Photo: Sujay25 · CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Zero Point (Yume Samdong)Height above mean sea level 4,660 m

pass · North Sikkim

The end of the tourist road above Yumthang

Best Apr – May · Oct – NovDay trip nights

Zero Point, or Yume Samdong, is where the tourist road ends above Yumthang, at about 4,660 m. It is an optional add-on from Lachung, paid per vehicle, often closed after mid-December and always dependent on weather and permits. Check current status before you travel and decide on the morning.

Above Yumthang the road keeps climbing up the Lachung valley, past the last trees, onto bare slopes of scree and snow. Where it stops for tourists is a place called Yume Samdong, better known as Zero Point because the public road ends there. The altitude is usually given as about 15,300 ft, roughly 4,660 m, which is more than 1,000 m higher than Yumthang and almost 2,000 m above Lachung.

Zero Point is not in the standard package. On the morning of your Yumthang visit, your driver will tell you whether the road is open and whether your permit covers it, and you pay the extra charge, usually about ₹3,000–4,500 per vehicle, indicative, 2026, directly to the driver or operator. The drive takes about an hour each way from Yumthang, and most groups spend 20–40 minutes at the top.

What you get is snow for much of the year, a ring of high ridges, frozen streams and a sense of being very close to the border. What you also get is thin air. People who felt fine at Yumthang can get a headache or feel faint here. Keep the visit short, walk slowly, and if you have small children, elderly parents or anyone with heart or lung problems in the car, skip it.

Don't miss

Highlights of Zero Point (Yume Samdong)

Snow for most of the year

Even in May, Zero Point usually has snow on the ground and frozen streams. For families who missed winter snow in Lachung, this is the place to touch it in spring. Wear waterproof shoes.

The high ridges

Bare ridges and snowfields surround the end of the road. On a clear morning the light is hard and blue. Photographs are best before 10 am, when cloud starts to build from the valleys.

A short visit, done right

Twenty to forty minutes is enough. Walk slowly, do not run on snow, drink water and sit in the car if you feel light-headed. The aim is to see it and come down well.

Paid per car

The add-on is charged per vehicle. On a group package, the people in your car share it. On a private trip, a full car of five or six makes it reasonable value.

Tea at the last stalls

In season a few stalls at the end of the road sell tea, coffee, noodles and sometimes local brandy. Skip the alcohol at this height and have the tea.

Told in the hills

Why the road stops here

North Sikkim borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, and much of the land above the tree line is controlled by the Indian Army. The road beyond Yume Samdong continues as a military road, which is why tourists must turn round where the public section ends. The name 'Zero Point' is a local tourism name, not an official map name.

That is also why access changes. Tourist entry to Zero Point is decided by the district administration and the army each season, and it is suspended after heavy snow, during security alerts and through much of the winter. In September 2025, when North Sikkim reopened after the monsoon closure, Lachung, Yumthang and Zero Point were the three places opened first.

Treat Zero Point as a bonus, not a goal. A clear morning at Yumthang is the core of the trip; Zero Point adds snow and height if the day allows. Planning your whole holiday around it usually ends in disappointment.

Pinned to the board

Did you know

Zero Point is roughly 2,000 m higher than Lachung, a bigger climb in one morning than most mountain medicine guides recommend.

Tourist access is commonly closed from about mid-December because of snow on the road above Yumthang.

The Zero Point charge is paid per vehicle, not per person, so a full car costs each traveller much less.

Things to do

Four ways to spend a day in Zero Point (Yume Samdong)

2–3 hours added to the Yumthang morning Forty minutes on the Zero Point snow Zero Point (Yume Samdong) · ₹3,000–4,500 per vehicle, indicative, 2…

5 minutes, every hour above 3,500 m An altitude check that keeps you safe Zero Point (Yume Samdong) · Free; pulse oximeter ₹800–1,500 to buy,…

15 minutes Tea at the end of the road Zero Point (Yume Samdong) · ₹40–150 per person, indicative, 2026

Planning note Zero Point or Katao: what to expect Zero Point (Yume Samdong) · Free

Getting there

How to reach Zero Point (Yume Samdong)

Group packageYour Lachung group vehicle can go on from Yumthang if everyone in it agrees and pays the extra charge, about ₹3,000–4,500 per vehicle, indicative, 2026. If one person objects or feels unwell, the car usually turns back. Ask your operator how they handle this.

Reserved carWith a private car you decide on the morning. Your driver will check with other drivers and the checkpost whether the road is open. Pay the agreed amount once you are sure the visit will happen.

