Breathtaking Landscape!

This trip is Ex-Bagdogra.
Reach Bagdogra by 1 PM on Day 1 and fly out after 1 PM on Day 9. Kurseong to Bagdogra airport takes 1.5 hours. Keeping delays in mind, it will be safe to book a flight that takes off around 1 PM.

April-end/May-start is the onset of Summer in Sikkim. However, in North Sikkim, the lowest temperatures may still go in single digits (approx 5 degrees C). You will need your warm clothes.

*Please note that now a days, climate/ weather is dependent on many factors and unpredictable hence above information might be subject to change during your actual travel days

Everyone joining is an adult and we realise that we cannot dictate the behaviour on how you should enjoy the trip. All we ask is to drink responsibly. Hangover delays are going to cost a lot, and will not be tolerated at all. Excessive drinking on higher altitudes can result in serious dehydration and should be avoided. So please do not test your limits and enjoy in moderation. Also, do respect your roommate’s comfort levels with the alcohol smell and avoid drinking in the room if she is not comfortable.
If you smoke, please do so outside the room, even if the rooms have ashtray.

• Gangtok – A well appointed family-run homestay completely to ourselves.
• Lachen – A well appointed hotel. Please note that Lachen is a town used as a base camp for Gurudongmar and various North Sikkim hikes. It is remote and remains closed for a good 4 to 5 months a year. Considering this, one cannot expect the luxury/amenities that we are used to at other hospitality establishments. Having said that, we will have the basic amenities – food, attached washrooms with water heaters and comfortable beds.
• Lachung – Beautiful, conveniently located boutique hotel
• Martam – A boutique property near the Rumtek Monastery.
• Kurseong – A heritage boutique hotel with a plethora of tea-history
• Dzongu (Mangan) – A boutique stay amidst nature with 3 large rooms and 1 Swiss tent, each with attached bathrooms. Please note:
  • No other place of stay in Dzongu have attached bathrooms, or a large room inventory
  • Munlom Nature Resort is the only one that provides the comfort and amenities suitable for an F5 Escapes trip and the authenticity of local culture that F5 Escapes is known for.
  • Hence, it will have to be triple sharing at Dzongu
  • Person opting for a single occupancy surcharge, will have the Swiss tent for herself. Swiss tents are like glamping tents with all amenities of a standard hotel room.

• Simple Indian food such as rotis/dal, rice etc. Toast/Omelettes will be available. 
• There will be some local Sikkimese dishes too. Option of continental food will be available at MG Road Gangtok.
• North Sikkim is remote and rotis do not form a part of the local diet. So lunch/dinner will be rice, dal, veggies, chutneys etc.
• If you have special dietary requests, please let us know beforehand. 

• Higher altitudes require a certain level of fitness. We are not strictly trekking in Lachen and Lachung, but walking at high altitudes is tiresome.  In Dzongu, the nature trails will feel like treks, given the altitude (around 8000 to 10000 ft altitudes). You can choose to sit them out and relax during the stay. If you can walk briskly for 2 kilometres regularly, you should be okay. Please also remember that nature trails or treks in the Himalayas are not races. Even if you regularly run in the plains, you will have to pace it out slowly on a climb. If walking at steep places is an issue for you, please reconsider.

• Changu Lake is at 12,000 ft and Nathu La is at over 14,000 ft. Furthermore Gurudongmar is at 17,000ft. While there is no trek required to visit these places, being at these altitudes will be exhausting due to oxygen rarity and low temperatures. We will share with you the do’s and don’ts of travelling to high altitude places and will need a consent form from you. Please consult your physician regarding the same.

• The roads in North Sikkim are really bad. There will be patches where the speed will be less than 20 kmph. Some people say that ‘non-existent’ will be a better term for the roads there. The rewards more than make up for it, though! Although the vehicles will be Innovas, the journey will be tiring. Please reconsider if you have back/knee issues. The journey will have enough breaks however for everyone to stretch and walk it off.
• We will have 2 Innovas for a group of 10 (max). It is mandatory to switch seats. You cannot expect to be seated in front or at window seats during the entire trip. If you have motion sickness, please know that others would also have that issue. It is better to have your medication in place. If seating in the middle or the back seat of Innova is not for you, we can plan a customised trip for you but you should probably not be a part of the group trip.

• Please note that Lachen is a town used as a base camp for Gurudongmar and various North Sikkim hikes, and most visitors do not spend more than 12 hours in the hotel.  It is remote and remains closed for a good 4 to 5 months a year. Considering this, one cannot expect the luxury/amenities that we are used to at other hospitality establishments. Having said that, we will have the basic amenities – food, attached washrooms with water heaters, and comfortable beds.

• Sikkim is a 100% organic state and people there live as naturally as possible. All stays will have water heating facilities and in case of a power cut, the hosts will provide you hot water from wood-fired heaters. Please do not insist on a diesel run generator and have patience.

• Sun rises early and sets early in North East India. So our days will start early and end early. To cover everything that is promised, it is important that we maintain the timings. Although distances are less, the mountain roads make it difficult to maintain the average speed of more than 25kmph.

• We really want to take you to Nathu La, War Memorial and Baba Mandir, Zero Point and Gurudongmar. However, these areas are army controlled and face unpredictable weather turns. Hence the permits to visit these places are allotted just a day before. Thus, please be prepared for the eventuality of bad weather and trust us to try our best.

• To visit Gurudongmar, you will have to start at 5:00AM. Tourists are not allowed at the lake beyond 11AM. It takes a minimum of 3 hours from Lachen to Gurudongmar Lake.

• The last night in Kurseong is strategic so that you get to experience another beautiful place and be close to the airport for your return flight. Staying overnight in Siliguri/Bagdogra is boring.

• Mountain states may get rainfall/snowfall unexpectedly anytime.

• Network in North Sikkim is patchy at best. BSNL postpaid has the maximum chances of working. You can expect Wifi in Gangtok and Kurseong but not anywhere else.