2N/3D - North Sikkim - suggestions pls

sameerpandya · May 17th, 2008, 22:31

Posting my itenerary for the North Sikkim visit (27-29 May) for suggestions
D1 - Leave Gangtok for Lachen
N1 - Overnight at Lachen
D2 - Early morning leave for Gurudogmar Lake and Chopta valley. Return to lachen for late lunch and leave for Lachung
N2 - Overnight at Lachung
D3 - Yumthang Valley, Point Zero. Return to Lachung for late lunch and leave for Gangtok.

Should I include some other interesting places within this sector? If required, I can even spend a day extra.

We are a group of 4 adults and 3 kids and plan to hire a Innova for the above itenerary - quote is 12k - is it reasonable?

Awaiting your valuable suggestions ....

prash81 · May 19th, 2008, 16:00

you can include katao...almost 30Kms from Lachung.

mousourik · May 19th, 2008, 16:31

don't think innova is available in that area - it's not a city.

prash81 · May 19th, 2008, 16:35

you may get Scorpio but Innova is difficult. Atleast I didnt see any innova in Lachunga. And price is reasonable....

arinhere · May 19th, 2008, 16:44

All the tour co ordinator in that area provides Mahindra Max or Bolero...and if you wanna spend some more then Scorpio...now its depends on you...

and the average range of expense for tne north sikkim trip is approx INR 2400 /head in exclusive package and INR 1800 /head in genaral package. Now the charges depends upon the way you manage the travel co ordinator.

sameerpandya · May 19th, 2008, 22:08

Thanks Guys, Very useful info.
Yes, you guys are right - I was under the impression that we could hire one vehicle for our entire trip of Darjeeling and Sikkim; later learnt that Darjeeling vehicles do not ply in Sikkim and yesterday I learnt even within sikkim, the vehicle for the North Sikkim will be diff than the one for the Nathula Pass. Seems like there are separate set of vehicles for each sector.

We are getting Mahindra Max for the North Sikkim, dedicated to our group. From your inputs, I am happy that we got a good deal.
Any suggestions, when shd I do Katao - is it somewhere closer to Point Zero. Would that mean that I shd keep a day extra for this inclusion.
many thanks to you all

DeepPavi · May 20th, 2008, 01:17

katao and zero point are similar. You neednot spend 1 day for visiting that. Although if you are snow lover you may try two similar spots.

sameerpandya · May 20th, 2008, 01:47

Thanks Deep.
Was browsing the Sikkim Forum and read somewhere that one of the two is an army set up and therefore, is unlikely to materialise.
Are these Zero Point and Katao, both high altitude mountain terrains? If so, which one is more scenic?
Do we need to get snow boots ? If so, where does one get to hire them? Also, what abt the snow boots for kids?
Sorry lots of questions.

DeepPavi · May 20th, 2008, 01:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by sameerpandya

Thanks Deep.
Was browsing the Sikkim Forum and read somewhere that one of the two is an army set up and therefore, is unlikely to materialise.
Are these Zero Point and Katao, both high altitude mountain terrains? If so, which one is more scenic?
Do we need to get snow boots ? If so, where does one get to hire them? Also, what abt the snow boots for kids?
Sorry lots of questions.

Zero Point is closer to Yumthang valley and easily accessible. Dont worry about snow boots and all, you will get plenty of them at hire near Zero Point. I had a wonderful time at zero point last month. Go for it. katao is mostly inaccessible due to military reasons.

sameerpandya · May 20th, 2008, 02:43

Thanks Deep.

Would you know if there any restrictions on the photography in these areas?

DeepPavi · May 20th, 2008, 10:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by sameerpandya

Thanks Deep.

Would you know if there any restrictions on the photography in these areas?

no restrictions whatsoever in these places. Am not sure about katao although as i saw zero point and skipped katao.

arinhere · May 20th, 2008, 16:56

basically the tour operators provide permit for north sikkim, in which katao is not included due to military reasons. if you wanna a glance to Katao then you have to manage your car driver for that in Lachung. You won't get any permit for Katao from Gangtok.

Though I have never been in Katao, but I heard that its more beautiful than 0 point and if you are a snow freak then you can take that chance.

sameerpandya · May 21st, 2008, 01:25

Thanks Arinhere,
Lets see what best can we do. Yes, my son and I, both love snow.

By the way, is there one permit for the North Sikkim or do they have diff permits for diff areas within North Sikkim. We are interested in Chopta Valley, Gurudongmar Lake and Yumthang area along with point Zero. So wud one permit suffice ?
Does this permit process takes time ? We are reaching Gangtok around noon time and plan to take off for our North sikkim tour the next day after breakfast. Does this appear too short a period to get permit ?

