About This Tour
Overview
This 11-night Himalayan odyssey pairs the high-altitude lakes and valleys of North Sikkim with the tea-garden panoramas of Darjeeling and the quiet charm of Kalimpong. Arrive at Bagdogra/NJP and drive to Gangtok (1,750 m), Sikkim's monastery-ringed capital, for a full-day excursion to Changu Lake at 12,400 ft and the shrine of New Baba Mandir. Venture north to Lachen and rise before dawn for the spectacular Gurudongma Lake and Chopta Valley excursion, before descending to the apple-country village of Lachung and its Yumthang Valley of Flowers — summer grazing ground of the yaks. Return to Gangtok, then cross to the western side of Sikkim for two nights in Pelling, where Mt. Kanchenjunga dominates the skyline and the day-tour takes in the holy Khechipalri Lake, Rimbi Falls, the glass Skywalk, Darap Village and Rabtense Ruins. Continue to Darjeeling, the 2,134 m 'Queen of the Hills', for a pre-dawn Tiger Hill sunrise over Kanchenjunga and Everest, the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute and Zoological Park, and the Japanese Peace Pagoda. End with a relaxed afternoon in Kalimpong — Durpin Hill, Mangal Dham and celebrated flower nurseries — before the final drive to Bagdogra/NJP.
Duration
11 Nights / 12 Days
Tour Type
North Sikkim · Hill Stations · Private
Region
Sikkim & West Bengal Himalaya
Highest Points
Gurudongma 17,800 ft · Changu 12,400 ft
Key Attractions
Yumthang · Kanchenjunga · Tiger Hill
Languages
Hindi, Nepali, Tibetan, English
Top Experiences
Highlights
Changu Lake & Baba Mandir
A full-day excursion to the sacred snow-fed lake at 12,400 ft, whose waters lamas once read for omens — plus the memorial shrine of New Baba Mandir on the same high ridge
Gurudongma & Chopta Valley
Dawn excursion from Lachen to the dazzling Gurudongma Lake at 17,800 ft and the flower-strewn meadows of Chopta Valley — North Sikkim at its wildest and most beautiful
Yumthang Valley of Flowers
A riot of rhododendrons and primulas in the valley that is the yaks' summer grazing ground — a burst of colour against the snow peaks of the Lachung range
Pelling's Kanchenjunga Stage
Two nights facing the world's third-highest peak — holy Khechipalri Lake, Rimbi Falls, the glass Skywalk, Darap Village's painted homes and the Rabtense Ruins
Tiger Hill Sunrise
Pre-dawn drive to watch the horizon catch fire over Kanchenjunga, Everest and the entire Himalayan arc — the most famous sunrise viewpoint in the Indian Himalaya
Darjeeling & Kalimpong
Tenzing Norgay's mountaineering legacy, the Tibetan Refugee Centre, the Japanese Peace Pagoda — then Kalimpong's Durpin Hill, Mangal Dham and famous flower nurseries
Visual Journey
Himalaya at a Glance
What's Covered
Includes / Excludes
✓ Included
- Accommodation on twin-sharing at hotels as per package — luxury, premium, super deluxe, deluxe or standard
- Meals as per the chosen meal plan (CP / MAP — dinner plan on MAP in Lachen & Lachung for luxury & premium)
- Private transport by Wagon R / Innova / AC Innova as per group size, throughout the tour
- All parking charges, road taxes and toll taxes
- Assistance on arrival at Bagdogra Airport / NJP Railway Station
- All sightseeing, excursions and transfers as per the detailed itinerary
✕ Excluded
- Any airfare / train fare to and from Bagdogra / NJP
- Expenses of a personal nature — medical, phone calls, laundry, beverages, etc.
