help for north sikkim trip

autumnbreeze

Hello,

I have been searching for all possible information on travel to Sikkim. We are 4 adults with 2 children aged 4 and 5. Our travel plan is for 9 days from 22nd may to 30th may. My intinerary looks like:

Day I: 22-Bagdogra-Gangtok.
Day II: 23-Sight seeing tour of Gangtok. O/N in Hotel Anola, Comfort inn or similar.
Day III: 24-Drive to Nathula, O/N in Hotel Anola, Comfort inn or similar
Day IV:25-Gangtok drive Lachen. O/N Blue Pine Lodge.
Day V: 26-Lachen drive to thangu, chopta valley, Gurudogmar Lake -drive to Lachen and from there to Lachung. O/N Hotel Down Town.
Day VI: 27- Lachung drive to Yumthang -Yumesamdong Back to Lachung.

Day VII: 28-Lachung drive to Gangtok. O/N in Hotel Anola, Comfort inn or similar

Day VIII: 29- Visit Ban Jhakri falls, Himalayan Zoological Park and Lingdum Monastery. O/N O/N in Hotel Anola, Comfort inn or similar.

I was looking for the following information:

1. weather during that time in north sikkim?
2. would it be alright to go upto gurudongmar with kids?
3. i have been told that children can go upto nathula pass now...pls. confirm
4. planning to go to katao on our way to lachung... any hope of snow there?...
5. any place where the children cld touch snow?
6. would the flowers be in full bloom?
7. food?... shd we carry some ready to eat stuff?
8. any feedback on the hotels/lodges mentioned..
9. planning the trip with sikkim tours and travels...ok????
10. since we are travelling with kids.. any additional tip would be welcome..

Thanks in advance...

jaekae

Hi there,
Your trip looks great! Here are some answers in CAPS:


1. weather during that time in north sikkim?
I WAS THERE IN EARLY APRIL, AND GURUDONGMAR WAS SUB-ZERO. I'M SURE IT MUST BE WARMER NOW BUT I GUESS YOU'LL STILL NEED WARM JACKETS. SINCE YOU'LL BE GOING FROM LOW TO HIGH TO LOW ALTITUDES ON THE SAME DAY, YOU MAY WANT TO WEAR 3-4 LAYERS OF CLOTHES, SO THAT YOU CAN ADD ON/PEEL OFF LAYERS DEPENDING ON HOW COLD/HOT YOU FEEL.

2. would it be alright to go upto gurudongmar with kids?
I THINK IT SHOULD BE OK. THEY (OR FOR THAT MATTER, ANYONE) MIGHT HAVE SOME HIGH-ALTITUDE SICKNESS. THE ARMY ACTUALLY HAS A CAFE AT 15k FEET WHERE YOU CAN SPEND TIME TO ACCLIMITIZE TO HIGH ALTITUDES. YOU CAN PROBABLY SPEND AN HOUR IN THE WARMTH THERE (THEY JUST MAKE SURE YOU BUY SOME COFFEE AND SOUVENIRS!) AND THEN GO FURTHER UP TO GURUDONGMAR. OFCOURSE, THEY SHOULDN'T BE RUNNING AROUND AND PLAYING THERE, WHICH MAY MAKE THEM BREATHLESS!!

3. i have been told that children can go upto nathula pass now...pls. confirm
NOT SURE ABOUT THAT...HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY. HOWEVER, NOTE THAT NATHULA IS OPEN ONLY A COUPLE OF DAYS A WEEK, SO MAKE SURE IT IS OPEN ON THE DAY YOU ARE PLANNING.

4. planning to go to katao on our way to lachung... any hope of snow there?...
KATAO IS IN A DIFFENT DIRECTION FROM YUMTHANG. SO IF YOU WANT TO DO THAT, YOU'LL PROBABLY HAVE TO DO IT BEFORE BREAKFAST.
INSTEAD, YOU CAN PROBABLY GO TO ZERO POINT - THAT'S AN HOUR AHEAD OF YUMTHANG (AND PROBABLY ENROUTE TO YUMESAMDONG). YOU SHOULD SEE A LOT OF SNOW THERE - SO IF TOUCHING AND PLAYING IN SNOW IS WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR, YOU CAN PROBABLY DO THIS.

5. any place where the children cld touch snow?
KATAO AND ZERO POINT.
6. would the flowers be in full bloom?
THAT'S A TRICKY ONE ! BASED ON WHAT I READ UP, THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE IN BLOOM WHEN I WENT IN EARLY APRIL. BUT THEY WEREN'T. THE LOCALS TOLD ME THEY SHOULD BLOOM BY LATE APRIL/EARLY MAY. BUT ONE OF MY FRIENDS WHO WENT IN EARLY MAY SAID THEY HADN'T BLOOMED YET. SO YOU HAVE TO TRY YOUR LUCK AND TELL US HOW IT GOES

7. food?... shd we carry some ready to eat stuff?
FOOD SURPRISINGLY WASN'T A PROBLEM. I'M A VEGETARIAN - AND WE GOT DECENT, HOME FOOD THROUGHOUT THE N.SIKKIM TRIP - MOONG DAL, CHAWAL AND 1-2 CURRIES. SO IT'S NOT AS BAD AS YOU MAY FEAR. HOWEVER, WITH THE KIDS YOU MAY WANT TO PLAY IT SAFE AND CARRY A BIT.

8. any feedback on the hotels/lodges mentioned..
SORRY IS STAYED AT DIFFERENT PLACES - APPLE VALLEY RESORT AT LACHUNG (GOOD) AND HIDDEN HILL LODGE AT LACHEN (BAD).

9. planning the trip with sikkim tours and travels...ok????
AGAIN, I WENT WITH YAK & YETI (GOOD) SO CAN'T COMMENT ON THIS.

10. since we are travelling with kids.. any additional tip would be welcome..
IF THEY, OR ANYONE ELSE HAS ROAD SICKNESS, BE PREPARED. I USED TO POP AN AVOMINE TABLET EVERY NIGHT TO FIGHT THAT.
YOU MAY WANT TO CARRY SUN SCREEN AND GOGGLES - THE SUN IS VERY BRIGHT WHEN IT REFLECTS OFF THE SNOW.
BEYOND THAT, YOU HAVE A FANTASTIC TRIP AHEAD SO GO ENJOY YOURSELF!


Hope this helps!
- JK

kgemini

Pls. see my reply in bold & red color.

Thanks & Regards
Koushik Gupta

__________________
THANKS & REGARDS
KOUSHIK GUPTA

autumnbreeze

hi Jk and Koushik,

Thanks for all the info. Thats a lot of help! I most certainly will let you know how the trip went... thanks again!

tk care,