
Sikkim Darjeeling Tour Package with Irish Travels and Tours
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Activities
Darjeeling, Skkim (Gangtok) Excursion
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Transportation
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Group Size
6–15 people
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Trip Duration
5N/6D
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Description
Do you prefer to tour the most scenic mountain regions of the Himalayas? The Sikkim Darjeeling tour is best suited for nature lovers, individuals who seek peace and serenity, and who view scenic mountains. A luxury tour is a chance to tour two small places - Sikkim and Darjeeling - and witness snowfall mountains, explore centuries-old temples, and breathe fresh mountain air.
Sikkim is the most diminutive yet most beautiful Indian state. It is famous for its unspoiled environment, friendly natives, and magnificent view of Mount Kanchenjunga, which is the third-highest peak on Earth. Its capital, Gangtok, is multicolored flags of devotion, peaceful monasteries, and brightly colored bazaars where local products are seen for sale and luscious food savored.
Darjeeling is the "Queen of Hills" and is renowned throughout the globe as a tea garden. The hilly green landscape with tea leaves on top of it is an eyecatcher and appears like a painting. You even get a view of sunrise at Tiger Hill and the vintage toy train of yesteryears chugging along hills.
This 6-day hike is ideal for couples, groups of friends, and families who want the best. Irish Travels and Tours took care of everything that needs to be planned so that you won't have to bother and enjoy your holidays. Whether it is the hotel and guides who would be courteous or the food, we did not leave anything to chance.
Tour Highlights
• Mountain Scenic Views: Enjoy a stunning view of great Mount Kanchenjunga from different viewpoints
• Sunrise at Tiger Hill: Witness a surreal Himalayas sunrise from Tiger Hill
• City Tour at Gangtok: Witness the Sikkim capital town of monasteries and roadside bazaars
• Darjeeling Tea Gardens: Witness world-famous tea gardens and witness production of tea
• Experience of Culture: Witness ancient monasteries and temples, and experience the culture
• Toy Train Experience: Witness the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, a heritage train experience
• Adventure Activities: Experience a ropeway ride and witness waterfalls of breathtaking beauty
• Shopping: Local handicrafts, tea, and local souvenirs from local bazaars
• Comfortable Stay: Comfortable hotels with amenities • Expert Guidance: Seasoned guides well-versed with the country
Main Destinations Overview
Gangtok, Sikkim: Peaceful Sikkim's capital is Gangtok at 5,500 feet above sea level, surrounded by quaint mountain views. The city itself is neat with neat roads and houses, and peaceful surroundings. Visit a couple of the local Buddhist monasteries, dine to heart's content at the local fare, and shop for a few local items in your collection at MG Marg, the bazaar.
Darjeeling, West Bengal: Darjeeling is a hill resort town that was a favorite haunt of the British era in India. It is situated at a height of 6,700 feet above sea level and within the environs of tea gardens. The town is very hot during the summer and has Himalayan landscapes. Darjeeling boasts the toy train, among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Kakarvitta, Nepal: Kakarvitta is an Indo-Nepal border town. The town is the biggest entry point for tourists coming to Darjeeling and Sikkim through Nepal. The town is not big but well equipped with restaurants and hotels where one can have a night halt before further move.
Pashupatinagar, Nepal: Pashupatinagar is another border town of choice for a transit base for travelers. It stopped halfway to Kathmandu and overnighted before proceeding towards the last leg back home.
Your tour begins early in the morning when you leave Kathmandu. It will be a drive of 8-9 hours to Kakarvitta in Nepal villages and hills. You will have lunch at a nice restaurant where you can dine and unwind. You will see the views of the Terai plains of Nepal, the lowland area which is inhabited by fields and forests in rural villages.
Along the way, you can simply see how the landscape is transformed from hilly to plain. You drive through some villages and towns where the residents live in very rural settlements. Your rest and sleep whenever you feel like it is all provided by the driver. You will check in at your hotel and have lunch before arriving in Kakarvitta in the evening.
