Query: North Sikkim

Hi,

I am planning a family trip to North Sikkim in October. What I had planned is that I would book the hotels in Lachen and Lachung in advance from Kolkata and only hire a car for the trip from Gangtok.

Now, my query is that can I book the hotels separately and hire the car from Gangtok only? Or is it mandatory to go through a package?

If anyone who has knowledge of this, please let me know. If anyone has done it separately, then I will be glad to have some information.

I plan to visit Gurdongmar Lake, Tsho Lhamu Lake & Chopta Valley from Lachen. Also, plan to visit Katao, Yumthang & Yumesamdong from Lachung.

Anybody with any suggestions/advise is welcome.

Thanks

My trip plan for North Sikkim is as follow:

Day 1: Gangtok to Lachen. Stay at Lachen.

Day 2: Visit Gurudongmar Lake, Chopta Valley, Tsho Lhamu Lake. Stay at Lachen.

Day 3: Leave for Lachung. Visit Katao. Stay at Lachung.

Day 4: Visit Yumthang, Yumesamdong, Zero Point. Leave for Gangtok.

Is this plan looking good? Am I staying at Lachen & Lachung for the optimum no. of days? Or is it too much or too less?

How much will this cost if I take this package through a travel agency?

Any information will be be of great help and greatly appreciated.

Also, I am planning the trip in October 2010. Is this a good time? How cold will it be there during this time?

Day 2 - Tsho Lhamu Lake. No permits are issued for this. Only army contacts can get you there.
Day 3 - Practically wasted. Lachen to Lachung is just 3 hours. Even Katao will not take much time. Moreover you can also skip Katao as there is not much there other than snow which anyway you can find at Yumasamdong.
You can hire the hotel seperately but you will have to work hard to get a good vehicle to these places as most of the drivers have some tie up with the travel agents. You may ask your hotel to arrange for the vehicle as well
Cost will vary upon your choice of hotel at Lachung & Lachen.
My advice would be that you can come to lachung on day two as drive from lachen to lachung is fairly co.mfortable.

The plans looks good.
We did same plan in first week of May 2010.
The stay is OK. Only tsho Lhamu lake is not accessible.
We did pakage tour with travel, they arragned us nice accomodation.
Most tours in North sikkim travel+accomodation come as package.
Cost should be approx Rs 25K through a travel agency in good hotels.
Oct should be a good month, but first week is passing of mansoon, hope it does not spill into october.

Thanks a lot for the suggestions. I have also come to the conslusion that its best to get North Sikkim done through a travel agent.

Could you suggest any good travel agents? I am looking for agents who will arrange for stay at a good hotel with good amenities.

Thanks

We arranged it through Sikkim tours and Travels,Chruch road,Gangtok.
They made everything comfortable and took special care specialy because we had children and elderly travelling with us.

Thanks a lot. I will definitely get in touch with them for their quote.

Is Katao accessible? I mean do I need any separate permit for Katao? I have heard its a very beautiful place and don't really want to miss it. Do I have to take any special permits? Will the travel agent arrange for Katao as well?


Thanks

Katao is really breathtaking. we also experienced snow fall there.No need for special permit. The driver of vehicle shall arrange it for you.
Only thing he shall charge it seperately, approx Rs 2400 is to be paid to him for katao visit.
normally travel agents do not take permit for katao at gangtok.

Thanks a lot for all the information.

I'm really very excited now. All the planning and researching is really an exciting initial phase!!!

I too did planing and was excitted for nearly 1 year on IM. !
North sikkim Trip is going to be the ultimate experience of your life.
I have seen north,south,east west of India but this(north sikkim) was the best(even better than kashmir).
with best wishes,

I contacted Prabir Sen. He has quoted a price of Rs. 29,000 for 3 people for the following itinerary.

DAY 01: GANGTOK - LACHEN
After breakfast drive to Lachen for about 6hours. Enroute visit Tashi View Point, Kabi Lungchok, Namok, Mangan, Singhik View point, Seven Sisters Water Falls, Naga Water Falls. Stop on way for lunch. Reach Lachen by evening. Dinner at hotel Fortuna. Overnight halt at Lachen hotel.


DAY 02: LACHEN - GURUDONGMAR - LACHUNG.
Early Morning after breakfast drive for a exclusive tour to Gurudongmar Lake, Chopta Valley & Thangu. After lunch transfer to Lachung. Reach Lachung by evening. Dinner at Hotel. Overnight at hotel Fortuna.

