Would you like to explore nature in its unaltered form? Then, the best thing you can do is think about an itinerary for Sikkim. Right from frozen lakes to impressive monasteries, you can expect to explore many places that are very close to nature in Sikkim. Can you spend 10 days in Sikkim? then, I would like to suggest a 10-day Sikkim itinerary to you:
10-day Sikkim Itinerary:
Day Zero:
Reach Gangtok:
As you are thinking about getting help from a Sikkim Tour planner, I would like to say that your Sikkim Exploration should begin from Gangtok. So, you should be ready to start your trip on the first day of the 10 days in Sikkim. Before this, you can reach either Bagdogra or New Jalpaiguri based on whether you reach the former or latter. The former is the home of the Bagdogra Airport, which is the nearest airport to Sikkim. The latter is the home for the Railway Station that is the nearest to Sikkim. From either of these two places, you can take a shared vehicle or a private cab to reach Gangtok.
Day One:
Go To Tsomgo Lake and Nathula:
Gangtok is the capital city of Sikkim. On your day one in the itinerary for Sikkim, you can start from Gangtok and can go to Tsomgo Lake, Nathula and get back to Gangtok. Here are some details about these places of attraction for tourists:
Tsomgo Lake:
This is a glacial lake and it is located at an altitude of more than 12000 ft. Near the lake, you can take yak rides. After spending some time in this lake, you can start your travel to reach Nathula. But, on your way to Nathula, do not miss out on visiting the Baba Mandir. This is a memorial built remembering the contribution to the nation by Harbhajan Singh. He was a soldier from the Punjab Regiment. Even now, it is believed that he continues to protect this region.
Nathula Pass:
When you drive from this place, you can reach the Nathula Pass located at a height of around 14000 ft. Some decades ago, Nathula Pass was functioning as the silk trade route between India and Tibet. After exploring these places, get back to your accommodation to spend the night at Gangtok.
Day Two:
Explore Gangtok:
When you stay in Gangtok on the second day of the Sikkim itinerary, you can wake up late. The reason is that after travelling a lot the previous day, you might feel tired. After waking up late, you can dedicate this day to roaming around the capital city. The city is located at a height of more than 5400 feet in east Sikkim.
When you explore this city, do not forget to get to the M.G. Marg. You will feel as if you are in a foreign land and not India. The reason is that Sikkim is a tidy and clean state. Particularly, you can spend the evening time in the M.G. Marg when the place is well lit. Remember that when you are roaming around the city exploring every small detail, you should carry your ID proof and photographs.
Day Three:
From Gangtok to Lachen:
As you had a lot of time to rest the previous day, it is better that on the third day of your Sikkim tour itinerary, you start early from your accommodation. When you do this, you can make multiple stops on your way to Lachen. The third day of your itinerary is the day on which your exciting trip to the north Sikkim begins. You will have to travel around 120 km from Gangtok to reach Lachen. It will take around 7 hours to travel. On your way, you can explore two main spots. They are the Seven Sister Waterfall and the Singhik View Point.
If you manage to reach Lachen by evening and you are ready to visit places, consider visiting the Lachen Monastery. From this monastery, you can get an excellent view of the entire Lachen Village. Also, this place houses a handicraft store from where you can buy items prepared by local artisans.
Day Four:
Visit The Gurudongmar Lake:
From Lachen, it will take around four hours of travel to reach Gurudongmar Lake. So, if possible, start by around 4 or 5 am itself. The climate in this lake area worsens as the day progresses. So, it is better to make sure that you reach this spot early and get back early.
You will realize that your plan to visit this lake is a wonderful decision you have made in your life. Yes, the lake has a legend according to which Guru Padmasambhava touched this lake to help locals manage water scarcity. Then, the locals were not able to access the water in this lake as it remained frozen due to cold weather. But, after the lake was touched by the Guru, it never freezes. You will also wonder how this lake alone remains without the water freezing when everything around is in a frozen state. It is believed that it happens because of the blessing of the late Guru.
On your way back, it would be better to ensure that you stop at Thagu. This is the final village on this route. In this village, you can eat something warm to keep yourself warm and do not forget to have a cup of tea to retain warmth.
Return to Lachen to finish your lunch. After finishing your lunch, you can start to Lachung. Also, you will be spending your fourth night in Lachung.
Day Five:
Drive to Lachung to Yumthang Valley:
Lachung is one of the hamlets in North Sikkim. When you stay at this place as per this Sikkim trip plan, you can use this place as the base for exploring attractions like Katoa, Zero Point and Yumthang Valley.
Make sure to complete your breakfast early and head towards Yumthang Valley, which is popular as a valley of flowers. This valley is the home of the Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary. When you get the chance to visit during the spring season, you can get to see different shades of rhododendrons in full bloom. You will get the feel of entering into a different world when you visit this valley.
