Best of Darjeeling & Sikkim

Itinerary

Accommodations

Day 1: BAGDOGRA – KALIMPONG, MOUNTAIN KINGDOM

Welcome to the mountain kingdom. You will be greeted & assisted by our representative at NJP railway station or IXB airport and later transferred to your hotel in Kalimpong to check in. Spend rest of the day free at leisure to acclimatize the weather. The first thing that strikes the traveler visiting Kalimpong is its quiet atmosphere. The peaceful ambience that pervades is heightened by the presence of monasteries and churches across the town. Kalimpong is also known for its bustling bazaars, traditional handicrafts and panoramic view of the great Himalayan ranges that lie beyond it. Meals: Welcome Dinner Included.

Day 2: KALIMPONG

This morning post healthy breakfast we will leave for sightseeing tour of Kalimpong. Explore three important gompas or monasteries: the Tharpa Choeling Gompa, the Tongsa Gompa and Zong Dog Palri Fo-Brang Gompa. Later visit Jelapla Viewpoint, Pine Viewpoint and Dr Graham's Homes Complex. Visit Delo Hill, located at 1700m above sea level and one can have magnificent view of the summit of Kanchenjunga, 3rd highest mountain in the world. End your day by exploring bustling bazaars, traditional handicrafts and trying some local cuisine. Meals: Breakfast Included.

Day 3: GANGTOK

Incredibly alluring, pleasantly boisterous and wreathed in clouds - Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim, is one of the most popular hill stations in India. Gangtok can be safely said to be one of the most beautiful hill stations in the country. With everything in just the right amount from a blend of cultural identities to urbanisation. Gangtok is a breathing and dynamic bit of paradise of the northeast. After healthy breakfast, drive to Gangtok. After arriving unwind yourself and then go for a sightseeing tour of Gangtok. Visit the Banjhakri Falls that drop from over a hundred feet and offering stunning views of the lush green landscape around it. Pay your respects at the Enchey Monastery, known for its Chinese Pagoda-style design. The architecture is based on the sacred mountain that has five peaks in China. Later visit The Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, the most prestigious research institute of its kind in the entire world. The Institute is home to a vast collection of rare Tibetan, Lepcha and Sanskrit manuscripts, statues, masks and rare Thankas (colorful tapestries used in Buddhist liturgy). Meals: Breakfast Included.

Day 4: GANGTOK

After early breakfast drive to immensely enchanting Tsongmo Lake. On your way to the lake, the gigantic mountains and the twisting roads will feel like an adventure in itself. Also called as the Changu Lake, it is situated at an altitude of 12,400 ft and is said to be one of the highest lakes in India. The turquoise waters give you magical views of the alluring peaks nearby. Later, we will pay a visit to Baba Harbhajan Singh Temple, which is nearby to the lake. End the day by visiting one of the many pubs to drink and chill for the outgoing kind of travellers and locals. The most popular pub is one by the name of Pub 25 on MG road. It is open till 11 pm and is a high-end place known for its great ambiance and delicious food. Taste of Tibet, which serves mean thupkas also has a cool bar. If you are looking for a pub with a great view, you should visit Cafe Culture which is located at The Ridge. It offers spectacular views of the surrounding snow-clad peaks and serves delicious Himalayan cuisine like phale and shiafale. Meals: Breakfast Included.

Day 5: LACHEN VILLAGE, LAND OF YAKS

After breakfast we will drive to Lachen, a photographer’s delight. There are so many vivid colours, textures, and varying landscapes to capture that your camera will be your best travel companion on the trip. This heavenly place will instantly look like a place cut off from the world. Its serenity is unmatched, and the warm welcome of the locals is like a bowl of piping hot soup to comfort you in the chill that reaches your bones. En-route we will stop at numerous viewpoints and scenic spots like Tashi Viewpoint, Kabi Lungtsok, Naga Waterfall, the confluence of Lachen Chu and Lachung Chu River at Chungthang. Upon arrival, check into a hotel and spend the evening in the village of Lachen to let your body acclimatise to Lachen’s height of 9,000ft. Walk past old wooden homes built on stone bases and decorated with bright, multi-hued window frames constructed in the Tibetan style. There are only 250 houses in the village. Meals: Breakfast Included.

Day 6: GURUDONGMAR LAKE

Post breakfast at the hotel, you will leave for a full day tour of Gurudongmar Lake, at an altitude of 17000 ft. Situated in the land of Yaks, close to the Tibet border, this scenic lake is one of the unexplored and highest lakes in the world. It enjoys a stunning setting, with perennial snow peaks all around. Experience this placid lake and its overwhelming surroundings. It would not be an exaggeration to call it a paradise in the midst of nowhere. LACHUNG Return to Lachen for lunch and thereafter leave for Lachung. En-route visit Twin Waterfalls & Bhim Nala Waterfalls. Upon arrival, check into a hotel for overnight stay at Lachung. Meals: Breakfast Included.

Day 7: LACHUNG –YUMTHANG EXCURSION

This day is dedicated to Yumthang Valley excursion. Popularly known as the Valley of Flowers, it is also a grazing pasture where villagers take their cattle during summers.
Note: The Valley remains closed between December to March, due to heavy snow fall. As you enter the valley, you will come across to a breathtaking view. Yumthang is a flat grassy valley with a rivulet flowing through it. Further, lofty mountains covered with trees and vegetation on both sides add a charm to the beauty of the valley. Herein you will be greeted by a variety of flowers, especially the Himalayan Yellow Poppy that are only find in the high regions. On the way back, visit the Hot Sulphur Spring. Spend rest of the day at leisure by exploring bustling bazaars, traditional handicrafts and trying some local cuisine. Overnight stay in Lachung. Meals: Breakfast Included.

