Questions, answered

We plan trips in Sikkim only, from shared-jeep budget escapes and village homestays to private comfort and premium tours. We handle permits through registered partners, book the cars and rooms, and give you one person to call from Bagdogra or NJP until you are back on the plains.

No. Prices on the site are indicative 'from' prices in INR per person, twin sharing, and each package shows how the price breaks down. The final quote depends on dates, group size, room category and availability. We send a written, itemised quote before you pay anything.

A Gangtok weekend with shared jeeps and a budget hotel can cost under ₹10,000 per person from NJP. A 5–6 night trip with North Sikkim usually starts around ₹13,000–20,000 per person on a budget. Our Affordable section lists every package by price band, with the real costs of jeeps, rooms and permits.

Yes. These permits are issued only through Sikkim Tourism-registered agents and vehicles, and we apply through registered partners with your ID and photos, usually a day ahead. Nathu La and the Silk Route are for Indian nationals only. Rules change often, so check current status before you travel.

Yes, with limits. Foreign nationals need a Restricted Area Permit (now online through e-FRRO) to enter Sikkim, and can visit some protected areas such as Tsomgo and Lachung–Yumthang in groups of two or more. Nathu La, Gurudongmar and Zuluk are closed to foreigners. Check current status before you travel.

Yes, and most people do. The packages on the site show routes that work. We change hotels, add nights, move up or down a tier, or combine districts, then send a new day-by-day plan with the new price.

March to May for rhododendrons and clear spring days, and October to December for the clearest mountain views. December to March brings snow up high. June to September is monsoon: cheaper, green and quieter, but landslides close roads, especially NH10 and North Sikkim.

Every photo on this site comes from Wikimedia Commons under a free licence. We name the author and licence under each photo and list all of them, with links to the originals, on our photo credits page.

No. We ask every traveller to hold insurance that covers medical treatment and evacuation, including at the altitudes on your route (Gurudongmar is above 5,000 m). If you have heart or lung conditions, speak to your doctor before booking a high-altitude trip.

Mostly. In December 2021 Sikkim reorganised its districts: East Sikkim was renamed Gangtok district, and its southern and eastern parts, including Pakyong, Rongli, Zuluk and the Old Silk Route, became the new Pakyong district. Travellers and drivers still say East Sikkim, often meaning both. Tsomgo, Baba Mandir and Nathu La remain in Gangtok district.

Three nights in Gangtok covers the essentials: one day for the town's monasteries and viewpoints, one for Tsomgo Lake and Baba Mandir (with Nathu La for Indians), and one for Rumtek and Lingdum. A fourth night in a Martam homestay or a spare day for winter snow closures makes the trip easier.

October to December gives the clearest skies and Kangchenjunga views, and March to May brings rhododendrons and mild weather. January and February are cold, with a frozen Tsomgo Lake and possible road closures. June to September is monsoon, with landslides on NH10 and few mountain views.

By road, about 120–125 km and 4.5–5 hours on NH10. A reserved small car costs about ₹3,000–4,500, and shared jeeps from Siliguri about ₹350–550 a seat. NH10 closes after monsoon landslides; the alternative is via Kalimpong or Algarah. Pakyong Airport has no scheduled flights. Check current status before you travel.

Foreigners can visit Tsomgo Lake on a one-day permit through a registered agent, in a group of two or more, after obtaining the Sikkim restricted area permit online. Nathu La, and the Old Silk Route around Zuluk, are closed to foreign nationals. Rumtek, Enchey and Gangtok need no extra permit. Check current status before you travel.

No. Indian travellers need no permit for Gangtok, Rumtek, Lingdum, Martam, Sang or the town viewpoints. Permits are needed only for protected areas: Tsomgo Lake and Baba Mandir, Nathu La and Cho La, arranged through a registered agent with ID and photos. Sikkim charges a ₹50 tourist fee at check-in.

Indicatively, a budget 3-night Gangtok trip with Tsomgo costs about ₹7,000–11,000 per person, twin sharing, with shared transport and budget hotels. Value trips with a private car and 3-star hotels cost roughly double, and premium stays at Mayfair or Taj Guras Kutir far more. Check current rates before you travel.

Gangtok, at about 1,650 m, rarely causes problems. The Tsomgo day trip climbs to 3,753 m and Nathu La to 4,310 m within hours, so headaches and breathlessness are common there. Spend a night in Gangtok first, walk slowly, drink water and limit time at the top. People with heart or lung conditions should take medical advice.

