Road guides
Getting between places
Distances, honest drive times and indicative fares for the roads you will actually use. In the hills, plan on 20 to 25 km an hour.
Before you plan a day on the road
Sikkim's roads are slow and change with the weather. Shared jeeps are the cheapest way between towns, a reserved car is the most flexible, and protected areas need a registered vehicle and a permit. NH10 from Siliguri closes after monsoon slides; the fallback is via Kalimpong or Algarah. Check current status before you travel.
East Sikkim
Gangtok to Tsomgo Lake
Gangtok to Tsomgo Lake is about 40 km on NH310, the Nathu La road, climbing from 1,650 m to 3,753 m in …≈ 40 km Gangtok to Nathu La
Gangtok to Nathu La is about 54 km, 2.5–3 hours, on NH310 past Tsomgo Lake to the India–China border pass at 4,310 …≈ 54 km Gangtok to Rumtek
Gangtok to Rumtek is about 24 km, an hour by road, down to Ranipool on the Ranikhola and up the far side …≈ 24 km Gangtok to Martam
Gangtok to Martam is about 29–34 km, 1–1.5 hours, via Ranipool and Rumtek to a farming village of paddy terraces and family …≈ 32 km
Gangtok to Tsomgo Lake is about 40 km on NH310, the Nathu La road, climbing from 1,650 m to 3,753 m in …≈ 40 km Gangtok to Nathu La
Gangtok to Nathu La is about 54 km, 2.5–3 hours, on NH310 past Tsomgo Lake to the India–China border pass at 4,310 …≈ 54 km Gangtok to Rumtek
Gangtok to Rumtek is about 24 km, an hour by road, down to Ranipool on the Ranikhola and up the far side …≈ 24 km Gangtok to Martam
Gangtok to Martam is about 29–34 km, 1–1.5 hours, via Ranipool and Rumtek to a farming village of paddy terraces and family …≈ 32 km
North Sikkim
Gangtok to Lachung
Gangtok to Lachung is about 120 km on the North Sikkim Highway via Kabi, Phodong, Mangan and Chungthang, usually 5–6 hours. Tourists …≈ 120 km Gangtok to Lachen
Gangtok to Lachen is about 120 km, 5–6 hours, on the North Sikkim Highway as far as Chungthang, then up the Lachen …≈ 120 km Lachung to Yumthang Valley
Lachung to Yumthang Valley is about 24 km, 1–1.5 hours, through the Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary up to about 3,564 m. Most tours …≈ 24 km Lachen to Gurudongmar Lake
Lachen to Gurudongmar Lake is about 67 km, 3–3.5 hours each way via Thangu, climbing from about 2,750 m to the lake …≈ 67 km Mangan to Dzongu
Dzongu, the Lepcha reserve, lies just across the Teesta from Mangan. Upper Dzongu villages such as Passingdang and Lingthem are about 15–25 …≈ 20 km
Gangtok to Lachung is about 120 km on the North Sikkim Highway via Kabi, Phodong, Mangan and Chungthang, usually 5–6 hours. Tourists …≈ 120 km Gangtok to Lachen
Gangtok to Lachen is about 120 km, 5–6 hours, on the North Sikkim Highway as far as Chungthang, then up the Lachen …≈ 120 km Lachung to Yumthang Valley
Lachung to Yumthang Valley is about 24 km, 1–1.5 hours, through the Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary up to about 3,564 m. Most tours …≈ 24 km Lachen to Gurudongmar Lake
Lachen to Gurudongmar Lake is about 67 km, 3–3.5 hours each way via Thangu, climbing from about 2,750 m to the lake …≈ 67 km Mangan to Dzongu
Dzongu, the Lepcha reserve, lies just across the Teesta from Mangan. Upper Dzongu villages such as Passingdang and Lingthem are about 15–25 …≈ 20 km
West Sikkim
Gangtok to Pelling
Gangtok to Pelling is about 115 km and 5–6 hours by road, via Singtam and either Ravangla or Jorethang and Legship. Shared …≈ 115 km Pelling to Yuksom
Pelling to Yuksom is about 40 km and 2 hours, past Darap, the Rimbi river and the Kanchenjunga Falls. Most travellers make …≈ 40 km Yuksom to Tashiding
Yuksom to Tashiding is about 19 km and 1 hour by road, down towards the Rathong Chu. It links Sikkim's first capital …≈ 19 km Pelling to Uttarey
Pelling to Uttarey is about 35 km and 1.5–2 hours, down through Dentam and across the Singshore Bridge to a cool village …≈ 35 km Jorethang to Pelling
Jorethang to Pelling is about 50 km and 2 hours via Legship and Gyalshing. Jorethang is the lowland junction where most roads …≈ 50 km
Gangtok to Pelling is about 115 km and 5–6 hours by road, via Singtam and either Ravangla or Jorethang and Legship. Shared …≈ 115 km Pelling to Yuksom
Pelling to Yuksom is about 40 km and 2 hours, past Darap, the Rimbi river and the Kanchenjunga Falls. Most travellers make …≈ 40 km Yuksom to Tashiding
