Sikkim

Sikkim was a Buddhist kingdom until 1975 and still feels like one. The Namgyal dynasty's first capital, Yuksom, is where three lamas consecrated a king in 1642, and the Goecha La trek towards Kangchenjunga starts from its lanes. The mountain itself, at 8,586 metres the third-highest on earth, is treated as the protector deity Dzonga and honoured each Pang Lhabsol with masked warrior dances. Gangtok is compact and pleasant, its pedestrian MG Marg swept clean, with Rumtek Monastery, the seat in exile of the Karma Kagyu lineage, on the ridge opposite. North Sikkim is the drama: Lachung, the Yumthang valley of flowers at about 3,560 metres, and Gurudongmar Lake at roughly 5,180 metres, frozen for much of the year. East of Gangtok, Tsomgo Lake and the trade pass of Nathu La need permits. West Sikkim adds Pemayangtse, the ruins of Rabdentse and Pelling's skywalk. Sikkim became India's first fully organic state in 2016. Signature journeys link Gangtok, north Sikkim and Pelling over eight days.