Hidden Capitals & Blooming Trails – A Western Sikkim Discovery

Arrive at Bagdogra and head towards Gangtok, the gateway to Sikkim’s quiet wonders. The drive rises slowly, trading flatlands for fir-lined hills and crisp air.

By evening, check into your stay and wander MG Road—where momo stalls, prayer flags, and warm cafés welcome you in.

Overnight in Gangtok

Start your day at the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, home to scriptures, relics, and secrets of the Himalayas. Continue to Ranka Monastery, where chanting fills the silence.

Take the ropeway up for panoramic views, then catch a golden-hour sunset from Tashi View Point, where the Kanchenjunga glows and the world feels far away.

Overnight in Gangtok

Leave early for Lachen, a remote village nestled deep in the mountains. The road twists through forested slopes, waterfalls that appear like silver threads, and remote hamlets untouched by time.

Reach Lachen by late afternoon and take a quiet walk through its lanes before night falls over the hills.

Overnight in Lachen

At dawn, begin your high-altitude drive to Gurudongmar Lake—one of the highest freshwater lakes in the world. En route, stop at Chopta Valley for hot coffee and a bowl of Maggi that tastes better with the cold.

The lake appears suddenly, still and sacred. Head back before the altitude sets in, then make your way to Kala Patthar, a surreal slope of black earth against snowy peaks.

Descend to the village of Lachung by evening. Overnight in Lachung

Post breakfast, journey to Yumthang Valley, where meadows stretch wide and wildflowers bloom through spring and summer.

From here, the road winds further to Zero Point—a place where civilization ends and the vast silence of snow takes over. Return to Lachung for a warm meal and rest.

Overnight in Lachung

Drive back along the same riverside route, stopping at Mangan for fresh fruit and local pickles. Take a detour to the remote hot springs of Lingdem—set beside the river, where villagers believe the water heals more than just the body.

Reach Gangtok by evening and enjoy one last night in the hills. Overnight in Gangtok

After breakfast, drive to Bagdogra Airport. What remains isn’t just photographs—it’s the breathless lake, the black earth, the prayer murmurs, and the winding road that lingers long after you’ve left. Trip ends. The story stays.