North Sikkim is two valleys, not one, and the first question every guest asks is which to choose. The answer depends on what you want to see, how many nights you have, and how well you handle altitude.
Lachung: for the Yumthang valley
Lachung, at about 9,000 ft, is the base for the Yumthang valley — meadows, hot springs and, from April to June, a valley full of rhododendrons — and for Zero Point, the snowfields at about 15,300 ft where the road ends. It is the more popular of the two and the better choice if you have only two nights.
Lachen: for Gurudongmar Lake
Lachen, at about 9,000 ft, is the base for Gurudongmar Lake at about 17,800 ft, reached by a drive that leaves at around 4 am. The lake is sacred, enormous and one of the highest in the world. It is open to Indian nationals only and is not advisable for infants or anyone with a heart or lung condition.
Both, in three nights
With three nights you can do both: Gangtok to Lachen; Gurudongmar at dawn and across to Lachung the same day; Yumthang the next morning; and back to Gangtok. It is a full programme, but it is the best of the north.
Our advice on altitude
- Always sleep a night at Lachung or Lachen before going higher.
- Do Tsomgo Lake from Gangtok first if you can; it is a gentle rehearsal.
- Keep the visit to Gurudongmar or Zero Point short, and come down if a headache or breathlessness persists.
- Ask your doctor before the trip if you have a heart or lung condition, are pregnant, or are travelling with an infant.
What can go wrong
Landslides on the Teesta road, snow above Yumthang, or a closure for military movement can all change a plan on the day. We build in a spare day where we can, and when a road closes we reroute — for example by swapping the order of Lachen and Lachung — and tell you straight away.
