The Green Lake near Lachen in Sikkim is a beautiful lake amidst the mountains where people trek to enjoy the picturesque landscape and the views of the Kanchenjunga and other Himalayan peaks. The trail starts from Lachen, passing rocky terrain and thick forests lined with rhododendrons, blue poppies, primulas and other colorful flowers. One can also spot a variety of birds and the trail has many waterfalls on its way. The maximum altitude during the trek is 5050 m and the total trekking distance is 32 km.
Prewar Everest expeditions passed through North Sikkim and this trail was a part of their route. Even today, the region is still largely unexplored, because not many parties have been allowed to access the Green Lake. Green Lake is the base camp for mountain Kanchenjunga and offers beautiful panoramic views of nearby Himalayan peaks.
The tour starts from Bagdogra, from where one has to drive to Gangtok, which takes 5-6 hours. From Gangtok to Lachen is another 5-6 hour drive, from where Zema is a 20-minute drive. Lachen is a popular stop for trekkers who want to explore the region. The journey from Gangtok to Lachen takes you through various points of interest such as the Tashi View Point, Phodong Monastery, Kabi Longstok, Mangan, and Chungthang. The trek starts from Zema and the first stop is at Salem, which takes 5-6 hours to trek to. The next trek is to Jakthang, which takes 3-4 hours. From Jakthang, one trek to Yabuk, which is a 4-5 hour trek route. From Yabuk, one trek for 4-5 hours to reach rest camp, from where one trek to Green Lake, a 5-6 hour trek. Along the entire trek, one has astounding views of the Siniolchu, Simvo, Twin Peaks, Nepal Peaks and Kanchenjunga. Here one can rest for a day and hike around the lake, starting the return journey the next day. The descent has the same stops as the ascent, ending at Lachen.
Also, check out:
Sikkim:
Yuksom:
Bagdogra:
Others: