India · Himalayas
Your destination at a glance
Sikkim offers a compact high-Himalayan circuit reached through Bagdogra Airport or New Jalpaiguri, from where the road climbs through the Teesta valley into a small state of terraced hillsides, prayer flags, monasteries and, on a clear morning, Kanchenjunga standing over everything. Gangtok is the base for most trips, with MG Marg to walk in the evening and day runs out to Tsomgo Lake and Nathula on the old trade route to Tibet. North Sikkim takes you higher still, to Lachung and the alpine floor of the Yumthang valley, while west of the capital Pelling looks straight at the mountain and sits near some of Sikkim's oldest monasteries. It suits couples, families and unhurried travellers, though the roads wind and the altitude asks for a sensible, gradual itinerary.
| Best time to visit | Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov (shoulder: Sep, Dec, Jan, Feb) |
|---|---|
| Suggested duration | 6–8 Days |
| Starting price | ₹13,000 per person — a starting figure, confirmed in your proposal |
| Region | India · Himalayas |
| Trip style | Hill, honeymoon |
Build the days around what matters
A glacial lake in a bowl of bare mountainside on the road east from Gangtok, frozen for part of the winter and rimmed with prayer flags. Visitors walk the short paved path along the shore, take yak rides and drink tea at the stalls. The lake sits inside a permit zone.
A high pass on the old trade route to Tibet, still an operational border post with an Indian Army presence and a viewing point looking across the frontier. The visit is short and very cold, with steps up from the road, and access is by permit on specified days only.
Sikkim's capital spreads over a hillside, and MG Marg is its pedestrian spine, a paved traffic-free street of shops, cafes and benches where the town comes out to walk in the evening. Ropeway rides, monasteries, viewpoints and a flower exhibition centre lie within the city.
A broad, flat-floored valley in North Sikkim ringed by snow peaks, with the river running through it and a hot spring nearby. It is best known for its rhododendron blooms in spring and lies under snow in winter. Reached by a long drive from Lachung, and permits apply.
A hillside town in west Sikkim positioned for direct views of Kanchenjunga at sunrise. Nearby are the old monastery at Pemayangtse, the ruined royal site of Rabdentse, waterfalls and a glass skywalk. It is quieter than Gangtok and works well as a two-night base.
The large Karma Kagyu monastery on a ridge across the valley from Gangtok, with a golden stupa, a prayer hall of murals and thangkas, and a monastic institute alongside. Visitors watch prayers and walk the courtyard and grounds; identity documents are checked at the gate.
A mountain village in North Sikkim set where two rivers meet, used as the overnight base for Yumthang. Houses stack up the valley sides, an old monastery stands above the village, and the day is built around an early start for the valley. Facilities are basic.
A hamlet on the Old Silk Route in east Sikkim, known for the hairpin road that loops up the mountainside below it and for sunrise views towards Kanchenjunga from the ridge above. Stays are homestays, the route runs through a permit zone and the roads can be rough.
A starting point, not a fixed package
Visit Tsomgo Lake, Lachung.
Visit Nathula Pass, Zuluk.
Visit Gangtok (MG Marg).
Visit Yumthang Valley.
Visit Pelling & Kanchenjunga viewpoint.
Visit Rumtek Monastery.
Season by season
Getting there from India
Bagdogra Airport is the principal major gateway. Limited regional services may be available closer to Gangtok, subject to schedule and weather.
New Jalpaiguri is the main railhead, followed by a road transfer through the Teesta valley.
Road is essential within Sikkim. Mountain conditions, permits and controlled routes can affect North Sikkim, Tsomgo and Nathula plans.
Know before you go
The Indian rupee. Gangtok has ATMs and takes cards, but carry cash for North Sikkim, Lachung, Lachen and village homestays where machines are scarce.
Nepali is the common language, with Bhutia, Lepcha and Bengali also heard. Hindi and English are widely spoken and cause no difficulty.
India uses one national time zone, so no clock change is required. Daylight hours vary by season and longitude.
Clear cold winters with snow at altitude, a rhododendron spring, a heavy monsoon from June to September carrying landslide risk, and a bright stable autumn.
Reliable in Gangtok and the larger towns. North Sikkim, Zuluk and the high passes have patchy or no signal, so download maps and bookings beforehand.
Sikkimese comfort food includes momos, thukpa, phagshapa, fermented gundruk and sinki, bamboo shoot, churpi and millet-based tongba. Nepali, Bhutia and Lepcha communities share the state. Buddhist monasteries, prayer flags and Cham dances are central cultural markers, and local vegetables are seasonal and organically farmed.
Entry requirements
Indian citizens can visit general tourist areas with valid photo ID, but protected high-altitude routes such as Tsomgo, Nathula and parts of North Sikkim require permits arranged through authorised channels. Route access remains subject to weather and local controls.
Sikkim Tourism protected-area permit guidance Checked 2026-08-30
Small details, smoother days
A closer look
This photograph could not be loaded. Try another image or close the gallery.
Useful answers
March to May and October to December are generally the strongest periods for Sikkim, with spring flowers or clearer post-monsoon mountain views. June to September is the main monsoon season, when landslides can disrupt roads. Winter is cold, and snowfall can temporarily close high-altitude routes even when lower towns remain accessible.
6 to 8 days is a good first-trip duration for Sikkim. That allows Gangtok plus one major high-altitude or North Sikkim sector while retaining some road and weather margin. Five days can work for a Gangtok-centred itinerary, but trying to combine North Sikkim, eastern high-altitude routes and western areas in that time is usually too compressed.
The Orbitz Holidays master-list starting price for Sikkim is ₹13,000 per person. This is a starting figure rather than a guaranteed final trip total. The final amount can vary with travel dates, hotel category, occupancy, transport and confirmed inclusions. Any unconfirmed taxes, entry charges, activities or airfare should be confirmed before travel.
Several high-altitude Sikkim routes require permits and operate according to weather, road and security conditions. Tsomgo, Nathula and North Sikkim sectors may have different documentation and vehicle procedures. Exact permit eligibility, fees, processing, daily access and route status should be confirmed before travel immediately before confirming the itinerary.
Sikkim suits couples, families and mountain travellers who are comfortable with winding roads and changing altitude. Tsomgo Lake offers a high-altitude lake experience, Nathula Pass adds a frontier-route dimension when access is permitted, and Yumthang Valley brings a different North Sikkim landscape. Together they show the state’s strong geographic variety.
The published starting price is ₹13,000 per person. Exact hotel category, meals, transfers, sightseeing, permits, taxes and transport are included only when stated in the final proposal. Confirm the itemised inclusions before payment.
Start a conversation
Share the essentials. An Orbitz Holidays travel planner can follow up with suitable options.
Keep exploring India
