After coming back from the Kuari Pass Trek in June, 2006 I was restless as to where would we go in December. When a colleague suggested Sikkim, I liked the idea and when I told him, so did Sesha. We did check out a few packages for Sikkim Tourism but in the end we decided to do it on our own. We were visiting Pelling and Gangtok, the rest of the itinerary was flexible.
But my biggest worry was, “Would I freeze to death in Sikkim in December?” “Would there be too much snow?” Of course, I searched on the internet and was reassured that people do go to Sikkim in December and come back to tell the tale.
So, now that I am back I decided to do a FAQ for going to Sikkim in December.
Q. Is December the right month to visit Sikkim? Will it be too cold?
A. Right month would depend on what you want to do in Sikkim. Flowers would not be in bloom but most of the tourist areas are accessible in December and less crowded. So if December is the only time you can manage to get those leaves, a visit to Sikkim is possible.
At lower regions like Pelling and Gangtok, it was not really that cold in December. Pelling is at a height of 6,800 feet (2,085 m) and Gangtok has an altitude of 5,840 feet (1769 m). The weather forecast may say that temperatures vary from 15 degree Celsius (high) to 0 degree (lowest) in December. The thing is that days are quite sunny and 15 degree does not feel bad. 0 degree happens (if at all) when you are safely tucked inside a bed at night.
Of course, heavy woolens are required but I could keep the cold at bay by using multiple layer of clothing and a heavy jacket. And I am a person who finds cold extremely difficult to handle. So, my feeling is that at places like Pelling and Gangtok, December is quite OK.
In fact, it became quite crowded in Gangtok from 25th December to 31 December. Since we do not book our hotels in advances, that gave us a mild anxiety attack but there were still vacant rooms available in Gangtok in December.
Q. Will a trip to Yumthang be possible in December or the routes get closed due to snow?
A. No, the routes do not normally close. We were able to visit Yumthang (11800 feet, 3596m) in December without any difficulty. In fact, there was no snow at the Yumthang valley itself. To see the snow, we had to go to what is called as ‘Zero Point’ (14,600 feet, 4450m). It is definitely much more colder at these heights. But Yumthang Valley and Zero Point do not offer accommodation. One has to visit the area and come back. So, wrap yourself properly and when it becomes too cold outside, crawl back into the vehicle that took you there. Our shared jeep group could take Zero Point only for 45 minutes but that was enough for everyone of us. For my visit (December 28, 2006) there was not really any need to wear snow boots in the area.
The place where night accomodation is offered on the Yumthang trip is usually Lachung (8800 feet, 2682 m) and I found it cold. But we carry good sleeping bags with us and I use it in addition to the hotel supply of quilts. This is also due to the fact that I find cold extremely difficult to handle. The hotel rooms at Lachung are very basic and not heated.
Q. Will a trip to Nathu-La be possible in December or the routes get closed due to snow?
A.A trip to Nathu-La is possible in December, the routes are open. However, as the Sikkim Government Website informs us “Nathula is open only for Indian nationals on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. The visitors have to get the permit to visit the place by applying to the Tourism Department through a registered Travel Agency.” For the Indian nationals, the trip is possible. On my visit (December 30, 2006) there was no need to wear snow boots in the area.
Q. Can foreigners visit Nathu-La, the India China border?
A. If you look at the Sikkim governemnt website link above, it says as of now Nathu-La is open only to Indian nationals on specific days (look under the Nathu-La section).
Q. Will the Tsomgo lake (also known as Changu Lake) be frozen in December?
A. Tsomgo/Changu Lake is on the way to Nathu-La and the tourist jeeps make a stop here for lunch (even otherwise). On my trip (December 30, 2006) it was not frozen. However, a friend who visited Sikkim in February said it was frozen then. I had my lunch here on my way back from Nathu-La, and I found it really cold but bearable. Also, while going we made a brief stop and the weather was clear. On the way back, a thick fog had developed and I could not take anymore pictures of the lake due to the fog.
Q. Can foreigners visit Tsomgo/Changu Lake in Sikkim?
A. Again, quoting from the Sikkim government website, “Foreign visitors have to be in a group of two or more and have to apply for the visitors permit through a registered travel agency.” (look under the Tsomgo Lake section).
