Lachen is the sister village of Lachung in North Sikkim and is the base for tours to Gurudongmar lake and Chopta valley. Situated at an altitude of 8838 ft, the small town is a good 6 to 8 hours drive from Gangtok (depending on road conditions) along the North Sikkim highway. Lachen stands on a grassy and bushy flat land separated by deep gorges of river Lachen-Chu from where rises the pine-clad mountains with their snowy peaks and black cliffs. The village comprises nearly 250 houses, earlier inhabited only in winters by the owners who spend the summers on the alpine pastures along the Tibet border tending to their herd of yaks. Today most of Lachen is converted into hotels and resorts. Both sides of the single road passing through the town are dotted with hotels of different sizes and budgets.