State of Sikkim Travel Forum

Is Gangtok really worth it?

I am mostly interested in nature and scenery, and since I am not an Indian citizen, cannot travel to Tsoka Lake and the pass. I am traveling from Darjeelnig to Sikkim for 4 days in early January, so I was thinking about visitng Pelling and Yuksom and possibly trekking for a day or two around there.

Any suggestions?

Can folks who have trekked in West Sikkim please provide more details for short treks, as details are very limited in guidebooks and online, specifically related to the following treks:

1. Yuksom - Tsokha - Dzongri and onwards
2. Maenam Hill
3. Tendong Hill
4. Monastary loop/Tashiding
5. Singalila range

It would be very helpful to all if people who have done these treks provide information about them in this thread, so that this info is available to all in the same place. Please post your experiences below.

I plan to visit W Sikkim in early January for only 4 nights, and was hoping to do a couple one day treks or a 2-3 day trek.
-Is it worth it to trek only from Yukson - Tsoka and back in two days? What about Yukson - Dzongri and back in 3 days?
-Is there any way to avoid going to Gangtok to get a permit if you want to do a Yuksom trek?
-How do Maenam Hill and Tendong Hill compare to the Yuksom - Tsokha or Yuksom - Tsokha-Dzongri treks?
-There is plenty of discussion about the treks with the best mountain veiws, but what about other nature? How do the treks #1-5 above compare in regards to local scenery and wildlife?
-For people who are interested in real trekking, is there any point in doing the Monastary loop trail, or is this just a casual walk? How is the scenery here compared to other nearby treks?

can anyone inform me how i reach direct to pelling from shiliguri by jeep,car, bus services and what is the cost of transport?

Can anyone give me some information on getting to njp siliguri to Pelling? How long does it take and what is the best mode of transportation? Thanks

I am planning a 3 day trip to peling with my wife.
Can you please tell me how to reach from shiliguri to pelling by car services and what is the car fare?

Hi,

I plan to vist Sikkim on the first week of November. I plan to arrive at NJP on 6th of November 2009 from kolkata
Number of persons - 9 adults - 1 peson above 60 years and one kid.
I plan to visit - Gangtok, Yungthang valley and Pelling

I would request you to plan a itenary package for me from pickup and drop at NJP on 14th of November.
The hotels and itenary.

Look forward to your response.

Hi all

We are planning to visit sikkim on 22nd May09. We will be there upto 30th. We are 3 couples.
Please help me in following querries:
1. Can I book a Vehicle at New Jaipaigudi for all sikkim tour and which will drop us back at New jaipaigudi on 30th? Please note that we want to go to North Sikkim also.
2. What are the rents for a vehicle in sikkim?
3. What are rents for hotels there for double bed rooms? We dont need STAR hotel but a comfertable rooms.
4. How will be whether in sikkim?
5. What things we must carry with us?

I have planned tour like below. Suggetions will be appricated:

20/05/09 Kolkata to NJP
21/05/09 NJP to Gangtok
22/05/09 gangtok (trip to tsomogo lake)and nathula pass
23/05/09 gangtok - lachen
24/05/09 lachen - gurudongmar - lachung excursion
25/05/09 lachung - zeropoint - lachung - gangtok
26/05/09 gangtok to pelling
27/05/09 pelling
28/05/09 Pelling to NJP
29/05/09
30/05/09 in Night NJP to Kolkata
31/05/09 Kolkata Local site seeing or rest
01/06/09 Flight to mumbai

Thanks
Neel

Hi,

anyone who has done the gochela trek and give suggestion on the same.we are planning for last week of april to first week on may...heard it will be a good time to go.ny comments or suggestions

Is there any way to get from Tibet to Sikkim by land?

Yes I saw a similar que posted previously but that was in 2005. Hopefully things have changed for the better nowadays?

Thanks for feedback.

Bao

I will go to Gangtok with my family on 2nd January. My question is that how cold will be the weather in Gangtok in the month of January? I have 3 years old daughter, she will also be with us, my question is that what extra precaution should I take for her during the journey. May I go to yumthang and changu lake in the month of January? Is visibility is good in the month of January so that I can see mountains? If anyone has answer or any experience please revert back answering my questions.

we are visiting sikkim in moth od december-2nd week, will we be able to find snow near changu lake/pelling/darjelling/kalimpong

Hi,
I with my other family members will be in Kolkata on 17th Nov 2008 and will be back from Kolkata to my home town on 22nd Nov 2008. So during this brief gap 5 or 6 days, we want make a sojourn in Ganktok for visiting special, enjoyable and important tourist spot. Please guide me to make my tour plan.
Arup

Hi,
I am planning to go for honeymoon to Sikkim in early December. I will reach Siliguri on 1st December noon and my return ticket from Siliguri is on 6th December afternoon. Generally I am a nature lover. Please suggest me a tour plan for these days keeping the time and weather in mind. Also please let me know whether I can include Darjeeling in this time period or not.

