Plan the climb
The altitude ladder
Sikkim rises from about 280 m in the Teesta and Rangeet valleys to 8,586 m at Kangchenjunga in under 100 km. Here is every place we cover, lowest first.
Below 2,500 m most people feel nothing. Between 2,500 and 3,500 m (Lachung, Lachen) sleep well, go slowly and drink water. Above 3,500 m (Yumthang, Tsomgo, Nathu La, Gurudongmar) visit by day and sleep lower. Headache, nausea or breathlessness at rest mean go down.
Valleys · below 1,500 m
280 m 300 m 333 m 500 m 650 m 880 m 900 m 950 m 956 m 1,040 m 1,200 m 1,200 m 1,200 m 1,300 m 1,300 m 1,300 m 1,300 m 1,315 m 1,350 m 1,400 m 1,400 m 1,400 m 1,400 m 1,420 m 1,450 m 1,465 mMid-hills · 1,500 – 2,500 m
1,500 m 1,500 m 1,500 m 1,500 m 1,500 m 1,500 m 1,500 m 1,550 m 1,550 m 1,585 m 1,600 m 1,600 m 1,600 m 1,650 m 1,650 m 1,700 m 1,710 m 1,740 m 1,770 m 1,780 m 1,780 m 1,800 m 1,800 m 1,860 m 1,890 m 1,940 m 1,950 m 1,980 m 1,980 m 2,000 m 2,000 m 2,050 m 2,085 m 2,100 m 2,100 m 2,115 m 2,130 m 2,150 m 2,200 m 2,200 m 2,200 m 2,200 m 2,300 m 2,400 mHigh · 2,500 – 3,500 m
2,600 m 2,700 m 2,750 m 2,750 m 2,800 m 3,000 m 3,200 m 3,263 m 3,300 m 3,413 mAlpine · 3,500 – 4,500 m
3,564 m 3,750 m 3,753 m 3,900 m 3,940 m 4,000 m 4,000 m 4,020 m 4,310 mVery high · above 4,500 m
4,593 m 4,660 m 5,150 mBar lengths grow with height up to the highest place we list (5,150 m); the scale starts part-way so every name stays readable. Altitudes are rounded and can differ by a few tens of metres between sources.
Acclimatisation
How to handle the height
Plain advice, not medical advice. If you have heart or lung conditions, are pregnant or are travelling with small children, speak to your doctor before a high trip.
Climb in steps
Spend your first night around Gangtok (about 1,650 m) before Lachung or Lachen. Above 3,000 m, try not to raise the height you sleep at by more than about 500 m a night, and add a rest day for every 1,000 m.
Visit high, sleep low
Gurudongmar (about 5,150 m), Zero Point and Nathu La are day visits. Go early, stay an hour or less at the top, and come back down to sleep. Never try Gurudongmar the same day you arrive from Gangtok.
Know the warning signs
Mild headache, poor sleep and breathlessness on stairs are common. Confusion, a bad headache that does not ease, vomiting, breathlessness at rest or unsteady walking mean descend at once and see a doctor.
Small things that help
Drink water steadily, eat well, skip alcohol on the first high nights and walk slowly. Keep warm: cold makes everything harder. Ask your doctor before the trip about medicines; do not take them on a stranger's say-so.
Children and older travellers
Children under five are not allowed into North Sikkim's protected areas. For young children and older travellers we plan lower overnight stops and shorter high days. Check current status before you travel.
Insurance
Hold travel insurance that covers medical treatment and evacuation at the heights on your route. Some policies exclude travel above a set height, so read the small print.
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