Sikkim Delight Tour

Day 01 Arrive Bagdogra Airport and drive to Darjeeling (3 hrs)

Fly into Bagdogra Airport (or IXB.)

This is a small but busy airport in North Bengal and Sikkim's foothills, which is surrounded by lush green tea gardens. If the sky is clear, you will be delighted to see the long mountain range of the greater Himalayas from the flight window. Bagdogra Airport is well connected with all major Indian Cities with direct daily flights from Kolkata (45min), New Delhi (2 hr), Bangalore (3hr), Mumbai (3rh) and Guwahati (45min).

On your arrival, our executive will receive you and give a short brief on the tour and hand you over the travel documents before taking you to the car.

Transfer to Darjeeling (Alt 6825Ft / 2050M) - 90kms in 3hrs

The journey to Darjeeling rolls along the traditional Hill Cart Road, snaking its way through the mixed Sal forests of Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary and then slowly climbing up the hills to Kurseong – a tea-growing area dotted with lush green tea estates. The narrow-gauge Himalayan rail track will be your constant companion, and you can see the lucrative miniature train running on the steam engine.  As you climb up the hill road, the snow-clad mountains’ view will start appearing on the horizon, adding excitement to your journey.

On arrival in Darjeeling, we assist you in Check-In at the hotel. The rest of the day is free. You may go strolling to the Mall or Chowrasta to get a feel of the city.In the centre of the town, the Mall is a popular hangout place in Darjeeling, where all people come to meet, shop and dine.

Get Tour Quote

Day 02 Darjeeling City tour

Today we will go for a city tour in Darjeeling, which typically cover the following places.

Tiger Hill Sunrise tour - 3 to 4 hrs by car both ways. Ideal time 4 AM to 7.30 AM

If you are interested to see a fascinating sunrise over the Himalayan Range, you should brave the biting morning cold and wake up early at 3.30 AM to visit Tiger Hill. This hilltop at 2500 meters is the highest point of Darjeeling from where you can get a vast panorama of the greater Himalayas, which keep changing its colour with the early morning hues - subject to clear weather. We return to the hotel for breakfast.

Ghoom Monastery
A 160-years old Buddhist Gompa near Ghoom Railway station is a must-visit for the people coming to Darjeeling. This monastery belonged to the Yellow sect of Gelugpa Buddhism and was built in 1875. We can take you to this monastery on your way back from Tiger Hill, or we can also visit this separately in the latter part of the day.

Mahakal Temple
We will walk to Mahakal Temple above Observatory Hill in the central part of the town. This historical temple, built in the year 1768, is believed to be The oldest temple in the region and is a unique amalgamation of Buddhist and Hindu religious people who practise their rituals on the same premises. The walk takes about 15 minutes to reach the temple through a wooded, hilly track from the Mall. (Be aware of monkeys in the temple and the pathways)

Tea Garden Excursion
Today we will take you for a visit to a tea garden in Darjeeling to give you a first-hand tea experience. Here you will know how the delicate Darjeeling Orthodox Tea is cultivated and why it is considered the best tea. You can also visit the factory and talk to the garden manager to know the different processes tea passes through before getting the acclamation. You can also have a tea tasting session to try various tea from green, black and white. (This experience is best witnessed from April to October)

Tibetan Refugee Self Help Centre:
This centre was primarily built for sheltering the Tibetan Refugees, who fled from Tibet during the great escape of the Dalai Lama. The Indian Government created the centre to give a safe refuge to the people and make them self-sufficient by providing them aid to produce Tibetan handicrafts. You can see the old Tibetan people engaged in making shawls, carpets and other Tibetan handicrafts here, which you can also purchase to support the initiative. (The centre remains closed on Sunday)

Himalayan Mountaineering Institute
Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI) is the first museum to showcase the stories of Himalayan Adventures. Here you can see the rare photographs and equipment of legendary expeditions to the Highest Mountain peaks in the world, including Jon Mallory's first climb attempt to Mt Everest and Tenzin Norgay's victory over Mt Everest. The institute also provides training on climbing techniques to mountain lovers. (The HMI remains closed on Thursday)

Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park
Next to the HMI is a small but exciting Zoological Park, which shelters many rare Himalayan Animals, including Snow Leopard, Red pandas, Wild Yaks and Blue ships. This is also the first zoo in the world to captive breed Red Panda and snow leopard. (The Zoo remains closed on Thursday)

The Mall or Chowrasta
The most popular hangout place for locals and as well as for tourists is Darjeeling Mall, also known as Chowrasta. This is in the heart of the town, and you can spend hours here watching the vibrant people and their way of life. Here you can indulge yourself in shopping and dining. There are many old curio shops and book stores, along with a few sophisticated food joints and pubs around the corners.

