Dzongri Trek
Gyalshing (West Sikkim), Sikkim
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- Max altitude
- 4,200 m
- Days
- 8 days
- Distance
- 48 km
- Difficulty
- Moderate
Steady forest climbs of 7-9 km a day, but the trail gains about 2,400 m from Yuksom (1,780 m) to Dzongri (4,020 m) in three days, so altitude sickness is a real risk; the Dzongri Top climb starts before dawn in the cold.
Photos
On the trail
The route
Day by day
Day 1
New Jalpaiguri (NJP) / Bagdogra → Yuksom
120 m → 1,780 m
Day 2
Yuksom → Sachen
1,780 m → 2,255 m
Day 3
Sachen → Tshoka (via Bakhim)
2,255 m → 2,985 m
Day 4
Tshoka → Dzongri (via Phedang)
2,985 m → 4,020 m
Day 5 · highest point
Dzongri → Dzongri (sunrise at Dzongri Top, acclimatisation day)
4,020 m → 4,200 m → 4,020 m
Day 6
Dzongri → Tshoka (via Phedang)
4,020 m → 2,985 m
Day 7
Tshoka → Yuksom (via Bakhim and Sachen)
2,985 m → 1,780 m
Day 8
Yuksom → New Jalpaiguri (NJP) / Bagdogra
1,780 m → 120 m
Ups and downs
Altitude profile
Where it is
Map
Trailhead and high point only — not a recorded track. Use it with a proper map.
Weather
Next 5 days on the trail
Live forecast for the trailhead and the high point. Mountain weather changes fast — check again on the morning you start.
Trailhead · Yuksom
at 1,780 mLoading forecast…
High point · Dzongri Top
at 4,200 mLoading forecast…
Each day: high / low °C · rain mm and chance · snow cm · wind km/h
Weather data: Open-Meteo.comModel forecast, not an official warning. For alerts follow IMD and the local administration.
Plan the trip
How to reach
- Trailhead
- Yuksom
- Nearest railway
- New Jalpaiguri (NJP)
- Nearest airport
- Bagdogra Airport (IXB), Siliguri
- By road
- New Jalpaiguri / Siliguri (about 150 km via Jorethang and Pelling or Tashiding); Gangtok (about 125 km via Ravangla and Legship)
- Drive
- About 7 h from Siliguri
Plan the trip
Permits and fees
We could not confirm the current permit rules and fees from an official source. Check with the local forest department or tourism office before you go.
Plan the trip
Cost
Self-guided
₹10,000–18,000
With an operator
₹24,900–40,000
Per person, ex-NJP/Bagdogra. Guided prices published October 2026: Himalaya Shelter ₹28,000 + 5% GST for 8 days NJP-NJP; Thrillophilia ₹24,900 for an 11-day package that adds Kalimpong, Pelling and Darjeeling; Himalayan High private small-group departures from ₹40,000 (Basic) to ₹48,000+ (Standard). Self-guided is an estimate: shared jeep NJP-Yuksom both ways, two Yuksom nights, a mandatory registered guide and porters or yaks shared within a small group, tent and food for six trekking days, and Khangchendzonga National Park fees.
Gear
Top picks for this trek
The gear that matters most on this route, chosen from its altitude, season and risks.
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Packing checklist
Matched to this trek: altitude, season, days and the risks on the route.
Packed 0 of 33
Nights near 4,200 m can drop close to freezing even in summer. Pack one more warm layer than you think.
Tick each item as it goes in the bag.
Know before you go
Good to know
- Mobile network
- Mobile signal up to Yuksom; no reliable signal or electricity beyond Yuksom on the trail.
- Last ATM
- Yuksom (a few ATMs, often unreliable); Jorethang or Geyzing are safer places to draw cash.
- Nearest hospital
- Primary health centre at Yuksom; district hospital at Gyalshing (Geyzing); serious cases to Siliguri or Gangtok.
- Water
- Streams and taps at Sachen, Bakhim and Tshoka; a small stream near the Dzongri camp. Boil or treat all water.
