Budget · West Sikkim
Uttarey and Hee Bermiok village escape
Five slow nights in two of West Sikkim's quietest villages: Hee Bermiok on its forested ridge, then Uttarey near the Nepal border, with homestay meals, walks with a village guide, Singshore Bridge on the way and rhododendrons in spring. Shared jeeps and short car transfers keep it affordable. From ₹15,500 per person.
Photo: Anjan Kumar Kundu · CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Five slow nights in two of West Sikkim's quietest villages: Hee Bermiok on its forested ridge, then Uttarey near the Nepal border, with homestay meals, walks with a village guide, Singshore Bridge on the way and rhododendrons in spring. Shared jeeps and short car transfers keep it affordable. From ₹15,500 per person.
Key facts
- Nights
- 5 nights, 6 days
- Tier
- Budget: Shared jeep and homestays
- Pace
- Easy
- Max altitude
- 2,300 m
- Best months
- Mar – Apr · Oct – Nov
- Route
- Hee Bermiok (2N) · Uttarey (3N)
- Starts
- NJP station or Siliguri
- Ends
- NJP station or Siliguri
- Per night
- about ₹3,100 per person
Altitude, night by night
How high you sleep
Sleeping height each night. We sleep you lower than you visit wherever the road allows. Speak to your doctor before a high-altitude trip if you have heart or lung conditions.
The route
Where the road goes
This trip is for people who have seen Gangtok and Pelling, or who never wanted to, and would rather spend their days on forest paths and their evenings by a kitchen stove. Hee Bermiok and Uttarey sit at around 2,000 m in the far west of Gyalshing district, among oak, magnolia and rhododendron forest, with Limbu, Bhutia and Nepali-speaking families farming the slopes. There are no ticketed sights to tick off, and that is the point.
We use shared jeeps between Siliguri and Jorethang, then a small car for the hill stretches where public transport is thin. You stay in family homestays, eat what they cook and walk with a village guide who knows the birds and the paths. In March and April the ridges above Uttarey turn red and pink with rhododendron.
Highlights
What this trip is for
Two Village Bases At About 2,000 M In Far West Sikkim
Singshore Bridge, A Long Suspension Span High Above A Gorge
Forest Walks With A Village Guide And Early-Morning Birding
Rhododendrons On The Ridges Above Uttarey In March And April
Homestay Meals Of Local Greens, Gundruk And Fresh Dal
Day by day
The itinerary
-
Day 1: Siliguri to Jorethang and Hee Bermiok
Meet our contact at the Siliguri jeep stand near the SNT terminus by 9 am for a shared jeep up the Teesta on NH10 to Melli and on to Jorethang, about 3–3.5 hours. If NH10 is closed after rain, the route goes via Darjeeling and adds 1–2 hours. In Jorethang a small car we have booked takes you up through the hills to Hee Bermiok, about 2–2.5 hours more. Your homestay family will have tea ready. Dinner is early, and the village goes quiet by nine.
About Hee Bermiok -
Day 2: Ridge walks around Hee Bermiok
If the sky is clear, step outside at dawn for the Kangchenjunga range across the valleys. After breakfast, walk with a village guide along forest paths above the village, through oak and rhododendron, for 3–4 hours at an easy pace. Look for birds such as barbets, minivets and laughingthrushes, and listen for the calls of the forest at midday. Afternoon free to rest, read or join your hosts in the fields; in autumn they may be harvesting cardamom or drying maize.
About Hee Bermiok -
Day 3: Dentam and Singshore Bridge to Uttarey
A short transfer with plenty of stops. The small car drops into the broad farming valley of Dentam, at about 1,400 m, with its fields and dairy farms, then climbs to Singshore Bridge, a long suspension bridge high above a forested gorge. Walk across it and back before continuing up to Uttarey at about 2,000 m. Settle into your homestay for lunch, then take a gentle walk around the village to the small monastery above it.
About Uttarey -
Day 4: Uttarey forest and waterfall walk
Birding is best in the first two hours after dawn, so start early with your guide on the forest trails around the village. After breakfast, walk to Mainbus waterfall, one of the sights the Gyalshing district administration lists near Uttarey, through mixed forest and terraced fields, about 4–5 hours there and back at an easy pace with a packed lunch. In the late afternoon, ask your hosts about the village's Limbu, Bhutia and Nepali festivals and the old trade path towards Nepal.
About Uttarey -
Day 5: A slow day towards the Singalila ridge
Walk with the guide up forest trails above Uttarey towards the Singalila ridge, the long range that forms the border with Nepal, climbing to about 2,300 m for wide views over the valley before turning back. The pace is unhurried and the route depends on weather and season; in March and April this is where the rhododendrons are thickest. Back for a late lunch and a free afternoon. Pack tonight, as tomorrow starts early.
