hearted and set up for 4 am starts.
Family-run rooms in the older part of Lachung, across the river from the main road. Simple, warm hospitality and home-cooked meals at the lowest price in …
An established mid-range resort in Lachung with wooden-finished rooms and valley views, commonly used on Value packages. Reliable service and meals at a fair price for …
One of the most comfortable resorts in Lachung, with larger rooms, better heating and mountain views. Our Comfort-tier choice for the Lachung valley.
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Questions travellers ask
Yes, it is the standard circuit and covers Gurudongmar, Yumthang and Zero Point. It is a full schedule with long drives and early starts. If you can, add a second night in Lachen before Gurudongmar, which makes the altitude easier and gives you time for the village.
Most healthy adults manage it, because you only stay at the lake briefly and sleep lower afterwards. The risk rises if you are unfit, unwell or have a heart or lung condition. Watch for headache, nausea and dizziness, and turn back if they get worse.
Operators usually switch to a Lachung and Yumthang trip, or wait for the road to reopen. Discuss refunds and changes before you pay. Closures have been frequent since the 2023 flood and in every monsoon. Check current status before you travel.
Not in full. Foreigners can visit Lachen and the Lachung side up to Yumthang with a Protected Area Permit, but not Gurudongmar Lake or Zero Point. Most foreign travellers choose the two-night Lachung and Yumthang trip, and may add Dzongu.
April to early June and October to November. In April and May you get rhododendrons at Yumthang and a thawing lake. October and November bring the clearest skies. In winter the Gurudongmar road often closes after snow, and the monsoon brings landslides.
Indicatively, about ₹9,500 per person on a shared group tour, ₹17,500 per person for two in a reserved car with better rooms, and ₹28,500 with the best rooms and Zero Point included. Prices are per person, twin sharing, and rise in peak weeks.
Many do, but it is tiring and very high. Anyone over 60 or with health conditions should see a doctor first. Consider skipping Gurudongmar or Zero Point and doing a gentler Lachung and Yumthang trip instead, with two nights in Lachung.
Either works. Lachen first means you face the highest point early, before tiredness builds up. Lachung first gives you one more night to adjust before Gurudongmar. Operators often decide based on road status and room availability. Both orders cover the same sights.
Thermals, a down or heavy jacket, windproof layer, woollen cap, gloves, sunglasses, sunscreen, water, light snacks, your original ID and any medicines. An oxygen can is useful as short relief. Keep everything in one small bag for the 4 am start.
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