Warm up at
Things to do in Thangu
The yak-herder highland at 13,500ft.
The list
The short version: A high seasonal village of yak herders on the Gurudongmar road, green only in summer.
01
Summer gold
The valley’s brief green season, Jun-Aug.
Know before you go
- Altitude
- About 13,500ft
- Life
- Seasonal yak-herder village
- Road
- Lachen-Gurudongmar route
Thangu is a high seasonal settlement at about 13,500ft where Lachenpa herders bring yaks for the short summer: cabins, an army checkpost and a valley that turns from white to gold-green for a few months.
Best time: May-June and September-October.
Practicals
Permits & season for Sikkim
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.
Thangu month by month
Places to visit near Thangu
All of Thangu, none of the guesswork
Fixed departures you can join solo, or a private plan around your dates. Prices on the page, real people on WhatsApp.
Keep planning
- Sikkim travel guide
- Flying into Pakyong Airport, Sikkim: flights, cabs and onward connections
- Sikkim permits: the complete guide
- How Many Days for Gangtok? 2, 3, 4 and 5 Day Versionsfrom the journal
- Gangtok in October: Kanchenjunga views and festival weatherfrom the journal
- How to Reach Gangtok: Flight, Train and Road, Comparedfrom the journal