Pakyong district · Experiences
Nature in Pakyong and the Silk Route
Lakes, passes, valleys and viewpoints
Photo: Amitabha Gupta · CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Viewpoints at the right hour, alpine lakes and forest days, with altitude and weather taken seriously. 22 experiences below, each with its time, cost and the best hour to go.
Nature
Lampokhari Lake dawn walk and boat
A 45 minute loop of Lampokhari Lake at first light, followed by a paddle boat if the counter is open. Mist, forest-edge …
Nature
Rorathang road falls and Rhenock market drive
A half-day drive on the hill road to Rhenock, stopping at roadside waterfalls named in Wikipedia and wandering the Rhenock bazaar. It …
Nature
Look down on Elephant Lake
Stop on the road above Bitang Tso, the small glacial lake known as Elephant Lake, and see if you can trace the …
Nature
Lake Menmecho, source of the Rangpo
On the road down from Kupup, look out over Lake Menmecho, a deep mountain lake below Jelep La that feeds the Rangpo …
Nature
Rongli river edge walk
A short, careful walk to the river near Lingtam to listen, watch birds and see the water that later joins the Rangpo …
Nature
Sunrise at Mankhim ridge
An early drive from Aritar to the ridge, timed for first light on the snow peaks and the valley below. The temple …
Nature
Slow walk across the yak meadows
A gentle, flat walk on the valley floor near Gnathang, among grazing yaks, streams and wild flowers in season. Easy on paper, …
Nature
Rhododendron roadside walk
An easy stroll along the Silk Route road and nearby forest lanes in spring, when rhododendron and magnolia flower above the village. …
Nature
Silk Route forest drive to Zuluk view
A short drive up the forest road to the first Zuluk viewpoints and back, to see the sanctuary's changing forest and decide …
Views from the airport ridge road
A short stop on the public road near Pakyong Airport, about 1,416 m up, to see the runway built on a man-made …
Nature
Teesta and Rangpo confluence viewpoint
A short stop to see where the Rangpo river meets the Teesta below the town, safely from a bank or bridge, and …
Nature
Rangpo to Aritar scenic drive via Rorathang
Follow the Rangpo river upstream from the gateway through Rorathang to Rhenock and Aritar, watching the valley narrow and the forest take …
Nature
Pedong and Reshi road drive
A scenic drive on the old road via Reshi and Pedong towards Kalimpong, the same corridor Wikipedia describes as the Kalimpong route …
Nature
Local nursery visit
A short stop at the privately owned nursery and museum Wikipedia mentions at Rhenock Bazar, to see flowers and driftwood displays if …
Nature
Day trip from Rhenock to Aritar lake
If you are based in Rhenock, take a short drive to Lampokhari lake at Aritar for a lakeside walk, a boat ride …
Nature
Rangpo river bank morning walk
An easy morning stroll beside the Rangpo river with your host, listening to the water, looking for birds and watching terraces wake …
Nature
Rongli river meeting point viewpoint
A short stop to look at the river where Rongli Khola meets the Rangpo, the water that runs down to Rorathang and …
Nature
Three rivers bridge view
A short stop at a bridge or bank to see where the Rangpo meets the Pachey and Reshi and to read the …
Nature
Kali Khola falls roadside stop
A roadside stop at the waterfall Wikipedia lists as Kali Khola falls (also called Lonely falls) on the Rorathang to Rongli road, …
Nature
Rangpo valley road drive
A drive along the Rangpo valley between Rangpo and Rorathang, with river views, small farms and the industrial belt that sits oddly …
Nature
Photograph the loops at sunrise
Set up at the Thambi railing before dawn and watch the zigzag road emerge from shadow as the sun rises, with the …
Nature
Continue to Lungthung for the range
Drive 15 minutes beyond Thambi to the open ridge at Lungthung, about 3,800 m, for a wider view of the Kangchenjunga range …
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. StartOther kinds of experience in Pakyong and the Silk Route
Get 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