Not any more, officially. Since the 2021 reorganisation, Zuluk, Nathang, Rongli, Aritar and the Old Silk Route belong to Pakyong district, though many operators still sell them as East Sikkim. They are open to Indian nationals only, with permits via Rongli. We cover them on our Pakyong district pages.

As we understand it, Lachung, Yumthang and Zero Point reopened on 8 September 2025. Lachen and Gurudongmar reopened on 9 March 2026, closed in April after a landslide, and permits resumed around 11–12 September 2026 after road repairs on 29 August. Weather can close roads at short notice, so check current status before you travel.

At least two nights, which is also the operators' minimum: one night in Lachen for Gurudongmar and one in Lachung for Yumthang. Three nights is better, allowing a slower pace or a Dzongu homestay. Add at least one night in Gangtok before, for acclimatisation and permit paperwork, and one after as a buffer.

Indian travellers need a protected area permit, issued only through a Sikkim Tourism-registered agent and linked to a registered tourist vehicle. Give your agent ID and two passport photos a day or two ahead. Dzongu has a separate permit, usually issued in Mangan. Foreign nationals face more limits. Check current status before you travel.

Partly. With the online Sikkim restricted area permit and a protected area permit through a registered agent, in a group of two or more, foreigners can usually visit Lachung, Yumthang and Zero Point. Gurudongmar Lake is closed to foreigners. Rules for Lachen and Thangu are unclear at present, so ask us. Check current status before you travel.

No. Children under five are not permitted in North Sikkim protected areas, which include Lachung, Yumthang, Zero Point, Lachen and Gurudongmar. With small children, consider Gangtok, Phodong, Kabi Lungchok and Mangan, which lie outside the protected areas, or the hills of West and South Sikkim instead.

Indicatively, a 2-night/3-day shared package from Gangtok costs about ₹6,500–9,000 per person with jeep seat, permit, simple stays and meals. A private SUV for the same trip is about ₹16,000–24,000 per vehicle, plus hotels. Zero Point adds about ₹3,000–4,000 per vehicle. Comfort and premium hotels raise costs considerably.

Yes. Lachung and Lachen are about 2,700–2,750 m, Yumthang about 3,564 m, Zero Point about 4,660 m and Gurudongmar around 5,150–5,430 m. Climb gradually, sleep low, drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol. Headache, nausea and breathlessness are warning signs: descend if they worsen. Consult a doctor first if you have heart or lung conditions.

October and November give the clearest skies, the best mountain views and dry roads, though they are cold at Gurudongmar. April and May bring the rhododendron bloom at Yumthang and milder days. Avoid June to August, when landslides close roads often. December to March is for snow lovers, with frequent closures.

Yes, and many travellers combine both. Dzongu is a Lepcha reserve with family homestays, much lower and warmer than Lachung, and needs its own permit. It does not replace the high valleys of Yumthang and Gurudongmar, but it offers a slower, more personal side of North Sikkim. Two nights is ideal.

Mostly. In December 2021 Sikkim reorganised from four districts to six. The old West Sikkim district was split into Gyalshing district (the north, with Pelling, Yuksom, Tashiding, Dentam and Uttarey) and Soreng district (the south, with Soreng, Rinchenpong, Kaluk, Hilley and Varsey). Travellers still say West Sikkim for both, and so do many drivers and hotels.

Plan 3–5 nights. Two nights in Pelling cover Pemayangtse, Rabdentse, Sanga Choeling and the Skywalk plus a day to Khecheopalri and Yuksom. A night in Yuksom adds Dubdi and Tashiding without rushing. Add a night in Uttarey or Darap for village life, or 8–10 days if you plan the Goecha La trek.

Mid-October to mid-December gives the clearest views of Kangchenjunga, and March to May brings rhododendrons and pleasant weather. January and February are cold but often clear. June to September is monsoon: slides, leeches and cloud, though hotels are cheapest. Check current status before you travel in shoulder months.

About 115 km, or 5–6 hours by road, via Singtam and Ravangla or via Melli and Jorethang. A private car costs indicatively ₹5,000–6,500, and shared jeeps to Gyalshing about ₹350–500 a seat. NH10 between Gangtok and Singtam can close in the monsoon, so check current status before you travel.

Indian nationals need no permit for Pelling, Yuksom, Khecheopalri or Tashiding. The Dzongri–Goecha La trek requires a Khangchendzonga National Park permit, arranged through a registered agency at Yuksom. Foreign nationals need the Restricted Area Permit for Sikkim, applied for online, and a Protected Area Permit for the trek. Check current status before you travel.

