When to visit›Sikkim›Pelling›May
Pelling in May: doable, with the right plan
May: rain on 20 days — and outside the recommended window.
May is outside Pelling's recommended window (October – December, March – April); the season opens in October, 5 months away. Mild days around 20°C, nights near 11°C, rain on most days.
The next season opens in October, 5 months away. Deep winter usually sets in in December, 7 months away. The cold months usually begin in November, 6 months away. The next mild, dry spell usually starts in October, 5 months away.
2 days in Pelling in May · from ₹4,514 for two
Stay, food & local travel — getting there extra
Day-by-day plan with the journey from your city, priced for May — ready in seconds, no sign-up.
What the weather actually does
10-year average · PellingMild days around 20°C, nights near 11°C, rain on most days.
What a day in Pelling looks like
The things most people actually do here, by time of day.
Morning
- Pemayangtse Monastery dawn visit2h · easy
- Kanchenjunga panorama & Zemathang viewpoint2h · easy
- Pelling Skywalk glass walkway1h · easy
Afternoon
- Khecheopalri wish-fulfilling lake1h 30m · easy
- Singshore Bridge (220m India's highest)1h · easy
- Rabdentse Palace ruins walk1h 30m · moderate
About 9h of activity in total — the planner spreads this across your days and fits travel time around it.
What a May trip costs · 2 days, total for two
Budget
₹4,514 for two
- Stay · 1n₹1,000
- Food₹2,080
- Local + entry₹1,100
- Buffer₹334
Mid-range
₹11,146 for two
- Stay · 1n₹2,520
- Food₹4,800
- Local + entry₹3,000
- Buffer₹826
Luxury
₹25,720 for two
- Stay · 1n₹6,615
- Food₹11,200
- Local + entry₹6,000
- Buffer₹1,905
Covers stay with GST, food, local transport, entry & activities, 8% buffer for two people sharing one room — the same figures the planner opens on. Excludes travel to Pelling. How we price this
Add the journey from your city — see the full priceBook Pelling for May
Opens with May dates for two — change them on the booking site.
Tourisma may earn a small commission if you book — it never changes your price.
A May plan, day by day
2 days in Pelling for May, at this month's stay rates.
- 1🙏 Spiritual Day2.5h out
- Singshore Bridge (220m India's highest) · afternoon, 1h
- Khecheopalri wish-fulfilling lake · afternoon, 1.5h
The journey here is half the experience — arrive, breathe the air, and acclimatise.
- 2🌿 Nature Day3h out
- Pelling Skywalk glass walkway · morning, 1h
- Kanchenjunga panorama & Zemathang viewpoint · morning, 2h
Final day in Pelling — nature days need early starts — this schedule front-loads the active parts before the heat.
Swap places, change the pace, set your own dates.
Plan my Pelling tripGetting to Pelling
Usually the biggest line in the budget — and the one the estimate above leaves out.
Gangtok → Pelling
shared jeep · 4h
₹300
1 way / person
Gangtok → Pelling
cab · 3.5h
₹2,200
1 way / person
Cheapest listed route is Gangtok → Pelling by shared jeep. Return for two works out to about ₹1,200 — so a whole trip lands near ₹5,714 for two, travel included.
Fares are typical one-way estimates per person from Pelling's common gateways, not live prices — book early and expect festival months to run higher.
Every month, scored
What you’ll actually do in Pelling
All of these are open in May.
- Pemayangtse Monastery
- Kanchenjunga Waterfall
- Singshore Bridge (220m—highest in India)
- Rabdentse Palace ruins
- Khecheopalri Lake (wish-fulfilling)
- Skywalk over cliff
- Rimbi Orange Garden
- Dentam Valley viewpoint
- Sanga Choeling Monastery (oldest in Sikkim)
- Zemathang Viewpoint Kanchenjunga
- Darap village cultural walk
Within reach: Pemayangtse Monastery · Rabdentse Ruins · Khecheopalri Lake · Singshore Bridge · Rimbi Rock Garden.
Permits you'll need
Protected Area Permit (border zones)
Sikkim itself is open to Indians, but Tsomgo Lake, Nathula, Gurudongmar, Yumthang and Zuluk need a Protected Area Permit arranged through a registered local operator — you cannot drive to them on your own.
Rules change — verify with the issuing authority before you travel.
Packing for May
- A packable rain shell and quick-dry clothes — showers come most days.
- Footwear with grip that can get wet, and a zip-lock for phone and documents.
- Insect repellent and leech socks for forest walks.
- Walking shoes with grip and a power bank — charging points and signal are patchy on hill roads.
May questions, answered
Is May a good time to visit Pelling?
It can work — May is not Pelling's best month: the recommended season is October – December, March – April, and mild days around 20°C, nights near 11°C, rain on most days. Tourisma's fit score for May is 59/100.
See a May plan for PellingHow much does a trip to Pelling cost in May?
A typical 2-day trip for two costs from ₹4,514 (budget) to ₹25,720 (luxury), excluding travel to Pelling. Seasonally adjusted for May.
Price it for your group and cityWhen is the best time to visit Pelling?
The best months are November, December, October. From May: The next season opens in October, 5 months away. Deep winter usually sets in in December, 7 months away. The cold months usually begin in November, 6 months away. The next mild, dry spell usually starts in October, 5 months away.
What is there to do in Pelling?
Pemayangtse Monastery. Kanchenjunga Waterfall. Singshore Bridge (220m—highest in India). Rabdentse Palace ruins. Khecheopalri Lake (wish-fulfilling). Skywalk over cliff. New Jalpaiguri (NJP) is the nearest railhead, 148 km away.
Nearby, same trip
Elsewhere in India in May
Instead in season this month, from Tourisma's ranking of all 238 destinations for May.
- Haridwar · Uttarakhand · from ₹6,526 for two, 2 days
- Rishikesh · Uttarakhand · from ₹7,733 for two, 3 days
- Gulmarg · Jammu & Kashmir · from ₹9,694 for two, 2 days
- Bomdila · Arunachal Pradesh · from ₹4,855 for two, 2 days
- Tawang · Arunachal Pradesh · from ₹10,176 for two, 3 days
- Ziro Valley · Arunachal Pradesh · from ₹4,855 for two, 2 days
- Kodaikanal · Tamil Nadu · from ₹6,390 for two, 2 days
- Yumthang Valley · Sikkim · from ₹5,335 for two, 2 days
Want this as a real plan?
Pelling in May, priced for your group, dawn-starts built in — about 40 seconds.
From ₹4,514 for two · stay, food & local travel — getting there extra
Plan Pelling in May