Q. Do I need to book al the tours before reaching Sikkim in December?
A. That depends on your comfort level. We did not pre-book hotels, or tours for Yumthang and Nathu-La (December 2006) and had no problem with anything. But we are backpackers. So, if you do not want to pre-book from your city, it is OK. We asked for a trip to Yumthang for next day and we had no problem in getting the permit.
Nathu-La is open only on specific days,so the trip requires a little bit of extra planning. For example I booked my 30th December tour to Nathu-La on 27th December and got the permit.
If you have any other question for going to Sikkim in December, please leave a comment. I would try to answer it as soon as possible.
Note:
Also, the information above should be treated with caution, as the guidelines and rules of the Indian government could change.
The weather is a fickle thing and what is true in 2006 may not remain the same in other years. Also, what is reasonably cold for one person may not be so for another. I have tried to give you my impressions an hope that it may help you for planning a trip to Sikkim in December.
PS. If you are planning to buy Winter Jackets
“Zero Point (Altitude 14,600 feet, 44503596m), Beyond Yumthang Valley, North Sikkim” 44503596m :-O a bit too much.
Yes, it is way too much 🙂 Thanks for pointing it out. The error and other typos stand corrected now. I posted this one in a hurry. Note to self: the post would not run away if saved in the draft mode.
Very useful FAQ Mridula. Looks like your Sikkim trip was a lot of fun.
Nice FAQ – very helpful indeed. I must say, that though I don’t post many comments, I am a regular reader to all your travel posts now ! Thanks for the wonderful pictures…
Very much helpful FAQ… and nice photos…
Nice FAQs. I have never crossed bihar towards east. Can you tell me the expenses on boarding, lodging and conveyance. I always tour on shoe string budget.
I went to Sikkim in February and t was awesome …the snow had melted a bit abd the Tsongo lake was not frozen , but there was enough snow at nathulla . I had only visited Gangtok , Pelling and Yuksom – could not go to North Sikkim…however Arunachal this Dec was freezing …sub zero,15000 feet
Pooja, good to see you here after a long time. The Sikkim trip was good fun for us, I hope the memories will last till I go for another trip :)Kartik, thanks a lot for taking time and leaving a comment. And a bigger thanks for reading what I write :)Thanks Prashanth.Karnail, I will leave out the train fare of reaching New Jalpaiguri as it can be checked from the Indian railway site.A shared jeep ticket from New Jalpaiguri to Gangtok is Rs 150. The same for Pelling is 300. We paid 300 rupess for the hotel per day in Pelling (but some were paying 500 too for the similar rooms in the same hotel). In December (and cloder months in general) in Pelling a lot of rooms are empty, so one can get rooms for even less. Even in Gangtok one can find rooms for 350 or less if one tries. My hunch is that in season the rates may be a bit on the higher side.Food cost, again a wide variety of options are available, from very low to high. But if you are used to Delhi rates (or any metro) even the high end restaurants in Gangtok are much less expensive. Hope this helps, if I have left out something, do let me know.
Backpakker, while I was writing the reply, your comment came in. Thanks for the Feb information. If the picture of the lake on your blog is anything to go by, Arunanchal Pradesh is going to be on my agenda.
Brilliant, i’ll del.icio.us this for future reference. Your posts have only spurred me on.Anyways, the XT is good camera – the more you use it the more get better :)Cheers.
Akshay, good to hear that you found the FAQ on Sikkim useful.I guess I would get better with the camera if I play with it more but when I reach home, all I can think of is a good cup of tea.I might go somewhere in Feb and I will surely take tons of pictures then and i hope some of them would come out well too.
Another of my friends travelled to a few more NE states this year and had a good trip too. Hope I’ll be able to do that some time soon!
Why wait for such things Sidhu? Do it at the first opportunity I say.
Can tourists cross over to China with a valid visa through the Nathu La Pass?Pls reply to [email protected]
12s, as far as I know tourists cannot cross the border via Nathu-La at this point. Only traders can go upto a specific point, though even the trade was closed during the winter. I also cannot make out if you are an Indian national or not. Because as of now Govt. of India does not allow foreigners to go up to Nathu-La. Hope this helps.
This may be slightly off topic, but is it possible to trek from Sikkim into Bhutan? or for that matter, into China? I’m currently planning a trek in Sikkim that will span a month, so any information would be helpful. Thanks!
Nicolai, as far as I know, one cannot cross from India to China. Not too sure about the Bhutan thing.
