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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Enquire for Upcoming DatesWe don’t have to tell anyone how beautiful Sikkim is. If you haven’t already seen it in photos, the minute you reach Gangtok, you understand it for yourself. But if you go a little deeper, you’ll find that there’s so much more to be discovered. Unexplored Sikkim takes you to that side of the region that most travellers miss. You’ll go deep into Dzongu Valley, a protected area for the Lepcha people. Stay in Tingvong village and get to know their culture and way of life firsthand. Go on forest walks, bathe in waterfalls, take a dip in a hot spring at Lingdem village, and if you feel like it, learn the traditional Lepcha dance. Stay in forest cottages at the Fambong Lho Wildlife sanctuary where you wake up to views of the Kanchenjunga on a clear day.
Unexplored Sikkim doesn’t show you the beauty of Sikkim from a viewpoint. You’ll be immersed in it every single day.
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
The breathtaking mountains, valleys and lakes are reason enough to visit Sikkim. But we knew there had to be more. So, we set off on a bike, riding through Sikkim alongside the Teesta river to find remote and unique experiences. This is what inspired Unexplored Sikkim. The program gives you inside access to trails, experiences, food and stays that aren't easy to find on your own. It’s the Sikkim we wish everyone had a chance to see.
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 doesn’t pack the itinerary with must-visit places. Right from the first day, you get a taste of the region’s culture, traditions and biodiversity with visits to a monastery and the Orchidarium in Gangtok. But this is just the start. The journey will take you even deeper into Sikkim, to places and experiences most travellers miss.
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.
The stays during Unexplored Sikkim are as diverse as the experiences. You’ll stay in a secluded homestay in the heart of Gangtok, a forest cottage, and a Lepcha village in Dzongu Valley. The properties are not luxurious resorts. They are comfortable homes with personality where you’ll experience the warmth and hospitality of the hosts. The food features dishes and flavours from Sikkim you won’t find anywhere else.
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 experience 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.
Experience Leaders
Guidance and facilitation throughout the trip from our leaders who 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.