Discover Eastern Himalaya IIDarjeeling & Sikkim in 11 nights

Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Pelling, then North Sikkim at length: Lachen, Gurudongmar Lake, Lachung and Yumthang.

Day 1

Arrive Bagdogra / NJP – Darjeeling

75 km. / 3 hrs

Welcome to the hills. Your driver meets you at Bagdogra airport or New Jalpaiguri (NJP) railway station and you drive up to Darjeeling (6,950 ft). Check in; the rest of the day is yours.

Dinner Overnight: Darjeeling

Day 2

Tiger Hill Sunrise and Darjeeling Sightseeing

An early start at 4 am for sunrise over Kanchenjunga from Tiger Hill (subject to permits or tokens), then back to the hotel for breakfast. From 8.30 am, a day around Darjeeling: the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, the Padmaja Naidu Zoological Park (closed Thursdays), Tenzing Rock, the ropeway, the Tibetan Refugee Self-Help Centre (closed Sundays), a tea garden (from outside), the Japanese Temple. The evening is free for shopping.

Breakfast and dinner Overnight: Darjeeling

Day 3

Darjeeling – Kalimpong, Afternoon Sightseeing

77 km. / 6½ hrs

After breakfast, drive to Kalimpong (4,091 ft; 55 km, about 2½ hours) and check in. In the afternoon, a half-day around Kalimpong: Mangal Dham, Deolo Hill, the golf course, Durpin Dara hill and the Pine View cactus nursery (closed Sundays).

Breakfast and dinner Overnight: Kalimpong

Day 4

Kalimpong – Pelling

90 km. / 5 hrs

After breakfast, drive to Pelling (6,300 ft). Check in; the rest of the day is yours.

Breakfast and dinner Overnight: Pelling

Day 5

Pelling Sightseeing and the Skywalk

After breakfast, a full day around Pelling. In the morning, Darap village, Rimbi Falls, Khecheopalri Lake, the wish-fulfilling lake, and Kanchenjunga Falls. In the afternoon, Pemayangtse Monastery, the ruins of Rabdentse, Sikkim's second capital, the glass Skywalk at Sang-Ngag Choling and the new helipad ground. The evening is free.

Breakfast and dinner Overnight: Pelling

Day 6

Pelling – Gangtok via Namchi

150 km. / 5 hrs

After breakfast, drive to Gangtok (5,500 ft), stopping at Namchi for Siddheshwar Dham (Char Dham), a hilltop temple complex with a giant Shiva statue, and the Sai Temple. Check in at Gangtok.

Breakfast and dinner Overnight: Gangtok

Day 7

Excursion to Tsomgo Lake and Baba Mandir

Drive: 53 km. / 3 hrs. one-way After breakfast, an excursion to Tsomgo Lake (12,400 ft; 37 km, about 2 hours from Gangtok), a high glacial lake that often freezes in mid-winter, then on to Baba Mandir (13,200 ft; 16 km, about 1 hour further). Back to Gangtok in the evening.

• Note: For the Tsomgo Lake and Baba Mandir permit, each guest needs two passport-size photos and a copy of photo ID (passport, driving licence or voter ID; PAN and Aadhaar cards are not accepted). Children under 18 need a birth certificate or school or college ID. Carry the originals with you. If Tsomgo Lake is closed by a landslide or for any other reason, we arrange other sightseeing instead.

Breakfast and dinner Overnight: Gangtok

Day 8

Gangtok – Lachen

120 km. / 6 hrs

After breakfast, check out with light luggage and drive north to Lachen (8,980 ft), the quieter of North Sikkim's two high villages. Along the way, stop at Naga Falls, the meeting of the Lachen Chu and Lachung Chu rivers at Chungthang, and Bhim Nala Falls. Check in at Lachen for dinner.

• Note: Lachen is closed at the moment. If it is still closed when your trip starts, you stay 3 nights in Lachung instead, and we tell you of any difference in price. For the North Sikkim permit, each guest needs two passport-size photos and a copy of photo ID (passport, driving licence or voter ID; PAN and Aadhaar cards are not accepted). Children under 18 need a birth certificate or school or college ID. Carry the originals with you. North Sikkim's roads are rough, so we don't recommend an Innova Crysta here.

