Travel style
Photography
Kanchenjunga at dawn and prayer flags at dusk
The clearest views of Kanchenjunga come between October and December and again in March and April. Tiger Hill, Pelling, Sandakphu and Zuluk are the classic dawn points.
We plan photography routes around light, not checklists, with early starts, unhurried mornings and drivers who will stop when you ask.
Journeys
Routes in this style
Places
Where it fits best
The border pass at 4,310 m on the old road to Lhasa
The Karma Kagyu seat across the valley from Gangtok
A glacial lake at 3,753 m on the road to Nathu La
Hairpin bends and homestays on the old Silk Route
A sacred lake at about 5,430 m on the edge of the Tibetan plateau
The quiet overnight stop below Thangu and Gurudongmar
A wooden mountain village at the gate to Yumthang and Zero Point
Rhododendron meadows at 3,564 m, with Zero Point above
Kangchenjunga at breakfast, and the old capitals of Sikkim below
A ridge-top village with a rare Buddha and a lake that was poisoned
The top of West Bengal, facing four of the five highest peaks
Sunrise on Kangchenjunga, with Everest on the far horizon
A high ridge village facing the whole Kanchenjunga range
A ridge village above Pedong looking down on the Teesta bends
A Bhutanese fort and prison in the clouds above the Dooars
Elephant corridor and a lost fort in the sal
Rhino country on the Torsa grasslands
The quiet valley over Chele La
Taktsang, Rinpung Dzong and Bhutan's only international airport
The winter valley of the black-necked cranes
The old winter capital where two rivers meet
Shape your own trip Tell us your dates and budget. We draw the route around you. Begin Not sure where to start? We match the valley to your month, your budget and the people travelling with you. Begin Talk to a planner A first route and an itemised price within one working day. No payment to start. BeginStays
Rooms that suit it
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 …
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.
Simple family-run lodges and homestays in Lachen, used by almost every Gurudongmar package. Basic, warm-hearted and set up for 4 am starts.
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 …
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 working family farm below Rinchenpong, with rooms in an old farmhouse dating from the 1820s and a newer cottage. It is one of the best-known …
Shape your own trip Tell us your dates and budget. We draw the route around you. Begin Not sure where to start? We match the valley to your month, your budget and the people travelling with you. Begin Talk to a planner A first route and an itemised price within one working day. No payment to start. Begin