Rail / AirThe nearest airport is Bagdogra (IXB) and the railhead NJP. From Siliguri go to Gangtok, then Lachung, then up through Yumthang. There is no shortcut and no helicopter service for tourists.

Yumthang Valley to Zero Point (Yume Samdong)

Costs in Zero Point (Yume Samdong)indicative, 2026

Zero Point add-on from Yumthang₹3,000–4,500 per vehicle, indicative, 2026
Tea or coffee at the stalls₹40–80 a cup, indicative, 2026
Instant noodles at the stalls₹100–150, indicative, 2026
Snow boot hire in Lachung₹150–300 a pair, indicative, 2026

Fares and fees change with fuel prices, season and local union rates. Check current rates before you travel.

Money-saving tip

Agree the Zero Point price with the other people in your shared car the night before, so nobody is pressured at Yumthang and the cost is split fairly.

Where to stay

Sleeping in Zero Point (Yume Samdong)

There is no accommodation at Zero Point or anywhere above Yumthang. You stay in Lachung, about 2–2.5 hours below. Budget group packages use family hotels in Lachung; a homestay like Bichu Homestay suits independent budget travellers; Le Coxy Resort is a dependable comfort choice; and Yarlam Resort is the premium option. Sleeping two nights in Lachung makes Zero Point easier and safer.

budget

Bichu Homestay Homestay · Lachung ₹2,000–3,500 per room night with breakfast and dinner, indicative comfort

Le Coxy Resort Hotel · Lachung ₹4,500–8,000 per room night, indicative premium

Yarlam Resort Resort · Lachung ₹10,000–18,000 per room night, indicative

On the map

Drawn by Darjeeling Tour Plan from Natural Earth outlines (public domain). Borders as depicted by India. Not for navigation.

Next stations

Near Zero Point (Yume Samdong)

All of North Sikkim

Yumthang Valley3,564 m

Meadows, hot spring and rhododendrons above Lachung

Valley · best Apr – May · Oct – Nov · Day trip nights

Lachung2,700 m

Base for Yumthang, run by its own village council

Village · best Mar – May · Oct – Nov · 1–2 nights

Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary3,300 m

Forty-odd rhododendron species on the road to Yumthang

Wildlife sanctuary · best Apr – May · Day trip nights

Questions people ask

Zero Point (Yume Samdong): questions answered

What is the altitude of Zero Point Sikkim

Zero Point, at Yume Samdong above Yumthang, is usually given as about 15,300 ft, or roughly 4,660 m. Figures vary between sources. That is about 1,100 m higher than Yumthang and nearly 2,000 m above Lachung, so take the altitude seriously even on a short visit.

How much does Zero Point cost

It is an optional add-on charged per vehicle, usually about ₹3,000–4,500, indicative, 2026, paid to your driver or operator on the morning. In a shared group car the cost is split among the passengers. It is not normally included in standard Lachung packages.

Is Zero Point open in December

Often not after mid-December. Snow usually closes the road above Yumthang through much of the winter, and tourist access resumes in spring as it is cleared. Early December is sometimes possible. Never plan a winter trip around Zero Point; check current status before you travel.

How far is Zero Point from Yumthang

Sources give anything from about 15 to 23 km, and the drive takes roughly an hour each way. Adding Zero Point to the Yumthang morning usually means 2–3 extra hours. Leave Lachung by 5.30 am to keep the whole morning clear and still cross the Toong checkpost by 4 pm if you are heading south.

Can kids go to Zero Point

We do not recommend Zero Point for children under five, and for older children only if they are well and have slept at least one night in Lachung. The altitude of about 4,660 m and the cold can affect children quickly, and they may not explain how they feel. Yumthang is enough for most families.

Can foreigners go to Zero Point

Rules for foreign nationals have changed over the years; some recent guides say it is permitted with a Restricted Area Permit and a registered operator, others that it is not. Ask your operator for the current position when they apply for your permit and check current status before you travel.

Why is it called Zero Point

Because the public road ends there; beyond it the route continues as a military road towards the border, closed to civilians. The place's local name is Yume Samdong. Zero Point is a popular tourism name rather than an official one, and it is used for other road-end points in India too.

Is there a toilet at Zero Point

Practically no. There may be a basic facility near the stalls in season, but do not count on it. Use the toilets at Yumthang before you continue. Carry tissues and a small bag, and do not leave waste or paper in the snow.

Is Zero Point safe

For healthy adults who keep the visit short and walk slowly, generally yes. The real risks are altitude sickness, cold and slipping on ice. The road is narrow with steep drops, so do not ask your driver to hurry. Turn back at once if anyone feels unwell, and avoid it in bad weather.