Seven days is the length most visitors choose for Sikkim, and it is enough for Gangtok plus one other region. This guide comes from NE Taxi, a taxi and tour operator based in Gangtok since 2013. It covers how the days divide, what the permits require, when to go and what the car costs.
Choose one region besides Gangtok
Sikkim is small on the map, but the roads are slow. A drive of 100 km can take four or five hours, so a week allows one long loop and not two. Gangtok and Tsomgo Lake are the base of almost every trip. The seven days then go to one of three choices.
ā¢ North Sikkim. A night in Lachung, Yumthang Valley the next morning and, when the road is open, Zero Point. This is the route for snow in winter and rhododendrons in spring.
ā¢ Pelling and West Sikkim. Views of Kanchenjunga, Pemayangtse Monastery and Khecheopalri Lake. Pelling is about 117 km from Gangtok.
ā¢ Darjeeling. A common add-on at the end of the trip, since the town lies on the way back to Bagdogra and NJP.
A trip that covers both North Sikkim and Pelling is better planned over eight or nine days. Squeezing both into seven leaves two long driving days with little time at either place.
A sample seven-day plan with North Sikkim
1. Day 1. Arrive at Bagdogra Airport or NJP station and drive to Gangtok, about 125 km and 4 to 5 hours.
2. Day 2. Tsomgo Lake and Baba Mandir. Nathula is open to Indian nationals only, Wednesday to Sunday, so plan this day around those days.
3. Day 3. Gangtok sightseeing: monasteries, Tashi viewpoint, MG Marg and the ropeway.
4. Day 4. Drive to Lachung for the night.
5. Day 5. Yumthang Valley in the morning, then return to Gangtok.
6. Day 6. A free day in Gangtok, or a buffer in case the North Sikkim road is closed.
7. Day 7. Drive back to Bagdogra or NJP for your onward journey.
This is a sample, not a fixed itinerary. The days can be reordered to fit your flight or train, and the NE Taxi 7-day Sikkim tour packages list the combinations that are currently available, each with its price.
Permits
Indian visitors need no permit to enter Sikkim or to visit Gangtok, Pelling, Namchi and Ravangla. Tsomgo Lake, Nathula, Zuluk and North Sikkim need a protected area permit. Foreign nationals need a Restricted Area Permit. An operator can arrange these when you book, and the Sikkim permits guide explains the documents required.
When to go
|
Months |
What to expect |
|
March to May |
Clear mornings and rhododendrons in North Sikkim. The busiest season, so book early. |
|
June to September |
Monsoon. Rain and landslides slow the roads, and North Sikkim or Nathula can close at short notice. |
|
October to early December |
The clearest views of Kanchenjunga and the most reliable roads. |
|
Mid-December to February |
Cold, with snow at Tsomgo Lake and in North Sikkim. Upper roads can close after snowfall. |
For North Sikkim in particular, the month-by-month guide to North Sikkim goes into the road conditions in more detail.
Getting there and what it costs
Most visitors fly to Bagdogra Airport (IXB) or take a train to New Jalpaiguri (NJP). Both are about 125 km from Gangtok, and the drive takes 4 to 5 hours. At the time of writing, a one-way transfer from Bagdogra to Gangtok costs Rs 4,000 for a hatchback or sedan and Rs 5,500 for an SUV, before 5% GST. Current fares are on the Bagdogra to Gangtok taxi page and change by season.
A seven-day trip with a private car and driver started at Rs 26,500 per car when this was written. The price is per car and not per person, so a group of four pays the same as a couple. It covers the car, fuel and the driver's food and stay, but not hotels, meals or entry fees. North Sikkim trips run in SUVs, which are priced higher than a hatchback or sedan.
Questions visitors ask
Is seven days enough for Sikkim? Yes, for Gangtok, Tsomgo Lake and one more region. Covering North Sikkim and Pelling together takes eight or nine days.
Does the seven days include the drive from the airport? It should. The first and last days each include about 4 to 5 hours on the road between Gangtok and Bagdogra or NJP, so check this when you compare itineraries.
Can I book hotels separately? Yes. Many travellers book their own rooms and take the car and driver only. Operators can also quote hotels at a stated budget.
The full list of trips, with prices and sample itineraries, is on the Sikkim tour packages page. For West Sikkim, see the Pelling and West Sikkim packages, and for the mountain route, the North Sikkim tour packages.
Written by Rewaj Chettri, founder of NE Taxi, Gangtok.