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Gangtok district · Theme

Flowers and forests in East Sikkim

Rhododendrons, orchids and silver fir

Photo: Dibyendu Ash · CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Short answer

In East Sikkim, flowers and forests works best in Fambong Lho Wildlife Sanctuary, Kyongnosla Alpine Sanctuary and Ranipool and Saramsa Garden. We have 2 packages built around it. Sikkim's state tree is the rhododendron and its state flower the noble orchid. Barsey, Yumthang's Shingba sanctuary and the Goecha La trail turn red, pink and white from March to May. We plan around bloom, not calendars.

Rhododendrons flower from about 1,800 m in March up to the alpine zone in late May, so one trip can follow the bloom uphill. Orchids are best in the lower valleys and at the orchid sanctuaries around Gangtok.

Bloom moves with the weather each year. We watch reports from the sanctuaries and tell you honestly if a week looks early or late.

Places

Where to go

Fambong Lho Wildlife Sanctuary sanctuary Fambong L…2,100M

Fambong Lho Wildlife Sanctuary

Oak, magnolia and red panda forest west of Gangtok

Best Mar – May · Oct – Dec0 nightsEast Sikkim
sanctuary Kyongnosl…3,300M

Kyongnosla Alpine Sanctuary

Rhododendron and fir forest on the Tsomgo road

Best Apr – May · Oct – Nov0 nightsEast Sikkim
Ranipool and Saramsa Garden garden Ranipool …900M

Ranipool and Saramsa Garden

A river junction town and a 1922 orchid garden

Best Feb – May · Oct – Nov0 nightsEast Sikkim

Packages

Trips to start from

Indicative prices per person, twin sharing. Each one can be changed.

Gangtok and Lachung on a budget Budget Top4,000M

Gangtok and Lachung on a budget

5 nights, 6 daysBalanced

Gangtok · Lachung · Gangtok

From, per person₹15,500
Gangtok, Lachung and Pelling on a budget Budget Top3,564M

Gangtok, Lachung and Pelling on a budget

6 nights, 7 daysActive

Gangtok · Lachung · Gangtok · Pelling

From, per person₹17,500

Experiences

Hours that fit the theme

Day hike through Fambong Lho forest Nature

Day hike through Fambong Lho forest

A guided day walk through Fambong Lho's layers of forest, from broadleaf trees and ferns into oak, magnolia, rhododendron and bamboo. Steady …

5–6 hoursFambong Lho Wildlife SanctuaryGuide ≈ ₹2,000–3,500; car ≈ ₹2,500–3,500
Birding morning in Fambong Lho Wildlife and birds

Birding morning in Fambong Lho

An early start with a local bird guide in one of the best forest birding sites near Gangtok. Mixed flocks of minlas, …

4–5 hoursFambong Lho Wildlife SanctuaryBird guide ≈ ₹2,500–3,500; car ≈ ₹2,500–3,500
Climb towards Tinjure ridge Adventure

Climb towards Tinjure ridge

A longer, harder walk up through Fambong Lho to the area of Tinjure, at about 2,749 m the sanctuary's highest point. For …

Full dayFambong Lho Wildlife SanctuaryGuide ≈ ₹2,500–3,500; car ≈ ₹3,000–3,500
Rhododendrons and magnolias in spring Nature

Rhododendrons and magnolias in spring

A gentle spring walk in the middle forest of Fambong Lho, when magnolias and rhododendrons flower and orchids open on the tree …

4–5 hoursFambong Lho Wildlife SanctuaryGuide ≈ ₹2,000–3,000; car ≈ ₹2,500–3,500
Rhododendron drive through Kyongnosla Nature

Rhododendron drive through Kyongnosla

In spring, the Tsomgo road through Kyongnosla becomes one of the easiest rhododendron drives in Sikkim, with red, pink and cream blooms …

Built into the Tsomgo dayKyongnosla Alpine SanctuaryIncluded in the Tsomgo car hire
Early birding for the blood pheasant Wildlife and birds

Early birding for the blood pheasant

An early-morning birding trip into Kyongnosla with a local guide, looking for Sikkim's state bird, the blood pheasant, as well as monals …

Half dayKyongnosla Alpine SanctuaryGuide ≈ ₹2,000–3,500; car ≈ ₹4,500–6,500
Nature

Alpine flowers of Kyongnosla in summer

From May to August, Kyongnosla's ground flora flowers: primulas, irises, aconites, potentillas, asters and ground orchids. A trip for plant lovers who …

Half day with stopsKyongnosla Alpine SanctuaryCar ≈ ₹4,500–6,500; guide ≈ ₹2,000–3,000
Red panda habitat: what to expect Wildlife and birds

Red panda habitat: what to expect

Kyongnosla's lower bamboo thickets are red panda habitat, but the animal is shy and rarely seen. An honest guide to your chances, …

Built into a birding or nature morningKyongnosla Alpine SanctuaryGuide ≈ ₹2,000–3,500
All of East SikkimFlowers and forests across SikkimEast Sikkim on a budget

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