Sikkim
Private luxury tours through Sikkim's Himalayan monasteries, Kanchenjunga viewpoints, and hill-station capital.
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Sikkim
Sikkim sits tucked into the eastern Himalaya, where Kanchenjunga rises directly into view. The world's third-highest peak dominates skylines from dozens of mountain villages. Tibetan Buddhism has shaped this small state for centuries, and monasteries like Rumtek and Pemayangtse still hold daily prayer. Gangtok, the hill capital, climbs a ridge in tiers of prayer flags and pine forest. Sikkim became India's first fully organic farming state in 2016. A private guide and driver time each monastery visit around the clearest mountain light.
Gangtok
Sikkim's capital climbs a pine-covered ridge, with monastery courtyards above the town and a car-free promenade at its centre.
Lachen
A high village in North Sikkim run by a traditional village council, and the base for the long trip to Gurudongmar Lake.
What To See
What A Private Guide Actually Shows You
Sikkim's real highlights are what a private guide builds each day around.
Rumtek Monastery
The largest monastery in Sikkim, seat of the Karmapa of the Kagyu school, rebuilt by the 16th Karmapa after his flight from Tibet.
Tsomgo Lake
A glacial lake at 3,780 metres on the old road to Nathu La, frozen in winter, with yak rides on the shore — a permit is required.
Nathu La Pass
The India–China border pass at 4,310 metres on the old Silk Road, open to Indian nationals with a permit and closed on some weekdays.
MG Marg
Gangtok's pedestrian-only central boulevard — paved, planted and lined with shops and cafes, with no vehicles, litter or smoking allowed.
Tsomgo Lake Yak Ride
A short ride on a decorated yak along the shore of the frozen or half-frozen Tsomgo Lake, at 3,780 metres.
Gangtok Ropeway
A cable-car ride over Gangtok, from Deorali up to Tashiling, with the town below and the hills across the valley.
Gangtok Food & Market Walk
A guided walk through Gangtok's Lal Bazar and MG Marg, tasting momos, thukpa, gundruk and the local millet beer.
Nathu La & Baba Mandir Day
A full-day permit trip from Gangtok to the Nathu La border, the Baba Harbhajan Singh shrine and Tsomgo Lake — for Indian nationals.
Gurudongmar Lake
One of the highest lakes in the world at 5,430 metres, sacred to Buddhists, Sikhs and Hindus, reached before dawn from Lachen.
Yumthang Valley
The Valley of Flowers in North Sikkim at 3,564 metres — a broad river meadow ringed by snow peaks, with rhododendrons in spring and a hot spring by the water.
Zero Point
Yumey Samdong, the snowbound end of the road above Yumthang at about 4,700 metres, where three streams meet below the border.
Yumthang Rhododendron Walk
An easy walk through the blooming rhododendron sanctuary in the Yumthang Valley, best from April to May.
Namchi Char Dham
The Solophok pilgrimage complex near Namchi — full-scale replicas of India's four great Hindu dhams around a 30-metre Shiva statue, with the 45-metre Guru statue on a nearby hill.
Pemayangtse Monastery
One of the oldest monasteries in Sikkim, founded around 1705, a Nyingma seat on a ridge near Pelling with a Kanchenjunga backdrop.
Khecheopalri Lake
A sacred forest-ringed lake near Pelling, holy to Buddhists and Hindus alike, kept clear of fallen leaves by the birds.
Pelling Glass Skywalk
A glass-floored walkway on the Pelling ridge leading to the Chenrezig statue, with the valley falling away underfoot.
Ravangla Buddha Park
Tathagata Tsal — a landscaped park above Ravangla built around a 40-metre seated statue of the Buddha, unveiled by the Dalai Lama in 2013.
Temi Tea Garden Tour
A walk through the Temi estate, the only tea garden in Sikkim, on a hillside below Tendong, ending with a tasting.
How To Travel
Journeys Through Sikkim
Every journey here comes with a private guide and driver for each day on the road — full pricing lives on each journey's own page.
