Gangtok to Lachung
Your options
Ways to make the journey
6–7 h
The cheapest way. Registered Gangtok operators sell seats in shared Bolero, Xylo or Scorpio vehicles that leave from the North Sikkim stand area around 10 am to noon. The price covers your permit, seat, a basic hotel in Lachung, dinner, breakfast and the Yumthang morning. You share the car with up to nine strangers and follow a fixed schedule.
6–7 h
A private Bolero, Xylo or Innova with a registered local driver, booked through an operator who files your permit. You choose departure time and stops, such as Kabi Lungchok and Phodong. Hotels are extra. Self-drive and plains taxis are not allowed beyond the checkposts.
6–7 h
Local shared jeeps run to Chungthang and Lachung for residents. Tourists cannot use them past the Toong checkpost without a permit issued through an operator. Indian visitors can use shared jeeps as far as Mangan, about ₹250–350, then join their permit vehicle only if the operator agrees in advance.
Worth a stop
- Kabi Lungchok
- Seven Sisters Waterfall
- Phodong Monastery
- Mangan
- Naga waterfall
- Toong checkpost
- Chungthang
Questions people ask
Good to know
How long does Gangtok to Lachung take
About 6–7 hours for roughly 120–125 km in good conditions, longer during road repairs or after rain. Group vehicles leave Gangtok in the late morning and reach Lachung around dusk. Allow extra time between May and September, when landslides are common.
Can I self-drive from Gangtok to Lachung
No. Tourists must travel in registered local vehicles with local drivers, booked through a registered operator who also files the permit. Plains taxis and self-drive cars are not allowed beyond the checkposts. This rule is enforced at several police and army points.
What is the Toong checkpost time limit
Under the September 2026 order, all tourist and light vehicles going to or returning from Lachung and Lachen must cross the Toong checkpost by 4 pm. This is why groups leave Gangtok by late morning and leave Lachung by midday on the way back. Check current status before you travel.
Is the Gangtok–Lachung road open
As of early October 2026, yes; Lachung reopened to tourists in September 2025 after monsoon landslides. Closures are frequent between May and September and after heavy snow in winter. Your operator will know the day's status. Check current status before you travel.