North Sikkim
High valleys of flowers, alpine lakes and the road to Gurudongmar
The most spectacular high country in Sikkim lies to the north, reached on a permit-controlled 4WD journey up towards the Tibetan plateau. The valleys of Lachen and Lachung serve as bases for two of the great Himalayan drives: to the Yumthang Valley, the 'valley of flowers', ablaze with rhododendrons in spring and framed by snow peaks, and Zero Point beyond; and to Gurudongmar Lake, a sacred, startlingly blue lake above 5,000 metres, one of the highest in the world.
This is serious high-altitude travel: cold, remote and weather-dependent, with the roads occasionally cut by landslides in the monsoon. It is also unforgettable — a landscape of glaciers, prayer flags, yaks and immense silence that ranks among the finest mountain journeys in India.
What to see & do
- The Yumthang 'valley of flowers' and Zero Point
- Gurudongmar Lake, sacred and above 5,000 m
- Lachen and Lachung villages and their monasteries
- Rhododendron forests in spring and snow in winter
Getting to North Sikkim
| How to reach | Sold as 2–3 day 4WD packages from Gangtok, with overnights at Lachen/Lachung. |
| Best time | Yumthang flowers March to May; clear high-country skies October to December. Avoid the landslide-prone monsoon. |
| Permit | A Protected Area Permit is required, arranged through a registered Sikkim operator; Gurudongmar and Zero Point are open to Indians only. |
| Good to know | Acclimatise in Gangtok first, keep a buffer day for weather, and go with an experienced operator — this is not a self-drive trip. |
More to explore
Sela Pass & Madhuri Lake
on the road to Tawang
A high Himalayan gateway of lakes and snow.
Dirang & Bomdila
West Kameng
Apple orchards, hot springs and gompas on the Tawang road.
Pelling & West Sikkim
West Sikkim
Kanchenjunga up close, monasteries and a glass skywalk.