Day 03: LACHUNG - YUMESAMDONG - ZERO POINT - LACHUNG.
After break fast a full day excursion to Yumesamdong and Zero Point. Back to hotel. O/n stay at hotel Fortuna.

DAY 04: LACHUNG - KATAO - YUMTHANG - GANGTOK.
Early morning drive for an exclusive tour to Katao & back to hotel for breakfast. After breakfast drive for exclusive tour to Yumthang-valley. On the way back visit Hot Spring. Back to hotel for lunch. After lunch drive for Gangtok, enroute the wonderful Bheema & Twin Falls.

Is the quote reasonable? I have a feeling that it is probably on the higher side. I could be wrong too.

So, if people who have been there recently, could tell me what they think, it would be extremely helpful.

Thanks

cost quoted seem to be reasonable mainly because zero point and katao is included.
normally they are charged seperatel @ 2200-2400 per point.
I think he shall cover youmthang and hot spring along with zero point because they are on same route.
katao shall be taken seperately basically road is V shaped at lachung for katao and zero point.

Hi ,
me too planning a family trip in the month of oct'2010 for gangtok and north sikkim .
And prabir sen has quoted me
DAY 01: GANGTOK -LACHUNG (ABOUT 125 KMS / 6 HRS)
After breakfast drive to Lachung (altitude 8800 ft) for about 6 hours. Enroute visit Singhik View point, Seven Sisters Water Falls, Naga Water Falls. Stop on way for lunch. Reach Lachung by evening. Dinner at hotel. Overnight halt at Lachung hotel.

DAY 02: LACHUNG -YUMTHANG EXCURSION (24 KM. & 11,800 FT)-KATAO
Early Morning drive to Yumthang-valley (known as Valley of Flowers),Katao, Yumthang is the summer grazing ground of the Yaks & winter playgrounds of Yetis. On the way back visit Hot Spring considered to have medicinal properties. Back to resort for lunch. Spent afternoon interacting with the local people taking the idea of their simple lifestyle. Overnight at hotel.

DAY 03: LACHUNG- ZERO POINT- GANGTOK (ABOUT 125KMS/6 HRS)
After breakfast drive to zero point and enroute witness the Beautification of the wonderful Bheema & Twin Falls. then transfer to gangtok.On arrival at check-in to your hotel. Overnight at hotel.

as per above an itinerary our best possible rate is Rs237000/-net inclusive all taxes and your entire tour is from gangtok to gangtok with one non A/c sumo/maxx

And

Itinerary-

DAY 01: GANGTOK -LACHEN (ABOUT 125 KMS / 6 HRS

After breakfast drive to Lachen (altitude 8800 ft) for about 6 hours. Enroute visit Singhik View point, Seven Sisters Water Falls, Naga Water Falls. Stop on way for lunch. Reach Lachen by evening . Overnight halt.



DAY 02: LACHEN - GURUDONGMAR EXCURSION - LACHUNG
After breakfast drive to Gurudongmar Lake(17800 ft) via chopta valley & thangu.Back to Hotel for lunch, after lunch tranfer to Lachung. Overnight at Hotel.



DAY 03: LACHUNG - YUMTHANG EXCURSION - GANGTOK.
Early Morning drive to Yumthang-valley (known as Valley of Flowers), Yumthang is the summer grazing ground of the Yaks & winter playgrounds of Yetis. On the way back visit Hot Spring considered to have medicinal properties. Back to resort for lunch. After lunch departure for the Gangtok enroute witness the Beautification of the wonderful Bheema & Twin Falls. On arrival at check-in to your hotel. Overnight at hotel.
.
As per the above an itinerary our best possible rate is Rs21500/-net including all taxes. your entire tour from gangtok to gangtok with one non A/C Somu/maxx

Hotel to be used

The Hotel fortuna lachen with AP Plan
The Hotel fortuna lachung with AP Plan


I am skipping gurudongmar because of my 3 yr old son.

If you are finalizing any package for north sikkim please let me know ?

thanks !!!!!

Thanks a lot for the info. The quote that Prabir Sen gave me is higher than yours, maybe because of Gurudongmar.

I will definitely let you know if I finalize with any travel agent.

In the meantime, have you contacted any other travel agent (other than Prabir Sen)? If yes, could you give me the details please?


Thanks

you can also contact Ms ringjong(sikkim tours ),Gangtok.
09609864255. We had great time during our north sikkkim tour in May 2010.
..Harish Iyer,Nagpur