Sikkim Tour Packages

Tsomgo (Changu) Lake and Baba Mandir

A glacial lake at 3,753 metres, 38 km from Gangtok on the Nathu La highway, frozen in winter and ringed by primula in spring. Yak rides on the shore, hot maggi in the stalls, and the Baba Harbhajan Singh Mandir a little further along — a shrine to a soldier whose spirit, the army says, still guards the border. A protected-area permit is mandatory and issued a day ahead.

Nathu La Pass

At 4,310 metres on the Indo-China border, this was the main trade route to Tibet until 1962 and reopened for limited trade in 2006. Indian nationals only, four days a week, with a separate permit. On clear days you can see the Chumbi Valley winding into Tibet, and Chinese sentries a few metres beyond the wire.

Gurudongmar Lake and North Sikkim

At 17,800 ft, one of the highest lakes in the world, sacred to Buddhists, Sikhs and Hindus, and never fully frozen in one corner. Reached from Lachen after a pre-dawn start. The parallel route from Lachung leads to Yumthang, the Valley of Flowers, and Zero Point at 15,300 ft.

Pelling and West Sikkim

Pelling at 2,150 m gives arguably the closest road-accessible view of Kanchenjunga, with the ruined Rabdentse palace, the 17th-century Pemayangtse Monastery, Khecheopalri wishing lake and the Sky Walk at Chenrezig. Yuksom, 34 km on, is where Sikkim's first Chogyal was crowned in 1642 and where the Goecha La trek begins.

Namchi and South Sikkim

The 135-ft Guru Padmasambhava statue at Samdruptse, the Char Dham complex at Solophok, Namchi's rock garden and the tea estate at Temi — South Sikkim is gentler country and works well for families and older travellers.

Gangtok

MG Marg's pedestrian promenade, Rumtek Monastery seat of the Karmapa, Enchey Monastery, the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, Ban Jhakri falls and the Tashi viewpoint for dawn over Kanchenjunga.