The Singalila Round Trek is one of the longest treks in Sikkim. It starts in Uttarey, a small village on the Nepal border. It ends 15 days later in Yuksom, the old capital of Sikkim. In between, you walk the full Singalila Ridge, cross two high passes, and join the famous Goechala trail.
This trek covers a lot of ground. You start in warm forest below 2,000 metres. You finish at Goechala Viewpoint 1, at 4,600 metres, with Kanchenjunga rising right in front of you. Along the way, you pass through the Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary. You also skirt the edge of Khangchendzonga National Park, home to the snow leopard.
This is not a trek for beginners. You cover about 150 kilometres on foot. You climb from 1,950 metres to 4,600 metres over 15 days. But if you want real wilderness, away from the busy Goechala trailhead near Yuksom, the Singalila Round Trek is hard to beat.
What Makes This Trek Different
Most Goechala trekkers start and end in Yuksom. That trip takes 8 to 10 days. The Singalila Round Trek adds a full extra week. You approach from Uttarey instead, on a quieter path along the Singalila Ridge. You then join the main Goechala trail at Dzongri. This gives you two treks in one: a quiet border route, followed by the classic Goechala finale.
On Day 3, a short side trip takes you to Phoktey Dara. From here, on a clear day, you can see four of the five highest mountains on Earth at once: Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and Kanchenjunga. Few places in the world offer that view without a full mountaineering trip.
Best Time for the Singalila Round Trek
Sikkim’s monsoon runs from mid-June to mid-September. Avoid the trail in this window. Landslides, leeches, and low visibility make it unsafe. That leaves two good seasons for this trek.
Spring (March to May) is rhododendron season. Over 600 types of rhododendron bloom across Barsey and the lower ridge. The forest turns red, pink, and white. Days are mostly clear, with a few afternoon showers. Some snow may still sit on high passes like Danphebhir La.
Autumn (mid-September to November) gives the clearest views of the year. The monsoon washes the dust from the sky. Views from Phoktey Dara and Goechala Viewpoint 1 are at their sharpest. Nights turn cold, and frost is common. But the trails stay dry.
Either way, pack for freezing nights. Camps like Dhoor, Lampokhari, Lamuney, and Thangsing sit above 3,700 metres. Sub-zero nights are normal here, in both seasons.
See our guide to the best time to trek in Sikkim for how this compares to our other West Sikkim routes.
Permits You Will Need
Sikkim shares borders with Nepal, Tibet, and Bhutan. The government watches this zone closely.
Indian citizens do not need an Inner Line Permit for Sikkim. But you do need a Protected Area Permit (PAP) for this route, since it runs along the border and enters Khangchendzonga National Park. We arrange this through the Tourist Information Centre in Gangtok or Pelling. It needs sign-off from the Home Department, the Forest Department, and the Army. Bring a Voter ID, passport, or driving licence. PAN cards and Aadhaar cards are not accepted. Also bring a few passport-sized photos.
Foreign nationals need two permits: a Restricted Area Permit (RAP), free at entry points, and a PAP for the trekking zone. Foreign trekkers cannot go solo here. You need a group of two or more, plus a registered agency and a licensed guide. Citizens of China, Pakistan, and Afghanistan need extra clearance from Delhi. This takes more time, so plan ahead.
Zeal Adventures handles all permit paperwork. Just send us your ID and photos before the trek.
For the complete RAP/PAP process and required documents across Sikkim, see our comprehensive Sikkim permits guide.
How Hard Is the Singalila Round Trek?
We rate this trek Challenging. You need good fitness and some weeks of training before you go. Walk hills. Climb stairs. Run or cycle long distances. The trail is rarely flat. Expect steep climbs and hard descents over loose rock and roots, day after day, for close to two weeks.
Altitude is the other big factor. The route climbs to 4,600 metres. Acute Mountain Sickness is a real risk this high up. The plan includes rest days at Chewabhanjyang, plus buffer nights at Dzongri and Lamuney. This follows a simple rule: climb high, sleep low. Even so, this trek suits trekkers with some high-altitude experience far more than first-timers.
Meals on the trek are vegetarian, with eggs. Meat digests slowly at altitude and can make AMS worse. Expect rice, lentils, potatoes, and local vegetables. Non-vegetarian food is available in Yuksom, before or after the trek.
Trek Highlights
- Four of the world’s five highest peaks from one spot at Phoktey Dara.
- A real border trek, walking the ridge between India and Nepal for days.
- Sunrise at Goechala Viewpoint 1 (4,600m), facing the east wall of Kanchenjunga.
- Kanchenjunga, Pandim, and Kabru reflected in the still water of Samiti Lake.
- A walk through the Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary, one of Sikkim’s richest forests.
- Two high passes in one day: Danphebhir La and Kag Bhir La, both above 4,500m.
- A real chance of spotting Himalayan Blue Sheep, and rare Snow Leopard sightings.
- A night in Yuksom, where Sikkim’s first king was crowned in 1641.