Breakfast and dinner Overnight: Lachen

Day 9

Excursion to Gurudongmar Lake

137 km. / 6 hrs

After an early breakfast, drive up to Gurudongmar Lake (about 17,800 ft) by way of the Thangu valley (12,795 ft). One of the highest lakes in the world, it is sacred to Buddhists and Sikhs and usually frozen from December to April. The drive takes 3 to 4 hours each way from Lachen. Back at the hotel for lunch; the rest of the day is free. Dinner at Lachen.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner Overnight: Lachen

Day 10

Lachen – Lachung

47 km. / 2 hrs

After breakfast, drive down the valley to Lachung (8,738 ft). Check in, have lunch and spend the day as you like.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner Overnight: Lachung

Day 11

Lachung – Yumthang Valley – Gangtok

161 km. / 9 hrs

An early drive to Yumthang Valley (12,000 ft), the Valley of Flowers, where yaks graze in summer (26 km, about 1½ hours each way). On the way back, stop at the hot spring, known locally for its healing waters. Back at the hotel for lunch, then drive to Gangtok (5,500 ft). If the weather is clear, you see Kanchenjunga from the Singhik viewpoint on the way. Check in at Gangtok.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner Overnight: Gangtok

Day 12

Gangtok – Bagdogra / NJP, Departure

128 km. / 5 hrs

After breakfast, check out and drive to Bagdogra airport or NJP railway station for your journey home.

Breakfast

Tour details

Accommodation

Choose the hotel category. The same route and sightseeing in every category.

Hotels are listed in order of preference, or similar, subject to availability. Breakfast and dinner included (MAP); all meals at Lachen. Luxury = best available hotel at each stop.

Package cost

Price per adult on twin sharing, by the number of adults travelling together. Land only.

Vehicle: Exclusive private vehicle — hatchback for 2–3 guests, Innova / Xylo / Scorpio for 4–6, two vehicles for 7–10; point to point as per itinerary. Upgrade to Innova or Innova Crysta on request.

Rates in INR per person, GST included. Extra adult and child (5 – 11 yrs) prices are per person sharing a room with two adults. Breakfast and dinner included (MAP). Christmas & New Year gala dinners are extra.

Tour information

Read this to prepare for your holiday.

Good to know

• Valid 1 Oct 2026 to 15 Mar 2027 for bookings confirmed at least 15 days before arrival. Durga Puja (14–26 Oct 2026), Diwali (6–15 Nov 2026) and Christmas–New Year (21 Dec 2026 – 5 Jan 2027) dates are priced on request.
• These rates are for Indian nationals; ask us for foreign-national prices.
• Your car: a hatchback for 2–3 guests, an Innova, Xylo or Scorpio for 4–6, and two such cars for 7–10 (children counted). An Innova or Innova Crysta upgrade is available at extra cost.
• Hill roads are narrow, so the car runs point to point as per the itinerary and isn't at your disposal. In Sikkim, some sectors use local union vehicles.
• The Tiger Hill visit depends on permits or tokens being available. Jungle safaris are paid directly and subject to availability.
• North Sikkim (Lachen, Lachung, Gurudongmar, Yumthang and Zero Point) needs permits: send photo ID and two passport-size photos per guest 10 days before travel. Roads can close after snow or landslides, and Zero Point is paid directly. Hotels in Lachen and Lachung are simple and serve all meals.
• Tsomgo Lake and Baba Mandir need a permit: send photo ID and two passport-size photos per guest.

When to go

October to March. October and November bring the clearest Kanchenjunga views. December to February is cold, with snow at Tsomgo Lake and in North Sikkim, where roads can close after heavy snow. March brings rhododendrons and warmer days. The monsoon, June to September, brings landslides and clouds over the peaks.

Our favourite months

Cancellation policy & payment terms

• Flights, trains and houseboats are paid in full at the time of ticketing or confirmation.
• Payments by bank transfer (NEFT / RTGS / IMPS), UPI or cheque in favour of TripRoutes. Card payments may carry a convenience fee.
• GST 5% is charged on the package cost as per government rules. On international holidays, TCS also applies as per government rules.
• Cancellation charges are per person, counted from the date of departure.
• Cancellations must be sent in writing by email or WhatsApp; the date we receive it is the cancellation date.
• Air and train tickets are refunded as per the airline / railway rules, plus our service charge.
• Visa fees, insurance premiums and non-refundable hotel or houseboat bookings (peak dates, special events) are not refundable.
• Refunds are processed within 15 working days of receiving supplier refunds.
• There is no refund for services not used during the holiday.
• Hotels may ask for a refundable security deposit at check-in, paid directly to the hotel.
• Prices are subject to availability at the time of booking.
• TripRoutes is not liable for changes caused by weather, strikes, roadblocks, flight delays or government orders; extra costs arising are payable by the guest.

Questions about this holiday