Fares
Gangtok to Lachung, by vehicle
Lachung is in North Sikkim, so this runs as a permit trip, not a drop: a Sikkim-registered car and driver stay with you, usually over two nights with Yumthang on the middle day. The permit is filed in Gangtok the day before.
| 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 |
Coming back from Lachung? The return leg is part of the same booking.
Fuel, driver and tolls included · GST extra. Send the date and we quote it.
The drive
Gangtok to Lachung, stop by stop
North out of Gangtok to Mangan, along the Teesta to Chungthang, then up the Lachung valley. About 118 km in six hours.
0 km · 00:00
Gangtok
Pickup from your hotel once the permit is in hand.
Departure
20 km · 00:50
Kabi Lungchok
The memorial stone marking a Lepcha–Bhutia treaty, in a quiet cedar grove.
Adds 15 min
32 km · 01:20
Seven Sisters Waterfall
A tall waterfall right by the road, at its fullest after the monsoon.
Adds 15 min
65 km · 02:45
Mangan
The district headquarters and the last real town. Lunch here.
Adds 40 min
95 km · 04:15
Chungthang
Where the road splits for Lachen and Lachung. Permits are checked.
Adds 10–20 min
118 km · 06:00
Lachung
Dropped at your homestay or hotel for the night.
Arrival
Road & drive detail
What the North Sikkim road is like
Road condition
Rough in places
Paved to Mangan, then broken stretches and slide zones past Chungthang.
Best departure
By 10AM
Reaches Lachung before dark. Permits must be cleared first.
Mobile coverage
Weak after Mangan
Expect long gaps until you reach Lachung.
Fuel stops
Gangtok, Mangan
No reliable fuel beyond Mangan. Drivers fill up before leaving.
The North Sikkim Highway climbs out of Gangtok to Mangan, then follows the Teesta to Chungthang, where the road splits for Lachen and Lachung. The last stretch to Lachung is the slowest.
Landslides close this road more often than any other route we run, especially from June to September. When it closes, permits for the north are suspended until it reopens. We check with the permit office before you leave Gangtok, and plan a spare day in Gangtok in the monsoon.
Only Sikkim-registered tourist vehicles listed on the permit can make this drive. A car from Siliguri or Darjeeling can't, whatever permits you hold.
Vehicles on this route
Sikkim-registered, hill-ready
SUV — Bolero / Scorpio
The standard North Sikkim vehicle. Up to five people with soft bags.
Innova Crysta
More comfort on a long, rough day. Families usually take it.
The North Sikkim permit
Every traveller to Lachung needs a permit, filed in Gangtok the day before by a registered operator.
Indian travellers
Photo ID copies and two passport photos each, by early afternoon the day before.
Carry the original IDs. They are checked on the way.
The permit names the vehicle and driver, so it is booked with the car.
Foreign nationals
Restricted Area Permit for Sikkim, plus the North Sikkim permit.
A group of two or more, through a registered operator.
Some points beyond Yumthang are closed to foreign passports.
When permits stop
Landslides or heavy snow can suspend North Sikkim permits.
We check with the permit office before you leave.
In the monsoon, keep a spare day in Gangtok.
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
- The North Sikkim permit and the driver's night halts
Travel agent or tour operator?
Get net rates and white-label vouchers. We never contact your client.
Get a fare
Get the Gangtok–Lachung fare
Dates and pax. We reply on WhatsApp with the fare, the vehicle we would send, and anything that is extra.
FAQ
Gangtok to Lachung, asked most
About 118 km, which takes five to six hours with stops, longer after rain. Leave by 10AM to arrive in daylight.
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