Hello Mridula! An excellent blog, and a very informative article about Sikkim. Am going there next week with my friends, and I stumbled upon your travelogue while hunting for info. The Yumthang Valley picture is excellent! Thank you for sharing your enthusiasm!Sincerely,Sushanth
Sushanth, thanks a lot for your comment. Hope you will have a wonderful trip.
Still remains a great blog for travel to Sikkim during December which I am planning this month. Thanks for all the information. Keep up the good work – Amit Bhatnagar
Thank you Amit. Wish you a wonderful trip.
hi,me and a few guys from work are planning to go to Sikkim this month end and i was wondering if you could give us any sort of "places to visit" in Sikkim. We would be staying in Gangtok for 6 days and would like to know the places we can visit in this time span (major places of attraction and must visits), It would be great if you could help me out! :)regards,karthik
6 days in my opinion for Gangtok is too long. One good day trip from gangtok is Nathu-La. North Sikkim is also beautiful. Give it a try.
Dear Mridula
Thanks a ton for the useful info. Im planning a trip with my husband and 3 yr old son during the Xmas break. Is it a good time to travel. What is the itinerary that you would suggest for a one week trip. Also any decent hotels that you can suggest. I know im asking for too much but the problem is I once organised a trip to Darjeeling and it was an absolute fiasco – badly treated and cheated…dont want it to happen again. Thanks Sai
Hi Sai,
I am weak in the hotel department. Xmas break is a good time to see snow. When we did this trip my husband and I would stay at budget places which we would book only after arriving hence I really do not have a hotel recommendation. I would say try http://www.indiamike.com and search for hotels there. If you need more discussion write an email, we can then discuss it in greater detail.
Excellent info at this blog
Can someone guide me as to howmany days would be needed to explore N E INDIA if i start my trip from Guwahati.What are the ‘must see or experience” places in this region other then the regular Darjeeling.
Rajesh unfortunately I have only been to parts of Sikkim hence no idea about the N.E. in general. Try searching at http://www.indiamike.com.
Dear Rajesh,
I suggest you do Shillong, Meghalaya and from shillong you can visit Cheerapunji enroute you will see lot of places and one day you can go to Bangladesh border on way back you can see Mawlylong cleanest village in Asia
can it be possible to reach darjelling from lachung in a single day? how much distance and time require for it?
I have no idea about this one.
wonderful guidelines for anyone visiting sikkim..
Thank you Yaman.
How many days do you consider sufficient for sikkim trip…? i m planning to send my parents on holidays in december…
Arpit that would depend on what they want to see. And how long before they feel tired. We went for a week.
Your FAQs are very useful and I am planning a trip to Lachen & Lachung on this new year. I want to know that can I go there on my private vehicle, is it possible ? I mean do we need any kind of permit for that ?
And one more thing is it possible to go to Lachen from Siliguri on the same day ?
I am looking forward to your reply, it will help me in planning my tour..
Ayan I have no idea about private vehicles being permitted so really sorry.
Very Good Information. I have planned for visit to Gangok, Yumthang, Pelling Nathula and Chhangu Lake this December end from 21-31 December and would share my expenditure afer my return.
Thanks Umesh. Enjoy.
Dear Mridula,
Thanks a lot for the blog! Very informative and helpful. After reading this I finalized my family tour to Sikkim in December 2013! 25Dec to 2 Jan. Mumbai-
25,Bagdogra-Gangtok-
26,Nathula and back-
27,Lachung-
28,yumthung and zero point and back to Lachung-
29,Gangtok-
30, Gangtok sightseeing shopping-Bagdogra.
Yet I have 2 days more. I would love to have your suggestion-modification, Please. We are family of 4, age 50, 45, 24, 19. Should I add Pelling? Or stay a night more on above mentioned place?
Yes Pelling can give you amazing views of Kunchanjunga! It is otherwise also beautiful.
Are you Gujarati? I am Gujarati. I would like to know that will a trip to Gurudongmar be possible in December or the routes get closed due to snow?
Very informative and cleared a lot of doubts! Very happy to hear that Yumthang Valley and Nathula Pass will be accessible in December. And just a question.. In Sikkim, can we actually experience a ‘snowfall’ at any place in December?
Thanks Prathima. I think you can if you go beyond Yumthang Valley but not sure. I remember a very light snowfall on the way to Nathu-La.
