Pakyong district · Theme
Snow and winter in Pakyong and the Silk Route
December to March, above 3,000 m
Photo: Rangan Datta Wiki · CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
In Pakyong and the Silk Route, snow and winter works best in Kupup, Nathang Valley, Thambi View Point and Zuluk. We have 3 packages built around it. Snow usually reaches Tsomgo, Nathu La, Zero Point, Lachung and the Silk Route between December and March. Roads close after heavy falls and reopen when the Army and BRO clear them, so winter trips need a flexible day.
Gangtok rarely sees snow, but an hour above it the road to Tsomgo often turns white by late December. Lachung and Yumthang are snowbound for much of January and February, and Zero Point is snow from November to April most years.
We plan winter trips with a buffer day, a 4x4 where the road needs one, and rooms with heating. Road and pass status changes daily in winter: check current status before you travel.
Places
Where to go
lake
Kupup3,940M
Kupup
Elephant Lake and the Yak golf course below Jelep La
valley
Nathang V…3,750M
Nathang Valley
A high yak valley where the 1888 campaign was decided
viewpoint
Thambi Vi…3,413M
Thambi View Point
Sunrise above the Zuluk loops, beside the 1888 Lingtu ridge
village
Zuluk2,800M
Zuluk
The old caravan halt below the zigzag road
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Trips to start from
Indicative prices per person, twin sharing. Each one can be changed.
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
Budget
Top4,100M
Silk Route winter snow trip, 4 nights
Padamchen · Zuluk · Nathang Valley
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Hours that fit the theme
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 …
Adventure
See the world's highest golf course
Spot the army's Yak golf course on the Kupup valley floor, listed by Guinness World Records as the highest golf course in …
Monasteries and shrines
Stop at the Old Baba Mandir shrine
Visit the older, smaller shrine to Baba Harbhajan Singh on the Silk Route circuit near Kupup, built around the bunker associated with …
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 …
Culture
Visit the Nathang war memorial
A short stop at the memorial near Gnathang that remembers men who died during the British occupation of the valley after the …
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, …
Monasteries and shrines
Butter lamps at the Gnathang gumpa
A quiet visit to Gnathang Gadenchoeling Gumpa, the small Buddhist temple of the valley's herding families. Prayer wheels, flags snapping in the …
Adventure
See the valley under winter snow
From late December to February, Nathang Valley often lies under deep snow, and the drive over Lungthung becomes a white road between …
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. StartStays
Where we would book
Budget
Zuluk village homestays
Family-run homestays in Zuluk, the old overnight stop for Silk Route mule caravans at about 2,800 m. Simple rooms, thick quilts, home-cooked dal-bhat and …
Budget
Nathang Valley homestays
A handful of family homestays in Gnathang, a small high village of yak herders and army neighbours at about 3,750 m. The coldest and …
Budget
Lungthung homestays
A few high homestays at Lungthung, around 3,800 m, a short drive above Thambi View Point on the road to Nathang. Sunrise over the …
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.
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