Sikkim Travel Hacks and Budget Itinerary

WALKWITHVICKY

• Home

Ultimate Sikkim Budget Travel Guide (2024): Hacks, Tips & 5-Day Itinerary

Sikkim is a northeast state in India, which is part of the Himalayas. Sikkim provides a beautiful landscape & snow-capped mountain peaks & View of Kanchenjunga mountains. It is one of the adventurous for the travel enthusiast

Overall Plan for Sikkim Travel:

Sikkim is an unexplored place in India with unparalleled natural beauty, spiritual significance, and a rich culture & heritage. It is important to plan the journey of the overall trip to Sikkim. We will cover most of the parts of Sikkim throughout the journey. Some of the places include

1. Gangtok, the capital city of Sikkim with bustling streets and delicious street foods
2. Zero Point & Yumthang Valley
3. Nathula pass, A snow-capped, high-altitude motorable pass

Things to Keep in Mind Before Sikkim Travel

1. If you are traveling to the northern & Eastern Sikkim on your vehicle, you must apply for the permit. Ensure your vehicle's registration name is under your name while applying for the permit.
   (Agent: Ankit - +91 7001254852- Make sure you bargain for the best price)
2. Always carry a winter jacket & raincoat regardless of the season you travel.
3. Always start early and plan for additional timings & prefer local guidance for traveling to Google mapping.
4. Always have extra days in your Sikkim trip because of landslides & plan changes (The sunsets at 5.30 in most parts of the Sikkim)
5. Well prepared for late night off roads in hills mainly when going to north & east Sikkim- Especially for Bike Riders

Best Budget Hotels in Sikkim

1. Great Eastern Valley Residency, Gangtok, Sikkim

It is one of the best stays if you travel in your vehicle, as it is 3 km from MG market. They provide delicious home-prepared food and good hospitality.
Location: Great Eastern Valley Residency, Gangtok, Sikkim

2. Wonder Hill Inn, Lachung, North Sikkim:

It is also a budget stay in north Sikkim with decent homemade food, especially their top-notch Kolkata-style chutney.
Location: Wonder Hill Inn, Lachung, North Sikkim

3. Hotel Blue Heaven, Pelling, West Sikkim:

It is a budget stay that costs up to 1000 for 2 persons with a view of Mount Kanchenjunga.
Location: Hotel Blue Heaven, Pelling, West Sikkim

Day-Wise Itinerary for Sikkim:

Day 1

Start your day early from where you are staying because the road in Gangtok is hard to predict. Reach there by afternoon and take rest until Evening.

1. MG Road, Sikkim

MG Road is one the indispensable places in Gangtok. In the MG market, you can see shops ranging from expensive to affordable prices

• Location: MG Road
• Time to visit: 10:00 AM- 9:00 PM

End your day by having fun at MG Road, with their local street food, particularly Momos

Day 2

1. Gangtok Ropeway

Start your day earlier and head to Gangtok ropeway. It's 935 meters long and you can enjoy the panoramic view of the whole Gangtok city.

• Location: Gangtok Ropeway
• Time to visit: 9:00 AM- 6:00 PM
• Entry: 110 INR/Person
2. Namgyal Institute of Tibetology

Namgyal Institute of Tibetology is a great place to experience Tibetan Culture & history. It has extensive collections of historic manuscripts, artifacts, etc.

• Location: Namgyal Institute of Technology
• Time to visit: 10:00 AM- 4:00 PM
• Entry: 10 INR/Per person
3. Do Drul Chorten

Do Drul Chorten is next to the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology. You will witness the Tibetian monastery and you can spend quality time in the institute & Do Drul Chorten

• Location: Do Drul Chorten
• Time to visit: 9:00 AM -5:00 PM
• Entry: Free
4. Hanuman Tok

Hanuman Tok is a Hindu temple located in Gangtok with incredibly stunning views. It is believed that all wishes are fulfilled.

• Location: Hanuman Tok
• Time to visit: 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
• Entry: Free

Note:

Get the permits ready for the next day's ride to North Sikkim (Lachung)

Day 3 Lachung(North Sikkim)

Start your day early so that you can avoid crowds. On the way to Lachung, you can witness beautiful waterfalls & serene views and you can spend time & relax there.

