Information about Yumthang Valley

Bhavesh

The travel agencies usually say that they will take for Lachung - Yumthang - Lachung tour and Yumesamdong,Katao are optional and are charged extra.

1) What exactly they cover in Lachung-Yumthang-Lachung tour? (Is it just Shingbha Rhododendron Sanctuary and hot sulphur spring?)

2) I guess Yumthang is a village and tours take you from Lachung to Yumthang village. The journey between the two places is breath taking and rhododendron sanctuary and sulphur spring come on the way. Is that correct?

3) Are Yumesamdong and Katao on same route as above? Are these two peaks? Can all i.e. Yumthang, Yumesamdong and Katao be covered in a day?

3) If I have to select only one between Yumesamdong and Katao - which one is better?

3) I have read about 'Zero Point' also. Is that same as one of above two?

aps

I dont think the operator should charge you extra for yumesamdong and khatau.
Yumthang is a valley.
Rhodedendron sanctuary doesnt come on the way to yumthang, it is yumthang itself.
Yumesamdong is just a few more kms ahead of yumthang so no route diversion, u've just got to ride another half an hr in jeep to reach yumesamdong. Within this drive u climb about 2000 to 3000 feet (yumesamdong is at 14000 feet). I personally wud recommend yumesamdong. There is nothing as such to see there, just a point on the road from where onwards civilian vehicles arent allowed. But I found the terrain and scenery exquisite. Also, seeing yumthang valley from yumesamdong is beautiful.

Khatau is off the way. It is a peak with snow on it, i mean if u've been to manali rohtang then u can very easily do away with khatau, else u may like to visit it.

Also, u can easily do khatau and yumthang yumesamdong in one day. Morning first they take u to khatau where u spend about half an hr and then they come back and take u directly to yumthang. Very very easily doable

aps

Hi,

Just thought to mention that if u are going to north sikkim dont miss gurudongmar lake for anything. I guess it wud be already on ur itenary.

Will be happy to provide any further details.

clawhammer

I'd recommend yumesamdong and zero point
yumthang is not a village. It has no permanent inhabitants.
Depending upon the time u go thr u can find snow or rhododedrons or nothing but the scenery makes it worth the pain even if u don't find snow or rhodo
zero point is beyond yumesamdong at a place which the locals call zadong(i think thats the name but i'm not sure) where the metalled road ends (it did in dec 05, don't know whether it has been extended or not) and the last milestone reads Donkiala 0km (its name of a pass higher up which connects this valley to Cholamu lake beyond Gurudongmar, over some treacherous terrain).
if u go in winter and can reach the place (roads r free from snow, u'll be pleasantly surprised)
u'll be charged extra for zero point (i think 150 to 200 per head)

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