Why Bagdogra, not Pakyong? Pakyong (PYG) is Sikkim's own airport but has limited, weather-dependent flights. Bagdogra (IXB) in Siliguri (West Bengal) has 15+ daily flights from Kolkata and is the standard gateway — 4 hrs by road from Gangtok via NH-10 through the Teesta river gorge.
1. Why Sikkim works for these dates
Late May is the ideal window — rhododendrons in Yumthang Valley, snow retreating at Zero Point, monsoon hasn't hit.
Three distinct regions in one trip: East Sikkim (Gangtok, Tsomgo Lake), North Sikkim (Lachung, Yumthang Valley of Flowers), West Sikkim (Pelling, Kanchenjunga views, ancient monasteries).
Short 1h 10m flight from Kolkata, short drives (≈ 4 hrs airport → city) vs Tawang's 2-day approach.
No ILP required for Indian citizens — far simpler paperwork than Arunachal.
2. Flight plan
Leg
Date
Airline (indicative)
Route
Duration
Fare (₹, est.)
Outbound
25 May
IndiGo / Akasa / Air India (early AM)
CCU → IXB
1h 10m non-stop
3,500 – 5,000
Return
30 May
IndiGo / Akasa (evening)
IXB → CCU
1h 10m non-stop
3,500 – 5,000
Round-trip per person (book 3–6 weeks ahead)
≈ ₹6,500 – 9,500
15+ daily CCU↔IXB flights across IndiGo, Akasa, Air India, AirAsia — compare on Google Flights. Take the earliest outbound to reach Gangtok before 3 pm and enjoy a walk on MG Marg the same evening.
3. Permits (lighter than Arunachal)
Permit
Who needs it
Where
Cost
No ILP required (Indian citizens)
—
—
Free
North Sikkim Protected Area Permit (Lachung / Yumthang)
All visitors
Arranged by hotel / operator; needs photo + ID
Free (operator may charge handling)
Tsomgo Lake + Baba Mandir permit
All visitors
Tourism Dept, Gangtok — same-day
₹300 – 500 per person
Nathula Pass permit (optional)
All visitors, Wed/Thu/Sat/Sun only
Tourism Dept — 48 hr advance booking
₹500 + vehicle share
Nathula is closed Mon–Tue — for these dates, Wed 27 May or Sat 30 May are the only open days. Unless a permit-day works out, skip Nathula and do Tsomgo + Baba Mandir only (still spectacular).
4. Day-by-day itinerary (5 nights)
Gangtok · Sikkim capitalTsomgo Lake · 12,400 ftLachung · North SikkimYumthang · Valley of FlowersKanchenjunga sunrise · PellingPemayangtse Monastery · 17th c.
Day 1 · Mon 25 May Kolkata → Bagdogra → Gangtok
Earliest CCU → IXB flight (target landing ≤ 10:00).
Meet pre-booked SUV at Bagdogra airport. Drive IXB → Gangtok (≈ 125 km / 4 hrs) via NH-10 along the Teesta river gorge.
Check in. Late-afternoon walk on MG Marg — pedestrian plaza, cafés, Sikkim Tourism office. Evening cable car optional.
Book the Tsomgo Lake day trip (Day 2) and North Sikkim package (Day 3-4) at the Tourism Dept / your hotel the same evening — needs photo + ID.
Day 2 · Tue 26 May Gangtok — Tsomgo Lake & Baba Mandir day trip
Full-day shared SUV to Tsomgo Lake (12,400 ft, glacial, partly frozen in May) + Baba Harbhajan Singh Mandir.
Nathula Pass is closed on Tuesdays — so stop at Baba Mandir instead (still at 13,500 ft, equally scenic).
Return Gangtok by 6 pm. Evening: Enchey Monastery, Do Drul Chorten, MG Marg dinner.
Overnight: Gangtok.
Dress warm — Tsomgo is sub-zero even in May. Yak rides available at the lake (₹300-500).
Day 3 · Wed 27 May Gangtok → Chungthang → Lachung
Early start (~07:00). Drive Gangtok → Lachung (≈ 120 km / 6 hrs) via Singtam, Mangan, Chungthang.
En-route stops: Seven Sisters Falls, Naga Falls, Twin Waterfalls, confluence of Lachen-Chu and Lachung-Chu at Chungthang.
Arrive Lachung (8,900 ft) by afternoon. Early dinner — you leave before dawn tomorrow.
Overnight: Lachung (Lachung Zimkhang / Apple Valley Inn / Modern Residency).
Day 4 · Thu 28 May Lachung — Yumthang + Zero Point → Gangtok
Very early start (~05:00). Drive Lachung → Yumthang Valley (11,800 ft, Valley of Flowers) → Zero Point (15,300 ft, last civilian point on the way to Tibet border).
Zero Point is subject to snow / weather — operators check road condition at Lachung. If Zero Point is closed, Yumthang alone is worth the trip for the rhododendrons.
Day 5 · Fri 29 May Gangtok → Rumtek → Pelling
Leave Gangtok ~08:00. Stop at Rumtek Monastery (seat of Karmapa, 16th Karmapa's Dharmachakra Centre) — 45 min visit.
Continue to Pelling (≈ 135 km / 5 hrs total). Arrive by 14:00.
Afternoon: Pemayangtse Monastery (1705, one of Sikkim's oldest), Rabdentse Ruins (old Sikkim capital, 30-min trail), optional Khecheopalri Lake (wishing lake, 40 min from Pelling).
Overnight: Pelling (Hotel Norbu Ghang / Newa Regency / Mount Pandim — book a Kanchenjunga-view room).
Day 6 · Sat 30 May Pelling → Bagdogra → Kolkata
Sunrise view of Kanchenjunga from hotel balcony / Pelling Helipad viewpoint (~05:15, weather permitting).
Breakfast. Drive Pelling → Bagdogra (≈ 165 km / 4.5 hrs). Leave by 09:30 for a 4–5 pm flight.
