Papers to pack for a hill holiday

Every season, a few travellers reach a checkpost in Sikkim without the right papers, and the whole car has to wait. A simple folder, packed the night before, avoids this. Here is what to carry for a hill holiday with us.

Photo ID for every adult, and for children where they have one. Aadhaar, a passport, a voter ID or a driving licence are accepted for Indian citizens. Carry the original and two photocopies of each. For North Sikkim and Tsomgo Lake, the name on the ID must match the permit exactly, so check spellings when you send copies to us ten days before travel.

Two passport-size photographs for each person, even if you have already sent them. Sometimes a checkpost asks for an extra copy. Printed permit copies, which your tour manager also carries. Foreign nationals need a separate permit for Sikkim and cannot visit some areas; tell us early so we can apply. Train tickets or e-tickets on your phone and a printout, hotel vouchers, and the itinerary with phone numbers. A small card in each child’s pocket with a parent’s name and number.

For health, carry prescriptions and enough medicine for the whole trip plus three days, as pharmacies in the high villages are few. Write down any allergies and conditions on a card. If anyone has heart or breathing problems, consult your doctor before travelling to high altitude. Keep everything in one waterproof pouch, in the bag you carry, not in the suitcase on the roof of the car.