I am a Bangladeshi citizen, I want to travel in Sikkim.
How to get permit for travel there?

Hi All,
I am planning trekk in Sikkim starting 27th Sept 2008.. Looking for some energetic, experienced and enthusiastic team members to join me on this adventure trip. Expected expense per person would be around Rs.25000/- (Approx 625 USD)(Including airfare to & fro BLR-CAL-BLR which is almost half of the expense). Might be 10-15% here and there depending on the group.

It will be famous trek of Yuksom To Dzongri may be we will add Goecha La not sure, with expected mixed group of people say around 8 guys & gals , I have around 4 nominations already by now by looking for 4-5 more group members. Thought of sharing with you all. End to end it would take 2 week in all. We would need to arrange , tent, sleeping bags, food, utensils to cook, porters, cook, guide, etc. I am working to arrange and book. I starting booking for the trip once I have number group members final with me. I have attached the draft plan let me know if you need more details and you are interested, let me know. Something more i would like to share about last year Sept.I have done trek in North East. It is known as Singalila Trek. You can find details on my blog
pics on http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/rajsriv99/NorthEastTrekSep2007
This trek was also very interesting for me, as did the same trek route exactly 10 years back, when I was in Calcutta. Now the team members were different, itinerary and other logistic were changed but the beauty of nature and trek remained the same. I found these jungles and mountains standing there, untouched and unspoiled. Preserved in the lap of nature. Apart from when you find, annoying non bio degradable plastic wrapper of Chewing gums, toffees and empty plastics packs of chips and plastic bottles, left here and there by careless trekkers. Anyway it was nice to trek through mountains and jungles with magnificent close view of Kanchenjunga snow peaks range and glimpses of Mt. Everest from some part of it. Write me if you need more details. Then in 2006 I had gone to Leh that was also amazing trip , you will find details on my blog http://rajsriv.blogspot.com also you can have look at the pics at http://picasaweb.google.com/rajsriv99/TrekInLahulSpitiToLehJul06
let me know if you need more details.

Regards
Raj / Bangalore/ India /rajsriv@yahoo.com

Hi All,

I am planning trekking in Sikkim starting 27th Sept 2008. It will be famous trek of Yuksom To Dzongri may be we will add Goecha La not sure, with expected group of around 8 people. End to end it would take 2 week in all. We would need to arrange , tent, sleeping bags, food, utencils to cook, porters, cook, guide, etc. I am working to arrange and book. I starting booking for the trip once I have number group members final with me. I have plane with me let me know if you need details and you are interestd on rajsriv@yahoo.com. Something more i would like to share below about last year Sept.I have done trek in North East. It is known as Singalila Trek. You can find pics on following share http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/rajsriv99/NorthEastTrekSep2007

Hi All,

I am planning trekking in Sikkim starting 27th Sept 2008. It will be famous trek of Yuksom To Dzongri may be we will add Goecha La not sure, with expected group of around 8 people. End to end it would take 2 week in all. We would need to arrange , tent, sleeping bags, food, utencils to cook, porters, cook, guide, etc. I am working to arrange and book. I starting booking for the trip once I have number group members final with me. I have plane with me let me know if you need details and you are interestd on rajsriv@yahoo.com. Something more i would like to share below about last year Sept.I have done trek in North East. It is known as Singalila Trek.

You can find pics on http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/rajsriv99/NorthEastTrekSep2007
This trek was also very interesting for me, as did the same trek route exactly 10 years back, when I was in Calcutta. Now the group was changed, itinerary and other logistic were changed but the beauty of nature and trek remained the same. I found these jungles and mountains standing there, untouched and unspoiled. Preserved in the lap of nature. Apart from when you find, annoying non bio degradable plastic wrapper of Chewing gums, toffees and empty plastics packs of chips and plastic bottles, left here and there by careless trekkers. Anyway it was nice to trek through mountains and jungles with magnificent close view of Kanchenjunga snow peaks range and glimpses of Mt. Everest from some part of it. Write me if you need more details.