Hi Mridula
Really liked your blog. We are planning a trip in december end (25th to 1st Jan) and we have aged as well as infant (2 yr) with us. Will it be a problem?
Hi Monal,
Not sure how high you plan to go. Not sure how a two year old will react to altitude. A doctor would know best. Gangtok etc should not be a problem but do check with a doctor.
We would reach bagdogra on 24th and would be using taxi from there. Also we would cover only gangtok, pelling and darjeeling. We are planning to visit till changu lake but wont go beyond that..
Please let me know your suggesstion.
It should be fine!
Hi,
Iam planning 4-5 days trip to sikkim, I wanted to know the places we can explore in 5 days, Also I have a choice either to go in 2nd week of December or in last week of December i.e on Christmas time, I have no problem with snow fall but a little worried if the roads will be dangerous due to fog and snow.
If you can help me with my queries, it would be grateful
Thanks
Kriti it will be fine at any of those weeks. When I was there it was quite doable.
Hi Mridula,
I am planning to visit Dzongu in North Sikkim in the last week of December. Will the roads be clear?Any suggestions??
Anwesha we reached up to Zero point but could not go to the lake because of there were no takers for a shared jeep. I don’t think normally there is any problem up to Zero Point.
Thank you so much!
You are most welcome!
Hi,
I’m from Bangladesh. I along with my wife and another family plan to travel to Gangtok, Tsongmo lake on 2nd week of this month.Will we need special permission ? Can we see snow in Tsongmo lake at that time? It will be helpful for us if you let me inform it.
With thanks.
Wish you a good trip Dr. Biswas. This is the latest website of the government and the information remains the same- foreigners have to be in a group of two or more. Any travel agent should be able to do it for you. Hope this helps.
This is the link http://sikkimtourism.gov.in/Webforms/General/SikkimAtAGlance/MountainPasses.aspx
Thank you for great info and the link. You are a true inspiration for me.
want to go to sikkim in mid feb 2014 ( winter month) for 3 nights – 3/4 person. plz suggest what r d best places to vist in winter ( 3 nights stay) , where to stay – want to c a nice monastery, nature , flowers . if possible also include approx cost .
TPS I was not there in February so no idea, really sorry.
I want to know that which month is the right month to go to Gangtok for showing snow falls, frozen…
I am not sure about Gangtok but there was ample snow at Zero Point in December.
hey Mridula, that was a nice blog. I went through lot of comments as well.. however, Im planning a trip to Sikkim this nov end – dec start with my wife. We should be good for 7 days excluding travel time. I found these places i.e. Gangtok,
Bagdogra, Pellang, Nathula pass, Lachung, yumthung and zero point to be doable during this time. We are even hoping for some snow. Could you help us plan the itinerary, that would be really great.
Thanks,
Karan
Hi Mridula,
Need few info. to visit Nathula in last week of December.
-On or after 28th December if the route to Nathula remains open and easily accessible.
-Can we get XUV, Safari, Scorpio on hire from Gangtok.
-Temperature in that region. Accordingly we will plan necessary protection.
Married recently. Me and my wife will be the only members in this route. We will start from KOLKATA on 25th Dec by flight and visit Pelling first. On 28th Dec will reach Gangtok. It will very helpful if you can please suggest us an itinerary from Gangtok to Nathula-Yumthang-Zero Point- Changu Lake- Old Babamandir- Gurudongmar etc. Is there any possibility of road block due to snowfall in any of these route during this time?
Our return flight will be on 4th Jan from Bagdogra.
Thanks,
Tuhin
Hi Tuhin, as far as I know if the weather condition is fair Nathu-La would be open. It would be cold, I would recommend thick woolens. I went in a normal vehicle so I have no idea about SUVs. Temperature cold around 4 or lower. Congratulations to you and your wife! We could not do Gurudongmar as there was no one was willing to share a jeep.
Weather is completely unpredictable, I cannot predict it. Even weather department gets it wrong 😀 I would say go and enjoy whatever you can do!
Hi Mridula,
Happy I came across your blog. It is quite comprehensive. I am planning to visit with my parents from Dec 23rd to Jan 1st. Is it too much time to spend there? Could you help me plan an itinerary in and around Gangtok (places in North and south Sikkim). Any travel agents you recommend who could help with permits and also charge a decent fare for day trips to NAthuLA etc.?
