North Sikkim Tour

Explore the highlights of North Sikkim, one of the most closely regulated and most beautiful regions of India.

Duration
5 days
Group size
No limit
Country
India

North Sikkim Tour Overview

Explore the highlights of North Sikkim, one of the most closely regulated and most beautiful regions of India.

Explore the highlights of North Sikkim, one of the most closely regulated and most beautiful regions of India.

North Sikkim, the largest of the four districts of the Indian state of Sikkim, has some of the finest landscapes in the Himalaya and excellent views of the great Himalayan ranges. The region is known for its snow-capped peaks, waterfalls, fast-flowing streams, glacial lakes and rich plant and animal life, all largely unspoilt.

This five-day North Sikkim tour by Earthbound Expeditions takes you to Gangtok, the Seven Sisters Waterfall on the way to Lachen, the village of Lachen, and the Thangu and Chopta valleys. You also visit Gurudongmar Lake, one of the most sacred sites for Buddhists and Hindus, travel to Lachung village and the Yumthang Valley, which is covered with many species of rhododendron, orchids and other alpine flowers, and can bathe in the hot spring known for its healing effect on skin conditions.

The tour covers the main sights of North Sikkim in five days.

Key highlights of the North Sikkim Tour

Itinerary

  1. On arrival at Bagdogra airport, you are transferred to Gangtok via Rangpo, passing small roadside villages on the way. In the evening, take a short walking tour along MG Marg, a pedestrian boulevard, and browse the Lal Bazaar food and vegetable market. Overnight in Gangtok.

    Altitude
    1,650 m (5,410 ft)
    On foot
    None, 4–5 hr drive
    Night in
    Hotel, Gangtok
    Meals
    None

  2. After breakfast we drive towards Lachen. On the way we pass through Kabi Lungchok, Mangan, the Bhim Nala Waterfall and the Seven Sisters Waterfall. The Singhik viewpoint, about 4 km from Mangan on the way to Lachen, is surrounded by green hills with the Teesta river flowing below and offers a fine view. After a short break we continue to Chungthang, a small town in natural surroundings. Here the road divides, with one branch going to Lachung and the other to Lachen. We have lunch at a roadside restaurant in Chungthang and then continue to Lachen, arriving in the late afternoon or evening. Overnight in Lachen.

    Altitude
    2,750 m (9,020 ft)+1,100 m
    On foot
    None, 6–7 hr drive
    Night in
    Hotel, Lachen
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  3. After an early breakfast, we drive to Gurudongmar Lake through the Thangu and Chopta valleys. These alpine valleys are dotted with small wooden houses and grazing yaks. The valley is usually covered with snow from December to April, and in the summer months it is covered with wild flowers of many colours. After exploring the area, we continue to Gurudongmar Lake, which is considered one of the most sacred sites for Buddhists and Hindus. After the visit, we drive back to Lachen for lunch and then continue to Lachung. Overnight in Lachung.

    Altitude
    5,183 m (17,000 ft) at Gurudongmar Lake+2,433 m
    On foot
    None, 8–9 hr drive
    Night in
    Hotel, Lachung
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  4. After breakfast, we drive to the Yumthang Valley, also known as the Valley of Flowers. In spring the valley is covered with many species of rhododendron, orchids and other alpine flowers in full bloom. Depending on the weather, we spend time walking and enjoying the landscape, and then return to Lachung for lunch. On the way back, we can visit the hot spring, which is known for its healing effect on skin conditions. After lunch we drive back to Gangtok. Overnight in Gangtok.

