Lachen itinerary

Plan 01

1 day from Lachen

1. 01

   Day 1: Gurudongmar Lake via Thangu (if already in Lachen)

   This only works if you slept in Lachen the night before. Leave very early, usually well before dawn, so you can reach the lake in the morning; check the current entry cut-off time with your operator on the day. Stop at Thangu for tea or breakfast, continue past the army checkpoint to the lake, spend a short time there (30 to 45 minutes is the commonly advised limit at this altitude), then return to Lachen for rest. If you have heart, lung or blood-pressure concerns, swap the lake for Thangu and Chopta Valley, which are much lower.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Gurudongmar Lake	Full day: roughly 4 hours each way from Lachen, plus 30 to 45 minutes at the lake	Demanding	Late spring and October to November, early in the morning before the wind rises; the lake is frozen from about November to mid-May
   Chopta Valley	Half a day with Thangu; about 2 hours from Lachen each way	Moderate	April to mid-June for flowers; October to November for clearer air

   Pace: Gurudongmar Lake involves a lot of walking or steps — do it early, and keep the rest of the day light.

   With parents at Gurudongmar Lake: The walking is short and mostly level from the car park, but the altitude is the problem: thin air, strong cold wind and a long rough drive. Anyone with heart, lung or blood pressure issues should take medical advice first. Portable oxygen in the vehicle is sensible; ask your operator.

   With parents at Chopta Valley: Much of it can be seen from the vehicle, but the final track is rough and bumpy. At about 13,000 ft the air is thin and cold. There are no cafés or public toilets at the valley itself, so go prepared.

Plan 02

2 days in Lachen

1. 01

   Day 1: Gangtok to Lachen

   Drive north from Gangtok through Mangan and Chungthang; allow about six hours plus stops. Check in, drink water, rest and walk gently around the village. Visit Lachen Monastery on the slope above the village if time and light allow, and go to bed early.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Chungthang	20-40 minutes as a stop	Easy	Daytime, on the way up or down
   Lachen Monastery	45-60 minutes	Moderate	Early morning or late afternoon, outside the middle of the day

   Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.

   With parents at Lachen Monastery: A short uphill walk of about 20 minutes from the village according to one guide, with a vehicle option for some. There are steps in the compound. At about 2,750 m, go slowly.

2. 02

   Day 2: Gurudongmar Lake or Chopta Valley

   With a pre-dawn start, go to Gurudongmar by way of Thangu if the road, weather and your health allow. If not, take the shorter option: Thangu and Chopta Valley, then back to Lachen by afternoon. Continue to Lachung or return to Gangtok the following day, depending on your plan.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Gurudongmar Lake	Full day: roughly 4 hours each way from Lachen, plus 30 to 45 minutes at the lake	Demanding	Late spring and October to November, early in the morning before the wind rises; the lake is frozen from about November to mid-May
   Chopta Valley	Half a day with Thangu; about 2 hours from Lachen each way	Moderate	April to mid-June for flowers; October to November for clearer air

   Pace: Gurudongmar Lake involves a lot of walking or steps — do it early, and keep the rest of the day light.

   With parents at Gurudongmar Lake: The walking is short and mostly level from the car park, but the altitude is the problem: thin air, strong cold wind and a long rough drive. Anyone with heart, lung or blood pressure issues should take medical advice first. Portable oxygen in the vehicle is sensible; ask your operator.

   With parents at Chopta Valley: Much of it can be seen from the vehicle, but the final track is rough and bumpy. At about 13,000 ft the air is thin and cold. There are no cafés or public toilets at the valley itself, so go prepared.

Plan 03

3 days in Lachen

1. 01

   Day 1: Arrive and settle in

   Drive up from Gangtok, check in, rest and take a short walk through the village. Visit the monastery at a gentle pace and keep dinner light. The aim today is acclimatisation, not sightseeing.

2. 02

   Day 2: Gurudongmar Lake

   Leave before dawn for Gurudongmar via Thangu. Keep time at the lake short, drink water, and return to Lachen to rest. Do not plan anything else this day.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Gurudongmar Lake	Full day: roughly 4 hours each way from Lachen, plus 30 to 45 minutes at the lake	Demanding	Late spring and October to November, early in the morning before the wind rises; the lake is frozen from about November to mid-May

   Pace: Gurudongmar Lake involves a lot of walking or steps — do it early, and keep the rest of the day light.

   With parents at Gurudongmar Lake: The walking is short and mostly level from the car park, but the altitude is the problem: thin air, strong cold wind and a long rough drive. Anyone with heart, lung or blood pressure issues should take medical advice first. Portable oxygen in the vehicle is sensible; ask your operator.

3. 03

   Day 3: Chopta Valley and the village

   Take a late-morning drive to Thangu and onward by rough track to Chopta Valley for a quiet, lower-altitude walk if conditions allow. Return to Lachen for a final look at the village and monastery, then continue to Lachung or Gangtok the next morning.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Chopta Valley	Half a day with Thangu; about 2 hours from Lachen each way	Moderate	April to mid-June for flowers; October to November for clearer air

   Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.

   With parents at Chopta Valley: Much of it can be seen from the vehicle, but the final track is rough and bumpy. At about 13,000 ft the air is thin and cold. There are no cafés or public toilets at the valley itself, so go prepared.

Read before you go

Guides for the stops on these routes

Pacing

Pacing a Lachen trip for parents and children

• Sleep at least one night in Lachen before going to Gurudongmar. Altitude affects fit people too, and a night at about 9,000 ft helps.
• Talk to a doctor before booking, especially with heart, lung, blood pressure or diabetes concerns. Ask whether altitude medicine is suitable; do not start it without advice.
• Keep your time at Gurudongmar short, walk slowly and drink water. Turn back or descend if you get a severe headache, nausea or confusion.
• Pack warm layers, a windproof jacket, gloves, a hat and sun protection. It is cold even in spring and autumn, and the wind rises later in the day.
• Choose Thangu and Chopta Valley instead of Gurudongmar if the height worries you. They are lower, quieter and still dramatic.
• Carry water, light snacks and regular medicines in your day bag; facilities on the road are minimal and there are no public toilets at Chopta.

Lachen with elderly parents: the full guide →