Nature · Yumthang Valley
Riverside meadow walk in Yumthang
Leave the jeeps behind and walk along the Lachung Chu across Yumthang's open meadow, past grazing yaks and wooden bridges, to quieter corners of the valley. Easy walking on flat ground, but slow down for the altitude.
Photo: Vercity05 · CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Most visitors stay within a hundred metres of the parking area, where the stalls and boot-hire huts cluster. Walk ten minutes upstream or downstream along the river and the valley opens out, quiet except for water and wind. The meadow is flat and the walking easy, but at about 3,564 m you will feel each step, so set an unhurried pace and turn back while you still feel fresh.
In spring and summer yaks and cattle graze here, brought up by Lachung families. Give them space: yaks are calm but large, and mothers protect their calves. Do not approach herders' shelters without asking. In autumn the grass turns gold and the first snow dusts the peaks; in winter the meadow can lie under a metre of snow.
Your driver will set a time to return, usually after about an hour. Agree it clearly before you set off, and keep an eye on the weather: cloud can roll down the valley quickly, and the temperature drops fast with it.
Good for
Questions travellers ask
Before you book
How long do we get at Yumthang?
Usually about an hour, sometimes more if you skip Zero Point. Drivers keep to time because roads cloud over and they must return to Lachung for checkout. Agree a time clearly when you arrive. A private vehicle allows more flexibility than a shared tour.
Is it safe to go near the yaks at Yumthang?
Yaks are generally calm, but they are large animals with horns, and mothers guard their calves. Keep a few metres away, do not feed them and never stand between a mother and calf. Some yaks near the road are dressed for photos for a fee; agree the price first.
Can seniors walk in Yumthang?
Most fit seniors can manage a short, flat walk by the river, but altitude makes it tiring. Walk slowly, rest often and stop if you feel dizzy or breathless. Those with heart or lung conditions should consult a doctor before travelling to North Sikkim at all.
Also in Yumthang Valley
More hours worth planning
Nature
Rhododendron season at Yumthang
Drive up through the Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary at dawn and spend the early hours in a valley flowering pink, red, white and …
Wellness
The Yumthang hot spring stop
A natural hot spring near the river in Yumthang has long been used by local people for bathing. Stop to see it, …
Nature
Autumn light and first snow in Yumthang
In late October and November the meadow turns gold, larch and maple colour the slopes, and the peaks carry their first snow …
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