Stay inside the Fambong Lho Wildlife Sanctuary
Wake up inside the sanctuary to a sunrise on Kanchenjunga. Later, in the evening, take a walk through pine, bamboo, and moss-covered trees.
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Request a CallbackIf you think you know Sikkim from Gangtok and the mountain views, you haven't seen much of it yet. Travel further north and you reach Dzongu, a valley that is home to the Lepcha community.
What interested us most was how closely life here is connected to the forest. The Lepcha have lived in these mountains for generations and have a deep knowledge of the plants, rivers and landscape around them. That connection to nature is still part of everyday life. You see it in the villages and walking through the moss-covered forests of Fambong Lho Wildlife Sanctuary.
This is the Sikkim we want to share with you. Unexplored Sikkim is a five-day journey where you'll see a side of the region that most people miss.
The Teesta River passing through the Dzongu Valley
Trip Duration
5 Days
Group Size
16 at the most
Accomodation
Homestay
Pickup Details
Day 1: Near MG Marg, Gangtok at 4 PM
Drop Off Details
Day 5: Near MG Marg, Gangtok at 4 PM
Food
Veg food celebrating local cuisine.
Best Season
October to April
Rain Expectation
Post-monsoon, light showers
Suitable For
Over 7 years of age
Unexplorations take time. We plan our days so you have time to slow down, take it all in and notice the little things along the way.
Pick up near MG Marg, Gangtok at 4 pm. Optional pickup from Siliguri airport at 10 am. Spend the evening exploring MG Marg
Visit the Orchidarium to understand Sikkim’s extraordinary biodiversity, culture and communities. Drive to Fambong Lho Wildlife Sanctuary and spend the night in the forest cottages.
Drive to Tingvong village in Dzongu Valley. Spend the evening with your Lepcha host family and watch a traditional dance performance by the children.
Drive to Kusong village and walk through a native Lepcha forest before arriving at Tingvong Monastery. Later, head to the waterfalls and hot springs.
Drive back towards Gangtok, with an optional diversion to the Teesta River for rafting, depending on the weather. Reach Gangtok by 2 pm, or 4 pm if you go rafting.
Pick up near MG Marg, Gangtok at 4 pm. Optional pickup from Siliguri airport at 10 am. Spend the evening exploring MG Marg
Visit the Orchidarium to understand Sikkim’s extraordinary biodiversity, culture and communities. Drive to Fambong Lho Wildlife Sanctuary and spend the night in the forest cottages.
Drive to Tingvong village in Dzongu Valley. Spend the evening with your Lepcha host family and watch a traditional dance performance by the children.
Drive to Kusong village and walk through a native Lepcha forest before arriving at Tingvong Monastery. Later, head to the waterfalls and hot springs.
Drive back towards Gangtok, with an optional diversion to the Teesta River for rafting, depending on the weather. Reach Gangtok by 2 pm, or 4 pm if you go rafting.
Unexplored Sikkim will take you to Gangtok, but the unexploration lies beyond the town. Here, you’ll discover Sikkim through experiences that bring you closer to the landscape and culture.
Wake up inside the sanctuary to a sunrise on Kanchenjunga. Later, in the evening, take a walk through pine, bamboo, and moss-covered trees.
We drive deep into the Dzongu Valley, alongside the Teesta river. Here, the roads get rougher, and the valley closes in on all sides. Stay with a Lepcha family in Tingvong Village for two nights and experience village life first-hand. Watch the village children showcase their culture through a traditional dance. Visit Kusong, the highest village in the Dzongu region, a native Lepcha forest and Tingvong Monastery.
Stand under waterfalls, one so high that the water turns to mist before it reaches you. Soak up the hot spring in Dzongu, set against the mountains. The locals believe that the water has medicinal properties. Raft 700 metres of the Teesta, where it runs crystal clear between vertical cliffs. Rafting is subject to weather conditions that morning.
We’ve chosen homes in Sikkim that connect you to its natural beauty and its people. On the first night, you’ll stay in a cosy cottage in Gangtok. The next three nights will take you deeper into the unexplored landscapes of Sikkim, including two nights with a Lepcha family in Tingvong village.