Kakarvitta is a border town with restaurants, shopping complexes, and shopping amenities for the traveler. Stop for one night for an evening dinner and move to Sikkim the next day. The hotel is fine with clean rooms and clean toilets, and staff. One can move around the town if one desires to move to the local bazaar and buy some snacks for the next day.
You're having breakfast in the hotel and driving to Gangtok, the capital of the state of Sikkim. You'll be crossing the India-Nepal border, and 30 minutes will be lost there in filling up formalities. There won't be many people in the car either, so no problem. As soon as you reach the Indian border, your journey begins because you drive up from there.
You reach the town of Gangtok after a winding road that goes upwards over scenic hills blanketed with thick forests. You would catch waterfalls on the way if you drove during the pauses between monsoons. The weather becomes chilly and refreshing as you go higher. You would have your lunch at a shared restaurant where you could indulge in local cuisine and take pictures of the landscape.
As soon as you reach Gangtok, you will notice there are prayer flags, small monasteries, and hill villages. You would go straight to your hotel after reaching Gangtok in the evening hours and have dinner. The hotel is on the slope of a hill, and you can just sit by your hotel window and watch the lights twinkling below. You could take a small walk on the hotel campus so that you get to know its surroundings.
This is a day out around and in Gangtok. You head towards Tsomgo Lake, or Changu Lake, early morning, post breakfast. The lake is at sea level of 12,400 feet, and it's just marvelous. The lake is surrounded by boulder hills and appears diverse in various seasons. It freezes during winter and shows white clouds and blue sky in summer.
Drive on mountain roads to the lake via scenic drives. Lots of photo opportunities at the lake and even a yak ride, experience local culture. You are picked up from the lake and brought back to Gangtok for lunch at a local eatery. Second half of your day on the well-known Gangtok 7-point sightseeing tour and excursion to the city's best sights.
The tour includes Tashi Viewpoint Gallery for view viewpoint, Ganesh Tok temple, Hanuman Tok temple, etc. All viewpoints or scenic. You can stroll on MG Marg in the evening, i.e., Gangtok shopping street. You can shop here from local shops, have street food also, and a youth-like culture. The road is clean, and shops are lined up from spices to woolens and local tea.
Morning breakfast and drive to Darjeeling, 4-5 hours. The drive itself is a very scenic drive over different landscapes and rivers, and along the way. You can sense the cultural difference when driving from Sikkim to West Bengal. The highways pass through small towns, tea gardens, and jungles with so many varieties of trees and vegetables.
You have lunch midway to your destination at a restaurant, where you have local cuisine, and you just relax. When you reach Darjeeling, you will already be seeing glimpses of world-renowned tea gardens that brought this town onto the world map. The tea bushes covered the hillside with a green carpet, and they are just beautiful, and one that you will never forget.
The moment you reach Darjeeling, you are taken to a hotel and then to certain areas of the town. The town itself is quite different from Gangtok - it has remnants of old British ruins, gooseneck roads, and a very laid-back atmosphere. The evening is spent in the local bazaar and some shopping for tea, handicrafts, and other local items. They only have small shops in the market, and nice people who can serve you and provide you with what you desire.
Early morning starts today - wake up at 3:30 AM and go early in the morning to Tiger Hill to see the sunrise. Early, yes, but it will be worth it since you get to see one of the best sunrises in the world. Tiger Hill is the top of Darjeeling, and from Tiger Hill, the snow-topped peaks of Mount Kanchenjunga and other Himalayas are seen. Sunbeams on the snow top for the first time turn them golden and orange, and an eye delight.
Post sunrise and a decent quantity of snacks, you're back at the hotel for breakfast. You do get breaks, 2 hours or so, to relax or simply take a stroll around the hotel premises. In the later part of the day, you'll be driven out onto the road to Pashupatinagar, which borders Nepal. It takes around 3-4 hours and passes through Nepalese villages and hills.