Yuksom to Tashiding is about 19 km and 1 hour by road, down towards the Rathong Chu. It links Sikkim's first capital …≈ 19 km Pelling to Uttarey
Pelling to Uttarey is about 35 km and 1.5–2 hours, down through Dentam and across the Singshore Bridge to a cool village …≈ 35 km Jorethang to Pelling
Jorethang to Pelling is about 50 km and 2 hours via Legship and Gyalshing. Jorethang is the lowland junction where most roads …≈ 50 km
South Sikkim
Gangtok to Namchi
Gangtok to Namchi is about 78 km and 3–3.5 hours, down NH10 to Singtam and then south-west through the hills via Temi …≈ 78 km Gangtok to Ravangla
Gangtok to Ravangla is about 65 km and roughly 3 hours via Singtam and Temi or Damthang, climbing to about 2,050 m. …≈ 65 km Namchi to Ravangla
Namchi to Ravangla is about 26 km and roughly an hour via Damthang, climbing from about 1,500 m to about 2,050 m. …≈ 26 km Melli to Namchi
Melli to Namchi is about 27 km and an hour, the climb from the Teesta at about 280 m to Namchi at …≈ 27 km Ravangla to Pelling
Ravangla to Pelling is about 45–50 km and 2–2.5 hours, descending through Kewzing to Legship on the Rangeet and climbing again via …≈ 48 km
Gangtok to Namchi is about 78 km and 3–3.5 hours, down NH10 to Singtam and then south-west through the hills via Temi …≈ 78 km Gangtok to Ravangla
Gangtok to Ravangla is about 65 km and roughly 3 hours via Singtam and Temi or Damthang, climbing to about 2,050 m. …≈ 65 km Namchi to Ravangla
Namchi to Ravangla is about 26 km and roughly an hour via Damthang, climbing from about 1,500 m to about 2,050 m. …≈ 26 km Melli to Namchi
Melli to Namchi is about 27 km and an hour, the climb from the Teesta at about 280 m to Namchi at …≈ 27 km Ravangla to Pelling
Ravangla to Pelling is about 45–50 km and 2–2.5 hours, descending through Kewzing to Legship on the Rangeet and climbing again via …≈ 48 km
Pakyong and the Silk Route
Rangpo to Zuluk
Rangpo to Zuluk is about 60 km via Rorathang and Rongli, usually 3.5 to 4 hours. The last 30 km above Rongli …≈ 60 km Gangtok to Aritar
Gangtok to Aritar is about 67 to 70 km via Ranipool, Pakyong and Rorathang, taking around 3 hours. Aritar is outside the …≈ 68 km Rongli to Zuluk
Rongli to Zuluk is about 30 km on NH 717B through Lingtam and Padamchen, usually 1.5 to 2 hours. The road climbs …≈ 30 km Zuluk to Nathang Valley
Zuluk to Nathang Valley is about 25 km by way of Thambi View Point and Lungthung, usually 1 to 1.5 hours. The …≈ 25 km
Rangpo to Zuluk is about 60 km via Rorathang and Rongli, usually 3.5 to 4 hours. The last 30 km above Rongli …≈ 60 km Gangtok to Aritar
Gangtok to Aritar is about 67 to 70 km via Ranipool, Pakyong and Rorathang, taking around 3 hours. Aritar is outside the …≈ 68 km Rongli to Zuluk
Rongli to Zuluk is about 30 km on NH 717B through Lingtam and Padamchen, usually 1.5 to 2 hours. The road climbs …≈ 30 km Zuluk to Nathang Valley
Zuluk to Nathang Valley is about 25 km by way of Thambi View Point and Lungthung, usually 1 to 1.5 hours. The …≈ 25 km
Soreng
Jorethang to Soreng
Jorethang to Soreng is about 28 km over the Akar bridge and up through Nayabazar, usually 1–1.5 hours. Shared jeeps run through …≈ 28 km Jorethang to Rinchenpong
Jorethang to Rinchenpong is about 32 km, climbing from the Rangeet valley to the ridge at about 1,650 m in around 1.5 …≈ 32 km Soreng to Okhrey
Soreng to Okhrey is about 30 km west via Sombaria, 1–1.5 hours by car, climbing from about 1,300 m to about 2,300 …≈ 30 km Pelling to Rinchenpong
Pelling to Rinchenpong is about 31 km via Gyalshing and Legship, down to the Rangeet and up to the ridge, usually 1.5–2 …≈ 31 km
Jorethang to Soreng is about 28 km over the Akar bridge and up through Nayabazar, usually 1–1.5 hours. Shared jeeps run through …≈ 28 km Jorethang to Rinchenpong
Jorethang to Rinchenpong is about 32 km, climbing from the Rangeet valley to the ridge at about 1,650 m in around 1.5 …≈ 32 km Soreng to Okhrey
Soreng to Okhrey is about 30 km west via Sombaria, 1–1.5 hours by car, climbing from about 1,300 m to about 2,300 …≈ 30 km Pelling to Rinchenpong
Pelling to Rinchenpong is about 31 km via Gyalshing and Legship, down to the Rangeet and up to the ridge, usually 1.5–2 …≈ 31 km
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