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Sikkim

Dzongu (Lepcha Reserve)

Lepcha-only reserve of cardamom, hot springs and gorges

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Best time to visit Dzongu (Lepcha Reserve)

peak shoulder off-season avoid

  • Go: March to April and October to November
  • Shoulder: May and December to February, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
  • Skip: June to September

Planning a specific month? MarchAprilOctoberNovember

Dzongu (Lepcha Reserve) season by season

Winter December to February Shoulder

Dec-Feb is dry and mild down in the valley at 890 m; the hot springs are at their best and homestays are near empty.

Summer March to May Prime time

March-April is the pick: cardamom and orchids in flower and clear mornings up the gorge; May greys out before the rains.

Monsoon June to September Do not go

Jun-Sep is worst case: NH-10 and the North Sikkim road slide, bridges wash out and Dzongu can be cut off for days.

Autumn October to November Prime time

October-November is clear, cool and the harvest season; permits come quickly and homestays have beds after Diwali.

What Dzongu (Lepcha Reserve) is actually like

Lepcha family homestays only, no hotels; you eat what the house cooks and walk to waterfalls with someone's cousin.

Getting to Dzongu (Lepcha Reserve)

Shared jeep Gangtok to Mangan (3 h), then homestay pickup; non-Lepcha visitors need a Mangan district permit.

Practical ways in: road

Trip facts

How long to stay
3 days
Budget
Shoestring
How busy
Quiet at its peak
Solo travel
Doable solo with some planning
Altitude
890 m
State
Sikkim
Coordinates
27.5281, 88.5144

Common questions

When is the best time to visit Dzongu (Lepcha Reserve)?

March to April and October to November is peak season in Dzongu (Lepcha Reserve). May and December to February is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. Avoid June to September. October-November is clear, cool and the harvest season; permits come quickly and homestays have beds after Diwali.

How many days do you need in Dzongu (Lepcha Reserve)?

3 days is the usual stay. Lepcha family homestays only, no hotels; you eat what the house cooks and walk to waterfalls with someone's cousin.

How do you get to Dzongu (Lepcha Reserve)?

Shared jeep Gangtok to Mangan (3 h), then homestay pickup; non-Lepcha visitors need a Mangan district permit. Practical ways in: road.

Is Dzongu (Lepcha Reserve) expensive, and does it get crowded?

Shoestring by Indian travel standards, and it runs quiet at the busiest time of year. Doable solo with some planning.

Nearby, and where to go next

More places to visit in Sikkim

All 9 destinations in Sikkim