Pashupatinagar is another one of these border towns where you go overnight. It's not such a large town as Kakarvitta, but it has very nice hotels and restaurants. You sleep comfortably and eat well because the next day you are going back to Kathmandu. The hotel itself is a small one, and the people are polite and will attend to all that you require for the last night of the tour.
Your final day starts with breakfast at the Pashupatinagar hotel. You depart for the return journey to Kathmandu, an 8–9-hour drive. On the same day, via another road in the opposite direction, you thereby have a second chance to see the very same thing that you did not have the chance to notice in this way. Your driver is on your command and will stop to have lunch at a decent restaurant on the way.
On your return, you would get an opportunity to unwind and think about the good work that you witnessed on the tour. You would have plenty of snaps through which you can introduce your relatives and friends, and plenty of incidents through which you can tell the people about your Hadal Hills trip. There is less leisure in the tour to rest and indulge in everything that has been pleasant and which has happened, and which otherwise could be viewed somewhere else.
When you arrive in Kathmandu, you will be dropped off at your hotel or home. The tour ends here, but the memories will last forever. You will have experienced the best of both Sikkim and Darjeeling, seen beautiful mountains, learned about local culture, and made new friends along the way.
Inclusion
• Kathmandu to Kathmandu transfers by a comfortable vehicle
• Attached bathroom, Standard hotel
• All meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) as detailed in the itinerary
• Guide and driver • All sightseeing as detailed in the itinerary
• Main attraction entrance fee
• Border crossing taxes
• Fuel, parking, and driving charges
• Government service charge and tax
Exclusion
• Personal expenses such as shopping
, gratuities, and telephone calls
• Travel insurance
• Emergency evacuation charges
• Drinks and booze (soft drinks, booze, mineral water)
• Lunches and dinners are not catered
• Tips to guide and drivers
• Camera fees at particular locations
• Hospital and medical fees
• Any other service apart from inclusion
• Flight cancellation or natural disaster fees
Sightseeing Attractions
Sikkim (Gangtok) Sightseeing
1. Tsomgo Lake (Changu Lake)
A holy lake at 12,400 ft. between two giant peaks. The color of the lake changes each time, and it is a holy place for the people.
2. Tashi Viewpoint
It turns out to be a fine view of Mount Kanchenjunga and the surrounding peaks. Has to be visited on fine days so that fine mountain photos can be clicked.
3. Ganesh Tok
Temple of Lord Ganesh on the hilltop. Provides good views of the city of Gangtok and the surrounding valleys.
4. Hanuman Tok
And another temple on a hilltop with a peaceful view and peaceful surroundings. Ideal place for meditation and prayer meetings.
5. Flower Exhibition Centre
Showcases local flowers and plants of Sikkim. Beautiful gardens with plenty of orchids and foreign-origin rhododendrons.
6. Ropeway
Cable car rides with a bird's eye view of Gangtok city and nearby hills. It can be enjoyed by all ages.
7. MG Marg
Gangtok shopping street. Clean, pedestrian-friendly area with shops, restaurants, and cafes.
8. Do Drul Chorten
Buddhist traditional stupa with prayer wheels. Cultural and spiritual development sites.
Darjeeling Attractions
1. Tiger Hill
The sunrise view of Mount Kanchenjunga is legendary. 8,400 feet high and gives 360-degree views of the mountains.
2. Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (Toy Train)
UNESCO World Heritage narrow gauge toy train journey. Panoramic train journey between the tea garden and the hill country.
3. Batasia Loop
Heritage engineering wonder through which a toy train passes in a loop. Scenic gardens and a war memorial.
4. Ghoom Monastery
One of the oldest Buddhist monasteries in the area. Houses a 15-foot-tall statue of Maitreya Buddha.
