The golden Buddha at Buddha Park, Ravangla, visited on the way to Pelling

PKG-08 · G3>P2

6 Days Gangtok & Pelling

5 nights / 6 days

Bagdogra / NJPGangtok, 3 nightsPelling, 2 nightsBagdogra / NJP

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The journey

Day by day

Sikkim end to end without hurrying: a full day in Gangtok, a day at Tsomgo, and two nights under the range at Pelling.

The Tista, on the road up

We meet you at Bagdogra Airport or New Jalpaiguri station and head north. The road follows the Tista almost the whole way — river on one side, terraced hillside on the other — and climbs steadily out of the plains into Sikkim.

You'll reach Gangtok in the late afternoon. After check-in the evening is yours; M.G. Marg is pedestrianised, lined with cafés, and a ten-minute walk from most hotels in town.

124 KM · 4 HRS · GANGTOK 1,650 M
A hillside temple in Gangtok

A full day around the town and the ridge above it: Banjhakri Falls and Bakthang Waterfall, Tashi View Point for the range on a clear morning, Gonjang Monastery, and the two hilltop shrines at Ganesh Tok and Hanuman Tok.

The afternoon covers the Flower Exhibition Centre, the Ropeway across the valley, the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology — one of the best collections of Tibetan manuscripts and thangkas anywhere — and Do Drul Chorten, ringed by its prayer wheels.

FULL DAY · 10 STOPS · IN AND AROUND TOWN
Tsomgo Lake · 3,753 m

An early start east towards the Nathu La road. Tsomgo sits at 3,753 m, an oval glacial lake about a kilometre long that freezes over in winter and changes colour with the season. We continue to Baba Mandir, then turn back down the same road.

This is the highest you'll go on most of our routes, and it is felt — take it slowly for the first hour up there and drink more water than you think you need. Nathu La can be added if permits are available; ask us at least two days ahead.

55 KM EACH WAY · 3,753 M · PERMIT REQUIRED
Chardham · Namchi

The long way west, and the better one. First Namchi, where the Chardham complex holds a 33 m Shiva above replicas of the four great pilgrimage temples. Then Ravangla, and the 40 m gilded Buddha standing over a park laid out along the ridge.

Both are worth the stop rather than the photograph. We reach Pelling in the evening — on a clear day the Khangchendzonga range is directly in front of your hotel.

135 KM · 6 HRS · PELLING 2,150 M
Chenrezig statue · Pelling

Start with the SkyWalk — a glass walkway out over the drop beneath the Chenrezig statue, and not for everyone. Then Rimbi Waterfalls and Khecheopalri Lake, which local belief holds is kept clear of fallen leaves by the birds.

The afternoon belongs to two things standing side by side: Pemayangtse Monastery, founded in 1705 and still one of the most important in Sikkim, and the ruins of Rabdentse, the kingdom's second capital, at the end of a short walk through forest.

FULL DAY · 6 STOPS · PEMAYANGTSE 1705
The Chenrezig statue above Pelling, from the air

Out of West Sikkim and down to the plains — a longer run than the Gangtok departure, so we usually start earlier. Confirm your flight or train time with us the evening before and we will work back from it.

130 KM · 5 HRS · START EARLY