The Northeast of India, which is a constellation of all the Seven Sister States have one thing in common – abundance of natural beauty. The rawness and naturality of these places are still intact. Thankfully, they have not been commercialised yet so you can have a real experience being ‘in the lap of nature’. Sikkim is emerging as one of the most preferred holiday destinations in the Northeast. But how appealing a destination is it for kids? Here it from a family that took a trip to Sikkim with their kids and totally nailed it.
Every year we go on a trip with our kids during their summer vacations. We live in Hyderabad and we wanted our destination to be a hillstation where we could witness snow. So, we decided to explore the Himalayan region of our country. We were looking for a travel planner which is when we found TravelTriangle. They planned our entire 8 day family trip to Sikkim with kids. We got moderately priced package with a well planned.
Our Tour Package Details
Trip Type: Sikkim-Gangtok-Darjeeling
Cost: INR 80,000
Duration: 8 days & 7 Nights
No. of people: 6 Adults and 2 Children
Inclusions: Breakfast, Hotel, Luxury Vehicle, Transfers, Sightseeing
Exclusions: Lunch, Dinner, Entry Fees, Personal Expenses
Must Read: Monsoon In Sikkim: The Best Time To Explore The Unexplored Beauty Of Sikkim
Itinerary Of Our Tour
Day 1: Arrival in Gangtok
Day 2: Tsomgo Lake excursion
Day 3: Head to Lachen and Lachung
Day 4: Visit Thangu Village
Day 5: Visit to the Yumthang Valley
Day 6: Arrive in Darjeeling
Day 7: Visit Tiger Hills, Ghoom Monastery and Batasia Loop
Day 8: Leave Darjeeling
Come with us through this fun-filled journey of our family trip to Sikkim with kids:
Tsomgo Lake Excursion
After a delicious breakfast we started off with the excursion towards our journey towards Tsomgo Lake (Tshangu Lake). Located at a height of 12,400 feet above the sea level, the sight we saw on reaching their was truly unbelievable. This glacial lake beautifully blends within the mountainscape. Snow sprinkled massifs and sky-colour reflecting lake together looked absolutely stunning. March is when winter starts to fade away in Sikkim but there are places where you can still witness snow and this is one of it. After letting nature surprise us, we were ready to further explore the city.
Our next stop was Baba Harbhajan Singh Mandir, popularly known as ‘Baba Mandir’. This is a Hindu temple and a memorial in Sikkim which has been built in memory of an Indian Army soldier – Captain ‘Baba’ Harbhajan Singh and in memory of the Indian Army in general.
Visit To Lachen And Lachung
We started our day early with a hot and tasty breakfast so that we could leave on time for our excursion of the day. This was going to be a long day and we were looking forward to the scenic surprises waiting for us. The route to Lachen took us through places with breathtaking beauty. We saw rustic Himalayan villages perched on the slopes and valleys. The route goes up to the forest groove of Langchuk.
While passing through the charming hill town of Singhik we were spellbound to see the majestic Kanchenjunga from far. We stopped at Singhik for a much awaited break from the journey and to enjoy the views. Located at an altitude of 4000 feet above the sea level, this village offers wonderful views of mountains and valleys. After a delicious lunch, we proceeded to visit Chungthang, a town where the major rivers Lachen Chu and Lachun Chu meet. We also saw the mighty Vimnala Waterfalls on our way to Lachen. After a long journey full of enchanting natural beauty, we reached Lachen in the afternoon. This gorgeous mountain village near the Tibetan border is serene and beautiful.
Suggested Read: Paragliding In Gangtok: Witness The Breathtaking Sikkimese Beauty From A Bird’s Eye View!
Visit To Thangu Village And Chopta Valley
Next morning we were driven to Thangu Village where the Tibetan nomads are settled. This is a high altitude village located at a height of 13450 feet above the sea level. There is an interesting thing about mountains and it is true in this case too. The higher you do, the better the view becomes!
We continued our journey to the famous Chopta Valley. Resting at an altitude of 13124 feet above the sea level, this alpine valley has been generously granted bewitching landscapes by nature, especially a stunning frozen river. From here, we took a 30 minutes drive to Gurudongmar Lake which lies very close to the Tibetan Border. We were excited to see this one of the highest (17143 feet) and largest freshwater lakes in Sikkim. Highly overwhelmed by the beautiful sights, we returned to our hotel in Lachen for a late lunch.
Post lunch, we checked out from Lachen and drove further to Lachung to explore this gorgeous valley in the higher altitudes. The snow covered mountains welcomed us with some of the most magical mountainscapes.
