Sikkim set to host week-long Adventure Tourism Festival

ISABELLA GURUNG

GANGTOK, : With the aim of showcasing Sikkim as a leading adventure tourism destination, the Tourism & Civil Aviation Department, in collaboration with Sikkim INSPIRES, is set to organise the Sikkim Adventure Tourism Fest 2026 from November 1 to 7, with Linkhim Tar in Namchi district serving as the main festival venue.

With the theme ‘Explore Without Boundaries’, the week-long festival will bring together adventure enthusiasts, tourists, families, local communities and tourism stakeholders through a diverse range of outdoor experiences across all six districts of the State.

Adventure Cell Additional Director Kazi Sherpa, who is also the sessions officer, said, “Linkhim Tar will serve as the principal hub for festival activities, offering a vibrant combination of adventure, recreation and family entertainment. Major attractions include ziplining across the Teesta River corridor, river rafting, an inter-departmental obstacle challenge, a family obstacle course, hot-air ballooning, a giant swing, paragliding, camping and more.”

Other key attractions will offer visitors opportunities to experience the region from the air, on land and amid nature. These activities are intended to make adventure tourism accessible to a wider audience while showcasing Sikkim’s diverse natural landscapes, it was informed by the Tourism officials to media here on Saturday.

“This is the first-of-its-kind adventure tourism festival organised by the Tourism Department under Sikkim INSPIRES. Featuring more than 20 adventure activities across air, land and water, the festival combines sporting challenges, high-altitude activities, trekking, birdwatching, cycling tours and family-oriented recreational experiences,” said Tourism Additional Director Tenzing Gelay Bhutia.

The initiative seeks to promote responsible and sustainable tourism, encourage local participation, create livelihood opportunities and strengthen Sikkim’s growing adventure tourism sector. The activities will be conducted under designated operational and safety protocols, with trained personnel and certified operators, as applicable, he added.

Through the festival, the department aims to attract more tourists to the State and boost the tourism economy.

Tourism Adventure Cell Assistant Director Brinda Mohan Subba briefed the media on the second edition of the Tour de Sikkim mountain biking expedition.

“Tour de Sikkim will be a six-day, five-night mountain biking expedition covering major places of interest along the historic Silk Route, with a total distance of approximately 253 km. The major attractions include Temi Tea Garden, Tashi View Point, Ganesh Tok, Khangchendzonga View Point, Tsomgo Lake, Nathula, Hangu Lake, the Silk Route at Dzuluk, Aritar Lake and the event venue at Linkhim Tar. Cyclists will reach a maximum altitude of 4,279 metres, which is a huge achievement,” said Subba.

For participants who do not own mountain bikes, the department will provide bikes on rent at a nominal price, she added.

The festival will also promote trekking through distinctive Himalayan routes, including the launch and promotion of new trekking experiences in Sikkim.

The featured expeditions include the launch of the ‘Heart of Sikkim Trek’, also known as the ‘KurmitKhursong Trail’. The 11-day trek covers 80 km, starting from Lum Dzongu, passing through KurmitKhursong and finishing at Sakyong in West Sikkim.

Another featured expedition is the Dzongri–Singalila Round Trek, an 11-day trek covering more than 120 km from Yuksom to Uttarey.

With packages offered at reasonable prices, slots will be limited, providing participants with opportunities to explore mountain landscapes, forests, high-altitude terrain and local cultural heritage. These experiences will emphasise responsible trekking, environmental conservation and respect for local communities, it was informed.

Adventure Cell Deputy Director Manoj Chettri said the department had planned two to three paragliding sites and would engage trained and certified pilots.

“For safety purposes, we have all trained, certified and registered pilots, as well as the Adventure Section’s team and rescue experts from the Army, fully deployed and stationed. For everyone who comes and is selected for this festival across the various sites, we have made special insurance arrangements as well,” he said.

Registration for the Sikkim Adventure Tourism Fest 2026 will be available through the official festival website, authorised booking channels and designated offline arrangements, said IT Section Assistant Director Srijana Pradhan.

Visitors can explore activity options and register online at adventurefest.sikkimtourism.co.in, it was informed.

To facilitate convenient access for residents and visitors, an offline handheld ticketing counter will be set up at MG Marg, Gangtok, enabling people to obtain information and purchase tickets for eligible festival activities. Multi-day adventure packages and expeditions may have separate booking requirements and deadlines. Participants are advised to consult the official website for availability, eligibility, fees, schedules and safety instructions, it was informed.

Department Under-Secretary Namgyal Lepcha, who is in charge of Gangtok Adventure Tourism, said, “The Gangtok Adventure Relay is a multi-activity adventure package designed to highlight the scenic landscapes and adventure potential of the Gangtok region. The two-day, one-night programme combines a mountain flight, paragliding, river rafting and overnight camping, offering participants a distinctive journey through Sikkim’s skies, rivers and natural surroundings. The relay aims to promote teamwork, adventure tourism and immersive experiences beyond conventional sightseeing.”

He further informed that the department had introduced an exclusive 50 per cent discount on all packages as special first-edition prices.

With the 50 per cent discount, the two-day adventure relay will cost Rs 7,500 per person.

The route starts from Burtuk Helipad in Gangtok, with two time slots at 8 am and 1 pm. In both slots, participants will take a helicopter joyride from Burtuk Helipad to Pakyong Airport, followed by a one-hour hike to Thumki Dara. From there, they will paraglide down to Rorathang, take a jeep safari to Rangpo and then travel for 30 minutes to Lingtam under Namthang GPU.

Additionally, the festival will offer an exclusive helicopter joyride, with approximately 18 to 20 seats available per day during the morning slot. With the 50 per cent discount, the joyride will cost Rs 2,200 per person.

The festival will feature several activities and packages, including the following:

Team-building games and obstacle challenges: Designed for teams of six members, comprising two members above 45 years of age, two above 35 years and two below 34 years, with at least two women in each team. Cash prizes will be awarded to the winners.

Family obstacle event: Open to 40 families, each comprising a husband, wife and two children aged 10 and above but below 16 to 18 years. Blood relatives and cousins will be allowed, while sporting children will not be eligible.

Camping: Accommodation for 100 to 200 tents will be available at Lingtam at a reasonable cost of Rs 1,200, inclusive of the stay and complete evening meals.

Giant beach ball: A game featuring a four-foot giant beach ball.

Scottish log throw: Scottish-style log-throwing events will be organised without additional entry fees.

Multiple entry options to Lingtam: Participants will be able to arrive by air, land or water.

All adventure packages will include A-360 adventure insurance, offering coverage ranging from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 9 lakh, automatically provided upon package purchase, it was informed.

Offline bookings will also be available at MG Marg after Dussehra for relay and helicopter packages.