Village life · Rumtek
Walk from Rumtek down to Martam village
A downhill walk of roughly 6–8 km on village roads and footpaths from Rumtek to Martam, through hamlets, small farms and terraced paddy, ending at a homestay lunch. An easy way to see the farming side of East Sikkim within an hour of Gangtok.
Photo: PP Yoonus · CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Below Rumtek the land drops in terraces towards the Teesta valley. Martam, a Bhutia and Nepali farming village, sits in a bowl of paddy fields about 5–8 km away by road. With a local guide you can walk most of the way on old footpaths and quiet roads, passing houses with flower-filled verandahs, small shrines and terraces of rice, maize and vegetables.
The walk is mostly downhill and takes 2.5–3 hours at an easy pace, with stops. Paddy is planted in June and July and harvested in October and November, when the terraces turn gold. Spring brings orchids on the trees and clear mornings. In the monsoon paths are slippery and leeches are common.
Finish with lunch at a Martam homestay: rice, dal, local greens and perhaps chicken curry, cooked in the family kitchen. Your car can meet you in Martam for the drive back to Gangtok, or you can stay the night. Wear shoes with grip and carry water and a light rain jacket.
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Questions travellers ask
Before you book
How difficult is the walk from Rumtek to Martam?
It is easy to moderate: mostly downhill on village roads and footpaths, about 6–8 km in 2.5–3 hours. Knees take some strain on the steeper sections. Children over about eight and fit seniors manage well. In the monsoon the paths become slippery, so we suggest it mainly from October to May.
Do we need a guide for the Rumtek–Martam walk?
We recommend one. Footpaths branch often and are not signposted, and a local guide explains crops, houses and shrines along the way. Expect about ₹1,500–2,500 for a half-day guide. A car can meet you at the end, so you do not need to walk back up.
Can we stay overnight in Martam after the walk?
Yes. Martam has several family homestays, about ₹1,500–2,500 per person a night with dinner and breakfast. Staying lets you see the village in the evening and early morning, when it is quietest. We book homestays with attached bathrooms for guests who prefer them.
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