Yes, on clear days. Pelling faces Kangchenjunga (8,586 m), Kabru and Pandim across the Rangeet valley, and the helipad viewpoint in Upper Pelling and the Pemayangtse ridge give the widest views. The best odds are at sunrise from October to March. In the monsoon the range can stay hidden for weeks.

Yes. The roads are long but the sights are gentle: monasteries, a sacred lake, waterfalls, the Skywalk and the Singshore Bridge, with short walks rather than hard hikes. Altitudes stay around 1,500–2,200 m, which suits children and seniors. Plan shorter driving days and avoid the monsoon months.

Indicatively, a budget 3-night trip from Gangtok with shared jeeps and budget rooms costs about ₹6,000–9,000 per person. A mid-range trip with a private car and good hotels runs ₹18,000–30,000 per person for 3–4 nights. Premium stays and private SUVs cost more. A Goecha La trek with an agency is about ₹15,000–30,000.

Yes. Foreign nationals can trek to Dzongri and Goecha La with a Protected Area Permit, in a group of two or more, through a registered Sikkim trekking agency, in addition to the Restricted Area Permit for entering Sikkim, now applied for online. Rules change, so check current status before you travel and let us handle the paperwork.

Yes, especially for families, seniors, pilgrims and first-time visitors. South Sikkim has the state's biggest monuments at Namchi and Ravangla, Sikkim's only tea estate at Temi, easy village homestays and mild weather. It needs no permits for Indians and is under four hours from NJP. Two to four nights suit most trips.

Namchi district is the official name, since December 2021, of what was South Sikkim district. Its headquarters is Namchi. The district covers Namchi, Ravangla, Temi, Jorethang, Melli and the villages around them. Travellers, drivers and hotels still widely use the name South Sikkim.

Samdruptse and Char Dham in Namchi, Buddha Park and Ralang Monastery near Ravangla, Temi Tea Garden, Tendong Hill and Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary for walks, Kitam for birds, and the village homestays of Kewzing, Borong and Yangang. Jorethang's mid-January fair is worth timing a trip around.

Two nights cover the highlights: one in Namchi for Samdruptse and Char Dham, one in Ravangla for Buddha Park and Ralang, with Temi on the way. Four nights let you add a village homestay at Kewzing or Borong, a Tendong walk or a dawn at Kitam. Many guests combine it with Gangtok and Pelling.

October to December for clear skies and mountain views, and March to May for flowers, tea and birds. January and February are cold but clear, with hot springs in season. June to September is the monsoon: green and quiet, but cloudy, leech-prone and subject to road slides.

Indian nationals need no permit. Foreign nationals need the standard Sikkim Restricted Area Permit, applied online through the e-FRRO portal since January 2026; no extra protected-area permit is needed for South Sikkim as we understand it. Hotels collect Sikkim's ₹50 entry fee. Check current status before you travel.

By road: about 96–100 km and 3.5–4 hours to Namchi via NH10 and Melli, for roughly ₹4,500–6,500 by reserved car, or by shared jeep from Siliguri for about ₹300–400 a seat. When NH10 is closed, vehicles go through Darjeeling district to Jorethang. Check current status before you travel.

Very. Altitudes are moderate, about 1,500 m at Namchi and 2,050 m at Ravangla, so altitude sickness is rarely a concern. The main monuments have paved paths, hotels with lifts exist in Namchi, and drives between sights are short. Namchi has a district hospital. Pack warm clothes for winter nights.

Rarely, and only lightly. Ravangla and the summits of Tendong and Maenam can see a dusting on cold days between late December and February in some years. Namchi almost never gets snow. If snow is your goal, plan for North Sikkim or Tsomgo Lake in East Sikkim instead.

Mostly. The district includes the Sikkim stretch of the old Kalimpong–Tibet trade road, from Rhenock and Rongli up through Zuluk and Nathang towards Jelep La. Kupup itself falls in Gangtok district. Pakyong district also covers Pakyong town, Rangpo, Rorathang and quiet villages like Aritar and Rolep that most Silk Route trips pass through.

No. Foreign nationals, including OCI holders, are not allowed beyond Rongli, so Zuluk, Thambi View Point, Nathang and Kupup are closed to them. They can stay at Aritar, Mankhim, Rhenock and Pakyong town with the general Sikkim entry permit applied for online on the e-FRRO portal. Rules change, so check current status before you travel.

Not at present. Pakyong Airport has had no scheduled flights since June 2024. Plan your trip on Bagdogra (IXB), about 115–125 km and 4.5–5 hours from Rongli, or New Jalpaiguri (NJP) railway station, about 110 km and 4–4.5 hours. If flights resume we will update this page, but check current status before you travel.