Looking forward to your response.
Hi Parinitha
I think one week is enough, certainly not too much. I visited long back in 2007 so I do not have travel agent contacts. About planning the itinerary the places I visited are Pelling, Gangtok, Nathu-La, Yumthang and Zero point. Hope this helps a little.
Hello Mridula,
Very informative blog. Cheers to that!!
We are group of 7 people (mixed group age avg. around 26 years). We are planning a road trip to Sikkim on our bikes from 21st to 26th Dec 15.
I have a few queries though, would appreciate your inputs. (extreme cold won’t be an issue for us)
1) Restriction to outside Sikkim vehicle in North-Sikkim. is it true?
2) Accessibility to north Sikkim (Gurudongkar lake) on bike due to ice on roads? if u have spotted any in while travelling?
3) Similarly feasibility to NathuLA on bike?
Regards,
Ankit Negi
Accessibility to zero-point as well? on bike 🙂
Ankit but do they give bike permits to Nathu-La? I am not sure. About ice in the roads in December it would be a serious issue. I could not visit Gurudongkar as there were no other takers for a shared jeep. I also do not know about the restrictions on non Sikkim vehicles. Sorry about that.
Regarding zero point when we went there was a lot of snow and our jeep skidded off the road. Had to be pushed back on the road. I have no idea about bikes but you need to figure it out.
Hi Mridula,
First of all, great post! I was having my doubts of visiting the area on December due to low temperatures, but now I would certainly do it.
Just a quick question, would you recomend to bring trecking boots to the area with you?
Regards,
Alvaro
Hi Alvaro, Only if you are planning to trek. Otherwise normal boots were fine. Wish you a wonderful trip.
Hi mridula,
Me and two friends are planning a trip to sikkim including gangtok, pelling and changu lake in the last week of december… what would be the approximate cost of the whole trip on an average?
Biswa I did this trip long ago, so sorry I forgot the price. If you use shared jeeps it should not be too much. Private jeeps would be expensive.
Thanks anyway…
Hi Mridhula
you seem to be a great guide and friend for the travellers to sikkim
hope you could help me too , we are a family of 4 eldest being 48 and youngest being 16 and we are trying to book on to the mahindra holidays at gangtok for 4 days , so we can go around gangtok and get back to stay in the resort , can you advise were all we can go/visit ex gangtok and where else we can go further and stay else were if its interesting.. would appreciate your help
You could stay in Gangtok, explore nearby and take trips to Nathu-La and Pelling? What do you say?
Hllo sir
Me my wife and my child r planning to visit Gangtok in mid DEC
My queries are
Should I prebook my tour
Should all tourist attractions open tat time
Should I able to see snow tat time…plz help as I m totally stranger to tat part of india
It is ma’am and not sir 😀 You could just book your hotel and nothing else. Tourist attractions should be open. Weather only god can decide so can’t predict if there will be snow. When we went we got no snow in Gangtok but we saw plenty at Zero Point beyond Yumthang Valley.
Hello,
after reading your article it seems that you enjoyed a lot there. I am also planning my Sikkim trip after my semester exams. I have heard that the roads are not in very great condition there, plus due to heavy snow one might get trapped at any place. Is it true?
and please also tell me that can i see snowfall anywhere there?
When we went we visited Pelling, Gangtok, Nathu-La and Yumthang and we didn’t get trapped anywhere. Heavy snow was there only at Zero Point beyond Yumthang. It was very cold at Changu Lake as well. I hope this answers some of your questions. W saw mild snow fall while coming back from Nathu-La.
Going to North Sikkim from 7th Dec to 12th dec. My plan
Gtk- Lachen- Gurudongmar Lake-Lachung- Yumthang-Zero point- Nathula (chhangu lake, Baba Mandir etc on way)
We are middle aged and our daughter 19 years….
1) I understand it won’t be unbearable?
2) Roads will be open?
3) Chances of getting rain?
Thanks in advance
We could not go to the Gurudongmar Lake because we were traveling by shared jeeps and there were no other takers for the destination! Other than that it was cold but hardly faced any other problems!
Wow.. What a description and it is still alive after so many years. Thanks a lot. That was really helpful. I am visiting Sikkim during 3rd week of December this year (Honeymoon trip). Confused whether I should go to Darjeeling ( just for Tiger Hill Sunrise) or Yumthang. Till now I have a plan to go Darjeeling from Pelling. But I can go to Yumthang from Pelling and Yumthang to NJP station. What would you suggest?
