Best month · Sikkim
Sikkim in October
The best month for views. The air is washed clean after the monsoon, Kangchenjunga stands out from Pelling and Gangtok, and the high roads are open. Durga Puja and Diwali bring heavy crowds from Kolkata and the plains, and prices peak. Book stays and permit tours weeks ahead.
Photo: Santanu Paul · CC BY-SA 4.0 · CommonsWhere to go
Our picks for October
Photo: Santanu Paul · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Pelling
Kangchenjunga views, Pemayangtse and the ruins of Rabdentse
Photo: Original: Yoghya Derivative work: UnpetitproleX · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Gurudongmar Lake
A sacred lake above 5,100 m near the Tibetan plateau
Photo: Tsen2006 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Zuluk
Hairpin loops on the old mule road from Kalimpong to Lhasa
Trips
Trips at their best in October
Photo: IamBumba · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Comfort
Sikkim monasteries and ridges, 6 nights
Private car with driver
Photo: IamBumba · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Comfort
North Sikkim: Lachen, Lachung, Gurudongmar
Private SUV with driver
Photo: IamBumba · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Saver
North Sikkim on a budget, 5 nights
Seats on shared permit-tour vehicles
Photo: IamBumba · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Saver
Sikkim west by shared jeep, 6 nights
Shared jeeps and local taxis
Photo: IamBumba · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Signature
Sikkim heritage hotels, 6 nights
Private SUV with driver and local guide
Photo: IamBumba · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Signature
Sikkim signature: Gangtok and the north
Private SUV with driver and local guide
Elsewhere in October
Other hives this month
Questions
Sikkim in October, answered
Is October a good time to visit Sikkim?
The best month for views. The air is washed clean after the monsoon, Kangchenjunga stands out from Pelling and Gangtok, and the high roads are open. Durga Puja and Diwali bring heavy crowds from Kolkata and the plains, and prices peak. Book stays and permit tours weeks ahead.
What is the weather like in Sikkim in October?
Gangtok about 12 to 21 °C; clear skies. Conditions differ by altitude and coast, so check the forecast for each stop a week before you travel.
Where should we go in Sikkim in October?
We suggest Pelling, Gurudongmar Lake, Zuluk. Avoid arriving in the Durga Puja week unless your stays are booked; rooms and cars run short.