Lhabha-Tarum Small Trek

This small trek is a very good option for a short itinerary through the Sikkim mountain area. The route crosses the mountains that separates the Yumthang valley with the Lachen valley. With a beginning and ending in hot springs, the itinerary passes through forests of different kinds of rhododendrons and crosses the Lhabha-La mountain pass, already in alpine terrain, at an altitude of around 4300 meters.

The starting point of the itinerary is Lachung, which we will have reached from Gangtok or any other origin in Sikkim. The road trip from Gangtok to Lachung usually takes about 6 hours, so it takes almost a full day. Lachung is a small town located in a beautiful setting next to the river with the same name and with the peaks of the Himalayas nearby. Its monastery is worth to visit. From Lachung, the first day is done by vehicle and we visit the Yumthang Valley and the “Zero Point”, to spend the first night camping in the Yumthang Hot Springs. The route on foot begins by gradually gaining height but decidedly until the climax of the trek at the Lhabha-La pass. The landscape is spectacular and the view from the mountain pass encompasses a large part of the peaks of the northern part of Sikkim. Descending on the other side we will reach the thermal waters of Tarum and, a little further on, the road to Lachen, which would be our natural destination, although you can continue the trip to some other place. It must be said that we propose to trek the itinerary in this sense, but that it can also be done perfectly in the opposite direction.

Located, together with Darjeeling, on this small wedge between Nepal, Tibet and Bhutan, Sikkim was the last state to become part of the Indian confederation and still maintains a strong personality. It is considered part of what is known as “Great Tibet”, that is, those territories that share the same Tibetan culture, with Buddhism being its main religion. The oldest population group is the Lepchas, followed by the Tibetan Bhutias, however, from the 19th century there were migratory movements from Nepal, becoming the majority population group and Nepalese being the main and official language of Sikkim.

The villages are located at a certain altitude, often in passes between two valleys, far from the mighty and unpredictable rivers, so they all have impressive views. Winding roads, but in good condition, make their way through these valleys and mountains, where sometimes you must descend into the deep valley to cross to the other side of the river and climb again until you find that destination you saw so close from your starting point. As you have already guessed, the orography of Sikkim and Darjeeling is complicated, marked by two great rivers, the Teesta and the Rangit, the latter also being the one that marks the border with West Bengal before joining the Teesta at Rongpu.

PRICE INCLUDES
·       All necessary permits

·       1 night of accommodation with dinner and breakfast in Lachung

·       1 night of accommodation with dinner and breakfast in Lachen

·       Tent accommodation and three meals daily during the trek according to the detailed plan

·       English-speaking local mountain guide throughout the trek

·       Porter service during the trek

·       Sleeping bag (if you need)

·       All government taxes and VAT

·       Wages, food and accommodation, expenses, and insurance for all staff

PRICE EXCLUDES
·       Any service out of this itinerary before Lachung and after Lachen (which will already be included in your trip to Sikkim)

·       Tips to staff

·       Hot and cold drinks, phone calls, internet connection or any other personal expense

·       Medical and/or travel insurance.

·       It’s convenient to get a trek insurance for India (better including helicopter rescue)

·       In general, any concept not specified in this programme, as well as any need for personal assistance in other matters out of the programme

·       No additional costs due to flight cancellations, weather conditions, road closures, etc.

* The indicated price is the price per person in US dollars for a group of 6 travelers for the trekking only. This is from the pick up at your accommodation until the return to it.
We can customize your trip with no problem.
Contact us to request the dossier with detailed information and the complete price table and ask us any questions you may have.

This itinerary starts in Lachung and finishes in Lachen. It only describes the trek itself. It will normally be framed within a larger itinerary around Sikkim, so it will suit the general tour, especially regarding to the last night which does not necessarily have to be in Lachen. Bear in mind that the price is, then, indicative.

All routes through northern Sikkim are relatively expensive due to restricted area permit fees.

The Lhabha-Tarum Trek is within a restricted area and can only be done with a minimum group of two people with a guide.

Due to being a border area, Sikkim is a special surveillance state and there are some parts of its territory that cannot be visited by foreigners. There are other sensitive areas, included in this program, which require a minimum group of two people to be visited, travel through an official agency with a guide, as is your case, and have a special permit that we take care of processing. Of course, do not forget to always carry your passport with you, as it can be required at any time.