Once you explore this valley, you can head to Zero Point, which is otherwise called Yumesamdong. It is called Zero Point because it is the final point, where the road comes to an end. It means that you can get to see the majestic Himalayas from Zero Point, which is a spectacular view for sure.
After taking some stunning pictures at Zero Point, you can head back to Lachung. Finish your lunch in Lachung and then head to Gangtok. When you start after completing the lunch in Lachung, it will take around the evening to reach Gangtok. So, it would be better to spend the night at Gangtok to prepare your body for exploration the following day.
Day Six:
Travel from Gangtok to Pelling through Ravangla:
As you had a tiring previous day, you can consider keeping this day a bit lighter. This is my suggestion in this Sikkim travel blog. After you finish your breakfast in Gangtok, you can consider starting your trip to Ravangla.
From Gangtok, it will take nearly 4 hours to reach Ravangla. One of the most attractive routes is through Temi Tea Estate. You can also consider taking the Yangang route, which is a bit shorter in distance.
Buddha Park at Ravangla:
Once you reach Ravangla, you can get to Buddha Park. The huge 130 feet high figurine of Gautam Buddha will welcome you at this park located in the Rabong Gompa. This is the popular place of interest in Ravangla and houses a lot of cafeterias, souvenir shops and manicured gardens. When you travel, remember that the park will close at 5 pm. So, if you cannot reach within this time, postpone a trip to this park to the following day.
After spending some time at Buddha Park, you can get to Kewzing, which will take you 10 km down on the Legship-Ravangla Road. This road will take you to Ravangla, where you would be spending the night. When you stay in Ravangla, you can consider a homestay here as against staying in a hotel. A homestay will bring you a relaxing experience for sure.
Day Seven:
Explore Kewzing:
You can reach Kewzing from Ravangla in less than 20 minutes as the distance is about 9 km alone. This is the ideal place for community tourism. It is inhabited by the Bhutia and Lepcha families. As the families themselves run the homestays, you can stay at home when you stay at Kewzing.
What to do in Kewzing will be your question. You can engage in activities like guided bird-watching, village hikes and cooking sessions. Are you a person interested in spending time outdoors? You can consider heading to Seven Mirror Lake and Doling Monastery.
This tourist attraction is not frequently visited by tourists. So, you can spend some quality time here as it is less crowded. You can get to see many sacred objects in the monastery and hearing about them and even seeing them can bring you a different experience for sure. The footprint of Lama Dorje Lingpa and Kanchendzonga are great attractions in this place. After exploring this place, visit the Seven Mirror Lake and get back to your homestay and spend some quality time in a fireplace with your family. The reason is that all houses in this region are traditionally constructed and they are equipped with a fireplace.
Day Eight:
Travel from Kewzing to Pelling:
As your Sikkim trip planner, I would like to suggest you finish your breakfast in Kewzing. It will take around 1.5 hours for you to reach Pelling as the distance is just around 40 km. Similar to other places, you can find homestay and hotel options in Pelling as well. After reaching Pelling, you can spend the remaining part of the day exploring the local attractions.
You can begin getting to the Pelling Skywalk and Sanga Choeling Monastery. The former holds the pride of being the first of its type skywalk in India. If you love thrilling experiences, you are sure to love walking over the skywalk made of glass as you can look down for the utmost thrill.
In Pelling, you can also visit the 300-year old Rabdentse Ruins and Pemayangtse Monastery. These places were used by the Sikkimese kings until the 19th century. You can learn about the great history of Sikkim when you visit these two places on your Sikkim Tour.
Day Nine:
Visit The Khecheopalri Lake:
You can dedicate the entire day nine in your Sikkim tour plan 10 days for exploring Khecheopalri Lake and nearby attractions. Start early from your Pelling accommodation and get to Khechopalri Lake. On the way, halt at Rimbi Orange Garden and Rimbi Waterfalls and take some stunning pictures.
You will be surprised to know that this lake is believed to be a wish-fulfilling lake by the Hindus and Buddhists. You can spend your afternoon beside the lake as you will have to make preparations to leave for your homeland the next day. So, finish off things as early as possible on this day.
Day Ten:
Pelling to Bagdogra:
In this Sikkim itinerary for 10 days, I would like to suggest you mark this day for travelling to Bagdogra if you have booked flight tickets to leave to your homeland. The distance from Pelling to this airport destination is around 140 km. So, it will take around 4 hours. If you have an evening flight schedule, you can leave the same day by starting early in the morning from Pelling. But, if you have the flight the next day morning, you can stay at Bagdogra itself.
The same rule applies if you plan to take your train at New Jalpaiguri. This place is also located at a similar distance from Pelling like Bagdogra. So plan things accordingly.
Conclusion:
Sikkim travel blogs and posts like this post will be helpful for you to plan things well. In turn, you can get the best and unforgettable experience at Sikkim.
