Can foreigners travel the Silk Route to Zuluk?
Generally no. The Silk Route above Rongli, including Zuluk, Gnathang and Kupup, has been open to Indian nationals only, on a permit, because it runs close to the China border. Rules have been discussed and changed in the past, so check current status before you travel. Foreign travellers can visit Aritar and Rongli on the standard Sikkim permit.
How do I get the Silk Route permit?
Through a registered operator, your driver or your Zuluk homestay, who apply for the Rongli subdivision permit with your photo ID, photocopies and passport photos, usually a day or two ahead. You need confirmed homestay bookings. The permit lists your vehicle and dates and is checked at army and police posts on the road. Check current status before you travel.
Why sleep at Padamchen before Zuluk?
To climb slowly. Going from Gangtok at 1,650 m to Zuluk at about 2,900 m and then to Kupup near 4,000 m within two days gives many people headaches and bad nights. A night at Padamchen, lower down, and two at Zuluk let your body adjust, so the high day at Kupup is a pleasure rather than a struggle.
What are Silk Route homestays like?
Simple and warm in spirit, cold in fact. Expect a plain room in a family house with thick quilts, a shared or attached bathroom and hot water by the bucket. Dinner and breakfast are included, usually rice, dal, a vegetable, eggs or chicken, and noodles in the morning, for about ₹1,200–2,000 per person.
When is the best time for the Silk Route?
October and November give the clearest views of Kanchenjunga from Thambi View Point and Lungthung. April and May bring rhododendrons and milder nights. December to March brings snow, which looks wonderful but can close the road above Zuluk for days. June to September is the monsoon, with fog, leeches and landslides: we would not go then.
Is altitude a problem at Gnathang and Kupup?
It can be. Kupup is close to 4,000 m and Gnathang only a little lower, and sleeping at Gnathang is the hardest night of this trip. Walk slowly, drink plenty of water, skip alcohol and eat well. Headache that does not ease, vomiting or confusion means you should go down at once. People with heart or lung problems should ask a doctor first.
Can I combine the Silk Route with Tsomgo and Nathu La?
Some tours run from Kupup down past Baba Mandir to Tsomgo and Gangtok, but that crossing depends on the permits issued and army rules, and is not always allowed. It is simpler to do Tsomgo and Nathu La from Gangtok as a separate day before or after. Ask your operator and check current status before you travel.
How much does a Silk Route trip cost?
This six-night trip costs about ₹24,500 per person, four sharing the SUV, indicative for 2025–26. The SUV is the biggest cost at about ₹5,000–7,000 a day for the vehicle. Homestays cost ₹1,200–2,000 per person with dinner and breakfast. Two people alone in the car pay roughly ₹8,000 more each.
What should I pack for Zuluk and Gnathang?
A down jacket, thermal layers, a warm hat, gloves and woollen socks, even in May; nights are below freezing for much of the year. Add sunglasses, sunscreen, lip balm, a headtorch, basic medicines including something for headaches, cash for the whole trip, and enough ID copies and photos for every checkpoint.
