The following is a drive/ ride itinerary to Sikkim, as suggested by Rakshit Makkar. Rakshit, an IT professional is a resident of Chandigarh. He rode on his bike to Sikkim in 2018.
Day 1 – Siliguri to Lachung via Mangan (185 kms).
Start early. You will need to procure a permit to visit North Sikkim. The permit can be made at the district magistrate’s office at Mangan by submitting copies of all your documents and documents of motorcycle. You will be asked to mention the places of your visit. Write Lachung, Yumthnag, Zero Point, Lachen, Gurudongmar Lake.
The process takes around one hour (more if crowded).
Try to reach Mangan by 11am or 12 noon. Take the route via Singtham and Dikchu to reach Mangan.
Mangan also has the last petrol pump in entire north Sikkim so make sure you fill up at Mangan. The pump will be on your left about 1 km before the town. Do remember to make 8-10 copies of the permits as you will be required to submit one copy of the permit at each check post on the way. After getting the permit proceed to Lachung via Chungthang.
Day 2 – Lachung to Yumthang valley (26 kms).
Yumthang to Zero Point (25 kms).
Ziro to Lachung (51 kms).
Lachung to Lachen (47 kms).
Start early. Enjoy the Yumthang valley, the road will end at Zero Point, come back to Lachung, check out of your hotel, have lunch, continue to Lachen via Chungthang. If you are able to reach Lachen by 2pm, then you might want to attempt to continue till Thangu. Do this only and only if you reach Lachen by 2pm because the road from Lachen to Thangu is bad and dangerous after sunset. The sun sets by 4:30-5pm in Sikkim/ East India.
Lachen is the preferred stop for visiting Gurudongmar but you will be forced to start at 5am if you stay for the night at Lachen. If you can continue till Thangu on previous evening, then you can start for Gurudongmar at 7am the next day. Lachen has lots of hotels to stay, Thangu only has a few homestays. I personally liked staying at Thangu vis-a-vis Lachen.
Day 3 – Lachen/Thangu to Gurudongmar (66 kms) to Gangtok.
Start at 5am from Lachen or 7am from Thangu. The army allows tourists only before 9 or 10 AM to visit Gurudongmar that is why you need to start early.
Do not drink alcohol or smoke the previous night. You will climb from 9000 feet to 17000 feet in a matter of hours and most human bodies suffer from AMS. Legally no one is allowed to go beyond Gurudongmar but nowadays lots of bikers continue to TsoLamhu, the highest lake in India. If you want to take the risk then continue straight on the Gurudongmar road. There will be a board showing Gurudongmar on the right. From that place if you go straight for 6 kms more you reach TsoLamhu. But army may stop you if they find you. After enjoying Gurudongmar start your ride downhill and reach Gangtok (175 kms) the clean capital of Sikkim by 7pm.
Check-in at a hotel near the MG Marg. Go to Café Live and Loud to celebrate your Gurudongmar visit with excellent cocktails and a live band performance. The Baker’s Café is a good bakery to visit.
Stay put in hotel for 2 nights in Gangtok
You will again need permits to visit East Sikkim. The permit can be made in Gangtok but it is a time consuming process so I would suggest that you get in touch with an agent in Gangtok when you reach, give him all your documents, they will charge around 100-200 for the permit and get it done the next day. Be sure to add all the places, viz. Changu Lake, Nathu La, Kupup, Dzuluk, Gnathang valley. Make sure you give the documents at night because the agents go the tourism office early in the morning.
Day 4 – Rest day! Your body would have taken a toll due to the excessive riding of the last 5 days so use this day to rest. Chill in Gangtok. Maybe visit the nearby Rumtek Monastery, visit the ropeway and other commercial spots near Gangtok if you are interested. Collect permit for East Sikkim from agent in the evening.
Day 5 – Gangtok to Dzuluk via Changu lake, Nathu La, Baba Mandir, Kupup lake.
Start early as vehicles are allowed before 9am to start for Nathu La. First you will visit Changu Lake, take a Yak ride if you feel like, continue to Nathu La, see the Chinese border, come down, continue to Baba Mandir, continue to Kupup Lake, you can either stay for the night at Gnathang valley or Dzuluk.
From Gnathang valley to Dzuluk you will ride on the famous hairpin bend roads also known as the old silk route. The sunrise over the Thambi view point is amazing with the Kanchenjunga on one side. Must visit on a clear morning.
Day 6 – Dzuluk/Gnathnag to Gangtok.
