Gangtok to North Sikkim [Gurudongmar/Green Lake]

Hi

I am off to Sikkim soon [err..this week actually] and would like to know if it is possible to get to the Green Lake/Gurudongmar Lake at this time of the year. Has anyone done the trip in the past few weeks?
Which one's more scenic?

To explore North Sikkim, do I base myself at Mangan or further up north [Lachung/Lachen/Yumthang]?

What's the best way to get there assuming one does not enlist a travel agent?

Any suggestions with regard to budget accommodation in these places? [my budget is about Rs.200 per nt.]

Would appreciate any inputs on the above.

Cheers
[and oh yes, Happy New Year and all that]
Toby

happy new year to you, too, toby.

if you have access to a travel guide, this will be redundant, as i don't speak from experience but, rather, am passing along what i gleaned from LP about accommodations in north sikkim, for what it's worth.

in phodong, hotel new northway (Rs 100), ph: 262953 & hotel yak and yeti (Rs 250/100; w/ w/o private bath), ph:262844

in singhik, friendship guest house (Rs 150, with shared bath), ph: 234278

i didn't find any listings for other places you mention, perhaps because the LP guide emphasizes that accommodations must be arranged through tour companies. and just from my readings, it seems it may be difficult to gain access to some of these areas without going through an organized tour. i'm sure others here can steer you a truer course on that issue than i.

good luck, and have a great trip!

I'v not heard anything definate the general impression I got was that Yumthang is normally as far north as you can get this time of year. Green Lake needs a few days trekking up to almost 5000 meters so thats surely got to be impossible anyway.

Thanks for the comments Janice (esp. the hotels info from LP) and Greenman. Am off to Sikkim tomorrow and will post the latest from there! :-)