Full Day Excursion To Yumthang Valley
This day had a beautiful beginning as we headed to the enchanting alpine flower valley of Yumthang, early in the morning. The snow-covered valley looked absolutely breathtaking. The route to this place took us through one of the highest motorable roads in Sikkim. We also visited the natural Sulphur Hot Spring. This day did not demand much, but gave us a lot in return. Witnessing so much beauty at one go was a refreshing experience. We returned to Lachung for a quick lunch and headed out to Gangtok.
Explore Darjeeling
We had reached a day before, so we made sure to rest as much as we could. This was going to be the only day for exploring Darjeeling city so we were ready and excited. Our day started with an early morning tour to one of the most well known places to visit in Darjeeling – the Tiger Hill. Located at an altitude of 8367 feet above the sea level, this UNESCO World Heritage Site if often the venue for witnessing the most breathtaking sunrises. But we could not see the sunrise due to the weather conditions.
We also visited the Old Ghoom Monastery and Batasia Loop while returning to the hotel. After a yummy breakfast, we went to visit the Japanese Temple, Peace Pagoda, Padmaja Naidu Hilamalayan Zoological Park and Himalayan Mountaineering Institute. We also saw Tenzing and Gombu Rock, Tibetan Refugee Self Help Centre and the lush tea estates.
Suggested Read: Trekking In Sikkim: 9 Trails That Will Prove You’ve Entered The Paradise
Some Travel Tips From ur Experience Of Family Trip To Sikkim With Kids
- Be prepared to miss out on some destinations in Sikkim due to the weather conditions, if you are visiting during the snowfall season
- Plan your trip well as the places to visit in Sikkim are far from each other and a lot of your time will be consumed in traveling
- Keep enough time for resting also so that you can enjoy your trip well
- The temperatures in Sikkim remain may remain low even during the summer months, so carry enough woolens
Here Are Our Answers To Some Of The Frequently Asked Questions About Sikkim Tour
Q1. Which part of Sikkim is most beautiful?
Tshangu Lake and Lachen Valley are among the most beautiful places to visit in Sikkim. The glacial lake, Tshangu, located at a height of 12,400 feet above the sea level looks stunning. Also, the Lachen is simple breathtaking as it turns into a winter wonderland with snow all around.
Q2. What is famous in Gangtok to buy?
Our shopping experience in Sikkim (Gangtok) was good. One of the best places to shop in Sikkim is the MG Road. We bought boots for visiting the snow laden places. We also bought gift items for our relatives. You get to buy a lot of cultural stuff and Tibetan and Chinese food items in this part of the city. would suggest to buy Buddhist fortune bells, chimes, worshipping items. You can also buy wine and liquor. Some of the best things to buy from Sikkim include:
-
- Tibetan carpets
- Hand-woven jackets
- Sikkim tea
- Wall hangings
- Bamboo shoots
- Thangka paintings
- Hand carved wooden tables
- Silver and semi-precious stone jewelries
- Prayer flags & Buddhist figurines
- Black Cardamom
- Alpine cheese
In fact, our shopping experience in Darjeeling was also good. We bought a lot of winter clothes and gift items. The gift items are majorly related tu Buddhist, Nepali and Tibetan culture. Even the prices were good.
Q3. What is the famous food of Sikkim?
Our food experience in Sikkim was very good. We enjoyed food throughout our journey, including Sikkimese, Tibetan and Chinese food. We mostly preferred food items like momos, thukpa, and noodles. There were many Tibetan and Chinese restaurants. We preferred eating what Sikkim people eat. Our kids enjoyed the food more. Some of the popular foods of Sikkim include:
- Thukpa
- Momos/Dumplings
- Noodles
- Phagshapa
- Sel Roti
- Chhurphi
- Gundruk
Q4. What is Sikkim famous for?
Sikkim is famous for is natural beauty, especially for the gorgeous views of Himalayan Ranges, lakes, rivers and waterfalls and greenery. The mystical vibe of the old Buddhist monasteries and delicious food served at different corners of the city will make you fall in love with it.
Further Read: A-Z Guide To Make Your Honeymoon In Sikkim An Affair To Remember
We are glad that we took this family trip to Sikkim with kids! Many wonderful factors about this destination made it an apt place to visit with children among which the most unforgettable one would be the river rafting experience. We did river rafting on the freezing water of Teesta River. And the best part was that they were also allowing the kids to participate in this adventure activity, unlike other places. It was a long rafting experience which took about an hour. You must also plan a family trip to Sikkim with kids
and enjoy some of the best moments of your family time in this gorgeous state of Northeast.
