Kanchenjunga lit pink at dawn above the Sikkim ridges

India · Planned on request

SikkimPlanned on request.

A small Himalayan state of alpine lakes, monasteries and permit-controlled border valleys.

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India · Planned on request

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Why people go

Sikkim's capital Gangtok is the base for most visits, with no permit required for Indian citizens to enter the state or visit towns like Gangtok, Namchi and Pelling. But several of its most scenic spots — Tsomgo (Changu) Lake, Nathula Pass, and the whole of North Sikkim beyond Chungthang (Lachen, Lachung, Yumthang Valley, Gurudongmar Lake) — lie in Protected Areas requiring a Protected Area Permit (PAP), arranged through a registered travel agency.

Nathula Pass, on the old Silk Route trade path to Tibet, is open only to Indian nationals, closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, and requires a same-day permit. Foreign nationals cannot visit Nathula, Gurudongmar Lake or Zuluk at all, and need their own Restricted Area Permit for the rest of Sikkim.

North Sikkim trips to Lachung and Yumthang Valley typically run as a 3–5 day, 2–4 night circuit, with permits arranged as part of a package.

General entry (Indian citizens): No permit needed for Gangtok, Namchi, Ravangla, Pelling↗
Nathula Pass access: Indian nationals only; closed Mondays and Tuesdays; permit ~₹200, valid one day↗
North Sikkim permit (PAP): Required for Lachen/Lachung/Yumthang/Gurudongmar; typically issued for 3–5 days↗
Foreign nationals: Need a Restricted Area Permit (RAP) for Sikkim plus a separate PAP for allowed protected areas; barred from Nathula, Gurudongmar and Zuluk↗

When to go

March–May and October–mid-December for clear mountain views; December–February for snow at Tsomgo/Nathula; avoid July–August monsoon due to landslides.

Getting there

Pakyong Airport is the nearest to Gangtok (~32 km); Bagdogra Airport in West Bengal (~124 km, ~4 hours by road) has more flight options.

What you will see