Highlights
- Sunrise from Dzongri Top (about 4,200 m) on Kanchenjunga, Kabru, Pandim, Narsing and the Singalila ridge at close range
- Rhododendron, oak and magnolia forest of Khangchendzonga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with flowering in April-May
- Four suspension bridges over the Prek Chu and its tributaries between Yuksom and Bakhim
- Tshoka, a small Tibetan refugee settlement with a monastery and lake, and the open Dzongri meadows above the tree line
Risks
- Quick gain from 1,780 m to over 4,000 m in three days; trekkers have reported acute mountain sickness at Dzongri, so keep the rest day there.
- December to February brings snow on the trail after Tshoka and night temperatures around -10 °C; operators describe winter as only for experienced trekkers.
- Monsoon rain (June to mid-September) brings leeches, landslides and slippery trails, and views are usually lost in cloud; Himalaya Shelter says it closes the trek in the monsoon and Explurger advises avoiding June to August.
- Solo trekking is not allowed: a registered guide, police registration at Yuksom and national park permits are mandatory, and foreign nationals need extra permits.
Know before you go
Questions
How difficult is the Dzongri trek?
It is a moderate trek with no technical climbing, but it needs good fitness for 5-7 hours of uphill walking a day and gains about 2,400 m in three days. Operators accept fit beginners; carry altitude-sickness medicine and keep the acclimatisation day at Dzongri.
When is the best time for Dzongri?
Mid-March to May (rhododendron bloom, some snow up high) and mid-September to November (clearest Kanchenjunga views). Guides advise avoiding the June-August monsoon (heavy rain, leeches, slippery trails, no views), and December to February is a snowy winter trek for experienced trekkers only.
What permits do I need for Dzongri?
You must register at the Yuksom police station, pay the Khangchendzonga National Park entry fee at the Yuksom check post or wildlife centre, and trek with a registered guide; foreign nationals need extra permits. Published fee figures conflict and we found no current official fee list, so confirm the amounts in Yuksom.
How is the Dzongri trek different from Goechala?
Both start at Yuksom and share the trail to Dzongri. The Dzongri trek turns back after sunrise at Dzongri Top (about 4,200 m), so it is shorter at about 48 km and 8 days NJP-NJP. Goechala continues to Thansing, Lamuney and Goecha La at about 4,940 m.
Is there mobile network or an ATM on the trek?
Mobile signal and electricity end at Yuksom. Yuksom has a few ATMs that are often out of service, and there are none on the trail, so carry enough cash from Jorethang or Siliguri.
In an emergency
Save these numbers before you lose signal. Tap to call.
- 112All emergenciesIndia’s single emergency number — works in every state
- 108Ambulance
- 1077District disaster control room
You are in
District: Gyalshing (West Sikkim)Sikkim
- Nearest hospital
- Primary health centre at Yuksom; district hospital at Gyalshing (Geyzing); serious cases to Siliguri or Gangtok.
- Last ATM
- Yuksom (a few ATMs, often unreliable); Jorethang or Geyzing are safer places to draw cash.
- Phone network
- Mobile signal up to Yuksom; no reliable signal or electricity beyond Yuksom on the trail.
Before you set off
- Tell someone your route and when you will be back.
- Carry a charged phone and a power bank.
- Download an offline map of the route.
- Turn back if the weather turns bad — the mountain will wait.
Questions about Dzongri
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Where this comes from
Sources
Last reviewed:
- Dzongri Trek — Himalaya Shelter
- Dzongri La Trek 2026 | Customizable Private Premium Small-Group Kanchenjunga Trek — Himalayan High
- Dzongri Trek 2025, Sikkim | Yuksom Dzongri Trek — Thrillophilia
- Dzongri Trek guide — Explurger
- Dzongri Trek: A Detailed Guide in 2025 — Capture A Trip
- Guide To 2026 Dzongri Trek In Sikkim — TravelTriangle
Photos: Narayan Jambunathan, CC BY 3.0; Veda, CC BY-SA 4.0; Anupam2015, CC BY-SA 4.0
