Try "Sandakphu", "toy train", "homestay", "Gangtok in April"
Route · North Sikkim
Lachung to Yumthang Valley is about 24 km and an hour each way through the Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary, with Zero Point a further 23 km. It is part of every Lachung tour, leaving at about 6 am. Check current status before you travel in winter.
| From | To | How | Time | Fare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LACHUNG | YUMTHANG VAL | Tour vehicle (shared) | 1 h each way | INCLUDED IN LACH |
| LACHUNG | YUMTHANG VAL | Reserved vehicle | 1 h each way | INCLUDED IN A ₹1 |
| LACHUNG | YUMTHANG VAL | Zero Point extension | +1–1.5 h each way | ₹3,000–4,500 A V |
From our route pages. Fares change with fuel prices, season and demand: check current status before you travel.
Your shared tour vehicle leaves Lachung around 6 am, reaches Yumthang about 7 am, stops at the valley floor and hot spring, and returns for breakfast or continues to Zero Point if everyone has paid the add-on.
With your own vehicle you can stop for rhododendrons, birds and photos on the way, linger at the hot spring and decide on Zero Point on the day.
From Yumthang the road climbs about 23 km to Zero Point at roughly 4,700 m. Indian citizens only. Agree the price and refund terms the evening before.
Local tip: Rent boots and coats in Lachung the evening before and leave by 6 am for clear views.
Questions people ask
About 24 km, roughly an hour each way by tour vehicle. Zero Point is about 23 km beyond Yumthang. Most tours do Yumthang, and optionally Zero Point, on the morning after arriving in Lachung.
It is not a usual or practical option for visitors; the road distance is about 24 km with a climb of nearly 900 m, permit checks apply, and there is no accommodation in Yumthang. Visitors go by tour vehicle.
It can close after heavy snow, mainly between December and March. Tours resume when the road is cleared. In good winters the drive is possible through much of the season. Ask your agent and check current status before you travel.
Fir and rhododendron forest of the Shingba sanctuary, flowering from late April to May, the Lachung Chu, waterfalls in season, and the valley opening out into meadows with a hot spring. October and November mornings are the clearest.
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.