You can also go for a stroll around the Hermitage road encircling the Mall to enjoy the serenity of the place.

Get Tour Quote

Day 03 DHR (Darjeeling Himalayan Rail) Joy Ride

Today we go for a nostalgic ride on the Himalayan Railway, running on a narrow gauge in Darjeeling Hills since 1878. The journey chugging along the village and markets of Darjeeling is a unique experience, which draws several vintage train lovers from across the globe. The journey starts from Darjeeling and reaches Ghoom station – one of India's highest railway station at 2300 meter in 45 min and return to Darjeeling in a total of 1.5hrs. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway has got the UNESCO heritage status for its uniqueness.

Ghoom Museum
A visit to Ghoom Museum will follow once you reach the Ghoom station. Opened in 2000 for tourists, the museum displays the oldest steam engine along with a collection of vintage photos of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway.

Darjeeling to Pelling (Alt 7175Ft / 2150M) via Melli - Jorthang - 130kms in 5.5hrs
After the ride, we drive to Pelling in West Sikkim. The stunning drive will pass through some of the best-located tea gardens in the Peshok area with a beautiful view of the mountains. We will descend to the Tista River and then follow the river's course till Melli, the Bengal Sikkim Border. From here, we will follow another river valley – Rangeet, which meanders through lush forested valleys. We will cross many small markets and villages on the way where you can take a refreshing break and have some food. We reach Pelling in the afternoon and assist you in check-in.

Before the introduction of tourism, Pelling used to be a small peaceful village even a few years back, which now turned into a bustling tourist destination in West Sikkim. The incredibly close view of the Greater Himalayas' highest peaks with beautiful countryside, old monasteries, sacred lakes, and waterfalls with myths and legends made Pelling a fascinating holiday and adventure destination in Sikkim.

After check-in formalities and depending on the available time, you can go for a short walk to the Pemayangtse Monastery or even to the forested road leading to the viewpoint for a closer view of the towering snow peaks.

Get Tour Quote

Day 04 Day tour in Pelling

Today after breakfast, we go for a Pelling tour which includes the following.

Pemayangtse Monastery
Visit Pemayangtse Monastery in Pelling. This is perhaps the most important and widely discussed monastery in Sikkim. One of the most revered saints of Tibet Lama, LathsunChempo, belonging to the Nyingmapa sect of Buddhism, built this monastery more than 300 years ago. From the monastery premises, you can also get lovely mountain views.

Rubduntse Ruins
On the way to Pelling, we stop at Rubduntse, a palace, which dates back more than 300 years. Rubduntse lays on top of a hill and is surrounded by dense forests overlooking the valley and mountains. This palace used to be the second capital under the Choygal of Sikkim and was built in 1670. This palace is, however, in ruins now. The Rubduntse has also been declared a bird sanctuary and a nice place to observe a rich collection of Himalayan birds.

Khecheopalri Lake
Pay a visit to Khecheopalri Lake – one of the most sacred lakes in Sikkim, lying midway between Yuksom and Pelling. Khecheopalri means 'A Palace of Flying Meditating (female) Deities' in the Tibetan Language. This place is associated with many myths, legends and folklore, and has become an integral part of the local people's daily life. The lake, set amidst dense broadleaf forested hills at an altitude of 1700m, appears like a foot shape, which the locals believe is the footstep of Buddha.

Yuksom village
Continuing from here, we go to Yuksom Village. With a deep underlying history, which dates back more than 300 years, Yuksom holds a vital place in Sikkim's Kingdom. This small village became the seat of power in 1642 when the three most learned monks from Tibet assembled here to propagate and establish the Buddhist Religion. They crowned the first Chogyal of Sikkim at a place called Norbugang in a forest close to Yuksom Village.

