Sikkim
Monasteries, high lakes and the third-highest mountain on earth. 10 places, grouped into circuits you can combine in one trip.
Gangtok & East Sikkim
Plan this circuitGangtok, Tsomgo Lake, Nathu La and the Zuluk Silk Route.
Gangtok
Sikkim's tidy hill capital — MG Marg, Rumtek monastery and Kanchenjunga on clear mornings.
Tsomgo Lake & Nathu La
A glacial lake at 3,750 m and the old Silk Route pass on the China border, a day trip from Gangtok.
Zuluk & the Silk Route
The zigzag Old Silk Route road through Zuluk, Thambi viewpoint and Kupup lake.
North Sikkim
Plan this circuitLachung, Yumthang and Gurudongmar Lake. Permits through a registered agent.
Gurudongmar Lake
One of the highest lakes in the world, sacred to Buddhists and Sikhs, on the Tibetan plateau edge.
Lachung & Yumthang Valley
A wooden village under sheer cliffs and a valley of rhododendrons and hot springs, with Zero Point beyond.
West Sikkim
Plan this circuitPelling, Yuksom and the Dzongri and Goechala treks.
Dzongri
A shorter trek from Yuksom to the Dzongri meadow and its sunrise over Kanchenjunga and Pandim.
Goechala
The classic trek to a viewpoint at the foot of Kanchenjunga, through rhododendron forest and Dzongri.
Pelling
A ridge town facing Kanchenjunga, with Pemayangtse monastery, Rabdentse ruins and a glass skywalk.
Yuksom
Sikkim's first capital — a quiet village of prayer flags, Dubdi monastery and the Khecheopalri lake nearby.
South Sikkim
Plan this circuitRavangla's Buddha Park and the tea-garden south.
Before you go
Sikkim: good to know
Getting in
Fly to Bagdogra or take a train to New Jalpaiguri (NJP), then drive four to five hours to Gangtok. Pakyong airport has a few flights that are often cancelled.
Permits and paperwork
Indian visitors need no permit for Gangtok, Pelling, Ravangla or Namchi. Tsomgo Lake, Nathu La, Zuluk and all of North Sikkim need a Protected Area Permit, arranged a day ahead through a registered travel agent. Aadhaar is often not accepted for these; carry a voter ID, passport or driving licence, and passport photos. Foreign nationals need a permit to enter Sikkim at all, and cannot go to Nathu La or Gurudongmar. Treks in Khangchendzonga National Park need a park permit and a guide.
Permit rules change. Treat this as a starting point and confirm before you travel.
Worth knowing
North Sikkim's roads have been cut by floods and landslides repeatedly since 2023. Only locally registered vehicles may go to the protected areas.
What to eat
- Momos and thukpa
- At their best here.
- Phagshapa
- Pork cooked with radish and dried chillies.
- Gundruk soup
- A sour soup of fermented greens.
- Sel roti
- A ring of fried rice bread.
- Tongba
- Warm millet beer sipped through a bamboo straw.
Festivals and seasons
- LosarFebruary
- The Tibetan new year.
- Saga DawaMay or June
- Processions carrying scriptures through Gangtok.
- Pang LhabsolAugust or September
- Masked dances honouring Kanchenjunga.
- LosoongDecember
- The Sikkimese new year, with dances at Rumtek and Phodong.
- Rhododendron seasonApril and May
- Yumthang and the forests above Yuksom are in flower.
Many of these follow the lunar calendar, so the dates move each year.
Sikkim: questions people ask
What are the best places to visit in Sikkim?
This guide covers 10 places in Sikkim, grouped into 4 circuits: Gangtok & East Sikkim, North Sikkim, West Sikkim and South Sikkim. Each page says who the place suits and who it does not.
What is the best time to visit Sikkim?
March to May and October and November are the best time for most places in Sikkim. Seasons differ by altitude, so check each place.
Which places in Sikkim are easy for families and first-timers?
Gangtok, Lachung & Yumthang Valley, Pelling, Ravangla, Tsomgo Lake & Nathu La and Yuksom are rated easy and good with children.
Where can you see snow in Sikkim?
Snow is likely for part of the year at Goechala, Gurudongmar Lake, Tsomgo Lake & Nathu La, Dzongri, Lachung & Yumthang Valley and Zuluk & the Silk Route. Each page lists the snow months.
Which are the main treks in Sikkim?
Dzongri and Goechala.
What is the highest place in Sikkim in this guide?
Gurudongmar Lake, at 5,430 m.
Do you need a permit to visit Sikkim?
Indian visitors need no permit for Gangtok, Pelling, Ravangla or Namchi. Tsomgo Lake, Nathu La, Zuluk and all of North Sikkim need a Protected Area Permit, arranged a day ahead through a registered travel agent. Aadhaar is often not accepted for these; carry a voter ID, passport or driving licence, and passport photos. Foreign nationals need a permit to enter Sikkim at all, and cannot go to Nathu La or Gurudongmar. Treks in Khangchendzonga National Park need a park permit and a guide.
How do you get to Sikkim?
Fly to Bagdogra or take a train to New Jalpaiguri (NJP), then drive four to five hours to Gangtok. Pakyong airport has a few flights that are often cancelled.
What food should you try in Sikkim?
Momos and thukpa: at their best here; Phagshapa: pork cooked with radish and dried chillies; Gundruk soup: a sour soup of fermented greens; Sel roti: a ring of fried rice bread; Tongba: warm millet beer sipped through a bamboo straw.
What are the main festivals in Sikkim?
Losar (february), Saga Dawa (may or june), Pang Lhabsol (august or september), Losoong (december), Rhododendron season (april and may).