Then in 2006 I had gone to Leh that was also amazing trip let me know if you need more details.

Regards
Raj/Bangalore/India rajsriv@yahoo.com

Hi,

We are four people will be visiting north sikkim would like to know if there are anyother people willing to join us dates are either 16-18 th or 17-19 th oct.Exclusive trip will cost 15000 for 3d/2 n package we need two or three people to join us .Total can be 6-7 people this will give us freedom of time and destination.

Hi could you suggest places in north sikkim i'll be able to cover i'll reach gangtok on 25 th will stay overnight ,
26 th to changu and back or if there is a better place i can visit in north
27 th
28 th
29 th back to gangtok will take last taxi to darjeeling.
i want to visit north however i have no idea about the places i can visit or the route to take....can anyone help.

Can anyone give me some information on getting to Gangtok or Pelling from Darjeeling? How long does it take and what is the best mode of transportation? Thanks.

Please let me know how far is Peling from NJP and how long the journey to peling takes from NJP? Also let me know what are the different site seeing places in and around peling and also about reasonable shopping malls around peling.

Waiting for replies.

Anjan Chatterjee

We are thinking about visiting Sikkim in mid-April. What would be expected temp and rain vs sunny weather during this time in the three zones?
Would the spring flowers be blooming at this time? Which are the easily accessible valleys from Gangtok? Are there short easy treks? How is the bird watching at this time?
Thanks for any feedback.

Hello,
I am planning to visit gangtok in the month of feb (20th feb-26th feb). I would like to have some information about gangtok and would be greatful with the replies.
1. Can I rent a scooter in gangtok and visit places?
2. How good is local sightseeing as arranged by the hotel guys and does anybody have any idea about the cost involved like cost of a taxi for a day?

Hi,
I am planning a 3 day trip to peling with my wife.
Can you please tell me whether I need to book hotels
in advance at that time ? Also, will the weather be
too cold to tolerate? Can I visit chomgo lake
and Nathu-la then? How far would it be from peling ?
Please help. Also please suggest a budget hotel at
Peling (within Rs 1000)

Might someone who's been to Darjeeling and Sikkim assess this itinerary for whether it represents something manageable/realistic? Thanks!

Tuesday 2/13, p.m., depart New York for Delhi

Wednesday 2/14, arrive Delhi Int'l Arpt 9:15 p.m.; stay overnight at Ashok Country Resort, which will provide airport transfers from intl and then to domestic in the morning)

Thursday, 2/15, 10:00 a.m. JetAirways flight to Bagdogra airport, North Bengal, arrive 12:15 p.m.; helicopter to Gangtok, weather permitting (30 minutes) OR Jeep (4 hrs).

In around Gangtok (3 nts): local sightseeing to include some or all of the following: main market; Institute of Cottage Industries; Namgyal Institute of Tibetology; Enchey Monsatery; Flower Show Complex; Do-Drul Chorten; Damovar Ropeway/Cable Car; *** Friday, 2/16 - to Rumtek Monastery and Dharma Chakra Center via jeep on 2/16 for Guthor Chaam masked dances (1/2 day?)spend rest of day local sightseeing in Gangtok

Saturday, 2/17, Tsomgo Lake and Nathu La pass (at suggestion of another poster, ask yak owner to let us ride up the ridge, rather than around the lake)

Sunday, 2/18, early a.m., Jeep to Pelling (approx 4 hours)

Sunday, 2/18 and Monday, 2/19 Pelling, Pemayangtse Monastery; Khecheopalri Lake; Khangchendzonga Falls (by jeep? order of visits?)

Tuesday, 2/20, early a.m., send bags ahead to Yuksom and take day trek there, passing through Lepchas village (need to get more details on how to work this out locally); Tuesday night, stay in Yuksom

Wednesday, 2/21: leave Yukson for Darjeeling by jeep; (stay at Windmere?); local sightseeing in Darjeeling 2/21 and 2/22 (Observatory Hill, Yoga Choeling monastery; local bazaars; Tibetan Refugee Center; Ghoom; toy train)

Thursday, 2/22, rise early for jeep to Tiger Hill to see sunrise; spend rest of day sightseeing in/around Darjeeling

Friday, 2/23, leave Darjeeling for Jaldhapara Wildlife Sanctuary; spend Friday night at one of sanctuary lodges.

