North Sikkim · Road guide
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 travel in Sikkim Tourism-registered vehicles with a protected area permit, on a shared or private package arranged by a registered agent.
Photo: Indrajit Das · CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Your options
How to make the trip
Shared tour jeep
5–6 h · ≈ ₹6,500–9,000 per person for a 2N/3D package with stay and meals
The cheapest way: you buy a seat in a registered jeep (Bolero, Sumo or Xylo class, 8–10 people) on a fixed North Sikkim tour that includes the permit, a budget hotel and meals. Jeeps leave Gangtok around 10–11 am. The local seat fare on this road is around ₹600–800, but tourists cannot simply ride a local jeep past the check posts without a permit.
Private car or SUV
5–6 h · ≈ ₹16,000–22,000 per vehicle for 2N/3D, car only
A private registered SUV for your group, with the same permit rules, lets you stop at Seven Sisters, Naga waterfall and Singhik at your own pace. Prices rise in April–May and October. The driver must cross the Toong check post by 4:00 pm, so plan to leave Gangtok by 10 am at the latest.
From Bagdogra or NJP
9–10 h · Not advised in one day
Bagdogra (IXB) and NJP are about 125 km and 4.5–5 hours from Gangtok by NH10, which closes after monsoon landslides; the alternative is via Kalimpong or Algarah. Combined with the Lachung leg, you would miss the 4:00 pm Toong cut-off, so spend the first night in Gangtok.
Fares are indicative. Landslides, snow and check-post timings change journeys: check current status before you travel.
On the way
Stops worth the time
- Kabi Lungchok memorial stones
- Seven Sisters Waterfall
- Phodong Monastery (short detour)
- Singhik viewpoint
- Naga waterfall
- Chungthang confluence
Leave Gangtok by 10 am, keep two passport photos and your ID handy for the check posts, and carry a refillable bottle because Lachung restricts packaged water at times.
Questions travellers ask
Gangtok to Lachung: questions
How long is the drive from Gangtok to Lachung?
Plan on 5 to 6 hours for about 120 km, including a lunch stop near Mangan or Chungthang and short photo stops. After rain, landslide clearing can add hours. Average speed on the North Sikkim Highway is around 20–25 km/h because of hairpins, broken stretches and army convoys.
Can I travel to Lachung by myself?
Not as an independent traveller in your own car. Permits for Lachung are issued only through Sikkim Tourism-registered agents, and you must use a registered tourist vehicle. Operators also require a minimum two-night North Sikkim stay. Solo travellers usually join a shared tour from Gangtok. Check current status before you travel.
Is the Gangtok to Lachung road open in 2026?
As we understand it, Lachung, Yumthang and Zero Point reopened to tourists on 8 September 2025 and have operated since, subject to weather. Slides can close the road for a day or more in the monsoon and after heavy snow in winter. Check current status before you travel; we confirm the evening before departure.
Where do we eat lunch between Gangtok and Lachung?
Most vehicles stop for lunch at roadside eateries around Mangan or Chungthang, about 3 to 4 hours out of Gangtok. A simple thali or noodles costs about ₹150–250. In budget packages, lunch on day one is sometimes included at a fixed stop. Carry dry snacks and water for slide delays.
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