Monasteries & Mountain Views — Luxury
Arrive in Gangtok — Gangtok — the Monasteries, the Ropeway and MG Marg
Monasteries & Mountain Views — Premium
Arrive in Gangtok — Gangtok — the Monasteries, the Ropeway and MG Marg
North Sikkim High Valleys — Luxury
Arrive in Gangtok — Gangtok — the Monasteries, the Ropeway and MG Marg
North Sikkim High Valleys — Premium
Arrive in Gangtok — Gangtok — the Monasteries, the Ropeway and MG Marg
Rhododendrons of Sikkim — Luxury
Arrive in Gangtok — Gangtok — the Monasteries, the Ropeway and MG Marg
Rhododendrons of Sikkim — Premium
Arrive in Gangtok — Gangtok — the Monasteries, the Ropeway and MG Marg
Classic Sikkim — Luxury
Arrive in Gangtok — Gangtok — the Monasteries, the Ropeway and MG Marg
Classic Sikkim — Premium
Arrive in Gangtok — Gangtok — the Monasteries, the Ropeway and MG Marg
First-Timer's Sikkim — Luxury
Arrive in Gangtok — Gangtok — the Monasteries, the Ropeway and MG Marg
First-Timer's Sikkim — Premium
Arrive in Gangtok — Gangtok — the Monasteries, the Ropeway and MG Marg
Gangtok & Pelling — Luxury
Arrive in Gangtok — Gangtok — the Monasteries, the Ropeway and MG Marg
Gangtok & Pelling — Premium
Arrive in Gangtok — Gangtok — the Monasteries, the Ropeway and MG Marg
Where To Stay
Real Stays, Chosen City By City
A private itinerary through Sikkim is anchored by real, handpicked stays — heritage palaces and boutique properties chosen city by city, not a single hotel chain repeated everywhere.
MAYFAIR Spa Resort & Casino, Gangtok
The MAYFAIR sits on a forested hillside just below Gangtok, spread over forty-eight acres of trees and terraced garden. The rooms and villas are large and richly finished, in carved wood and Sikkimese colour, and most look out over the valley through the mist. There is an award-winning spa, a heated pool, three restaurants and a 24-hour casino. It is a short drive from MG Marg and the ropeway, and the roads out to Tsomgo Lake, Rumtek and the rest of Sikkim start here. It is the most polished stay in the state, and the natural choice for a Gangtok leg that wants space, a spa and a proper resort.
The Elgin Nor-Khill, Gangtok
The Nor-Khill was built in the 1930s as the royal guest house of the Chogyal, Sikkim's former king, and it still feels like one. The name means the House of Jewels. The rooms are panelled in wood, with old furniture, Tibetan rugs and thangka paintings, and the lawns look across the valley to the hills. There is a small spa, a bar and a dining room that serves Sikkimese and colonial dishes. It sits just above the town, a few minutes from MG Marg and the Tibetology institute. It is the premium choice in Gangtok for a stay with a sense of the state's own history, rather than a modern resort.
The Apple Orchard Resort, Lachen
The Apple Orchard Resort stands on the slope above Lachen, next to a monastery more than a century old, and it is the one proper place to stay in the village. It has about a dozen rooms, warm and simple in local timber, with heaters and bed warmers for the cold nights and views up the valley toward the peaks. There is a dining room with hearty food and a lounge with a fire. Gurudongmar Lake is a few hours further up a rough road, and the trip leaves around four in the morning while the wind is still down. The resort arranges the permit, the vehicle and a packed breakfast. Given how remote Lachen is, it is a genuinely comfortable base, and every North Sikkim trip that includes Gurudongmar uses it for the Lachen night.
Yarlam Resort, Lachung
Yarlam Resort stands at the upper end of Lachung village, with snow mountains on three sides. It is the most comfortable place to stay in the valley. The rooms are warm and well kept, in local timber, with heaters and bed warmers for the cold nights and mountain views from the better ones. There is a dining room with hearty food, a lounge with a fire, and a garden. Yumthang Valley is an hour up the road, and the resort arranges the permit, the vehicle and an early start for Zero Point. Given how remote Lachung is, it is a genuinely good base, and both luxury and premium Sikkim trips use it for the North Sikkim leg.
The Elgin Mount Pandim, Pelling
Mount Pandim stands on a wooded ridge below the Pemayangtse monastery, with a clear line to the Kanchenjunga range. It was once a royal guest house, and it is built in a Bhutanese style, with painted timber, hardwood floors and village-made furniture. The best rooms have a balcony facing the mountains, and on a clear morning the snow turns gold at sunrise from the lawn. There is a restaurant, a bar and a small spa. Pemayangtse and the Rabdentse ruins are within walking distance. It is the luxury choice in Pelling, and the one to book for the Kanchenjunga view.
Buddha Retreat, Ravangla
Buddha Retreat sits on a slope just below Ravangla, run by the Yangthang Heritage group, which keeps several small hotels around South Sikkim. The rooms are simple and warm, in wood and local weave, and many look across the valley to the Kanchenjunga range. There is a restaurant with Sikkimese and Indian dishes, a bar, and a garden to sit in with the view. Buddha Park is a few minutes up the hill, the Ralang monastery is a short drive, and the Temi tea garden and the Namchi statues are within a day trip. It is the comfortable base for a night or two in South Sikkim, on the way between Gangtok and Pelling.
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