Sikkim and Darjeeling Tour Package

Assistance on arrival at Bagdogra airport and drive to Darjeeling.

DARJEELING: Located at an altitude of 2,134 metres in the Himalayas, ‘Dorje Ling,’ or ‘Thunderbolt Spot,’ offers breathtaking views of surrounding mountain peaks, with the Kanchendzonga rising above them all. Popularly known as the “Queen of the Hills,” it remains just as enchanting with its cascading waterfalls, quaint villages and a charming toy-train railway track. Encircled by world-renowned tea gardens and snow-capped mountains, Darjeeling remains one of the most exotic destinations in India. Graeme Westlake described it as having “a view scarcely peerless on Earth” in his book “An Introduction to Hill Stations of India.” Check in to the hotel for an overnight stay.

Early morning visit to Tiger Hill and Ghoom Monastery.

Tiger Hill: Located 13 km from Darjeeling, Tiger Hill offers a stunning sunrise view with panoramic vistas of the Kanchendzonga, Mount Everest and surrounding peaks. Watch the horizon change colours just before sunrise, then see the entire Himalayan range turn golden. It is truly a magnificent sight.

Ghoom Monastery: This is the oldest monastery in the area, built in 1875. Here you can see the impressive 15-foot statue of Maitreya Buddha, visited on the way back from Tiger Hill.

Breakfast at the hotel, followed by the delightful toy train ride.

Toy Train: The stunning scenery unfolds as the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, which opened in 1881, crisscrosses the road at a leisurely speed of about ten miles per hour. Its small four-wheeled locomotives (some over a hundred years old) are like living legends. You can experience the sound, smell and romance of a bygone era. The DHR is a work of engineering genius from 1881, celebrated for its social and cultural significance. Its stunning beauty and outstanding universal appeal earned it recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

After lunch, proceed for the town tour.

Himalayan Mountaineering Institute / Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park:
The Himalayan Mountaineering Institute was established in Darjeeling after Tenzing Norgay Sherpa’s historic ascent of Everest, offering training in mountaineering and related adventure sports. At the Institute, you can see equipment used by Sherpa and the Everest Museum with complete details on the conquest of Everest. Attached to the Institute, you can visit the Himalayan Zoological Park, home to Himalayan animals like the snow leopard, Tibetan wolf, Tibetan yak, Himalayan black bear and several species of birds.

Tibetan Self-Help Centre (Refugee Centre):
This institute is run by Tibetan refugees to preserve their traditional handicrafts. Here you can see the making of Tibetan carpets, leather work, paintings and woodwork.
Overnight stay at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel and drive to Pelling.
PELLING:
Located 120 km from Gangtok, Pelling is a serene mountain village in the western districts of Sikkim. Situated at an altitude of approximately 2,000 metres, this village is remarkably close to Mount Kanchendzonga -- just about 26 km as the crow flies.
Overnight stay at the hotel.

Morning visit to Pemayangtse Monastery.
Just 2.5 km from Pelling and standing at 2,085 m, this magnificent monastery, perched on a wooded hilltop, commands the finest views of Khangchendzonga.
Built in the late 17th century, it is one of the oldest and most significant monasteries of the Nyingmapa order of Buddhism in Sikkim. To this day, only the monks of this monastery enjoy the title of ‘Tasang’ or pure monks. The importance of this monastery grew with time and reached its peak when only monks from Pemayangtse could bless the reigning sovereign of the land with holy water.
Pemayangtse Monastery follows the Mindroling tradition and also holds the lineage of Lhatsun Chenpo. Mindroling Monastery was founded by Minling Terchen Gyurme Dorje, whose renowned daughter Jetsun Migyur Paldon lived near Pemayangtse and taught there during her exile. Her stone throne can still be seen in this monastery, which houses 108 monks. The main attraction is the wooden replica of Zangdog Palri -- the celestial abode of Guru Padmasambhava -- crafted by Serdup Lhundrup Dorje Rinpoche in 1971. The annual Cham (monk dance) is held here on the 28th and 29th day of the 12th month of the Tibetan calendar.
Rabdentse -- Sikkim’s second capital. The ruins of Rabdentse are well worth exploring. A winding track through the forest brings you to the remains of the old city, and eventually to the ruins of the palace with a Chorten (stupa) nearby. Further along are the Changey Falls. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel and drive to Yuksom. Yuksom was the first capital of Sikkim, consecrated in 1642 when three revered Lamas arrived from the north, west, and south and crowned Phuntsog Namgyal as the first Chogyal (religious king) of Sikkim. The Coronation Throne still stands in Yuksom where the first king was anointed.
Afternoon visit to Norbughang Chorten: Fulfilling the prophecy of Guru Rinpoche, the founding father of Tibetan Buddhism, some nine centuries earlier, three learned Lamas -- Lhatsun Namkha Jigme, Kathok Rigzin Chenpo, and Nga-Dak Sempa Chenpo -- gathered at Yuksom in 1642 from different directions and enthroned Chogyal Phuntsog as the first spiritual king of Sikkim. A stone throne shaded by a 300-year-old fir tree still stands here today. A footprint in stone before the throne is said to belong to Lhatsun Namkha Jigme, and a nearby chorten (stupa) contains soil and water from across Sikkim.
Dubdi Monastery, one of the oldest monasteries in Sikkim, is located at the top of a hill, about an hour’s walk from Yuksom. For birdwatchers, an early morning or late afternoon visit is especially rewarding. Dubdi means ‘the retreat.’
Overnight stay in Yuksom.

