North Sikkim: Lachung & Lachen · Value trip

Gurudongmar with a gentler climb

For people who want Gurudongmar but not the 3 am shock on the first morning. A shared jeep to Singhik for a Kanchenjunga sunrise, a car to Lachen with an afternoon to settle, then the lake at dawn with Chopta Valley on the way back. About ₹13,000 per person for a group of four. Check current status before you travel.

Fare₹13,000 Nights3 Per day₹3,250 Highest5,183m PaceBalanced

Photo: Amitabha Gupta · CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Singhik · 1N→Lachen · 2N

The usual Gurudongmar tour drives you 6–8 hours from Gangtok to Lachen and wakes you at 3 am to climb another 2,400 m. This trip softens both. Night one is at Singhik, at about 1,560 m, reached cheaply by shared jeep, with a Kanchenjunga sunrise as a bonus. Your reserved car picks you up there and reaches Lachen by early afternoon, so you have time to rest and walk before the lake.

On the lake day you add Chopta Valley on the way back and return to Lachen to sleep, rather than driving on to Lachung. The trip skips Lachung and Yumthang, which keeps the price and the hours in the car down. It is priced for four people sharing a car, such as two couples or a group of friends. Check current status before you travel.

Why this trip

Kanchenjunga and Siniolchu at sunrise from Singhik
An unhurried afternoon at Lachen Monastery
Gurudongmar Lake at dawn
Chopta Valley's meadows or winter ice
A second night in Lachen instead of a long drive

Day by day

Gangtok (Vajra stand) to Gangtok · Mixed

Day01

Gangtok to Singhik by shared jeep

Singhik≈ 70 km · 3 h by shared jeep and taxiDinner

Take a shared jeep from Gangtok's Vajra stand to Mangan, about ₹200–300 and 2.5–3 hours, passing Kabi Lungchok and Phodong. Your agent should have your North Sikkim permit ready for the next day; confirm by phone. From Mangan take a taxi 4 km up to Singhik and check in. Walk the Lepcha village in the afternoon and ask about Kongchen Konglo, the Lepcha name for Kanchenjunga. Sleep early for the sunrise.

Spend today: ₹250 jeep + ₹300 taxi + ₹150 lunch

Day02

Sunrise, then up to Lachen

Lachen≈ 60 km · 3–4 h by reserved carBreakfast, Dinner

Be at the viewpoint 20 minutes before sunrise. After breakfast, your reserved car arrives from Gangtok or Mangan with permits. Drive to Chungthang, stop at the confluence where the Teesta begins, and continue up the Lachen Chu to Lachen at about 2,750 m by early afternoon. Walk slowly up to Lachen Monastery, built in 1858, and look down over the village. Drink 3–4 litres of water today, eat well and skip alcohol.

Spend today: ₹250 lunch + ₹100 donation

Day03

Gurudongmar at dawn and Chopta Valley

Lachen≈ 140 km return · 8–9 hBreakfast, Dinner

Leave at 3–4 am. Tea at Thangu, then across the plateau as the sky lightens to reach Gurudongmar around 7 am. Spend 20–40 minutes at the sacred lake, walking slowly. On the way back, detour to Chopta Valley for half an hour of meadows or, in winter, frozen river; your permit must include it. Return to Lachen by early afternoon, eat, and sleep in the afternoon. No long drive today, which is the point of this trip.

Spend today: ₹200 tea at Thangu + ₹200 coat rental

Day04

Lachen to Gangtok

Gangtok (not included)≈ 129 km · 6–8 h by reserved carBreakfast

A normal breakfast at a normal hour. Drive down the Lachen valley to Chungthang, then south along the Teesta past Singhik and Mangan, with a lunch stop on the way. If there is time, stop at Phodong Monastery or the Seven Sisters waterfall. Reach Gangtok in the late afternoon or evening. Keep onward travel for the next day; road works around Chungthang can add hours.

Spend today: ₹250 lunch + ₹200 driver tip share

Included

Reserved car with driver and North Sikkim permit for days 2–4
One night in Singhik and two in Lachen, with dinner and breakfast
Gurudongmar and Chopta Valley visits (subject to permits and roads)

Not included

Shared jeep and taxi on day 1 (paid locally)
Transport between NJP/Bagdogra and Gangtok
Lunches and snacks
Driver tips

Three ways to spend less

Fill the car with four people; with two, the per-person price rises by about ₹5,500.
Take the shared jeep to Singhik instead of starting the car from Gangtok on day 1.
Use family homestays in Lachen rather than the few larger hotels.

Good to know

Arrange the car pickup at Singhik and the permit dates with the Gangtok agent before you leave.
Foreign nationals cannot join this trip; Gurudongmar is closed to them.
Children under five and anyone with heart or lung disease should skip the lake.
Since 2023 the Lachen road has had long closures; check current status before you travel.

The route

Where the trip goes

Drawn by Darjeeling Himalayas from Natural Earth outlines (public domain). Borders as depicted by India. Not for navigation.

Where you sleep

Stays on this trip

government lodgeSinghik Singhik Tourist Lodge ₹1,500–3,000 a room (indicative)

Questions people ask

Questions about this trip

Why start at Singhik instead of going straight to Lachen?

It splits a 6–8 hour drive into two easy days and lets your body rise in steps: about 1,560 m at Singhik, 2,750 m at Lachen, then the lake. You also get a Kanchenjunga sunrise. The shared jeep to Singhik is cheap, which offsets the extra night.

Can a Gangtok agent pick me up from Singhik?

Yes, most registered agents can arrange for your reserved car and permit to meet you in Singhik or Mangan. Agree the time and place in writing, keep the driver's number, and confirm the evening before. A small extra charge may apply.

How much does this trip cost for two people?

With two people sharing the car instead of four, the car cost per person roughly doubles, bringing the total to about ₹18,500–19,000 per person. Joining another couple through the agent, or travelling as friends, makes the trip much cheaper.

Is Gurudongmar safer with this itinerary?

Safer, not safe. Sleeping at Singhik, arriving at Lachen early and returning there after the lake all reduce strain compared with the standard tour. You still climb to about 5,180 m quickly. Watch for symptoms and turn back if anyone is seriously unwell.

Why skip Lachung and Yumthang?

To keep the trip shorter and calmer. Lachung and Yumthang are in the other valley and add at least one night. If you want both valleys, choose our 5-night private circuit, which includes two nights in Lachen and two in Lachung.

Is Chopta Valley always included?

Only if your permit covers it and the road is open. Some agents include Chopta on the Gurudongmar day, others charge extra or cannot add it. Confirm in writing when you book, and accept that snow or army instructions may cancel it on the day.

When is the best time for this trip?

April to May and October to November. In April and May the lake is thawing and days are milder; in October and November the water is deep blue and skies clear. January and February are very cold, with frequent snow closures. Avoid June to August.

What should we wear for Gurudongmar?

Thermal inners, a fleece, a windproof down jacket, warm trousers, a woollen cap, gloves, warm socks and boots, sunglasses and sunscreen. Rent long coats in Lachen if needed. The wind at the lake is below freezing even in May.

What if someone gets altitude sickness?

Go down at once; descent is the treatment. The driver will turn back from the plateau, and Lachen is about 2,400 m lower than the lake. Army medical posts can help in emergencies. Carry basic medicines and ask your doctor about acetazolamide before the trip.

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