- Entry fees at monuments, parks and monasteries; guide services; Skywalk ticket (direct payment)
- Permit fees for North Sikkim — Changu Lake, Gurudongma, Yumthang (arranged on request)
- Government service tax (5%) as applicable
- Dinner supplement on CP plans; anything not mentioned under 'Included'
Day by Day
Itinerary
Day01
Bagdogra / NJP → Gangtok
125 km · 4 hrs · Drive through the Teesta valley
Arrival · Overnight Gangtok
- Meeting & assistance on arrival at Bagdogra Airport / NJP Railway Station
- Drive to Gangtok — approximately 125 kms / 4 hours through the emerald Teesta valley
- Gangtok — at 1,750 m, Sikkim's capital since the mid-19th century, ringed by monasteries and orchids
- Check in and overnight at the hotel
Day02
Changu Lake & New Baba Mandir
35 km · 12,400 ft · Full-day excursion
Excursion · Overnight Gangtok
- Full-day excursion to Changu (Tsomgo) Lake — 35 kms from Gangtok at an altitude of 12,400 feet
- The lake draws its waters from the melting snows of the surrounding mountains; legend says lamas once forecast the future by studying the colour of its waters
- Also visit the New Baba Mandir memorial shrine on the same high ridge
- Return to Gangtok and overnight at the hotel
Day03
Gangtok → Lachen
120 km · 5 hrs · North Sikkim gateway
Drive · Overnight Lachen
- Breakfast and drive from Gangtok to Lachen — approximately 120 kms / 5 hours
- En route pass villages and waterfalls of the North Sikkim highway
- Lachen is the last major settlement before the high-altitude lakes and the gateway to Gurudongma
- Check in and overnight at the hotel
Day04
Gurudongma Lake & Chopta Valley → Lachung
60 km · 2 hrs · Dawn excursion
Excursion · Overnight Lachung
- Early morning excursion from Lachen to Gurudongma Lake — one of the highest lakes in the world, sacred to Buddhists and Sikhs alike
- Continue to the flower-strewn meadows of Chopta Valley
- Later drive from Lachen to Lachung — approximately 60 kms / 2 hours
- Check in and overnight at the hotel in Lachung
Day05
Yumthang Valley of Flowers
Excursion & return · Valley of flowers
Excursion · Overnight Lachung
- Breakfast and excursion to Yumthang Valley & back — the famous valley of flowers
- Flora and fauna flourish here: rhododendrons, primulas and alpine blossoms in abundance
- Yumthang is the summer grazing ground of the yaks against a backdrop of snow peaks
- Return to Lachung and overnight at the hotel
Day06
Lachung → Gangtok
Return to the capital
Drive · Overnight Gangtok
- Breakfast at the hotel and drive back to Gangtok
- Arrive Gangtok by late evening
- Check in and overnight at the hotel
Day07
Gangtok Sightseeing → Pelling
127 km · 5 hrs · West Sikkim
Sightseeing & Drive · Overnight Pelling
- Morning sightseeing in Gangtok — Flower Show, Handicraft Centre, Institute of Tibetology and the Do Drul Chorten
- Afternoon drive from Gangtok to Pelling — approximately 127 kms / 5 hours
- Pelling — a serene mountain village in West Sikkim at about 2,000 m, commanding spectacular views of Mt. Kanchenjunga
- Check in and overnight at the hotel
Day08
Pelling Full-Day Tour
Khechipalri · Rimbi · Skywalk · Darap
Sightseeing · Overnight Pelling
- Full-day city tour of Pelling visiting Khechipalri Lake — the holy wish-fulfilling lake — and Rimbi Falls
- The glass Skywalk (ticket on direct payment) with its breathtaking views over the valleys
- Darap Village, the Orange Garden and the ancient Rabtense Ruins
- Return to the hotel and overnight
Day09
Pelling → Darjeeling
75 km · 3 hrs · The Queen of the Hills
Drive · Overnight Darjeeling
- Breakfast and drive to Darjeeling — approximately 75 kms / 3 hours
- Darjeeling — 'Dorje Ling', the place of the Thunderbolt, at 2,134 m — the 'Queen of the Hills' ringed by world-famous tea gardens
- Check in and overnight at the hotel
Day10
Tiger Hill Sunrise & Darjeeling City Tour
