Fares
Gangtok to Lachen, by vehicle
Usually booked as part of a 2–3 night North Sikkim trip including Gurudongmar, with permits arranged.
| Vehicle | One way | Round trip | Per extra km | Per day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUV — Bolero / Scorpio6+1 · 4 bags | On request | On request | On request | On request |
| Innova Crysta6+1 · 4 bags | On request | On request | On request | On request |
| Tempo Traveller 12 / 1712+1 · 14 bags | On request | On request | On request | On request |
Travelling Lachen to Gangtok? Same fares apply.
Fuel, driver and tolls included · GST extra. Send the date and we quote it.
The drive
Gangtok to Lachen, stop by stop
North along the Teesta, past waterfalls, to the Lachen valley.
0 km · 00:00
Gangtok
Pickup after permits are confirmed.
Departure
65 km · 02:45
Mangan
District town; lunch stop.
Adds 30–45 min
75 km · 03:15
Naga Falls
Big roadside waterfall.
Adds 10 min
95 km · 04:30
Chungthang
Where the Lachen and Lachung roads split.
Checkpost
120 km · 06:00
Lachen
Overnight in Lachen.
Arrival
Road & drive detail
What the road to Lachen is like
Road condition
Mixed, landslide-prone
Good to Mangan, rougher beyond Chungthang.
Best departure
By 10AM
Permit checks and the drive take most of the day.
Mobile coverage
Very patchy
Little signal beyond Chungthang.
Fuel stops
Gangtok, Mangan
Limited fuel further north.
The North Sikkim Highway follows the Teesta past Kabi, Mangan and Naga Falls to Chungthang, where the Lachen and Lachung valleys split. Lachen is the base for Gurudongmar Lake and Chopta Valley.
A North Sikkim permit is required and is arranged by the tour operator a day ahead. Roads can close after landslides (June to September) or heavy snow (December to March).
Vehicles on this route
Three that suit the North Sikkim road
SUV — Bolero / Scorpio
North Sikkim taxis are mostly SUVs; best for the broken stretches.
Innova Crysta
Comfortable for families when the road is in good shape.
Tempo Traveller 12 / 17
Groups; check road conditions first.
Permits for Lachen
Lachen is in a protected area. Your operator applies for the permit; you only send ID.
Indian travellers
North Sikkim permit via a registered operator
Photo ID and passport photos
Usually ready the same or next day
Foreign nationals
Restricted Area Permit for Sikkim plus North Sikkim access
Gurudongmar is generally not open to foreigners
No hidden charges
What's included, what's extra
Included in the quoted fare
- Fuel for the quoted route
- Driver, and the driver's allowance
- Night halt for the driver on multi-day trips
- Tolls and state entry taxes on the quoted route
- GST, shown on the invoice
Charged extra, at actuals
- Night charge for pickups or drops after 10PM
- Permits and ILP where the route needs them
- Parking and entry fees at airports, parks and city lots
- Off-route detours and extra kilometres beyond the quoted block
- North Sikkim permit and checkpost formalities
Travel agent or tour operator?
Get net rates and white-label vouchers. We never contact your client.
Get a fare
Get the Gangtok–Lachen fare
Dates and pax. We reply on WhatsApp with the fare, the vehicle we would send, and anything that is extra.
FAQ
Gangtok to Lachen, asked most
About 120 km, roughly 6 hours via Mangan and Chungthang.
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