Sikkim alpine lakes
8
Max group size
9 days
Duration
15,200 ft
Max altitude
Challenging
Difficulty
Notes from the trail
If I had to choose just one trek in Sikkim to return to again and again, it would be this one.
This is my favourite trek here. This route means a lot to me.
After the first two days, we usually don’t see another trekking group. Not one. The trail just empties out. And when it does, something shifts. It stops feeling like a trek and starts feeling like you’re walking through a landscape that doesn’t need an audience.
You wake up and there’s no noise from other camps. No distant chatter. Just wind, maybe yak bells somewhere far off, and Khangchendzonga sitting there quietly. It’s there from early in the journey and somehow never feels ordinary, no matter how many times I return.
The lakes are the heart of this route for me. Wide open ground. Still water. When the wind drops and the reflection forms, everything goes silent without anyone asking it to. I’ve stood there more than once and felt that pause settle over the entire group.
And then there’s Dafey Bhir. I’ve seen a lot of viewpoints in Sikkim. For me, the view from the top of Dafey is the best in the state. The Khangchendzonga massif stretching across the horizon, and on clear mornings Everest and Makalu appearing far beyond across Nepal. It doesn’t feel staged. It feels immense. It stays with you.
By the time we descend through the forests toward Yambong, something has usually changed. The pace softens. The noise inside quiets down.
That’s why I keep coming back.
Not for a checklist. Not for a summit tag.
For the space this route gives you.
And I hope it never becomes crowded.
Itinerary
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Altitude: 5,400 ft
Arrival at Bagdogra followed by a drive into West Sikkim toward Darap village. A quiet evening allows the body to settle into mountain rhythm before the trek begins. Overnight in homestay. -
Distance: ~8 km
Time: 5–6 hrs
Altitude: 8,200 ftThe trail begins with a steady forest ascent through cardamom plantations and mixed woodland. Gradual elevation gain introduces wider valley views as habitation thins out.
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Distance: ~4 km
Time: 6–7 hrs
Altitude: 11,100 ftA sustained climb along ridgelines with expanding views of the surrounding valleys. Forest transitions into sub-alpine terrain as the trail gains height toward Bajre Dara.
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Distance: ~9 km
Time: 6–7 hrs
Altitude: 13,000 ftThe route undulates across high ridges with increasingly open mountain views. Expect exposed sections and a more rugged alpine landscape as you approach Thulo Oral.
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Distance: ~10 km
Time: 6–7 hrs
Altitude: 13,400 ftA long alpine traverse leads to Dzoktey Pokhari, one of the visual highlights of the trek. Clear weather often reveals Khangchendzonga reflected in the still waters of the lake.
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Distance: ~8 km
Time: 5 hrs
Altitude: 14,400 ftThe trail enters a high alpine basin dotted with glacial lakes. Open terrain and wide horizons define the day, with quieter sections and minimal human presence.
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Distance: ~12 km
Time: 6–7 hrs
Altitude: 12,100 ftMorning exploration toward Lakshmi Pokhari offers expansive ridgeline views before descending gradually toward Upper Yambong through transitioning alpine to forest terrain.
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Distance: ~10 km
Time: 6–7 hrs
Altitude: 8,400 ftA steady descent through dense forest trails with occasional clearings. The route gradually re-enters lower mountain settlements and cultivated land.
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Distance: ~13 km
Time: 6–7 hrs
Altitude: 6,100 ftThe final trekking stretch descends through forest and village paths to Sangkhola, followed by a drive back to Darap.
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Drive Time: 6–7 hrs
Return drive to Bagdogra airport. Departure.
Included in this journey
• Trek leadership throughout the journey led by Jude Rayen
• Local guide and support staff including mules and mulemen for group logistics
• Required permits, forest entry fees, and India–Nepal border route permissions .
• Accommodation in homestays for 2 nights (Darap)
• Accommodation in twin-sharing tents during trekking days
• All meals during trekking days including breakfast, lunch, dinner, tea, coffee, soup, and light snacks
• High-altitude camping equipment including kitchen tent, dining tent, toilet tent, sleeping tents, mattresses, and sleeping bags
• Safety and medical equipment including oximeter and group first-aid kit
• Internal logistics including Sangkhola to Darap vehicle transfer
Not included
• Travel to and from Bagdogra ( Flights, etc)
• Shared transport to Darap, return from Sangkhola to Darap, Darap to Darjeeling and back to Bagdogra from Darjeeling
• Personal trekking gear and clothing
• Personal expenses such as bottled water, snacks, charging, laundry, or hot showers where available
• Travel insurance and evacuation or rescue costs
• Expenses arising from itinerary changes due to weather, road conditions, or natural factors beyond control
• Buffer day expenses if required due to delays
• Tips for guides and local support staff
Optional addons
• Shared transport as per itinerary (cost divided among participants)
• Offloading support through porter or mule assistance
• Single room in homestays (subject to availability)
• Single tent for the duration of the trek
• Private vehicle or accommodation upgrades
• Additional nights before or after the trek
Optional addons can be arranged in advance based on availability and preference.
Pricing
This trek is priced at ₹65,500 per person for groups of 4–6 participants, with flexibility for private or custom departures.
Each departure is personally led by Jude and supported by a small, experienced local team.
If this route feels right, feel free to reach out — I’m always happy to talk through details or shape the journey around your pace, timing, and expectations.
— Jude