About Uttarey -
Day 6: Uttarey to Jorethang and Siliguri
A morning shared jeep, booked by your hosts, leaves Uttarey for Jorethang via Dentam, about 3 hours. In Jorethang change to a jeep for Siliguri, about 3–3.5 hours more, arriving mid-afternoon. Book trains from NJP after 6 pm and avoid same-day flights. In the monsoon shoulder months, keep extra time for slides on NH10. If you prefer, we can book a private car from Uttarey to NJP for about ₹3,500–4,000 per person for two.
About Uttarey
We send a day-by-day plan and an itemised price within one working day.
Where you sleep
Stays on this trip
Or similar, depending on availability. We name the hotels in your written quote before you pay.
Included
- 2 nights in a Hee Bermiok homestay and 3 nights in an Uttarey homestay, with dinner and breakfast
- Reserved shared jeep seats Siliguri–Jorethang and Uttarey–Jorethang–Siliguri
- Small car with driver Jorethang–Hee Bermiok and Hee Bermiok–Uttarey
- Village guide on Days 2, 4 and 5
- Packed lunch on Day 4
- Sikkim ₹50 tourist entry fee
- Our planning and phone support
Not included
- Train or flight to NJP or Bagdogra
- Lunches other than Day 4
- Auto or taxi to and from the Siliguri jeep stand
- Tips and personal expenses
- Extra costs from road closures or detours
Before you book
Good to know
- Mobile signal is patchy in Uttarey and parts of Hee Bermiok; download maps and tell family you may be out of touch.
- Hot water may come by bucket and power cuts happen in storms; bring a torch and a power bank.
- Leeches appear on forest trails from May to September; wear long socks.
- Carry enough cash for six days; there are no reliable ATMs in either village.
- Indian citizens need no permit; foreign nationals need a Restricted Area Permit through e-FRRO. Check current status before you travel.
Questions travellers ask
Questions about this trip
What is there to do in Uttarey?
Walking, birding and village life rather than sightseeing. There are forest trails around the village, a small monastery, Mainbus waterfall and paths towards the Singalila ridge on the Nepal border, plus Singshore Bridge on the approach. In March and April the rhododendron forests are the main draw. Most guests simply enjoy the quiet and the homestay food.
Where is Hee Bermiok?
Hee Bermiok is a village on a forested ridge in western Gyalshing district (West Sikkim), at roughly 1,900–2,000 m, between the Rinchenpong area and Dentam. It is known for walks, birding and views of the Kangchenjunga range across the valleys on clear mornings. It makes a natural first stop on the way to Uttarey.
How do we get to Uttarey without a private car?
Take a shared jeep from Siliguri to Jorethang, about ₹250–400 a seat, then a local jeep or car via Dentam to Uttarey. Public jeeps beyond Jorethang are few and leave mostly in the morning, which is why we book a small car for the hill stretches. For the return, homestay hosts reserve seats on the morning jeep.
Is Uttarey suitable for families with children?
Yes, for families who enjoy the outdoors. Children usually love the homestay, the bridge and the forest walks. There are no shops, cafes or entertainment, and the drives are long, so bring books and games. Walks can be shortened easily. Children under five are exempt from Sikkim's entry fee.
When do rhododendrons bloom around Uttarey?
Mainly from March to April, with some species flowering into May at higher points on the Singalila ridge. Early March favours the lower slopes, and April the ridges. Blooming varies with each year's weather, so we cannot promise exact dates; April is usually the safest single month.
Can we walk to the Nepal border from Uttarey?
The Chewabhanjyang pass on the Nepal border lies about 10 km from Uttarey according to the Gyalshing district administration, on a steep trail. It is a border area with security posts, and rules for visitors change, so we do not include it as standard. If you want to go, ask us before booking and check current status before you travel.
What are the homestays like?
Family homes with a private guest room, usually an attached bathroom, warm bedding and home-cooked dinner and breakfast. Hot water may come from a geyser or a bucket. Expect simple comfort, early dinners and real conversation with your hosts. Tell us about food needs in advance; vegetarian meals are easy to arrange.
Is this trip possible in winter?
Yes. December to February is cold, clear and very quiet, with frosty mornings around freezing and good chances of seeing the Kangchenjunga range. Homestays may not have room heaters, so bring thermals and a warm jacket. Days are short, so walks start later and finish by 3–4 pm.
Can we add Pelling to this trip?
Yes. Pelling is about 35 km and 2 hours from Uttarey. Adding two nights in a Pelling budget hotel with a car for the transfer and one sightseeing day adds roughly ₹6,000–7,500 per person for two. It gives you the classic Kangchenjunga view and the Pemayangtse and Rabdentse heritage sites.
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