Base at
Lachen
The quiet twin of Lachung, gateway to Gurudongmar.
- Altitude
- About 8,800ft
- Opens
- Chopta Valley, Thangu, Gurudongmar
- Permit
- PAP via registered agency
Lachen, home of the Lachenpa community, sits at about 8,800ft and opens the northern runs: Chopta Valley, Thangu and, for Indian nationals, Gurudongmar Lake at about 17,800ft. Foreign visitors may visit Lachen and Yumthang under current PAP rules but Gurudongmar is not open to them.
Nights are cold even in season; the 3:30am starts are part of the deal.
Quick answers
Lachen at a glance
Lachen or Lachung?
Both, on the standard 2-night loop: Lachen for Gurudongmar-Chopta, Lachung for Yumthang-Zero Point.
Practicals
Permits & season
No ILP, but protected areas (Nathula, North Sikkim beyond Mangan) need permits arranged through registered agencies ahead of travel.
March to May for rhododendrons and clear skies, October to December for the sharpest views; the monsoon closes high routes.
When to go
Plan around these months
Nearby
Close enough to combine
Things to do
What you're here for
Lachen Monastery
The village gompa above the roofs.
Star nights
Zero light pollution at 8,800ft.
Journal
Read before you go
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Explore Lachen
Facts checked against the official Sikkim tourism portal · Last verified 2026-09-26