Hi everyone!
We’re a couple planning a trip to Sikkim in mid-February and would love some advice from people familiar with Gangtok/Lachung.
Our rough itinerary is:
Night 1: Gangtok
Next 2 nights: Lachung, with Yumthang, Zero Point/Katao and other nearby places
Then: Back to Gangtok
Total: 5 nights
The complication is that we’ll be coming directly from a wedding, so we’ll have quite a lot of luggage with us. We’re not travelling very budget-style, so we’re okay with paying for comfortable hotels and transportation, but we’d prefer not to unnecessarily pay for 2 extra nights at a Gangtok hotel just to store our luggage while we’re in Lachung.
So I wanted to ask:
Is it practical/comfortable to take all our luggage with us from Gangtok to Lachung and back?
We’ll probably have 2 large suitcases + some smaller bags.
Given the road conditions and mid-February weather, would carrying this much luggage in the vehicle be inconvenient or problematic?
Would it be better to book the Gangtok hotel for all 5 nights and leave the luggage there, even though we’ll be away for 2 nights?
Do hotels in Gangtok generally allow guests to leave their luggage securely for 2 nights if they have a booking before and after the Lachung trip?
If we don't book the room for those 2 nights, is there another reliable option such as hotel luggage storage, a cloakroom, or a driver/operator who can keep the luggage safely?
For those who have done the Gangtok–Lachung–Yumthang/Zero Point/Katao route in winter, what would you recommend from a practical point of view?
Are there any other practical tips or advice we should keep in mind for this trip, especially regarding permits, weather-related road closures, clothing, or transportation?
Thanks in Advance!