A Sikkim itinerary works cleanly at four lengths — 5 days, 7 days, 10 days, and 14 days. Anything shorter than 5 is too rushed; anything between these increments is awkward because of the drive-time constraints between regions. The 10-day shape is our most-booked version since 2018. Below is the day-by-day for each, with drive times, what is included, what to cut if you are short, and the version that works for couples vs families vs first-time visitors. This is the version we walk through on the first booking call.
The 5-day Sikkim itinerary
Five days is the minimum for a useful Sikkim trip. You get Gangtok, Tsomgo Lake, Pelling, and a taste of West Sikkim. No North Sikkim — Lachung-Lachen-Gurudongmar requires 4 dedicated days minimum and does not fit. Ideal for first-time visitors testing the region, time-pressed travellers, or pre/post-trip extensions to a Northeast India tour.
- Day 1 — Arrive Bagdogra/NJP → drive to Gangtok (4.5 hours). Evening on MG Marg.
- Day 2 — Gangtok local: Rumtek dawn, Tashi Viewpoint, Do Drul Chorten, ropeway, evening MG Marg.
- Day 3 — Tsomgo Lake + Baba Mandir day trip (add Nathu La if Indian and Wed/Thu/Sat/Sun). 8 hours total.
- Day 4 — Drive Gangtok → Pelling (4 hours). Afternoon at Pemayangtse Monastery + Pelling Skywalk.
- Day 5 — Early Pelling sunrise (Kanchenjunga from Upper Pelling viewpoints). Drive Pelling → Bagdogra (6 hours). Departure flight after 4 p.m.
The 7-day Sikkim itinerary
Seven days adds a 2-night North Sikkim loop to Lachung — Yumthang Valley and Zero Point. Gurudongmar is not included because the Lachen-Gurudongmar leg needs one more night of acclimatisation. This is the most-asked-about duration and a reasonable compromise between cost and depth.
- Day 1 — Arrive Bagdogra → Gangtok (4.5 hours). Evening MG Marg.
- Day 2 — Gangtok local: Rumtek, monasteries, viewpoints. PAP processed today for North Sikkim.
- Day 3 — Tsomgo + Baba Mandir + Nathu La day trip from Gangtok.
- Day 4 — Drive Gangtok → Lachung (6 hours via Mangan and Chungthang). Afternoon acclimatisation in Lachung village.
- Day 5 — Yumthang Valley + Zero Point at dawn. Return to Lachung. Afternoon drive back to Gangtok (6 hours).
- Day 6 — Drive Gangtok → Pelling (4 hours). Pemayangtse Monastery + Pelling Skywalk.
- Day 7 — Pelling sunrise. Drive Pelling → Bagdogra (6 hours). Departure.
The 10-day Sikkim itinerary
Our most-booked version. Adds the full Lachen-Gurudongmar circuit (with the night in Lachen for acclimatisation), Yuksom/Khecheopalri in West Sikkim, and one rest day in Gangtok. This is the version we recommend for first-time visitors who want to see Sikkim properly. Foreigners can do most of this except Gurudongmar (currently closed to non-Indians); we route foreigners through Yumthang-Zero Point-Lachung instead.
- Day 1 — Arrive Bagdogra → Gangtok (4.5 hours)
- Day 2 — Gangtok local: Rumtek dawn, monasteries, viewpoints, MG Marg
- Day 3 — Tsomgo + Baba Mandir + Nathu La day trip
- Day 4 — Drive Gangtok → Lachung (6 hours). Afternoon acclimatisation
- Day 5 — Yumthang Valley + Zero Point. Afternoon drive to Lachen (4 hours)
- Day 6 — Gurudongmar Lake at dawn (5:00 a.m. start). Descend to Lachen for breakfast. Continue to Gangtok (7 hours total drive). Long day.
