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Kasturi Orar Round Trek in Sikkim

Kasturi Orar Round Trek

Extreme ⏱ 9-10 Days 📍 Yuksom, Sikkim

About

Kasturi Orar Round is the trek Sikkim keeps to itself, a wilder cousin of the famous Goecha La route that most trekkers never even hear about. You walk the same legendary trail past Dzongri and up to Goecha La for those jaw-dropping views of Kanchenjunga and the Talung Glacier, then instead of turning back the way you came, you peel off from Thangsing into the forest nobody else is walking through. Musk deer territory, moss-draped trees, orchids clinging to trunks, and a string of campsites with names like Kasturi Odar (deer cave) that feel pulled straight out of a folk tale.

What makes it special:

  • The same Goecha La payoff as the classic trek - Kanchenjunga and Talung Glacier up close, minus the crowds on the way down
  • A completely different return route through Lampokhari, Chamrey, and Kasturi Odar, taking you from alpine cold into semi-tropical forest in a matter of days
  • Genuinely offbeat trekking through Khangchendzonga National Park, a route most operators in Sikkim still don't run

By the time you stumble out at Labdang or Tashiding, you'll have crossed almost every kind of Himalayan terrain there is - moraine, alpine meadow, rhododendron forest, and steamy lower jungle. Kasturi Orar is where Goecha La trekkers go when they want the bragging rights and the road less traveled.

Getting There

The trek begins in Yuksom, Sikkim's first capital, reached via NJP railway station or Bagdogra airport, both roughly 150-165 km away with a 6-7 hour drive through the hills. NJP has frequent long distance trains from Kolkata, Delhi, Guwahati and beyond, while Bagdogra is well connected by direct flights from major Indian cities, so plan to land before 10-11 am to make the onward drive comfortably.

The trail itself is a loop, not an out-and-back. You climb through Sachen, Tsokha and Dzongri up to Goecha La, then break away from the usual route at Thangsing to descend through Lampokhari, Chamrey and Kasturi Odar before finishing at Labdang or Tashiding village, both well linked by local jeep services back to Yuksom, Gangtok or NJP/Bagdogra. Permits for Khangchendzonga National Park are mandatory and sorted through your trek operator before day one. Best season runs through spring and autumn; budget a buffer day at Yuksom for acclimatization since the trek climbs well above 4000 m at its highest point.

FAQs

What exactly is the Kasturi Orar Round Trek? +
It's the offbeat cousin of the classic Goecha La trek in Sikkim. You follow the same trail up to Goecha La via Yuksom, Dzongri and Thangsing, then branch off on the return leg through Lampokhari, Chamrey and Kasturi Orar before exiting at Labdang or Tashiding. Same big views, fewer crowds.
Why is it called "Kasturi Orar"? +
Kasturi means musk deer, and Odar (or Orar) means cave in the local dialect. The region is known for its musk deer population and old animal caves, hence the name.
How long does the trek take and how tough is it? +
Expect around 10 to 12 days, including buffer and acclimatization days. It's a high-altitude trek with stretches of 6 to 8 hours of walking daily, so decent fitness, lung capacity, and a bit of mental grit are non-negotiable.
When's the best time to attempt this trek? +
April to June and September to November are the sweet spots, when skies are clear and the Kanchenjunga views are at their best. Monsoon months are best avoided since trails get slippery and leech-heavy.
Do I need permits, and how do I reach the starting point? +
Yes, you'll need a Kanchendzonga National Park entry permit plus a restricted area permit since this falls in a protected zone, usually arranged through your trek operator. The journey starts by reaching NJP or Bagdogra, then a 6 to 7 hour drive to Yuksom, the actual trailhead.