Do I need a permit for North Sikkim?

Yes. North Sikkim is a protected area and Indian nationals need a Protected Area Permit, which must be applied for through a registered Sikkim tour operator rather than by the traveller. Foreign nationals face tighter restrictions and are generally not permitted at Gurudongmar Lake or Zero Point.

How many days do I need for North Sikkim?

Two nights is the practical minimum, one in Lachung for Yumthang and one in Lachen for Gurudongmar. With Gangtok at both ends it becomes a comfortable 5-6 day trip. Doing it in a single night means long drives and a real risk of altitude sickness.

What are the hotels in Lachung and Lachen like?

Simple mountain guesthouses with clean rooms, thick blankets and home-cooked food. Electricity can be intermittent, mobile network is patchy to nonexistent, and there are no ATMs, so carry cash from Gangtok.

North Sikkim Tour Package – Lachung, Lachen & Gurudongmar

Q: Is Gurudongmar Lake safe for children and elderly travellers?

Gurudongmar sits at roughly 17,800 ft where altitude sickness is common. It is generally not advised for very young children, pregnant travellers, or anyone with heart, lung or blood-pressure conditions, and a doctor should be consulted first. Healthy older travellers often manage it by ascending gradually and keeping the visit short.

Q: When should I book North Sikkim for the October to November season?

As early as possible. Lachung and Lachen have very limited rooms and permits are issued against confirmed stays, so the season sells out from the accommodation side first. For Puja-week and November travel, booking in August or September gets the better properties.

North Sikkim — The Part of Sikkim People Actually Come For

Gangtok is the base. North Sikkim is the reward. Beyond Chungthang the road climbs into a landscape that looks nothing like the rest of the state — the hot springs and rhododendron slopes of Yumthang Valley, the snow bowl at Zero Point, and Gurudongmar Lake at roughly 17,800 ft, one of the highest lakes on earth, frozen at its edges for much of the year.

It is also the most logistically demanding trip in Sikkim. The region needs a Protected Area Permit that only a registered Sikkim operator can file, a vehicle and driver used to the Lachen–Gurudongmar road, and stays booked ahead in villages with a handful of guesthouses. AU Cloud Tours Pvt. Ltd. operates from Siliguri and runs this circuit through the season.

🏔️ Gurudongmar Lake

~17,800 ft. A pre-dawn start from Lachen, and one of the most surreal sights in India.

🌸 Yumthang Valley

The Valley of Flowers — rhododendrons in spring, gold and rust in autumn.

📄 Permits Handled

Protected Area Permits filed by us — you just send ID copies and photos.

How the Trip Actually Runs

Day 1 — Gangtok to Lachung

A 6–7 hour mountain drive past Seven Sisters Falls and the Teesta gorge. Overnight at ~8,600 ft.

Day 2 — Yumthang & Zero Point

Early run up the valley to the hot springs, then Zero Point (~15,300 ft) when the road is open.

Day 3 — Lachen & Gurudongmar

A 4–5 am departure for the lake, back down for breakfast, then on towards Gangtok.

Vehicles & Stays

Shared or private mountain vehicle, and the better guesthouses in Lachung and Lachen — expect simple, warm and clean rather than luxurious.

Popular North Sikkim Itineraries

North Sikkim • Lachung • Yumthang • Zero Point

The core North Sikkim run, with Gangtok at either end.

Complete Sikkim 6N/7D

North Sikkim plus Gangtok, Pelling and the west — the full state in one trip.

Gangtok 3N/4D

Short on time? Base in Gangtok and add North Sikkim as a two-night extension.

Coming from Kolkata?

Overnight train to NJP or a flight to Bagdogra, then straight into the hills.

Best Time to Visit North Sikkim

October to early December gives the clearest skies of the year — sharp mountain views, dry roads and the best odds of reaching Gurudongmar. March to May is the other window, when Yumthang's rhododendrons bloom. Through the monsoon (late June to mid-September) landslides frequently shut the Chungthang road, and North Sikkim is best avoided. Winter is spectacular but heavy snow can close Zero Point and Gurudongmar for days.

Note: the road to Gurudongmar and Zero Point can be closed at short notice by snow, landslides or army restrictions. No operator can guarantee access on a given day — we always plan a buffer and offer an alternative route where possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. North Sikkim is a protected area, and Indian nationals need a Protected Area Permit that must be applied for through a registered Sikkim tour operator — you cannot obtain it yourself. Send us ID proof and passport photos and we file it. Foreign nationals face tighter restrictions and are generally not permitted at Gurudongmar Lake or Zero Point.

Two nights is the practical minimum — one in Lachung for Yumthang, one in Lachen for Gurudongmar. Adding Gangtok at both ends makes it a comfortable 5–6 day trip. Attempting it in a single night means long drives and a real risk of altitude sickness.

Gurudongmar sits at roughly 17,800 ft, where oxygen is thin and altitude sickness is common. It is generally not advised for very young children, pregnant travellers, or anyone with heart, lung or blood-pressure conditions — please consult your doctor first. Healthy older travellers often do it fine by ascending gradually, staying hydrated and keeping the visit short.

Simple mountain guesthouses — clean rooms, hot water by bucket at times, thick blankets and home-cooked food. Electricity can be intermittent and mobile network is patchy to nonexistent. There are no ATMs, so carry cash from Gangtok.

As early as you can. Lachung and Lachen have very limited rooms, and permits are issued against confirmed stays, so the season sells out from the accommodation side first. For Puja-week and November travel, August and September bookings get the better properties.

Autumn is the clearest season up north

Share your dates and group size — we'll send a North Sikkim plan with permits and stays sorted.

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North Sikkim Tour Package