Saturday, 2/24, depart by jeep for New Jaipalguri.

Saturday night 2/24: overnight train New Jaipalguri to Kolkata

Sunday, 2/25, 6:00 a.m., arrive Kolkata, check into hotel; rest and local sightseeing

Monday, 2/26, picked up at hotel by representative from Sahay organization for 60-mile trip to see child I sponsor.

Tuesday, 2/27, local sightseeing in Kolkata; depart late p.m. via JetAirways for Delhi.

Tuesday night, 2/27: overnight near airport again at Ashok Country resort

Wednesday afternoon, 2/28, depart Delhi for New York.

Thanks for any suggestions you can offer, including what to cut or add.

greetings!

sorry in advance this is so long...the more i learn, the more questions i have! the more i know, the less i know!

i will be travelling to darjeeling, sikkim and (briefly) kolkata during the last 2 weeks of february 2007. i planned my trip around the tibetan new year (losar), so as to observe the festivities and masked dances (chaams) in sikkim. based on what i've read, the rumtek monastery is the largest and a great place to watch the dances. a few questions about planning my trip:

1) there seems to be conflicting info about exactly when the festivities begin and end. i've read everything from two days before through 8 days after losar (february 18). i plan to arrive in the gangtok area (if not IN gangtok) by february 16 and can stay as long afterwards as warranted by what there is to see an do. does anyone know anything more about the exact schedule of observance at the monasteries and elsewhere?

2) i read humdrum and downright icky things about gangtok. where is the best place to "base" myself for 4 or 5 days in sikkim? can i stay in or near gangtok and make day trips to pelling, tsomgo lake, or other nice destinations for DAY treks? or must i plan to pack and unpack at more than one place. seems like such a small area, i'm hoping jeeps can ably get me anywhere in the state...or is that an absurd notion?

3) what are you suggestions for best DAY treks (i will be alone OR with my sister; probably alone.) is it possible to hire a local guide to take me out for a day trek or two? suggestions in that regard? i wish to avoid group-oriented agencies and prefer word-of-mouth arrangements with local residents.

4) when planning my time between sikkim and darjeeling, which might be a good split of nights, assuming 8 nights in all? how about if i had only 7?

5) current plan is:

2/14, evening, arrive delhi; stay overnight near airport

2/15, domestic flight to bagdogra; jeep or helicoptor to gangtok, OR to siliguri for next-day "toy train" ride to darjeeling; if pre-losar festivities begin 2/16 in sikkim, proceed directly to sikkim on 2/15.

2/15-2/?? sikkim: where? what? can i stay in one place and make day trips?

2/ ??-2/??: if have gone directly to sikkim(gangtok?), spend a few days in darjeeling (fewer or more than sikkim???)

if didn't ride toy train up to darjeeling, take it back down to NJP.

2/24 or 2/25: overnight "mail express" train to kolkata; 2 days (??) in kolkata

2/27, as late as possible: domestic flight to delhi; stay near airport for morning flight out of delhi to home.

6) of the national parks in northern west bengal and sikkim, which are most compelling?

7) i read somewhere about a yak trek around a lake...ring a bell with anyone? cheesy tourist thing or fun adventure? where is it? (can't find my original source)

8) any other random thoughts or suggestions for such an adventure? weather expectations and extent of temperature vriances between kolkata and sikkim? packing list suggestions?

thanks, first of all, for reading all this!
and thanks still more if you can help me out with any of my bajillion questions.



-------------------------
~leap, and the net will appear~

As I will be spending 3 -4 weeks in Sikkim ( and Darjeeling) from early December , I would appreciate any suggestions on great places to stay and things I should definitely do and see. Thanks.

I am travelling from Kolkata to Sikkim early December to spend 3-4 weeks. How cold does it get at this time of year (ie: what type of clothing is necessary) and would I get to see enough of the state in this time frame?

Hi,
I like to know about the following tour with budget hotel name, price & also mode of trandportation and costs. Please also suggest the places of interest and associated costs.
Shiliguri-Darjeeling - Gangtok - Lachung Valley-Yamthang Valley-Kalimpong-Phuntsoling.

Thank you.

Hi ,
I am planning to take a road trip to Sikkim from Mumbai in Feb 07 & would like to know if this is Safe ? Pls also suggest places to see in Sikkim.

As of now we are just two guys & we are looking for interested & like minded travelers to join us from Mumbai.

Thanks... Santosh