You begin before sunrise, usually by 4:00 AM. The road out of Lachen climbs sharply into open terrain, with Thangu (around 4,000 meters) being the first notable stop, mostly for a short tea break and to allow your body to adjust. From here, vegetation disappears, and the slopes turn barren. Oxygen levels begin to drop.

Gurudongmar Lake lies at 5,430 meters and is reached by around 8:30 AM if conditions allow. This high-altitude lake is set in a cold desert landscape, surrounded by rocky peaks and mountain silence. Due to the thin air and extreme cold, visitors are advised not to spend more than 20–30 minutes.

After returning to Lachen, you have a quick brunch and begin the second half of the journey toward Lachung. The road retraces back to Chungthang, then forks east along the Lachung Chu river. The drive is slower in the second half, with occasional army check posts and sharp bends through narrow valleys.

By evening, you reach Lachung, located at approximately 2,600 meters. It is less remote than Lachen, with more homestays and village life visible. You check in, eat, and rest—today has been the longest travel day of the tour.

You start early, usually by 6:30 AM, as the road to Yumthang Valley sees more movement later in the morning. The vehicle follows the Lachung Chu river upstream, climbing gradually through patches of fir and rhododendron. Depending on the season, the valley either blooms in red and pink or lies silent under snow.

By 8:00 AM, you reach Yumthang, located at 3,564 meters. This wide alpine stretch is surrounded by snow-covered ridges for most of the year. A short walk leads to a natural hot spring, basic in appearance but locally valued for its sulphur content. The area is cold, and the wind remains strong even in spring.

If the weather is stable and the roads are open, the driver arranges same-day clearance at the army post to proceed further toward Zero Point. The next 25 kilometers take you beyond the last civilian settlement. The landscape becomes harsh, the air thinner. By 10:00 AM, you reach Zero Point, a barren plateau at 4,724 meters, where the paved road ends completely. There is no settlement—only snowfields, army signs, and frozen streams.

You return to Lachung by early afternoon. The rest of the day is free for rest. By this point, most travellers begin to feel the effects of high altitude and early wake-ups, and a full meal followed by sleep is the usual pattern.

After breakfast, you begin the return journey to Gangtok. The vehicle follows the same route back, descending steadily along the river valley. The road from Lachung to Chungthang is narrow, with several sharp turns, but by now, the terrain is familiar.

A short stop is usually made at Bhim Nala Waterfall, one of the tallest in the region, where the water drops directly alongside the road. Depending on the season, the falls are either thin and misty or heavy with monsoon volume.

Once past Chungthang, the landscape begins to open up again. You continue southward, passing Mangan and other lower-altitude villages, where the vegetation shifts from alpine to subtropical.

By late afternoon, you arrive in Gangtok and check in at your hotel. The temperature feels warmer, and the altitude easier to breathe. The rest of the evening is yours—some prefer rest, while others head to MG Marg for food or shopping. The contrast between Gangtok’s urban pace and the silence of North Sikkim becomes more noticeable now.

Today is your final day. Start with breakfast at the hotel, followed by the drive down to Siliguri. The journey to NJP or Bagdogra typically takes 4 to 5 hours, depends on road conditions and traffic near Rangpo and Sevoke.

The route follows National Highway 10, descending alongside the Teesta River. As you move out of Sikkim’s hill region, the air gets warmer, the roads straighten out, and the foothills give way to plains. It is a familiar but quieter ride, often marked by tired silence or quick photo stops at a few last viewpoints.

By early to mid-afternoon, you reach your departure point—either NJP Railway Station or Bagdogra Airport. The journey ends where it began, with a noticeable difference: the landscapes are now memories, the altitude now felt only in your photographs, and the cold replaced by routine warmth.