East Sikkim Tour in Mid January 2012

Dear All

I, with my Wife, are planning for a 4 day trip to East Sikkim on 20th Jan 2012. Will return on 26th. I want to start from Rishi, Zuluk and end in Gangtok.

Please let me know any suitable itinerary and weather condition during that time.

Can anyone please suggest a suitable itinerary and wether conditions...Waiting for advice

This might be of some help:

Trip Report: Sikkim May 2011

You can also try searching the various threads in the Sikkim forum for some more info.

Sagarneel, Thanks for your Reply. I searched different threads, but not getting info about Sikkim in January. Can u please tell us about the weather condition at that time. Do we need to pre-book our tour? What will be the rates for stay and car at that time. Again, thanks.

Hi Subrata,

This trip report will help you.
Journey to Zuluk & Mankhim

I think it will be chilling cold and you might encounter snowfall at Dzuluk and higher altitude during that season.

Being an off-season , I think accomodation and transportation cost during that time will come down significantly. Say Accomodation+Fooding will come down to something like 350-500/person/night (depending on how much you can negotiate) and transportation will come down hopefully to Rs 2000 from Reshi to Dzuluk and the same or slightly higher for Dzuluk to Gangtok.

Thanks
Mithun

Thanks for all the reply. Do I need to pre book the tour? If yes, then please suggest some good tour company/Agents. In 5 days/4 nights tour, will I be able to cover those places.

Subrata , from my experience I am suggesting you not to take this tour in January unless you are a ski lover. During January , Zuluk will be under snow and the way towards from Zuluk to Gangtok will be also under snow. Gathang stay will be closed at that time. Unless you are ski passionate , the weather will be extremely cold. Since the Zuluk property is basic and electricity is not regular or with low voltage , you can't even use the room heater properly.
With Kid , it will be extremely difficult. I am in no mood to discourage you but to provide you honest feedback so that you can take informed decision. You can however go to Reshi Khola and Aritar (Lamphokhri)
Any thing more you need to know , pls let me know

The most suitable itinerary could be
Day1 - Arrive NJP and Proceeds to Reshi Khola. Stay at Reshi Khola
Day2 - Stay at ReshiKhola
Day3- Proceeds to Aritar. Stay at Resort just above the Lamphokhri Lake. This is the best property in the entire silk route.
Day4 - Sunrise from Mankhom Top . After Breakfast Proceeds to Gangtok via Rongli. Rongpo, and Gangtok. Stay in Gangtok
Day 5 - half day S/S in Gangtok

Day6 - Good Bye Sikkim and reach NJP

@Subrata why you choose East Sikkim in Jan? Cold is an issue but worst is the extremely poor visibility as whole of North India including NE region would be under dense fog and mist. So don't expect to see Great Mt K view that is USP of this circuit. Kupup and surroundings might be closed for few days due to now, BRO maintains the route regularly for strategic reasons but expect delay and keep itinerary flexible.

Hi

I was reading your feedback and wanted some info on a trip being planned last week of December (24-29)

24th > reach NJP>Sillery ( overnight)
25th&26th > Sillery to Zuluk ( 2 nights @ Zuluk)
27th> Nathang Valley
28th >Nathang Valley/ Aritar Dak Bungalow
29th Rishikhola Prakriti Resort

In view of the weather and cold,I was looking for feedback on the nights os 25th,26th and 27th...
Please suggest if it will be too cold?
We are a group of seven people, ages ranging from 10+ to 70+

Thanks
AB

Regarding Zuluk during end Dec will be too cold , but I believe it is tolerable. But considering the team age group not getting much confidence. Gnathang is not recommended as during that time most likely it will be closed due to snow storm. It will be very much unpredictable weather at that time . You can stay at Lampokhri resort just above the lake ,you can also stay at Reshikhola ,during end Dec it will be very pleasant .
My suggested itinerary
Day 1- at Sillery Gaon
Day2 - at Reshi Khola
Day3- Aritar
Day 4- Zuluk
Day 5 - Zuluk
Day 6 - Return to NJP

Itinerary by DJL seems perfect to me only I may stay Day2 and 3 in Zuluk and 4 and 5 in Aritar and some other place close by. Reshi is good but not that attractive to me. Zuluk - NJP would be long drive, so better stay little closer at the end of trip.

Thanks, DJlover and kshil.
I will modify accordingly and revert

Hi DJL.....how is this place 'Sillery Gaon'? Why you are recommending this place as a entry point of the tour ? How far from NJP ?

As per suggestions received from IMers, I postponed my Zuluk tour of Jan. Now, in April, I am going for a 3N/4D trip to zuluk covering Sillery Gaon. Please find below my Itenary.

4 April - NJP to Sillery Gaon
5 April - Sillery Gaon to Zuluk
6 April - Zuluk Sightseeing upto Tsango lake
7 April - Return to NJP

For the above tour, I contacted Mr. Suraj Pradhan(Mob. No.7872883264). I was given a quote of Rs. 20000 for 4 persons (NJP - NJP).