Three nights is the minimum for a loop from Gangtok to Zuluk and Nathang. We prefer four or five nights from NJP or Bagdogra: Aritar or Lingtam first, then Padamchen or Zuluk, then Nathang or a second Zuluk night, and back via Rongli or, when open, via Kupup and Tsomgo to Gangtok.

October to December for clear mountain views, and March to May for rhododendrons. January and February bring snow but frequent road closures. Avoid mid-June to mid-September, when monsoon slides cut NH10 and the Rongli–Zuluk road and clouds hide the peaks. The lower villages such as Aritar are pleasant all year. Check current status before you travel.

It can be, because the road climbs from about 830 m at Rongli to about 3,750 m at Nathang in a few hours. Sleep the first night low at Aritar, Lingtam or Rolep, then Padamchen or Zuluk, and only then go to Nathang. Drink water, avoid alcohol on the first high night, and descend if headaches worsen.

At Rongli, the subdivision town at the foot of the high road. Your driver, agent or homestay usually files it from scans of your photo ID, and you collect it on the way up. Carry originals, photocopies and two passport photos. The government fee is about ₹200 per person, plus handling. Check current status before you travel.

Only part of it. Shared jeeps run from Gangtok and Siliguri to Rongli and Rhenock for about ₹200–400 a seat. Above Rongli, local jeeps serve residents once or twice a day, and above Zuluk there is no shared transport. In practice you need a reserved, permit-registered car for the high road, which a group can share.

Pakyong, Rangpo, Rorathang, Rhenock and Rongli have ATMs and decent mobile coverage. Above Rongli there are no ATMs, and signal is patchy at Zuluk and weak at Nathang. Withdraw cash at Rhenock or Rongli, download offline maps, and tell your family you may be out of touch for a night.

Soreng district is the south-west corner of Sikkim. It borders Nepal to the west along the Singalila ridge, West Bengal to the south, Gyalshing district (West Sikkim) to the north and Namchi district (South Sikkim) to the east across the Rangeet. You enter it over the Akar bridge at Jorethang, about 70 km from Siliguri.

On 13 December 2021, according to the Soreng district administration, when Sikkim created Soreng and Pakyong as new districts. Soreng had been a subdivision of the West district, which was split into Gyalshing and Soreng. Many maps and drivers still call the area West Sikkim.

Indian nationals need no special permit, only Sikkim's ₹50 tourist fee collected by accommodation and an entry ticket for the Barsey sanctuary. Foreign nationals need Sikkim's Restricted Area Permit, applied for online on the e-FRRO portal after arriving in India since January 2026. Check current status before you travel.

October to December for the clearest Kangchenjunga views and dry, cool weather, and March to April for the Barsey rhododendron bloom, which usually peaks in April. January and February are cold but clear. June to September is the monsoon, with heavy rain, leeches and landslides, and we advise against it.

By car, 4–5 hours via Sevoke, NH10 along the Teesta to Melli, and Jorethang, about ₹4,500–6,500 for a small car. By shared jeep, go Siliguri–Jorethang (₹250–350) and change for Soreng, Rinchenpong or Sombaria. NH10 closes after monsoon slides, when drivers go via Kalimpong or Darjeeling. Check current status before you travel.

For views and history, Rinchenpong and Kaluk on the ridge facing Kangchenjunga. For rhododendrons, the Barsey sanctuary from Hilley, staying in Okhrey. For village life and stories, Daramdin, Tharpu's Mangardzong site and the Sribadam monasteries near Soreng. Four to five nights covers the ridge and Barsey comfortably.

Two nights is the minimum for the Rinchenpong–Kaluk ridge, and two more for Okhrey and the Barsey walk. Four or five nights covers both with time for a village homestay. Soreng also combines well with two nights in Pelling, about 31 km from Rinchenpong.

Yes, it is one of the cheapest parts of Sikkim. Shared jeeps reach most villages, homestays cost about ₹1,200–2,200 per person with meals, and there are no permit fees for Indians beyond small tourist and sanctuary charges. A budget traveller can manage on about ₹2,000–3,000 a day.

It used to be part of West Sikkim. Since December 2021, the old West district has been split into Gyalshing district, which keeps Pelling, Yuksom and Pemayangtse, and Soreng district, which has Rinchenpong, Kaluk, Okhrey, Hilley and Barsey. Many travel sites and drivers still use West Sikkim for both.