Complete Sikkim + Old Silk Route

Overview

Start on the Old Silk Route with Aritar and Zuluk, cross Nathang Valley, Kupup and Baba Mandir to Gangtok, run the full North Sikkim circuit, then drift south through Temi and Ravangla to two nights in Pelling.

• Best for: Slow travellers and photographers, Repeat visitors, Groups with 10+ days
• Nights: 1N Aritar → 1N Zuluk → 2N Gangtok → 1N Lachen → 1N Lachung → 1N Ravangla → 2N Pelling
• Permits: Silk Route PAP (Rongli), North Sikkim PAP, Tsomgo coverage on the loop; no permits in South/West.
• Places: Aritar, Zuluk, Nathang Valley, Kupup Lake, Baba Mandir, Tsomgo Lake, Gangtok, Rumtek, Mangan, Singhik, Chungthang, Lachen, Chopta Valley, Gurudongmar Lake, Lachung, Yumthang Valley, Zero Point, Temi Tea Garden, Ravangla, Namchi, Pelling

Day by day

1. 1

   Day 1 · Saturday if you arrive Saturday

   Bagdogra Airport (IXB) → Aritar (4,900 ft)

   115 km / 4.5 hrs via Rangpo and Rongli. Boating at Lampokhari Lake, Aritar Gumpa and Mankhim viewpoint.

   about 4.75 h on the road max 4,900 ft Aritar Reach Gangtok before 3:00 PM so permits can be filed

2. 2

   Day 2 · Sunday if you arrive Saturday

   Aritar → Rongli (permit) → Lingtam → Padamchen → Zuluk (10,000 ft)

   45 km / 2.5 hrs. Collect the Silk Route permit at Rongli, forest trail at Padamchen, village walk and acclimatisation in Zuluk homestay.

   about 2.5 h on the road max 10,000 ft Zuluk Rongli permit office 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM

3. 3

   Day 3 · Monday if you arrive Saturday

   Zuluk (5:00 AM) → Thambi Viewpoint → Nathang Valley → Kupup Lake → Baba Mandir → Tsomgo Lake → Gangtok

   Sunrise over Kanchenjunga from Thambi (11,200 ft) up the 32 hairpin bends, Nathang Valley, Kupup Elephant Lake, Old Baba Mandir and Tsomgo Lake, then down to Gangtok. 90 km / 5 hrs with stops.

   about 6 h on the road max 13,500 ft Gangtok Depart Zuluk by 5:00 AM for the sunrise

4. 4

   Day 4 · Tuesday if you arrive Saturday

   Gangtok sightseeing + Rumtek Monastery

   Dawn at Tashi Viewpoint, then Ganesh Tok, Hanuman Tok, Enchey Monastery, Do Drul Chorten, Tibetology, the ropeway and Banjhakri Falls; afternoon at Rumtek (24 km).

   about 3 h on the road max 6,500 ft Gangtok

5. 5

   Day 5 · Wednesday if you arrive Saturday

   Gangtok → Mangan → Singhik → Chungthang → Lachen (9,000 ft)

   108 km / 6 hrs. Stops at Singhik viewpoint, Seven Sisters and Naga waterfalls and the Chungthang confluence. Early dinner, sleep by 8:30 PM.

   about 6 h on the road max 9,000 ft Lachen Depart Gangtok by 9:30 AM · Cross Toong checkpost before 4:00 PM

6. 6

   Day 6 · Thursday if you arrive Saturday

   Lachen (4:00 AM) → Thangu → Chopta Valley → Gurudongmar Lake (17,800 ft) → Lachen → Lachung

   Packed breakfast at 4 AM, tea at Thangu, Giagong army post, 30–45 minutes at the lake by 8 AM, Chopta Valley on the way down, lunch in Lachen, then 2 hrs to Lachung.

   about 8.5 h on the road max 17,800 ft Lachung Depart Lachen by 4:00 AM (3:30–4:30 window) · Descend from the lake by 10:30 AM

7. 7

   Day 7 · Friday if you arrive Saturday

   Lachung (7:00 AM) → Yumthang Valley → Zero Point (15,300 ft) → Lachung → Gangtok

   Valley of Flowers and hot spring, then snowfields at Zero Point (cash supplement ₹3,500–₹4,000 per SUV). Lunch in Lachung by 1 PM, 5.5 hrs back to Gangtok.

   about 9 h on the road max 15,300 ft Gangtok Depart Lachung 6:30–7:30 AM · Leave Lachung for Gangtok by 2:00 PM

8. 8

   Day 8 · Saturday if you arrive Saturday

   Gangtok → Temi Tea Garden → Ravangla Buddha Park (7,000 ft)

   Gentle South Sikkim drive: organic tea slopes at Temi, the wheelchair-friendly Buddha Park and Ralang Monastery. Night in Ravangla.

   about 3.5 h on the road max 7,000 ft Ravangla

9. 9

   Day 9 · Sunday if you arrive Saturday

   Ravangla → Namchi Char Dham & Samdruptse → Pelling (7,200 ft)

   Siddhesvara Dham, the Samdruptse statue and the Rock Garden, then on to Upper Pelling for Kanchenjunga at sunset.

   about 4 h on the road max 7,200 ft Pelling

10. 10

    Day 10 · Monday if you arrive Saturday

    Pelling → Bagdogra Airport (IXB) — departure

    135 km / 5 hrs via Jorethang and Melli. Leave after breakfast and keep a 2-hour buffer for afternoon flights or trains.

    about 5 h on the road max 7,200 ft departure Never book a morning flight on the day you leave North Sikkim or the Silk Route

What it costs, per person

Estimates use the 2026 rate card (SUV ₹6,800/day, PAP fees, listed hotel tariffs, meals buffer) and current-season multipliers. Our desk confirms exact rates for your dates.