- Day 7 — Rest day in Gangtok OR drive on to Pelling (4 hours)
- Day 8 — Pelling: Pemayangtse, Skywalk, Khecheopalri Lake. Or extend with Yuksom if time allows
- Day 9 — Drive Pelling → Ravangla (3 hours) via Singshore Bridge. Ravangla Buddha Park + Maenam Hill option
- Day 10 — Drive Ravangla → Bagdogra (5 hours). Departure
The 14-day Sikkim + Darjeeling itinerary
Two extra weeks-worth of content. Adds Darjeeling (3 nights — Tiger Hill, Toy Train, Happy Valley, HMI Zoo, monastery circuit, Mirik day trip), the Old Silk Route loop (Zuluk-Nathang, 3 nights), and a slower pace through the rest. The combination most repeat visitors come for. Suitable for serious photographers, anyone wanting a genuine deep dive, or honeymooners willing to invest the time.
- Days 1-3 — Darjeeling (arrival, Tiger Hill, Toy Train, Happy Valley, HMI Zoo, monasteries)
- Day 4 — Drive Darjeeling → Gangtok (4.5 hours via Teesta Bazar). Evening MG Marg
- Day 5 — Gangtok local: Rumtek dawn, monasteries, viewpoints
- Day 6 — Tsomgo + Baba Mandir + Nathu La day trip
- Days 7-10 — North Sikkim full circuit: Lachung (Yumthang + Zero Point), Lachen (Gurudongmar), back to Gangtok
- Day 11 — Drive Gangtok → Aritar (4 hours) — start the Old Silk Route
- Day 12 — Aritar → Zuluk (2.5 hours) via Padamchen. Afternoon village walk.
- Day 13 — Zuluk → Thambi View Point dawn → Lungthung → Nathang Valley. Overnight Nathang.
- Day 14 — Nathang → Kupup → Baba Mandir → Tsomgo → Gangtok → Bagdogra for departure flight (long day, possibly add Day 15 as buffer)
Variations on these shapes
- Honeymoon — swap one Gangtok night for an overnight at Glenburn (Darjeeling tea estate), and add Pelling Sangacholing Monastery sunset for a romantic dinner
- With kids under 10 — drop the Gurudongmar leg (altitude is hard on children); replace with a Pelling extension or a Ravangla day with the Buddha Park
- Photographers — add a buffer day at Lachung specifically for a second Yumthang sunrise shoot; add a Thambi second attempt if Day 1 was misty
- Foreigners — skip Gurudongmar entirely (not accessible); add an extra Yumthang day or a Pelling-Yuksom-Khecheopalri triangle
- Budget — use Bhutia homestays in North Sikkim instead of mid-tier lodges, swap Mayfair Gangtok for Hotel Tibet; trip cost drops 30-40 per cent
Drive times that matter
- Bagdogra airport / NJP railway → Gangtok: 4.5 hours, 124 km
- Gangtok → Pelling: 4 hours, 130 km via Ravangla, or 4.5 hours via Singtam
- Gangtok → Lachung: 6 hours, 125 km
- Lachung → Lachen: 3-4 hours depending on route
- Lachen → Gurudongmar return: 7 hours total (3 hours each way + 1 hour at lake)
- Gangtok → Darjeeling: 4.5 hours via Teesta Bazar
- Pelling → Ravangla: 3 hours
- Bagdogra ↔ Darjeeling: 3 hours, 90 km
What each itinerary costs
- 5-day Sikkim: ₹22,000 to ₹32,000 per person (mid-tier hotels, two sharing)
- 7-day Sikkim: ₹38,000 to ₹52,000 per person
- 10-day Sikkim: ₹52,000 to ₹72,000 per person
- 14-day Sikkim + Darjeeling: ₹78,000 to ₹1,15,000 per person
- Add ₹15,000-25,000 per person for premium hotels (Mayfair, Glenburn)
- Off-season (Nov-Feb, July-Aug) drops these by 20-30 per cent
