Lachen to Gurudongmar Lake
Your options
Ways to make the journey
3 h each way
Group vehicles leave Lachen at 4–5 am, stop at Thangu for tea and permit checks, reach the lake around 8–10 am and return to Lachen for lunch before driving to Lachung. Everyone in the car must be ready on time.
3 h each way
A private car lets you turn back at Thangu if someone feels unwell without affecting others, and lets you add an acclimatisation night in Lachen. You still leave early, because wind and cloud build after noon.
Worth a stop
- Thangu
- Army medical post
- High plateau with yaks
Questions people ask
Good to know
What time should I leave Lachen for Gurudongmar
Between 4 and 5 am. The aim is to reach the lake around 8–10 am, when the sky is usually clearest, and start back by noon before the wind and cloud build. Your driver will tell you the exact time the night before.
How long is the Lachen to Gurudongmar drive
About 65–70 km, roughly 3 hours each way, including a tea and permit stop at Thangu. With 20–30 minutes at the lake, the round trip takes 7–9 hours. Most groups then drive on to Lachung after lunch.
Is there oxygen on the way to Gurudongmar
The army runs medical posts on the road where oxygen is available in emergencies. Small oxygen cans are also sold in Gangtok. Oxygen gives relief but is not treatment; descending is. Anyone with serious symptoms should turn back, not continue with a can.
Can foreigners drive from Lachen to Gurudongmar
No. Foreign nationals are not permitted at Gurudongmar Lake. With a Restricted Area Permit they can usually go up the valley as far as Thangu and, where allowed, the Chopta Valley. Mixed groups need separate arrangements. Check current status before you travel.