    Altitude
    1,650 m (5,410 ft)−3,533 m
    On foot
    None, 7–8 hr drive
    Night in
    Hotel, Gangtok
    Meals
    Breakfast

  5. After breakfast, we drive to Bagdogra in time for your departure flight.

    Altitude
    1,650 m (5,410 ft)
    On foot
    None, 4–5 hr drive
    Night in
    No overnight
    Meals
    Breakfast

What's included

  • Accommodation in the hotels listed above or similar.
  • Breakfast only in Gangtok, and all meals in Lachen and Lachung.
  • All private transfers and sightseeing in a Toyota Innova or Xylo SUV (2 people per vehicle).
  • Monument and site entrance fees.
  • English-speaking local tour guide.
  • Bottled mineral water.
  • All hotel taxes and service charges.

Not included

  • International and domestic flights and trains.
  • Personal expenses such as bar bills, drinks, laundry, telephone calls and shopping.
  • Travel medical insurance.
  • Anything not listed as included.

Reviews

Exceptional5.0 out of 5Reviews from Tripadvisor
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Showing 10 reviews from 901 on Tripadvisor

Good Trekking

September 2014, Tripadvisor

My group of five went on a hiking trip to the Annapurna region recently. We had planned as early as February for this trip, and customised the itinerary our tour Agent. Needless to say, all was well organised and our guide, Pravin Baniya, was very helpful and efficient. The hike took us to a remote part but with breathtaking views of Mt. Machchpuchchre aka. the Fishtail and its range. Many thanks to Mr Rajan of Earthbound Expeditions who has taken special care to make our pioneer trip to Nepal a most wonderful and memorable one!

laemohdRead on Tripadvisor

Wonderful Nepal Experience!

September 2014, Tripadvisor

We recently returned from a fantastic Nepal trip thanks to Earthbound Expeditions! Rajan organised a great tour, perfectly matched to our requirements, all seamlessly executed. Right from the first emails, we were impressed by the prompt and welcoming response to our enquiries and liked the way Rajan worked with us to tailor the itinerary to our needs, making some great suggestions. As novice trekkers, our guide Ratna and our two porters looked after our family extremely well. They were friendly, professional and informative, providing us with a wonderful experience together with the backdrop of such stunning scenery. Our thanks to everyone who assisted us on our trip and made it such a memorable time. We would not hesitate in recommending Earthbound Expeditions and look forward to our next visit to Nepal!

Niki456Hong Kong, ChinaRead on Tripadvisor

Best experience ever

July 2014, Tripadvisor

After we had decided on a trip to Nepal, i contacted Mr. Rajan to understand and arrange the sight seeing options there. He was very helpful and always prompt to reply on emails. He was also very accommodating and gave good advice on the feasibility and enjoyability of the tour. We must have exchanged over 50 emails in the course of one month. He continuously checked up on us while we were in Nepal. It was a wonderful experience. We arranged our entire travel within Nepal from Earthbound expeditions and he gave us the cheapest price and the best service possible. We never had to wait for a car and the drivers were extremely friendly. We were greeted at the Kathmandu airport where a car was waiting to take us to Nagarkot. The next morning another car was avialble to take us to Pokhara. Because of the rules of sightseeing within Pokhara, you are only allowed to use the local transport people. So they have worked out a deal with Pokhara tour agents to arrange day tours for their customers. We did not have to pay separately or tip separately for anything. Everything was arranged and taken care of. We took all the little detours to Mankamana temple and Begnas lake on our way back to Pokhara and our driver never complained. And even when our mountain flight was cancelled, twice, he dutifully took us tot he airport and back and was very cheerful the whole time. It made the whole experience memorable. Highly recommended.

Manyata GBengaluru, IndiaRead on Tripadvisor

Excellent tour

September 2014, Tripadvisor

This was our first time in Nepal and Earthbound made it a great experience, Rajan and our guide Pradeep Tamang, have been excellent in giving us the best experience possible. Pradeep was very welcoming, knowledgeable, funny and made sure that we were comfortable at all times. The facilities we stayed in all exceeded our expectations. Pradeep has been an amazing guide and I would recommend Earthbound Expeditions as well as Pradeep Tamang to anyone visiting Nepal.

538marcAdelaide, AustraliaRead on Tripadvisor

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