Our home state
Sikkim, planned by people who live here
Gangtok and the Tsomgo road, the high valleys of Lachung and Lachen, the monasteries of the west and the quiet tea slopes of the south — all planned from our office in Namchi.
Sikkim is small on a map and large on the ground. It runs from the subtropical Teesta valley at a few hundred metres to lakes above 17,000 ft, all inside a state you could drive across in a day if the roads let you — and the roads are the whole story. A trip here is planned around which valley is open, which permit takes a day to issue, and how much climbing a body can do between breakfast and dinner.
That is why a local operator matters more in Sikkim than in most places. Silk Route Tours & Travels is registered with the Sikkim Tourism & Civil Aviation Department and run from Lower Ghurpisey in Namchi, South Sikkim. The people who plan your days drive these roads, know which homestay keeps its promises, and can tell you on the morning itself whether the road to Yumthang is worth the attempt.
Registered with Sikkim Tourism Reg. No. 77/DoT&CAv/S/20/TA
What to see
Places worth your time
- 01
Gangtok
The capital and the base for most trips: M.G. Marg, the ropeway, Rumtek and Enchey monasteries, and the day out to Tsomgo Lake.
- 02
North Sikkim
Lachung and Lachen, the Yumthang valley, Zero Point and Gurudongmar Lake — the high country, reached by permit.
- 03
West Sikkim
Pelling, Pemayangtse Monastery, the Rabdentse ruins, Khecheopalri Lake and Yuksom, the old capital.
- 04
South Sikkim
Our home district: Namchi, Ravangla, Temi Tea Garden and the great statues of Samdruptse and Buddha Park.
- 05
East Sikkim & the Old Silk Route
Zuluk’s hairpin road, Thambi viewpoint and the Nathang valley on the old trade route to Tibet.
When to go
Seasons
March – May
Spring
Rhododendrons in the west and north, warm days in Gangtok and the year’s busiest time. Book the north early.
June – September
Monsoon
Heavy rain and landslides on the Teesta road. Trips are possible but planned with slack days; the north often closes.
October – December
Autumn & early winter
The clearest air of the year and the best of the Kanchenjunga views. Cold at altitude, crisp in Gangtok.
January – February
Winter
Snow at Tsomgo, Lachung and Zuluk. Beautiful and quiet, but high roads can shut for days at a time.
Getting there
By train to New Jalpaiguri (NJP) in Siliguri, or by air to Bagdogra (IXB), then about five hours by road to Gangtok on NH10 along the Teesta.
Pakyong airport, about an hour from Gangtok, has flights only intermittently; we will tell you whether it is operating for your dates.
Every one of our trips includes the pick-up from NJP or Bagdogra, so you never have to bargain for a taxi on arrival.
Permits & documents
Indian nationals do not need a permit to enter Sikkim, but do need protected-area permits for North Sikkim (Lachung, Yumthang, Lachen, Gurudongmar), Tsomgo Lake, Nathu La and the Zuluk circuit. We apply for them on your behalf.
Foreign nationals need an Inner Line Permit to enter Sikkim, and some areas — including Nathu La and Gurudongmar — are closed to foreigners altogether.
From our office in Namchi
Local tips
- Do Tsomgo before the north: one day at 12,400 ft is a gentle rehearsal for Yumthang and Gurudongmar.
- Carry the original photo ID you gave for your permit, plus spare passport photographs. Checkposts check.
- Keep one flexible day in a trip that includes the north. The weather sets the schedule up there, not the plan.
Travel guide
Read before you go
Travel guide
Sikkim permits explained
Which parts of Sikkim need a permit, who issues it, what ID to carry and which areas are closed to foreigners, from a Sikkim-registered tour operator.
Travel guide
Best time to visit Sikkim
When to visit Sikkim, Darjeeling and North Sikkim, month by month: spring flowers, monsoon closures, autumn views and winter snow, from a local tour operator.
Travel guide
How to reach Sikkim
How to get to Gangtok and Sikkim: by train to New Jalpaiguri (NJP), by air to Bagdogra or Pakyong, and by road on NH10, with honest drive times.
Questions
Sikkim: frequently asked
How many days do I need for Sikkim?
Four nights covers Gangtok with Tsomgo Lake. Six to seven nights adds the north at Lachung or Lachen. Eight or nine lets you see Gangtok, the north and Pelling without spending the trip in a vehicle.
Is Silk Route Tours & Travels registered with Sikkim Tourism?
Yes. We are registered as a travel agent and tour operator with the Tourism & Civil Aviation Department, Government of Sikkim, under the Sikkim Registration of Tourist Trade Rules, 2008. Our registration number is 77/DoT&CAv/S/20/TA.
Can foreigners visit Sikkim?
Yes, with an Inner Line Permit, which can be obtained at entry points and online. Some protected areas are open to foreign nationals only in groups through a registered operator, and a few are closed to them entirely.
Talk to a local
Tell us where you want to go
Send your dates and the number of travellers. We reply with a written, day-by-day itinerary and an itemised quote — and it costs nothing to ask.
- +91 80162 57040
- WhatsApp the office
- Lower Ghurpisey, Namchi, South Sikkim 737126, India
Registered with Sikkim Tourism Reg. No. 77/DoT&CAv/S/20/TA