Day 8: LACHUNG- GANGTOK

Post breakfast drive to Gangtok. En-route the hilly roads, lush green mountains and bubbling brooks will greet you. Further, we will halt for some time at Seven Sisters Waterfalls, Naga Waterfalls and Singhik Viewpoint (subject to weather condition). The viewpoint offers breathtaking vistas of Khangchendzonga and Siniolchu. From here you can admire the beauty of the lush green hills with the beautiful sound of the Teesta River flowing below it. Meals: Breakfast Included.

Day 9: PELLING

Post breakfast drive to Pelling. Located at an altitude of 6800 ft, Pelling's raison d’être is to provide countless visitors with stride-stopping dawn views of white-robed Kanchenjunga, 3rd highest mountain in the world. Known for its pristine natural beauty, the people of Pelling ensure that the natural and cultural resources of its land remain untouched. This has enabled some of the town’s most beautiful tourist attractions to be its waterfalls and lakes. On arrival, check into a hotel. After lunch, we will explore close by village tour to get insight into their daily lives and culture. Later return to the hotel for overnight stay. Meals: Breakfast Included.

Day 10: PELLING

After breakfast proceed for a full day sightseeing tour of Pelling. Visit the Khecheopalri Lake, considered one of the most sacred lakes in the state. It is believed that the birds who reside here do not permit even a single leaf to float on the surface of the lake. Next on stop are the Pemayangtse and Sangachoeling Monasteries. Pemayangtse Monastery, the oldest and most important monastery in Sikkim has a beautiful collection of wall paintings and sculptures. The Sangachoeling Monastery that overlooks the Pemayangste Monastery was built on a ridge above Pelling in 1697 AD. later visit the Darap village. It offers activities like handicraft making, cultural shows and Limboo story telling sessions. End the day by trying few local cuisnes at local restaurant. While in Pelling, make sure you try Tongba, a local drink made of fermented millet wine served in a bamboo container to be drunk through a bamboo straw. Overnight stay at hotel. Meals: Breakfast Included.

Day 11: DARJEELING, QUEEN OF THE HILLS

Post breakfast drive to Darjeeling, a popular tourist destination in North-East India. Providing a heady mixture of splendid tea gardens on rolling mountain slopes, meandering toy train rides through the picturesque city, and delectable traditional Tibetan cuisine, Darjeeling works wonders to cater to the gorgeous panorama of the Himalayas. Our hill journey to Darjeeling will pass through numerous green tea gardens that provide a breathtaking sight of the place Upon reaching Darjeeling transfer to the hotel. Relax for a while and then hit up Darjeeling's indispensable Chowk Bazaar (also known as Lower Bazaar) for a real local market experience. Its lanes are filled with an assortment of products including wholesale spices, tea, vegetables, meat, Buddhist artifacts, masks, household items, shoes, textiles, rugs, and caps. Be prepared for crowds and chaos! Overnight stay at hotel. Meals: Breakfast Included.

Day 12: DARJEELING

If the weather is expected to be clear, today get up really early to head up to Tiger Hill to watch the panoramic views of sunrise over the snowy peaks of iconic Mount Kanchenjunga (third highest in the world) from the observation deck. On the way back visit Ghoom Monastery, built in 1857 by Lama Sherab Gyatso and Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. Post breakfast at hotel, ride the Himalayan Mountain Railway Toy Train from Darjeeling to Ghoom (1-hour journey). The Darjeeeling Himalayan Railway was completed by the British in 1881 and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Post toy train ride enjoy the tour of Darjeeling famous tea garden, Happy Valley Tea Estate. You will get a full demonstration of how the leaves are plucked, oxidized, segregated, and processed. Later visit The Tibetan Refuge Self Help Centre, an insightful place to watch the traditional art of rug weaving. This center was established in 1959 to support the Tibetans who fled their homeland after occupation by China. It provided them with an outlet where they could produce and sell Tibetan handicrafts to generate an income. You can even design your own rug or choose from the catalog. End the day by soaking up the views with tea at Sunset Lounge. Where else to spend sunset than at the Sunset Lounge at Chowrasta Square. This tea bar belongs to Nathmulls, a prominent Darjeeling tea merchant, and is attached to their tea shop. As is to be expected, the variety of teas available is extensive. If you are finding it difficult to choose, the owner will give suggestions. Meals: Breakfast Included.

Day 13: BAGDOGRA, MEMORIES TO CHERISH FOR LIFE

This Morning post appetizing checkout from your hotel and proceed to Bagdogra. En-route drop into Nuxalbari Tea Estate. This commendable tea estate is only 15 minutes from the airport. It's owned and run by women and is the first large tea estate in India to produce "Certified Elephant Friendly Tea". Elephants are free to pass through the tea gardens! Later, you will be transferred to either NJP railway station or IXB airport for your onward journey. Tour ends. Meals: Breakfast Included.

Accommodations

Best of Darjeeling & Sikkim

BEST OF DARJEELING & SIKKIM