Sikkim, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, the Dooars and Bhutan · a planner replies within one working day
Try "Gangtok", "toy train", "rhino", "Bhutan permit"
A short trip from Siliguri to West Sikkim: two nights in Pelling for Kangchenjunga, Pemayangtse and Rabdentse, and one night in Yuksom, Sikkim's first capital. It suits a long weekend and needs no permits for Indians.
This is the shortest trip that does West Sikkim justice. You drive from the plains to Pelling on day one, spend a full day on the monasteries and the old capital at Rabdentse, then move up the valley to Yuksom by way of Khecheopalri Lake and the waterfalls. The last day is a long drive back to Siliguri.
Two mornings in Pelling give you two chances at a clear Kangchenjunga sunrise. A night in Yuksom adds Sikkim's founding story at Norbugang and the forest walk to Dubdi Monastery, with almost no crowds.
Highlights
Three ways to do it
Budget
₹9,500 pp
Cheapest way to do it, with early starts for jeeps.
Ask for BudgetValue
₹17,500 pp
Our most booked tier for couples and families.
Ask for ValueComfort
₹28,000 pp
Quiet rooms near Pemayangtse and an SUV for the long days.
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
Pick-up at NJP or Bagdogra by 9 am. The road follows the Teesta past Sevoke to Melli, where foreign travellers get their Sikkim ILP, then crosses to Jorethang on the Rangeet and climbs through Legship and Gyalshing to Pelling at 2,150 m. Stop for lunch at Jorethang. Arrive mid-afternoon, check in, and walk to the helipad ground in Upper Pelling for the evening light on the hills. Early night: tomorrow starts at 5 am.
Watch sunrise on Kangchenjunga from your roof or the helipad ground. After breakfast, drive 2 km to Pemayangtse Monastery and see the carved model of Guru Rinpoche's palace. Walk down the forest path to the ruins of Rabdentse, Sikkim's capital from 1670. In the afternoon, visit the Chenrezig statue and skywalk, or walk up to Sangachoeling Monastery for views over the town.
A second chance at sunrise, then drive past Rimbi waterfall to Khecheopalri Lake, the sacred lake in the forest. Continue via Kanchenjunga Falls to Yuksom at 1,780 m. After lunch, walk to the Norbugang coronation throne and Kathok Lake. If you still have energy, climb the forest trail to Dubdi Monastery, founded in 1701. Dinner at your homestay.
Leave Yuksom by 7.30 am. The road drops through Tashiding or Gyalshing to Legship and Jorethang and out through Melli to the plains. Lunch at Jorethang or Melli. Reach NJP or Bagdogra by about 3 pm. Book onward trains or flights for after 5 pm to allow for traffic and slides, and longer in the monsoon.
Included
Not included
Where you sleep
A long-running resort in Upper Pelling with terraced cottages facing the Kangchenjunga range. It is our usual Value pick when families want space and a view …
Small family-run guesthouses and lodges line the lanes of Upper Pelling, many with rooftop views of Kangchenjunga. They are the cheapest way to stay in Pelling …
A heritage hotel on the ridge just below Pemayangtse Monastery, a short drive from Upper Pelling. It is the quietest Comfort choice in West Sikkim, with …
Family homestays in Yuksom, run mainly by Bhutia, Limbu and Nepali households, are the natural base before or after the Goecha La and Dzongri treks. Meals …
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Questions travellers ask
Three nights is enough for Pelling's main sights and a taste of Yuksom, but it is tight. Days one and four are mostly driving. If you can add a night, spend it in Rinchenpong or a second night in Yuksom for Tashiding. With five or more nights, combine West Sikkim with Ravangla and Namchi or with Gangtok.
Indicative prices per person on twin sharing are about ₹9,500 in the Budget tier, ₹17,500 in Value and ₹28,000 in Comfort, including stays, breakfasts, dinners and transport. Solo travellers pay more because car and room costs are not shared. Prices rise in October, the Puja holidays and New Year week.
Yes. Drives are long on days one and four, so plan breaks and carry motion-sickness remedies. Walks to Rabdentse and Norbugang are easy. Skip the Dubdi climb with toddlers. Pelling and Yuksom are cold at night from November to March, so pack warm sleepwear and ask for heaters.
October and November give the clearest views and dry roads. March and April bring rhododendrons, mild weather and good views in the mornings. December to February is cold but often very clear. Avoid June to September if mountain views matter, as cloud and landslides are common.
Indian citizens need no permit; carry photo ID for hotel check-in. Foreign nationals need the Sikkim Inner Line Permit, available at the Melli checkpost or online, and should carry copies. No other permit is needed unless you trek into Khangchendzonga National Park. Check current status before you travel.
Not in three nights. The Goecha La trek takes 8–10 days from Yuksom, and even the shorter Dzongri trek needs 4–5 days. You can end this trip in Yuksom and start a trek from there with a registered agency, then return to Siliguri afterwards. Book the trek well in advance.
The highest point is Pelling at about 2,150 m, with Sangachoeling ridge a little higher at about 2,400 m on the optional walk. That is too low for most people to get altitude sickness. You will notice cold air and some breathlessness on steep paths. Walk slowly and drink water.
Yes. Gangtok to Pelling is about 5 hours by road via Ravangla, similar to the drive from Siliguri. You can end in Yuksom and return to Siliguri, or loop back to Gangtok. Starting in Gangtok makes sense if you are already there; otherwise Siliguri is the more direct gateway.
Bring warm layers in every season: a jacket, fleece, hat and gloves from November to March, and a light jacket even in May. Pack walking shoes, a rain jacket, a head torch, sunglasses, sunscreen, any medicines and cash. Modest clothes are needed for monasteries.
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