Breakfast at the hotel and drive to Gangtok.
GANGTOK:
At an altitude of 1,750 m, Gangtok became the capital in the mid-19th century and has undergone rapid development since then. Gangtok also serves as a staging point for travellers heading to North Sikkim. Surrounded by monasteries and orchid nurseries, Gangtok is truly a traveller’s delight.
Overnight stay in Gangtok.

Breakfast at the hotel and full-day sightseeing tour of Gangtok, including an excursion to Rumtek Monastery.
Rumtek Monastery: 24 km from Gangtok, the awe-inspiring Rumtek Monastery is the Dharma Chakra Centre and the seat of His Holiness the Gyalwa Karmapa, who is the head of the Kagyupa order of Tibetan Buddhism.
The Enchey Monastery: Perched on a ridge above Gangtok, the Enchey Monastery is nestled amid lush woods with spectacular views of Gangtok city. Built in 1910 on the site of the abode of the revered Tantric saint Lama Drutob Karpo, who was celebrated for his powers of levitation, this monastery houses monks of the Nyingmapa order of Tibetan Buddhism.
Namgyal Institute of Tibetology: Amidst a serene setting of oak, birch and ash trees lies this distinctive institution, established in 1958. Built in traditional style, the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology promotes research in Buddhism and the language and traditions of Tibet. It holds one of the world’s largest collections of rare books and manuscripts on Buddhism. The Institute also has shops where related books and commercially produced religious art and crafts of Tibet can be purchased.
Directorate of Handloom and Handicrafts: This directorate was established to promote traditional Sikkimese art and handicrafts. Finely carved wooden friezes, intricate bamboo work, along with stunning hand-woven carpets and handlooms are all on display here.
Overnight stay at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel and drive to Kalimpong.
KALIMPONG
At an altitude of 1,250 m, Kalimpong’s location is ideal for a pleasant, relaxed getaway. Its mild climate has made Kalimpong’s orchids and gladioli well known. Until the early 1700s, the Kalimpong area was part of the Sikkimese raja’s domain. In the early 18th century, the Bhutanese king also took control of it. In 1865, after the Anglo-Bhutan War, it was annexed to Darjeeling. Scottish missionaries arrived here in the late 1800s. The town thrived as a wool trading centre with Tibet until the 1950s. Today it is a quiet hill resort and a haven for retirees.
Overnight stay at the hotel.

Morning town tour of Kalimpong.
Flower Nurseries: The climate of Kalimpong is ideal for the cultivation of flowers and plants. Kalimpong is renowned for its nurseries that export exotic flowers like lilies, anthuriums, roses, gerberas, dahlias, gladioli, as well as orchids and cacti.
Zang Dog Palri Fo-Brang Monastery -- this is a relatively new monastery located at Durpin Dara, offering a panoramic view of the town and its surroundings. The prayer hall inside the monastery is adorned with wall paintings, and there is a rare three-dimensional mandala upstairs.
Tharpa Choling Monastery at Tirpai Hill, on the way to Dr. Graham’s Home, belongs to the Gelugpa (Yellow Hat) sect of Lamas -- the same order to which the Dalai Lama belongs.
Thongsa Gompa: This monastery is of Bhutanese origin and was built around 1692. It is the oldest in Kalimpong. The original structure was destroyed during inter-clan wars before the British arrived.
Overnight stay at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel and drive to Bagdogra, in time for your flight or train to your onward destination.