Tuesday, July 15, 2025
Sikkim is undergoing a shift in its tourism strategy, embracing the concept of “slow tourism.” This movement focuses on encouraging visitors to spend more time in one destination, connecting with the local culture and community, rather than opting for quick, superficial sightseeing trips. The aim is to provide travelers with meaningful experiences, allowing them to engage with local traditions, explore the region’s natural beauty, and experience life in a more authentic, mindful way. By promoting slow tourism, Sikkim seeks to transform its image from a typical holiday destination to one that fosters cultural exchange and thoughtful exploration.
One of the significant components of such change is building the newly created Soreng district in West Sikkim. The district, which comprises Soreng, Chakung, Sribadam, and Mangalbarey villages, is becoming popular as a destination for slow tourism. Soreng is characterized by rugged terrains, ridgeline forests, and lush flora, and thus, presents immense opportunities for nature walks, trekking, and adventure activities. The natural beauty of the region makes it a preferred destination for people seeking to break away from the hustle and bustle of contemporary lifestyles and engage in the natural surroundings of the Himalayas.
The region is expected to be a destination for slow travelers as well as adventure lovers. Development proposals for adventure parks in Soreng consist of paintball, mountain biking, and bouldering, so the area serves different kinds of interests. The district is promoted as an easily reachable destination for adventure lovers as well as for people experiencing travel in a slower, deeper way.
While spots such as Gangtok and North Sikkim continue to be popular among tourists, areas such as Soreng and Yangang are separately promoted as having slow tourist potential. The tourists are asked to stay longer, sample the local cuisine, and interact with the people through their various cultural activities. The aim is to offer an authentic experience, as opposed to tourist attraction. The tourists can even make use of working remotely, as the areas offer stable internet connection. The aim is to revive the taste of old school backpacking holidays, which are being offered to a wider clientele, all in pursuit of deeper destination connection.
Yangang, in South Sikkim’s Namchi district, is another spot where slow tourism is taking hold. The area is home to natural attractions such as Maenam Hill and Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary. Yangang is also distinct for future infrastructure improvements, in the form of a skywalk and ropeway, which will further enhance visitation. Local officials, however, make clear that the real aim in such areas is not for peak visitation but for promoting longer stays and deeper immersion in local cultures and surroundings.
The rural beauty of Yangang and the natural surroundings are perfect for those wanting to travel in the Sikkim countryside at a slower pace, taking in its special atmosphere. The slow tourism project means that tourists can discover the real spirit of Sikkim, getting in touch with local villages and sharing in everyday life in the picturesque northern India without the pace associated with normal tourist timetables.
Increasing demand for experiential, immersive travel is behind Sikkim’s new plan. By getting tourists to travel slowly and engage with local life, the state is presenting an alternative model of sustainable and culturally rewarding mass tourism. With an increasing number of tourists demanding stand-out, non-touristy experiences, Sikkim’s move to promote slow tourism is an unusual opportunity to connect meaningfully with the destination.
Easy access to such new centers for slow tourism, such as Yangang and Soreng, is gained through various paths from Darjeeling and Kurseong. With equal amounts of adventure, culture, and natural beauty, these locations are primed as top destination points for the traveler in search of an experientially abundant, conscious holiday. As an alternative to the mass vacation, Sikkim is building a niche for itself in the growth market for slow tourism, which is attracting the traveler for whom connection is prioritized over convenience, and authenticity over speed.
