7 Night - 8 Days Sikkim Tour with Yumthang Valley & Gurudongmar Lake

The state of Sikkim seems like it is peacefully placed away in the northeastern part of India. It is one of the most beautiful states in India and rightfully so, with its peaceful surroundings, lush green forests and acres of clean and green landscapes and to top it off, the surreal Himalayan ranges cradling the state. The views are breathtaking and quite serene to say the least.

This 7 nights and 8 days journey of Sikkim starts from the state capital of Sikkim, which is Gangtok. The city is quite beautiful with modern amenities along with the feel of an old himalayan town in the lap of natural beauty and grandeur. Gangtok lies in the eastern Himalayan Range at an elevation of 5,410 fts. You can go for a stroll at M.G. Road which is a clean open air-mall where there are good hangout spots, places to shop and eat your heart out with many shops, cafes and restaurants located there.

Changu/Tsomgo Lake is a glacial lake in the East Sikkim district around 40kms from the capital Gangtok. It is one of the highest glacial lakes in the world with a height of almost 3,753 mts. This lake remains frozen for almost throughout the year. You can enjoy a Yak ride while here and there is also a Shiva Temple which is located here which is considered sacred by the locals. You can also try out a local cable car ride here which will offer you a panoramic view of the lake and surroundings from a vantage point.

“Nathula pass” is a mountain pass which lies in the Eastern side of Sikkim surrounded by the mighty Himalayas. In Tibetan language, Nathu means “listening ears” and la means “pass”. It is located at an altitude of 14,140 feet above sea level which makes it one of the highest mountain passes in the world which is accessible to humans. The view is quite majestic as you would expect from a high mountain pass and the place is away from the hustle and bustle of the touristic places which makes it one of a kind experience. 

Lachen is a town in Northern parts of Sikkim which is at an elevation of 2,750mts. The name Lachen means “big pass”. The town is the base point for Gurudongmar Lake and Chopta Valley. Lachen is characterized by rough terrains and hills, acres of lush green forests and wildflowers that can be seen everywhere. Lachen Chu is a mountain stream which flows by the town of Lachen which makes up for a beautiful view. For trek lovers, there are two treks here that you can go for, namely the Green Lake trek and the Chopta Valley trek.

Lachung is a sleepy town and hill station located at an altitude of 9,600fts. Unlike Lachen, the word Lachung means, “small pass”. Joseph Dalton Hooker in his book, the “Himalayan Journal” described it as the “most picturesque village of Sikkim”. Lachung is less colder than Lachen and it is famous for some of the best Tibetan food in Sikkim. While in Lachung, you can visit Lachung Monastery which has ancient sculptures, wall murals and much more. You can also buy rugs, shawls and carpets made by the locals.

Yumthang Valley or Sikkim Valley of flowers sanctuary is surrounded by Himalayas located in the North Sikkim district located at an altitude of 11,693 fts. The river Teesta flows here and the valley has many hot springs and yaks. The best time to visit Yumthang valley is from Feb to June when there is flowering season and you can expect full bloom of flowers everywhere. In winters September to December is an ideal time to experience frozen lakes and snow capped peaks.

 On towards Pelling, which is a small town which is located in the westerns parts of Sikkim. Views of the Himalayan ranges and mighty Khangchendzonga are visible from here. Some of the places to visit in Pelling are Khangchendzonga waterfalls, which is quite mystic and serene. One of the famous waterfalls of Pelling is the Rimbi waterfall, which is located around 12kms from Pelling. This waterfall forms over the Rimbi river and you can go for various recreational activities like fishing and swimming.

These locations are all a part of making this Sikkim trip one of the best and memorable experiences of traveling in India.