Sikkim launches first adventure tourism festival; inaugurates Dzongu trail
Image Credits - Trekking in Sikkim
The trail traverses varied landscapes at elevations ranging from 3,000 ft to 14,700 ft, is expected to create opportunities for sustainable, community-led tourism, and more.
Sikkim has commenced its first-ever adventure tourism festival with the opening of a new high-altitude trekking route in Dzongu and a marathon at Gnathang Valley. The seven-day Sikkim Adventure Tourism Fest 2026, organised by the Department of Tourism and Civil Aviation, will run until November 7, reportedly bringing together a range of outdoor activities aimed at showcasing the state's adventure tourism offerings.
A key highlight of the inaugural day was the formal opening of the Kursong Kurmit Trail in the Dzongu subdivision of Mangan district. Pintso Namgyal Lepcha, Minister for Forest and Environment, attended the ceremony as the chief guest and flagged off the trail, marking a new addition to Sikkim's adventure tourism infrastructure.
Located approximately 80 km from Gangtok, the trail traverses varied landscapes at elevations ranging from 3,000 ft to 14,700 ft. It is expected to create opportunities for sustainable, community-led tourism while bringing greater attention to Dzongu's distinctive ecological and cultural heritage.
Lepcha described its launch as a significant step in broadening Sikkim's adventure tourism portfolio. The minister emphasised the potential of the route to encourage responsible tourism practices and provide visitors with an opportunity to experience the region's natural landscapes and cultural identity.
Beyond trekking, the week-long festival will feature a diverse line-up of adventure and recreational experiences. These include hot-air ballooning, river rafting, paragliding, parasailing, zorbing, horse riding and all-terrain vehicle (ATV) rides.
Through the festival and the introduction of new adventure routes, the state aims to highlight its varied terrain, encourage exploration beyond established tourism circuits and strengthen its positioning as an adventure tourism destination.