Hi Amit, ask your wife what she will like? This could be a lot of running around for you guys? Pelling to Yumthang could be long. They anyway stop for might at Lachung. It could be a lot of running around. I presume you are hiring your own vehicle? Not sure how much my reply helped though.
Thanks Mridula, Yes every journey will be in private vehicle. Can I post my itinerary and could please extract some time to suggest me that how can I accommodate Lachung and Yumthang leaving Darjeeling?
Please do! I will try to see if I can be of any help!
Hi Mriduala
kudos to you, for giving so much advice and help to people visiting sikkim. I wanted to visit sikkim in the first week of Jan with my family of ten members eldest member my father is 68 years and youngest my son of 7 years. Is it the right time to visit with family and is there any vegetarian food available in sikkim
Hi Abhaya,
Yes you can visit Sikkim in January, only it will be cold. Vegetarian food is available in Sikkim. I hope you will have a good trip.
I want to know from you that if i visit at nathula pass on 13th december 2015.can i find many snow fall at nathula and changu lake.
When I visited there was snow at both the places, not much but it was truly cold. But I did not see any snowfall at either. On our way back we did see a mild snowfall. Hope this helps.
hello ma’am,
can you please advice me on a tour itinerary for 8 days ? i want to visit nathula, changu, gurudongmar lake,yamthung valley, zero point and also pelling… and i also visit zuluk in these 8 days? please also tell the total cost of the tour if we hire shared cab… what is the cost for exclusive small cab to gurudongmar lake …. i am travelling with a friend… please tell me
thanks in advance
Akhil I did the trip in 2007. So I don’t remember the cost. My best wishes for your trip. When are you going?
ma’am the tickets are for 11th December… please help me with the itinerary
Akhil, where are you landing? Moving around in Sikkim is not difficult. Just land and go wherever you wish to. That is what we did. We just reached Pelling and went wherever we wanted after that 😀
thanks ma’am
Hi Mridula ,
I along with my friends are planning for the trip in 3rd week of January (22-26) , but the problem is that I am hearing from some people of adverse climate conditions during those time of the year . I have also heard that the roads are closed and all those sort of talks. It would be really nice if you could provide with some suggestions regarding this .
I have not been in late Jan but I have a feeling you will be fine and you will have adventure. I know a friend who went in early Feb on his honeymoon 😀 They told me Changu Lake was frozen solid!
Hi Mridula,
Thanks for your blog. It is really informative.
But I have a question like:
I will be visiting with my parents age is 55+ ,So, is it fine to go to yumthung on 28th of december?
Thanks in Advance.
It will be cold but they should do fine. I see no reason why they won’t enjoy it!
Hi there, did you do any hiking at all while you were there? I’m wondering how feasible that will be in December, since its the month most people have a break. In particular I was thinking of hiking around the lake and the pass as the north I suspect maybe a bit treacherous.
Cheers
M
I am not sure about the lake in December! We could not even go to the lake in December by vehicle.
Hi
I m planning to visit Gangtok and Darjeeling in the month of December 2016 with my wife. Is it safe and sound to travel considering the facts of landslides and heavy snowfall and which are the best places to visit in these areas. Kindly suggest
Thanks
Ashish
Hi Mridula,
I am Ajita from Mumbai. I have planned my trip with family to Sikkim from dec 9-15, 2016.
I just wanted to know what are the kind of shoes I need to carry? Also does it rain in Dec for me to carry umbrellas. I am planning to wear normal sports shoes. And as far as clothing is concerned, I will b wearing body warmers and tshirts with jackets or pullovers. Is that enough?
Kindly guide. Sorry if I am sounding stupid, but didnt want to tk chances. Me too cant bear too much cold, hence booked early Dec.
Regards,
Hi Ajita,
Heavy woolens will work well, so will layering. Sports shoes will do. When we visited Nathu la there was no snow so don’t hire the snow boots on the way. I would say carry an umbrella as it mountains it can rain anytime! Wish you a wonderful trip.
