Gangtok district · Theme
Snow and winter in East Sikkim
December to March, above 3,000 m
Photo: Myself (Ambuj Saxena) · Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
In East Sikkim, snow and winter works best in Baba Harbhajan Singh Mandir, Cho La, Hanuman Tok and Nathu La. We have 4 packages built around it. Snow usually reaches Tsomgo, Nathu La, Zero Point, Lachung and the Silk Route between December and March. Roads close after heavy falls and reopen when the Army and BRO clear them, so winter trips need a flexible day.
Gangtok rarely sees snow, but an hour above it the road to Tsomgo often turns white by late December. Lachung and Yumthang are snowbound for much of January and February, and Zero Point is snow from November to April most years.
We plan winter trips with a buffer day, a 4x4 where the road needs one, and rooms with heating. Road and pass status changes daily in winter: check current status before you travel.
Places
Where to go
pilgrimage site
Baba Harb…4,000M
Baba Harbhajan Singh Mandir
The Army shrine to a soldier who died in 1968
Cho La
The royal road to Tibet, open to Indians since 2025
pilgrimage site
Hanuman T…2,200M
Hanuman Tok
An Army-kept Hanuman temple at about 2,200 m above Gangtok
pass
Nathu La4,310M
Nathu La
The India–China border pass at 4,310 m
viewpoint
Tashi Vie…1,890M
Tashi View Point
Gangtok's sunrise point for Kangchenjunga, 8 km up the north road
lake
Tsomgo La…3,753M
Tsomgo Lake
A glacial lake at 3,753 m, 40 km from Gangtok
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Trips to start from
Indicative prices per person, twin sharing. Each one can be changed.
Budget
Top4,000M
Gangtok and Lachung on a budget
Gangtok · Lachung · Gangtok
Budget
Top3,564M
Gangtok, Lachung and Pelling on a budget
Gangtok · Lachung · Gangtok · Pelling
Budget
Top4,310M
Gangtok, Tsomgo and Nathu La on a budget
Gangtok
Budget
Top4,000M
Sikkim by shared jeep: 9-night budget circuit
Gangtok · Lachung · Gangtok · Pelling · Yuksom · Ravangla
Price your own route
Tell us dates, people and budget. We send a day-by-day plan with every cost shown. StartNot sure where to start?
We match districts to your month, your budget and the people travelling with you. StartAsk the Gangtok desk
An itemised quote within one working day. No payment to start. StartExperiences
Hours that fit the theme
Monasteries and shrines
Visit the shrine of Baba Harbhajan Singh
Pay respects at the Army-run shrine to Sepoy Harbhajan Singh, who died near Nathu La in 1968 at 22. See his quarters …
Culture
The old Baba Mandir bunker on the Silk Route
On the Old Silk Route side, beyond the new shrine, stands the original Baba Mandir, built at Harbhajan Singh's bunker. It is …
Nature
Photographing the high road to Baba Mandir
The 18 km from Tsomgo to Baba Mandir climbs through some of the most open country on the Gangtok road: switchbacks, snowfields, …
Wellness
A gentle high-road day for seniors
How we plan Tsomgo and Baba Mandir for older travellers and anyone worried about altitude: a later start, more stops, short visits …
Culture
Escorted visit to the Cho La battlefield
Drive up from your Silk Route homestay with an escort from Kupup to Cho La at about 4,593 m, the site of …
A night in a Silk Route homestay
The Cho La permit requires a night in an approved homestay at Kupup, Gnathang, Zuluk or Padamchen. It is cold and simple, …
Adventure
Cho La and Doklam on one trip
Cho La and Doklam (Doka La) opened together in autumn 2025 on two-day vehicle permits. With a night on the Old Silk …
Photographing the Chola range
The Chola range above the Silk Route offers some of the widest high-altitude views in Sikkim: bare ridges, frozen lakes, snowfields and …
Price your own route
Tell us dates, people and budget. We send a day-by-day plan with every cost shown. StartNot sure where to start?
We match districts to your month, your budget and the people travelling with you. StartAsk the Gangtok desk
An itemised quote within one working day. No payment to start. StartGet my price
Tell us your dates and your budget
Who is travelling, when, and roughly what you want to spend. The Gangtok desk replies within one working day with a day-by-day plan and an itemised price.
- No payment to start
- Permits handled through registered partners
- Every hotel, car and fee listed