Before you go
Travel guide
Parts of Sikkim sit in protected border zones and can only be visited on a permit arranged through a registered local operator. We handle all of it for you — here is what to know, region by region.
Drivers & guides
Our rates are kept fair and transparent, and every driver has more than 10 years in the profession, so you are in safe, experienced hands on Himalayan roads.
We work with licensed guides only, each with more than 5 years of experience. They are young locals from Sikkim, genuinely passionate about their home and its tourism, and both male and female guides are available, so female travellers can request a female guide. For foreign nationals a guide is mandatory in restricted areas, and we arrange one for you, while Indian nationals can also hire a guide for monasteries, offbeat trails or anywhere they wish to explore. By employing local youth we create jobs and help our community earn a sustainable living.
- Best rates, kept fair and transparent.
- Drivers with more than 10 years in the profession.
- Licensed guides with more than 5 years of experience.
- Both male and female guides available.
- Guide mandatory for foreign nationals in restricted areas.
- Guides available for monasteries, offbeat trails and anywhere you wish to explore.
- Supporting local youth with jobs and sustainable livelihoods.
Gangtok — permits & entry
The Tsomgo Lake, Baba Mandir and Nathula day trip sits in a protected border zone, so a permit is required. We arrange all of it for you in advance; you only need to carry your documents.
Indian nationals
- A Protected Area Permit is arranged through our registered local team. Carry an original government photo ID (Aadhaar, Voter ID or passport) and two passport-size photos.
- Nathula Pass is open to Indian nationals only, usually Wednesday to Sunday, and the permit is applied for a day in advance.
- For children, carry a copy of the birth certificate or school ID.
Foreign nationals
- Foreign nationals need an Inner Line Permit to enter Sikkim, plus a Protected Area Permit for Tsomgo Lake and Baba Mandir, and must travel with a registered operator in a group of two or more.
- Nathula Pass is not open to foreign nationals.
- Carry your passport, a valid Indian visa and passport-size photos. We apply for the permits on your behalf.
- It is mandatory for foreign nationals to hire a licensed guide to visit the restricted areas.
North Sikkim — permits & entry
All of North Sikkim, including Lachen, Lachung, Yumthang, Zero Point, Gurudongmar and Dzongu, is a protected area that can only be visited on a permit arranged through a registered local operator. We handle the paperwork before you arrive.
Indian nationals
- A Protected Area Permit is arranged through our team. Carry an original government photo ID (Aadhaar, Voter ID or passport) and two passport-size photos per traveller.
- Permits are issued for a fixed route and dates, so North Sikkim is always planned as a guided trip rather than independent travel.
- For children, carry a copy of the birth certificate or school ID.
Foreign nationals
- Foreign nationals need an Inner Line Permit to enter Sikkim and a Protected Area Permit for North Sikkim, and must travel with a registered operator in a group of two or more.
- Lachung and Yumthang are open to foreign nationals; Gurudongmar Lake and some border areas are currently restricted for foreign passport holders.
- Carry your passport, a valid Indian visa and passport-size photos. Permits are applied for a few days in advance, so please share your documents early.
- It is mandatory for foreign nationals to hire a licensed guide to visit the restricted areas.
Permits, sorted