Sorry, I am being a pest seeking lots of info.

arinhere · May 21st, 2008, 09:38

u don't have to worry about permits...the tour operator will be manage that for you. You just have to decide where would you like to go. They will do the rest.

sameerpandya · May 21st, 2008, 21:59

Thanks Arinhere.
And thanks everyone else who contributed.
Great info from you all and I feel much more familiar even before reaching Sikkim !

I am off tomorrow to Darjeeling and Sikkim. Will certainly post my experience and photos.

May 17th, 2008, 22:31	#1
sameerpandya a banker Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 14	2N/3D - North Sikkim - suggestions pls Posting my itenerary for the North Sikkim visit (27-29 May) for suggestions D1 - Leave Gangtok for Lachen N1 - Overnight at Lachen D2 - Early morning leave for Gurudogmar Lake and Chopta valley. Return to lachen for late lunch and leave for Lachung N2 - Overnight at Lachung D3 - Yumthang Valley, Point Zero. Return to Lachung for late lunch and leave for Gangtok. Should I include some other interesting places within this sector? If required, I can even spend a day extra. We are a group of 4 adults and 3 kids and plan to hire a Innova for the above itenerary - quote is 12k - is it reasonable? Awaiting your valuable suggestions ....

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May 19th, 2008, 16:00	#2
prash81 Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 32	you can include katao...almost 30Kms from Lachung.

May 19th, 2008, 16:31	#3
mousourik Maha Guru Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: KOLKATA, INDIA Posts: 574	don't think innova is available in that area - it's not a city.

May 19th, 2008, 16:35	#4
prash81 Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 32	you may get Scorpio but Innova is difficult. Atleast I didnt see any innova in Lachunga. And price is reasonable....

May 19th, 2008, 16:44	#5
arinhere Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Kolkata Posts: 42	All the tour co ordinator in that area provides Mahindra Max or Bolero...and if you wanna spend some more then Scorpio...now its depends on you... and the average range of expense for tne north sikkim trip is approx INR 2400 /head in exclusive package and INR 1800 /head in genaral package. Now the charges depends upon the way you manage the travel co ordinator.

May 19th, 2008, 22:08	#6
sameerpandya a banker Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 14	Thanks Guys, Very useful info. Yes, you guys are right - I was under the impression that we could hire one vehicle for our entire trip of Darjeeling and Sikkim; later learnt that Darjeeling vehicles do not ply in Sikkim and yesterday I learnt even within sikkim, the vehicle for the North Sikkim will be diff than the one for the Nathula Pass. Seems like there are separate set of vehicles for each sector. We are getting Mahindra Max for the North Sikkim, dedicated to our group. From your inputs, I am happy that we got a good deal. Any suggestions, when shd I do Katao - is it somewhere closer to Point Zero. Would that mean that I shd keep a day extra for this inclusion. many thanks to you all

May 20th, 2008, 01:17	#7
DeepPavi Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: kolkata Posts: 33	katao and zero point are similar. You neednot spend 1 day for visiting that. Although if you are snow lover you may try two similar spots.

May 20th, 2008, 01:47	#8
sameerpandya a banker Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 14	Thanks Deep. Was browsing the Sikkim Forum and read somewhere that one of the two is an army set up and therefore, is unlikely to materialise. Are these Zero Point and Katao, both high altitude mountain terrains? If so, which one is more scenic? Do we need to get snow boots ? If so, where does one get to hire them? Also, what abt the snow boots for kids? Sorry lots of questions.

May 20th, 2008, 02:43	#10
sameerpandya a banker Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 14	Thanks Deep. Would you know if there any restrictions on the photography in these areas?

May 20th, 2008, 16:56	#12
arinhere Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Kolkata Posts: 42	basically the tour operators provide permit for north sikkim, in which katao is not included due to military reasons. if you wanna a glance to Katao then you have to manage your car driver for that in Lachung. You won't get any permit for Katao from Gangtok. Though I have never been in Katao, but I heard that its more beautiful than 0 point and if you are a snow freak then you can take that chance.

May 21st, 2008, 01:25	#13
sameerpandya a banker Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 14	Thanks Arinhere, Lets see what best can we do. Yes, my son and I, both love snow. By the way, is there one permit for the North Sikkim or do they have diff permits for diff areas within North Sikkim. We are interested in Chopta Valley, Gurudongmar Lake and Yumthang area along with point Zero. So wud one permit suffice ? Does this permit process takes time ? We are reaching Gangtok around noon time and plan to take off for our North sikkim tour the next day after breakfast. Does this appear too short a period to get permit ? Sorry, I am being a pest seeking lots of info.

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May 21st, 2008, 09:38	#14
arinhere Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Kolkata Posts: 42	u don't have to worry about permits...the tour operator will be manage that for you. You just have to decide where would you like to go. They will do the rest.

May 21st, 2008, 21:59	#15
sameerpandya a banker Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 14	Thanks Arinhere. And thanks everyone else who contributed. Great info from you all and I feel much more familiar even before reaching Sikkim ! I am off tomorrow to Darjeeling and Sikkim. Will certainly post my experience and photos.