If you are going on a road trip then road conditions are unpredictable. There may be landslides and roads are blocked for more than 24 hrs, so make sure you start your ride earlier. Offline and online permits (photocopy) are important to cross 2 checkposts. One will be at the start of the ghat roads and the other will be 27 KM before Lachung where you need to show your permit.

They will verify it and stamp any one of the permits that you need to give back to them when you return to Gangtok.

Day 4

1. Yumthang Valley

Yanthang Valley is also called as "Valley of Flowers". But if you visit from November - April(End) you can see only the snow-capped mountain everywhere. It is one of the must-see places in north Sikkim.

• Location: Yumthang Valley
• Time to visit: 9:00 AM- 6:00 PM
• Entry: 110 INR/Person
2. Zero Point

The two main attractions in north Sikkim Yumthang Valley and Zero Point, are in the same direction. If you visit between January-March you can witness heavy snow and snowfall-Based on your luck.

But, During this time, the roads will also be closed because of heavy snow. So, Make sure you have additional days in your trip to enjoy the stunning beauty of north Sikkim.

Be prepared for heavy snow or rent a winter jacket in local shops that are available on the way to the place.

• Location: Zero Point
• Time to visit: 8:00 AM- 4:00 PM
• Entry: free

Note:

If you are not staying at Lachung at night, pack up as soon as possible and reach Gangtok early to get rest for the next big ride.

Day 5

Note: If you are not staying at Lachung at night, pack up as soon as possible and reach Gangtok early to get rest for the next big ride.

1. Tsongmo lake or Changu lake

Changu Lake is a glacier lake in Gangtok state, It is 40 KM away from Gangtok and 12,313 ft from sea level. If you are planning to visit during winter, you will see the completely frozen lake.

It is the must-visit place in Gangtok. Near Changu Lake you can find a snow-covered Shivan temple (in winter seasons alone).

• Location: Tsongmo Lake
• Time to visit: 7:30 AM- 4:30PM(Based of weather condition)
• Entry: free
2. Nathula Pass, Baba Mandir

Nathula is the trading border post between India & China. It is 56 KM away from Gangtok. Baba Mandir, located near Nathula Pass, signifies a tribute to the soldier Baba Harbhajan Singh.

Nathula is an adventure enthusiast place where you will experience the high altitude & breathtaking views.

• Location: Nathula Pass
• Time to visit: 7:30 AM -4:30 PM(Based of weather condition)
3. Zuluk

Zuluk is an east part of Sikkim known for its Silk Road. It is an offbeat location in Sikkim. If you are planning to stay in Zuluk for a night, you can experience the view of the Eastern Himalayan Ranges.

• Location: Zuluk
• Time to visit: 7:30 AM- 4:30 PM
• Entry: free

Note:

There will be two routes from Zuluk one is you can return to Siliguri and the other to Gangtok (same route). The distance between Zuluk and Siliguri is 129 KM and it is the best option if you are ending your trip

If you have extra days, plan to visit West Sikkim and enjoy the views of Mount Kanchenjunga and relax.

Some of the must-visit places in West Sikkim (Pelling):

• Skywalk Pelling
• Pemayangtse Gompa
• Shri Char Dham Temple
• Tashiding Monastery.

Day 6

If you have additional days in your trip, plan to visit Darjeeling, located near west Sikkim (70 KM).

The road to Darjeeling is snowy & beautiful.

Must visit places in Darjeeling:

• Tiger Hill(Sunrise)
• Peace Pagoda
• Batasia Loop
• Darjeeling railway station & toy train ride
• Tea garden view
• Darjeeling Zoo
• Himalayan Tibet Museum
• Barbotey Rock garde

Must visit places in Darjeeling:

• Momos
• Darjeeling tea
• Sel Roti
• Thupka

In conclusion, exploring Sikkim offers a remarkable journey through breathtaking landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and spiritual sanctuaries. From the majestic peaks of the Himalayas to the serene lakes, Sikkim attracts travelers with its diversified beauty. Whether you're seeking adventure or the tranquility of nature, Sikkim beckons with its unparalleled beauty and charm.

With this, we have covered most of the travel guidance to Sikkim including budget stays, places to visit, and many more. I hope you enjoyed it and I will see you in the next blog