Kanchenjunga · HMI · Peace Pagoda
Sunrise & Sightseeing · Overnight Darjeeling
- Early morning visit to Tiger Hill (subject to availability of permit) to see the sunrise over the Himalayan range — Kanchenjunga, Mount Everest and more
- The horizon changes colour just before sunrise and the entire Himalayan range turns golden
- City tour: Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (closed Thursday), Zoological Park (closed Thursday), Tibetan Refugee Centre (closed Sunday), Tenzing Rock, Gombu Rock, Tea Estate (from outside)
- The Japanese Temple and Peace Pagoda on the slopes of Jalapahar
- Return to the hotel and overnight
Day11
Darjeeling → Kalimpong
60 km · 2 hrs · Hill resort town
Drive & Sightseeing · Overnight Kalimpong
- Breakfast and drive to Kalimpong — approximately 60 kms / 2 hours
- Kalimpong — at 1,250 m, a quiet hill resort famous for its orchids and gladioli
- Afternoon city tour: Mangal Dham, Durpin Hill and the celebrated flower nurseries
- Check in and overnight at the hotel
Day12
Kalimpong → Bagdogra / NJP
80 km · 3 hrs · Departure
Departure · End of Services
- Breakfast at the hotel and drive to Bagdogra / NJP — approximately 80 kms / 3 hours
- Arrive in time for your flight or train to the onward destination
- End of services — thank you for travelling with Vedanta Holidays.
Where You'll Stay
Hotels
Gangtok
4★ mountain resort — 2 nights
Lachen
3★ alpine lodge — 1 night
Lachung
3★ riverside lodge — 2 nights
Gangtok
4★ mountain resort — 1 night
Pelling
4★ Kanchenjunga-view resort — 2 nights
Darjeeling
4★ heritage hotel — 2 nights
Kalimpong
3★ garden resort — 1 night
Hotels are not fixed — we will arrange and confirm stays according to your trip and budget, across luxury, premium, super deluxe, deluxe or standard categories.
Contact us for details
Good to Know
FAQ
What is the best time for this North Sikkim tour?
March to June and September to November offer the clearest skies and the best views of Kanchenjunga, Gurudongma Lake and the Yumthang flowers. Winter (Dec–Feb) brings heavy snow to the high passes, while July–August is the monsoon season in Sikkim.
Are permits required for North Sikkim?
Yes — protected-area permits are needed for Changu Lake, Gurudongma Lake, Chopta Valley, Yumthang Valley and the whole North Sikkim circuit, including a special permit for the high-altitude lakes. We arrange these on your behalf with copies of your ID documents; a small permit fee is payable locally.
How high do we go, and is the altitude a concern?
The highest point is Gurudongma Lake at about 17,800 ft, reached as a day excursion from Lachen (with acclimatisation from lower nights in Gangtok and Lachen). Changu Lake is at 12,400 ft. The itinerary is paced with the high-altitude days in the middle, and our drivers carry oxygen for safety. Inform us of any medical conditions in advance.
What are the optional activities on this tour?
Popular add-ons include the Darjeeling toy-train ride to Ghoom, a ride on the Skywalk at Pelling, the ropeway over the Teesta valley, photography tours in Darap Village, and a yak ride or hot-spring dip near Yumthang. These are payable locally and arranged on request.
What should we pack for the high-altitude days?
Layer up — thermals, a warm fleece, a windproof jacket and gloves for the lake excursions, plus sunscreen and sunglasses (the glare off snow is intense). Comfortable walking shoes, personal medication, and a valid photo ID with address proof are essential for the permits.
Can we extend the tour or combine it with other destinations?
Absolutely — this route combines naturally with Zuluk / Nathang on the old Silk Route, Namchi and Ravangla in South Sikkim, or a beach extension in the Andamans. Tell us your extra nights and we will tailor the itinerary and quote accordingly.
Full Route
Tour Map