Ascend into

Sikkim

Orchids, monasteries and Kanchenjunga views, permit rules by the valley.

Capital: Gangtok
Airports: Bagdogra (120km) / Pakyong
Permit: PAP for protected areas
Best time: Mar-May and Oct-Dec
Signature: Kanchenjunga, monasteries

Sikkim is small on the map and enormous in altitude, which is why its official seasons refuse a single "best month": winter (Jan-Mar) brings snow and festivals like Losoong and Losar; spring (Mar-May) is the blooming season; the monsoon (May-early Oct) peaks in July, the wettest month, when blocked roads and flight delays should be expected; and October to mid-December delivers the clear Himalayan-view season.

Permits shape the itinerary more than weather does. Protected Area Permits apply across defined zones: East (Tsomgo-Baba Mandir, Nathula), North (Yumthang, Yumesamdong, Thangu-Chopta Valley, Gurudongmar, Green Lake Trek), West (Dzongri and Singalila treks) and South (Maenam Trek, alpine mountaineering, parks). Foreign tourists may visit Tsomgo and the Lachen-Lachung-Yumthang-Thangu valleys under the current PAP system, but Nathula, Gurudongmar and Zuluk are not open to them. Motorbikes need 150cc or larger engines to enter PAP areas.

Quick answers

Sikkim at a glance

Do Indians need a permit for Sikkim?

Not for Gangtok, Pelling, Namchi or South/West towns. Protected areas (Nathula, Tsomgo, North Sikkim, treks) need permits arranged through registered agencies; Nathula is processed via the Tourism Department and Police Check Post.

Can foreigners visit Nathula?

No, the pass is open to domestic tourists only under the current PAP rules. Foreigners may visit Tsomgo Lake and the Lachen-Lachung-Yumthang-Thangu valleys.

Can foreigners visit Gurudongmar Lake?

No, Gurudongmar is not permitted for foreign tourists under current rules; foreigners can visit Lachen and Yumthang under the stated system.

What engine does my motorbike need?

150cc or higher to enter PAP areas, per the official Sikkim PAP page.

When is the clearest weather?

October to mid-December is the official clear-view window; March-May trades some clarity for rhododendrons and orchids.

Where to go