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Route · Sikkim
Gangtok to Lachung is the first leg of every North Sikkim permit tour: north via Kabi, Phodong and Mangan to Chungthang, then up the Lachung Chu. About 115 km and 6–7 hours on narrow mountain roads, with permits and vehicle arranged by a registered agency.
Photo: Indrajit Das · CC BY-SA 3.0 · CommonsEvery way to go
| How | Time | Cost, indicative 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Shared tour | 6–7 h | ₹3,000–5,000 per person for 2 days incl. stay and meals |
| Private vehicle | 6–7 h | ₹16,000–25,000 per vehicle for 3 days with Lachen |
| Shared jeep to Mangan | 3–4 h to Mangan | ₹200–350 a seat |
Shared tours leave Gangtok around 10–11 am with a full jeep and include permits, basic accommodation in Lachung and meals. The Yumthang trip is next morning, then back to Gangtok. You have little choice of hotel, and seats at the back are bumpy.
A reserved SUV lets you stop at waterfalls, Phodong monastery and Chungthang, and choose better stays. Most private tours combine Lachung, Yumthang, Lachen and Gurudongmar over three days.
Shared jeeps run from Gangtok to Mangan, the district headquarters, but you still need a permit and permitted vehicle beyond. This is useful only if your agency arranges pick-up from Mangan.
At each end
Photo: IamBumba · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Sikkim's ridge-top capital and base for the north and east
Photo: Indrajit Das · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Commons
A valley village of the Lachungpas, base for Yumthang
Questions
About 115 km, 6–7 hours by road via Mangan and Chungthang.
Not directly. Lachung is a Protected Area, so you need a permit tour with a registered vehicle from Gangtok.
It is open most of the year, but closures for landslides, floods and repairs are common. Check current status before you travel.
March to May and October to December. Avoid June to September, when landslides often block the road.
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