Best month · Pakyong and the Silk Route
Pakyong and the Silk Route in May
Zuluk 6 to 16 °C; Aritar 15 to 26 °C
Photo: Rangan Datta Wiki · CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Warm, green and busy. Rhododendrons linger at the higher end of the route early in the month, the Nathang meadows start to green up, and the lower villages are good for river walks at Rolep. Pre-monsoon storms bring afternoon rain and the first slides by late May. Sakewa celebrations at Mankhim often fall in May. School holidays fill Aritar and Zuluk, so plan rooms well ahead.
- Weather
- Zuluk 6 to 16 °C; Aritar 15 to 26 °C
- Rating
- Best
- Best months
- Mar – May · Oct – Dec
Start road days early, as afternoon storms and fog are common by the end of the month.
Where to go
Our picks for May
valley
Nathang V…3,750M
Nathang Valley
A high yak valley where the 1888 campaign was decided
Rolep
Riverside farming hamlet for slow days
pilgrimage site
Mankhim1,980M
Mankhim
Kirat Rai temple on a ridge above Aritar
village
Aritar1,400M
Aritar
Lake village on the old Kalimpong trade road
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. StartFestivals
On the calendar in May
Kirat Khambu Rai
Sakewa at Mankhim
Sakewa is the great earth-worship festival of the Kirat Khambu Rai. On Mankhim hill above Aritar, the Rai community gathers at its …
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. StartMost festival dates follow the lunar calendar and move each year. Ask us for the date in the year you travel.
Packages
Trips at their best in May
Value
Top4,100M
Silk Route family trip, 4 nights
Aritar · Padamchen · Zuluk
Value
Top4,100M
Silk Route photography trip, 5 nights
Padamchen · Zuluk · Thambi View Point · Nathang Valley
Value
Top4,100M
Silk Route to Gangtok via Kupup and Tsomgo, 5N
Aritar · Zuluk · Nathang Valley · Gangtok
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. StartQuestions travellers ask
Pakyong and the Silk Route in May
Is May a good time to visit Pakyong and the Silk Route?
Warm, green and busy. Rhododendrons linger at the higher end of the route early in the month, the Nathang meadows start to green up, and the lower villages are good for river walks at Rolep. Pre-monsoon storms bring afternoon rain and the first slides by late May. Sakewa celebrations at Mankhim often fall in May. School holidays fill Aritar and Zuluk, so plan rooms well ahead.
What is the weather like in Pakyong and the Silk Route in May?
Zuluk 6 to 16 °C; Aritar 15 to 26 °C. Conditions differ by altitude and coast, so check the forecast for each stop a week before you travel.
Where should we go in Pakyong and the Silk Route in May?
We suggest Nathang Valley, Rolep, Mankhim, Aritar. Start road days early, as afternoon storms and fog are common by the end of the month.
Get my price
Travelling in May?
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