suggestions for Sikkim from 30 Dec 08

hi all,

We are two couples with 3 kids below 10 yrs visiting sikkim from mumbai on december 30th 08. I have few queries,i would like to take suggestion from people on this forum. Our travel Plan is as follows:
30 Dec reach new jalpaiguri at 0600 hrs by train.
depart for gangtok and overnight at gangtok
31 Dec Gangtok local sight seeing O/N gangtok
01 jan 09 Nathula pass and back O/N gangtok
02 Jan 09 Gangtok to lachen O/N at Lachen
03 Jan 09 Lachen - Gurudogmar - lachung
04 Jan 09 Lachung - yumthang - gangtok
05 Jan 09 gangtok to New jalpaiguri
evening 2000 hrs depart by train

I wish to ask some questions?

1) how is this travel plan are we missing something?
2) we are reaching just before new year eve at gangtok so should we book in advance
3) since we are coming from mumbai so far we would have loved to spend atleast a day at darjeeling.but we have return reservation on 5th jan and can not stretch our leave beyond this day? is it possible to cut some part from above travel plan and include darjeeling in our plan?
4) any contact details of economy/budget hotels?

Thanks in advance

Ram

Since u r reaching New JalPaiguri at 0600 hrs..u will be reaching gangtok by 10:00,at the most 11:00 a.m. I suggest u cud try out the local sight seeing in the afternoon of 30th itself.
31st- Nathula pass and Tsomgo lake ON at gangtok
01 Jan Gangtok to lachen O/N at Lachen
02 jan Lachen - Gurudogmar - lachung O/N at lachung
03 jan Lachung - yumthang - gangtok
04 jan Gangtok yo Darjeeling(spend the day n night at darjeeling)
05 jan Darjeeling to New jalpaiguri

This fits in Darjeeling too,without cutting any part u have mentioned. Yes u should definitely book hotels in advance,to be on the safe side. I will send some names and contact details of hotels in gangtok and darjeeling if you wish.

Great itenary, but unsure if Gurudongmar road will be open in December. Its at 18,000ft. After going there I was wishing I had done it by pony from the last village (forget the name), but it will take the whole day. Make sure you carry your permit and photo - IDs.

Also the itenary seems too rushed. Yumthang is a great place too, but at this time of the year, the green pasture by the river may be snowed in. Still good if you can make it. it looks more like an itenary for 8 days.
Please double-check about the roads. And do not pay like 2000/- for permits, agents try and charge that. The economy of Sikkim depend a lot on tourists, so drive a hard bargain.

Cheers

Tsomgo lake is like Dadar chowpatty so you can skip it with a 15m halt.

cheers

Hi..please go thru this link for budget hotels and all their details. Please revert in case of any doubt or if u want info reg any particular hotel

http://www.budgethotelsinsikkim.com/searchres.php

(BTW-my panchmarhi trip got cancelled due to a family member falling ill.Will go next year in march-April ,maybe)

thanx cutie...will get back to you once i near our travel date. we are reaching gangtok on 30th dec.

May I ask you for your inputs. We are 2 ladies traveling with 4 kids END December. 6 nights total. Suggestions changes are welcome !! Im just concerned with all the driving distances.

Please advise if this is too rushed ? Wd like to do Yumthang but 7 hours from Pelling is too daunting, any idea, opinions ? Shd we skip Pelling altogether ? Anything on this itenerary we shd give a miss and anything we should add ?

OUR MAIN AGENDA: A relaxed holiday with the children, Kids want to play in the SNOW, the Himalayas and Monastries. The drives are going to be long so we want to know what stops to make along the way to ease things up.

Any suggestions for shopping ? Love Tibetian souveniers - tho" I guess they are all made in India these days.

Any safaris or wildlife in this part of Sikkim along the way?
We would have loved to see the One horned Rhino in the wild but unfortunately thats in a completely different direction. what does Fambong Lo Forest offer, can it be added in somehwre but only if there is endangered wild life like elephant Rhino to be spotted?

Day 1: Arrive at Bagdogra in the afternoon

Shd we head straight to Gantok? This is a 5 hour jorney, what can we do ALONG the way ? NIGHT at Gantok

Day 2: Nathula, Tsangu Lake and Baba Mandir NIGHT at Gantok

Day 3 Gantok to Pelling via Rumtek monastry ...This is a five hours journey - How can we break up this journey ?NIGHT AT NABU GHANG Resort

Day 4 Pelling Sightseeing -Pemayangtse Monastrey, Rabdantse Ruins,(Second Capital of sikkim), water falls, rimbi, khechepeori lake

Day 5 Pelling to Darjeeling ? ANother 5 hours by road... How do we break this up with multiple stops along the way.
Should we do Pelling to Kalimpong instead?

Day 6 Darjeeling ? is this too much time in Darjeeling ?

Day 7 Return flight in the afternoon

You can stay at the log hut at the Memnitsu lake (also pronounced memenchoo) which is a 1/2 km downhill walk from Baba Mandir. You need permission from the Fisheries dept though - they grow trout over there. It is heavenly at night with stars that look like a million light bulbs in the sky.

You can also stay in a large log house at the start of Yumthang I remember seeing. Its a great place for long walks and frolicking in the snow - away from the hustle and bustle of small town frenzy.

I wouldn't worry about a 5h trip - a simple tea break stop will take care of things.

--G