Try "Sandakphu", "toy train", "homestay", "Gangtok in April"
Route · North Sikkim
Gangtok to Lachen is about 129 km via Mangan and Chungthang, 6–8 hours, and only possible on a permit tour with a registered operator. It is the first leg of the Gurudongmar trip. The Chungthang–Lachen road has had long closures since 2023; check current status before you travel.
| From | To | How | Time | Fare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GANGTOK | LACHEN | Shared permit tour | 6–8 h | ₹6,000–8,000 PP |
| GANGTOK | LACHEN | Reserved vehicle | 6–7 h | ₹18,000–28,000 A |
From our route pages. Fares change with fuel prices, season and demand: check current status before you travel.
Most visitors buy a seat on the classic 3-day loop: Lachen on night 1, Gurudongmar at dawn, Lachung on night 2, Yumthang and back. Rooms and simple meals included. Book a day ahead with ID copies and photos.
A whole vehicle with driver and permit. Ask for a 4-day version with two nights in Lachen, which makes Gurudongmar safer. Add a night at Singhik on the way to split the drive.
Local tip: Sleep early in Lachen; the Gurudongmar vehicles leave at 3–4 am the next morning.
Questions people ask
About 129 km by road, via Kabi, Phodong, Mangan and Chungthang. The drive takes about 6–8 hours, longer if there are road works or diversions on the Chungthang–Lachen section. Check current status before you travel.
It opens and closes. Since the October 2023 Teesta flood, the stretch between Chungthang and Lachen has had the longest and most frequent closures in North Sikkim, especially after monsoon landslides. Ask your agent and the Mangan district administration for the latest.
Rules have varied. Foreign nationals need a Protected Area Permit through a registered agent, in a group of two or more, and have not been allowed to Gurudongmar. Access to Lachen itself has changed over time; ask the agent and check current status before you travel.
If you can, yes. A night at Singhik or Mangan splits the long drive and gives a gentler step up in altitude. Arrange with your agent for the tour vehicle to collect you the next morning. It costs a little more but makes the trip easier.
Plan with a local
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.