Glimpses of Darjeeling and Sikkim

Day 01: Arrival in Darjeeling (D)

Upon arrival at Bagdogra airport, meet our representative and drive to Darjeeling which is about 3 ½ hrs drive along the mountainous road passing through the tea gardens, villages and occasionally alongside the toy train's track. Check in hotel and take some rest. In the evening, after a cup of Darjeeling Tea, stroll in Chowrastha mall-the town square. You can also rent horses for a ride around. Overnight hotel.

Day 02: Darjeeling Sightseeing B/L/D)

Wake up early morning, before dawn, and after a cup of tea, drive 15 km to Tiger Hill to see the amazing colors of sunrise on Kanchenjunga. At 2550m, Tiger Hill commands superb views of the mountains and valleys of the eastern Himalayas with Everest, Lhotse and Makalu visible in the far distance on clear days. Return to the hotel for breakfast and later visit other attractions such as Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, which houses a considerable collection of items used by the early Everest explorers, and also visit the zoo beside with several interesting Himalayan species including snow leopards and red pandas. Visit Tibetan self help center, nearby the tea plantations. After lunch, take a short toy train ride experience on the 120 year old steam Darjeeling Hill Railway and stop to visit the New Ghoom monastery on the way back. The rest of the day is free to browse the Chowrastha again or walk down to the Lower Bazaar where the local residents shop for produce, fabrics and spices. Overnight hotel.

Day 03: Drive to Gangtok (B/L/D)

An early departure for our steep tour through a series of tea plantations to the tropical Teesta Valley. Passing through sal forests and cinchona (quinine bark) plantations, stop briefly at the Teesta Bridge checkpoint to show our Sikkim entry documents before continuing onwards to Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim.

Upon arrival in Gangtok, check in hotel and after some rest; embark on the tour of the capital of this the lost Himalayan Kingdom. We will visit institute of Tibetology, Deorali Gompa and take a walk to the Lal Bazaar, where locals and people from other parts of Sikkim come to buy or sell produce.

Day 04: Gangtok & Rumtek Sightseeing (B/L/D)

Today’s tour includes the two hundred year old Enchey monastery, some view points to see Mt. Kanchenjunga, Orchid nursery and a handicrafts workshop and showroom. After lunch, we drive to Rumtek Monastery on the opposite side of the valley from Gangtok. Rumtek is the seat of the Tibetan Kagyugpa sect of monks and a major centre for Tibetan religious studies. The 16th Gwalpa Karmapa, the head of the Kagyugpa sect, took refuge in Rumtek after the Chinese invasion of Tibet in the 1950's; he and his followers escaped with whatever statues, 'Thangka' paintings and scriptures they could and built Rumtek monastery as a replica of the Tsurpu monastery that they had left behind in Tibet. 

From Rumtek, we continue to the pleasant Martham Village for overnight. Martham Villaage lies at a ridge of 1450m /4.428 ft on the other side of the ridge. We will stay in comfortable cottages built in local style with impressive views over a quiet valley of terraced rice paddies. The nearby village and the school offer a glimpse of an idyllic lifestyle in a perfect rural setting.

Day 05: Departure (B)

After breakfast, leave Martham in time for Bagdogra which takes about 4 hours and connect your flight back to Delhi or Kolkatta.