Homestay, valley views
The first day is very light, we’ll stay in Gangtok. After a walk through MG Marg and a visit to the Orchidarium, you’ll be staying in a homestay in Gangtok, with valley views. On a clear day you’ll be able to see Mount Kanchenjunga.
Forest Cottage
Inside the sanctuary, four small cottages sit among the forest. The trails wind through pine, bamboo and moss-covered trees, crossing bamboo bridges and wooden walkways along the way. On a clear day, Kanchenjunga appears through the trees. This is where you’ll spend the night.
Tingvong Village
Dzongu is a Lepcha Reserve Area tucked between steep mountains and deep valleys. In Tingvong, small traditional homes overlook terraced paddy and cardamom fields that curve around the hillsides. You’ll spend two nights here with a Lepcha family, experiencing village life at a slower pace.
Real photographs shot by group leaders, unexplorers and commissioned photographers.
Be the first to hear about our next Unexplorations. Our next departures are in October and November. Leave your details and we’ll let you know when registrations open.
Over the last 17 years, we’ve trekked through some of the most beautiful, diverse landscapes in our country. But we also know how different travelling through India can feel. We've realised that some of the most interesting parts of our country don't make it onto a typical tourist itinerary.
They are found in the small details and little moments. A village temple, the family kitchen, an old house, a local festival. Maybe a conversation with someone who has lived there all their life. These things don't always fit neatly into a sightseeing list, but stay with you longer. This is what we look for when we travel. Journeys that give people the time and space to look closer and travel deeper.
This is Unexplored India.
We believe that when you understand a place a little better, you begin to see it differently. Our hope is that, along the way, you also rediscover something that makes you feel proud of India too.
Arjun Majumdar is the Founder & CEO of Indiahikes. In this video he talks about why we started Unexplored India after 17 years of leading treks and what it means to travel this way through the country.
All Stays
Accommodation at all homestays (shared accommodation with 2-4 people in a room).
Every Meal
All meals from Dinner on Day 1 to Lunch on Day 5
All transport
Everything from Gangtok and back to Gangtok on Day 5
Permits
Guidance and facilitation throughout the trip from an expert who will bring the region to life with historical and cultural stories.
You will receive a 90% refund if you cancel 20 days or more before the trip date. Please check the detailed cancellation policy for complete terms and conditions.
Hotel Options at Siliguri
Near NJP Railway Station:
Hotel Insta18
Location: Click here to go to Google maps
Price Range: Rs 1,800- 2,500
Distance from pick-up: 6 km to NJP Railway Station
Amenities: Newly built & very clean rooms. Close to bus stand and main road. Can get sharing auto easily to NJP station.
Phone number: 09593906660
Booking link: Click here
Hotel Saluja
Location: Click here to go to Google maps
Price Range: Rs 1,300- 2,000
Distance from pick-up: 5 km to NJP Railway Station
Amenities: Clean rooms, easy access to Hong Kong market, easy to get autos and buses
Phone number: 09800417999
Booking link: Click here
Near Bagdogra International Airport
Mansons Homestay Bagdogra
Location: Click here to go to Google maps
Price Range: Rs 2,000- 3,000 (for a double room)
Distance from pick-up: 1 km to Bagdogra airport
Amenities: 15 mins walk to the airport, clean and neat, a garden
Phone number: 09932964841
Booking link: Click here
Himmat Giri Farmstead Bagdogra
Location: Click here to go to Google maps
Price Range: Rs 1,000 for a single bed in double sharing room, and Rs 2,500 for a double room.
Distance from pick-up: 1 km to Bagdogra airport
Amenities: 15 mins walk to the airport, farmstay experience, good host
Phone number: 09734011183
Booking link: Book on call
Hotel Options at Gangtok
We recommend booking a hotel near West Point Mall for convenient access to the pickup point.
Here are a few recommended options:
Cilantro Unwind Delisso Abode – Click here
Moustache Hostel, Gangtok – Click here