Get Tour Quote

Day 05 Pelling to Gangtok Via Ravangla and Samdruptse 180kms in 6hrs

Today after breakfast, we check out from the hotel and head to Gangtok – Sikkim's capital. En route, we will have several stops for scenic views and visits to monuments. We will come to Ravangla – a small market and a village at 2100 meters. From here, we take a detour to Samdruptse – a gigantic statue of Guru Padma Sambhava, which is a recent addition to the Sikkim pilgrim map. From here, we continue to Gangtok and Enroute visit Temi Tea Estate. This beautiful tea garden is the only tea estate in Sikkim and produces high-quality tea. This drive is very scenic, and you can have several stops to take photographs or even can visit the store to purchase good quality directly from the Garden. We will soon descend to the Tista River Valley in Singtham and enter East Sikkim.

We will reach Gangtok in the afternoon and help you with check-in at the hotel.

Day 06 Full-day City Tour in Gangtok

Today we have a day-long tour in Gangtok with a visit to the following places.

Tibetology Institute and museum
The Institute of Tibetology and Research Centre in Gangtok is one of India's most important centres and perhaps in the world for the scholars and students of higher Buddhist study. It stores an extensive collection of Buddhist religious books and scripts and a priceless collection of rare Thangka (Tibetan scroll paintings).

Cottage Industry and Handicraft Centre
The Cottage industry and handicraft centre is a government institution, which was built in the year 1957 to promote the exclusive traditional handicraft and art skill of Sikkim. Apart from being an authentic shopping centre, this institute is also an excellent place to observe the process of learning and making traditional handicrafts and paintings by the students. (Sunday & holiday closed)

Enchey Monastery
This important monastery, built by the 8th Choygal of Sikkim in 1840, follows the Nyingma order of Tibetan Buddhism. Located at an isolated place on top of a hill over the Gangtok town, the construction of the monastery resembles Chinese archaeology and looks like a pagoda. The monastery also provides a nice view of the mountains on a clear day.

Tashi View Point
Tashi View Point in Gangtok is the highest View Point in the city. The top of a hill offers an excellent 360-degree view of the Kanchenjunga Peak along with a vast valley and Gangtok town. From Tashi View Point, you can also get down to the Zoological Park in a 10 to 15 minutes walk on a quiet forested road.

Get Tour Quote

Flower Show and Exhibition centre
If you are interested to see the exotic Himalayan flowers and orchids, the Orchid Centre in Gangtok is a must to visit the place. The Flower and Orchid exhibition centre has a huge collection of rare Himalayan orchids and flowers.

M G Marg
The most happening place and the central shopping area and Mall of Gangtok are the Mahatma Gandhi Marg or M.G. Marg. This is the most popular place for the tourists and the local people who have to come to this place for a walk or spend some leisure time shopping or trying different cuisines of Tibetan, Indian, and Chinese.

Lal Bazar
Unlike the M.G. Marg Market, the Lal Bazaar is more famous for the common city people and not for the regular tourists. But although this is not meant for the common tourists, the travellers with a keen interest to experience the everyday life of the common people of Gangtok may find this place quite interesting. The Bazaar is closed on Thursday.

Day 07 Gangtok to Kalimpong (Alt 4175Ft / 1250M) Via Rongpo - 95kms in 3hrs

After checking out from the Gangtok hotel, we will drive to Kalimpong in West Bengal. The mighty Tista River will be our company during the journey to Rongpo, which is the border between Sikkim and Bengal. From here, we will take the Mansang road, which snakes through the stunning countryside of Kalimpong. You can stop many times here for a refreshing break and photography.

We will check in at our Hotel in Kalimpong.

Kalimpong is a famous hill station in Darjeeling Himalayas with historical mythology against the stunning backdrop of mighty Himalayan peaks and colourful countryside, with old monasteries, churches, vibrant hill tribes, old buildings and an exotic variety of orchids and flowers.

We help you with check-in at your hotel, and after a freshen up, go to the local market to taste local food or shopping or go for a short walk to the old church in the town.

Delo visit
We take you to the famous Delo Viewpoint at 5500ft (1650M). This is the highest point of Kalimpong town, from where you get a picturesque bird-eye view of the Tista River Valley and the snowy mountains beyond. You will be taken to the Kalimpong Local Market - a popular place for shopping for traditional handicraft items like hand-woven woollen garments, wooden masks, Tibetan paintings and many other attractive souvenirs.

Get Tour Quote

Day 08 Kalimpong to Bagdogra – 75kms in 2.5hrs

We check out of the hotel after breakfast.

Today is the last day of your tour in the Northern part, and we take you to Bagdogra Airport, from where you have your flight back home.