Gangtok & East Sikkim · way to travel

Long weekends in Gangtok

Short trips that start and end at NJP or Bagdogra: Darjeeling and Ghoom, Kalimpong and Lava, Mirik and the tea gardens, Gangtok and Tsomgo, or a Dooars forest weekend.

Trips

Shoestring Gangtok2 nights · Shared jeeps A Gangtok long weekend on a budget Gangtok ₹5,000per person
about ₹1,650 a day

Value Gangtok3 nights · Reserved car Tsomgo Lake and Nathu La from Gangtok Gangtok ₹12,000per person
about ₹3,000 a day

Places

village1,400 m Aritar A boot-shaped lake, a Rai hilltop shrine and quiet homestays

town1,650 m Gangtokगान्तोक A royal hilltop capital since 1894, built for walking

town1,400 m Pakyong Sikkim's airport town, where flights come and go irregularly

river town330 m Rangpo The border town where NH10 crosses into Sikkim on the Teesta

monastery town1,500 m Rumtekरुमटेक The Karmapa's seat in exile, across the valley from Gangtok

lake3,753 m Tsomgo Lake A sacred glacial lake at 3,753 m, an hour and a half above Gangtok

Things to do

Viewpoints · 1–1.5 hoursA morning walk around LampokhariAritar · Small entry fee · boat ₹100–200

Culture and history · 2 hoursSunrise from Mankhim above the lakeAritar · Free · donation at the shrine welcome

Monasteries · 2–3 hoursAritar Gumpa and a village farm walkAritar · Free · donation welcome

Adventure · One night plus a 1-hour drive to RongliAritar as the first night of the Silk RouteAritar · Homestay ₹1,500–2,200 pp · car hire ext…

Food · 2–3 hoursAn evening on MG Marg and Lal BazaarGangtok · Free · food ₹200–400

Monasteries · 1–1.5 hoursMorning prayers at Enchey MonasteryGangtok · Free · donation welcome

Culture and history · 2–2.5 hoursDo-drul Chorten and the Tibetology museumGangtok · Chorten free · museum small fee

Viewpoints · 2–3 hoursKanchenjunga at dawn from Hanuman TokGangtok · Free · taxi ₹800–1,500

Viewpoints · 30–45 minutesWatching the ridge-top runway at PakyongPakyong · Free

Tell us your dates. We send the real cost

Where you want to go, how many of you, and roughly what you want to spend a day. A planner who lives in these hills replies within one working day with a route and every rupee written down.

No payment to start

Shared jeep or private car, your choice

Homestays we have slept in

Change anything, any time before you book