Best month · Sikkim
Sikkim in May
Peak family season. Yumthang's flowers are at their height in early May, Gurudongmar is usually open, and Gangtok fills with visitors from the plains. Afternoon showers begin late in the month. Saga Dawa, the holiest month of the Buddhist year, often begins now, with a procession in Gangtok on its full moon.
Photo: Joginder Pathak · CC BY-SA 2.0 · CommonsWhere to go
Our picks for May
Photo: Joginder Pathak · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Commons
Yumthang Valley
Rhododendron meadows and a hot spring above Lachung
Photo: Original: Yoghya Derivative work: UnpetitproleX · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Gurudongmar Lake
A sacred lake above 5,100 m near the Tibetan plateau
Photo: Indrajit Das · CC BY 3.0 · Commons
Tsomgo Lake
A glacial lake at 3,750 m on the road to the Nathu La
Trips
Trips at their best in May
Photo: IamBumba · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Comfort
Sikkim monasteries and ridges, 6 nights
Private car with driver
Photo: IamBumba · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Comfort
North Sikkim: Lachen, Lachung, Gurudongmar
Private SUV with driver
Photo: IamBumba · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Saver
North Sikkim on a budget, 5 nights
Seats on shared permit-tour vehicles
Photo: IamBumba · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Saver
Sikkim west by shared jeep, 6 nights
Shared jeeps and local taxis
Photo: IamBumba · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Signature
Sikkim heritage hotels, 6 nights
Private SUV with driver and local guide
Photo: IamBumba · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Signature
Sikkim signature: Gangtok and the north
Private SUV with driver and local guide
Elsewhere in May
Other hives this month
Questions
Sikkim in May, answered
Is May a good time to visit Sikkim?
Peak family season. Yumthang's flowers are at their height in early May, Gurudongmar is usually open, and Gangtok fills with visitors from the plains. Afternoon showers begin late in the month. Saga Dawa, the holiest month of the Buddhist year, often begins now, with a procession in Gangtok on its full moon.
What is the weather like in Sikkim in May?
Gangtok about 14 to 22 °C; pre-monsoon showers. Conditions differ by altitude and coast, so check the forecast for each stop a week before you travel.
Where should we go in Sikkim in May?
We suggest Yumthang Valley, Gurudongmar Lake, Tsomgo Lake. Leave Gangtok for Tsomgo by 7 am; the permit queue and traffic build quickly in May.