This is exactly what i am looking for nice FAQ Very much help full . Just Want to know one more thing ..is it possible to get permit for Nathula pass and north Sikkim in advance ? .. Thanks
Yes your travel agent can get it for you.
hi , I was looking for some information on internet for Darjeeling – Sikkim tour in december. and very happy to find your blog.
actually almost all my questions are covered earlier .
what I m looking for is do’s and dont’s tips from ppl. who went in December 2015 -2014. then we can expect same weather conditions and be prepared for all questions like all roads are open ? which hotels have better heating system ? vegetarian need to carry some food or not ? Please give your feedback and make this blog more informative and helpful to others. Thanking you in advance. Have a great day ahead..
I have not been there recently so can’t help.
Hi Mridula ,
I am planning to take my 1 year old son to Baiguney Club Mahindra resort, end of November . Is it going to be very cold out there ?
We plan to take the flight until Bagdogra . Is the journey from the airport to Baiguney very difficult for a 1 year old to manage ? What kind of temperature can I expect ?
Thanks!
Anitha.
No the journey to Baiguney is OK, it is not too bad. The days will be alright and the low temperature at night will not feel too bad as you would be indoors by then.
HI there! this is definitely very useful. I wanted to plan a trip to sikkim between Dec 29 to Jan 2 for myself and my wife who are of 29 years each. Could you suggest a possible to do list? We dont want to backpack exactly but were also thinking of homestays. Any ideas? Also, what vehicle/tour operators to go with for getting around to the different places?
I am really sorry I cannot do itineraries but even if you turn up you can find operators who will organize things for you from Gangtok or Pelling.
Hi ,we are planning a bike trip to Sikkim on Dec 24th to Jan 8th .Is it possible to get permits in advance to visit North & East Sikkim ?
You can get it at Gangtok!
Hi, I am thinking of traveling on bike solo from bandoria via darjelling to gangtok and explore other places around. Is it possible to travel on bike in the month of December in sikkim.
The roads are clear in most of the Sikkim. Only in North Sikkim I remember seeing a lot of snow when we went to zero point.
I am Planning to Visit Gurudongmar in march mid 2017,
I will be starting my travel as below:
> 18th I will be travelling to Lachung from Gangtok then overnight stay in lachung.
> 19th I will visit Gurudongmar early half of the day and then planning to go back to Gangtok same day.
So my question 1 : Is it possible to travel back to Gangtok from Gurudongmar on same day.
question 2 : How to manage transport for Gangtok – Lachung – Gurudongmar with one night stay in lachung hor which my Hotel is already booked.
You will need to hire a taxi, the distance between the two is 175 kilometers and travel time between 8 to 10 hours. Do plan accordingly.
Hi All,
I am planning to travel to Gangtok, Pelling, Kalimpong in December end. Can you suggest how I should be planning the trip in terms of: sequence of visiting the destinations. Can I cover all of these in 6 nights/6 days. WIll be landing in Bagdogra.
What are the places I can cover in these places? I want to make my daughter experience snow-fall. Will that be possible?
Thanks for your inputs in advance
Best Regards,
Hi We did Pelling and then Gangtok. I have not been to Kalimpong. We experienced snowfall only at one place, the Zero Point beyond the Yumthang Valley in North Sikkim. Do think if you wish to go to Nathu La too.
Hi…..quite an informative blog….
I would like to know being a solo traveler would there be any issue in accessing nathula/changu/ baba mandir???
Also, I am planning my trip at the end of January 2019, so are there any chances to be able to visit nathula pass???
And would there be any problem in getting in touch with local travel agents for the permit once reach Gangtok???
Permit is required for visit Changu Lake???
Hi you will not face any problem as a solo traveler. It is easy to get in touch with a local travel agent and get the permits done. You can do it easily after reaching Gangtok.
Very informative and assuring blog 🙂 thank you.
I am planning to visit in Dec 2018, would let you know the experience so that you have some latest info in here.
Thank you again for such a nice article.
I would really value the update. Have a great trip!
Hello , how much approximate car fare from Lachung to zero point , Lachen to gurudongmar lake or Lachung to katao?
Can how can we pass for zero point , katao , gurudongmar lake etc .
Hi, I did the trip a long time ago, so I am really sorry I do not have latest price information.
Do you get shared cabs to make your trips to Tsomgo, Nathula, Zero Point etc? Where and how to find them?
How is bus connectivity to move from cities to cities/ towns to towns?
Any travel agent in the main market would arrange it!
This is just more than FAQ’s. Fears about a trip in December is now completely gone. Thanks for the amazing post !