5. Himalayan Mountaineering Institute
Mountaineering museum showcasing mountaineering gear. Founded by Tenzing Norgay.
6. Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park
Shimmering wildlife such as snow leopards and red pandas. Naturalistic conservation zoo.
7. Tea Gardens
Renowned gardens where high-quality Darjeeling tea is produced. Panoramic view and tea tasting excursion.
8. Rock Garden
A garden was built over a natural waterfall. Panoramic view of local flora and fauna.
9. Japanese Peace Pagoda
Buddhist pagoda disseminating the message of peace to the world. Panoramic view of Darjeeling and nearby hill ranges.
Best Time to Visit Sikkim and Darjeeling
Spring (March to May)
It is one of the best times to visit the spots. It's hot with a good climate and nice temperature. Rhododendrons are in bloom in spring, and other beauties are added to the landscapes. The day is hot, and the night is cold, perfect for a day excursion and exploration.
Summer (June to August)
It's monsoon season with relentless rain showers. Even in seasons when mountains are more verdant, land subsidence and road blockages cannot be prevented. Unless leaves and rain are a nuisance, it can be bearable. Cloud cover will reduce mountain vistas.
Autumn (September to November)
It is time to travel and enjoy the hot weather in the mountains and the mountain scenery. It is cold post-monsoon, and the mountains are well exposed. It is ideal for outdoor play and tourist sightseeing. It is the season for tourists, so booking in advance is recommended.
Winter (December to February)
Winter is indeed seasonally cold and occasionally snowy, especially at high elevations. Nice, but some are close to snow. If snow and cold weather are your idea of a good time, then this is most likely the ideal time to visit. Dress up warm and take an acclimatization to the cold.
Documentation Required
For Nepalese Citizens:
• Original Nepalese passport or certificate of citizenship
• Passport photographs (4-6 copies)
• Inner Line Permit (ILP) form duly filled in for Sikkim
• No visa required for India
For Indian Citizens:
• Photo identification (Passport, Driving License, or Voter Card)
• Passport-size photographs
• No special permit required for general tourism
For Foreign Nationals:
• Valid passport with 6 months' validity
• Valid Indian visa • Passport-size photos (4-6 copies)
• Inner Line Permit (ILP) for Sikkim (also available on the border)
• Restricted Area Permit (RAP) for some areas of Sikkim
Important Notes:
• Sikkim permits can usually be obtained at entry points
• Keep photocopies of all documents
• Carry original documents during travel
• Special permission has to be obtained in certain areas of Sikkim by authorized tour operators
Packing List
Clothing:
• Warm sweaters and jackets (mountain weather conditions)
• Slip-resistant walking shoes
• Cotton casual wear
• Warm innerwear and socks
• Raincoat or rain umbrella
• Sleep comfort
• Cold-weather gloves, cap, and muffler
Personal Items:
• Sunscreen and lip balm (intense, high-altitude sun)
• Glare sunglasses for the mountains
• Personal medicine and a first aid kit
• Backup batteries and memory cards for the camera
• Power bank to charge batteries
• Personal toilet and hygiene accessories
• Wet wipes and tissues
Other Essentials:
• Backpack for day excursions
• Water bottle (stay hydrated is the motto)
• Snacks for long journeys
• Small-denomination currency
• Only photocopies of the necessary documents
• Travel insurance documents
• A charging cable for the phone and an adapter
• Only a torch or a headlamp for the camera
Important Tips for Visiting Sikkim and Darjeeling
Health and Safety:
• Stay hydrated and drink plenty of water
• Eat space for your body to acclimate to high altitude
• Carry appropriate medication for headache, cold, and stomachache
• Don't drink tap water; drink boiled or packaged water
• Walk slowly on mountain trails
• Always keep the guide in front
Cultural Sensitivity:
• Remove shoes upon entering temples and monasteries
• Never expose feet in the direction of religious objects
• Ask for permission first while photographing natives
• Keep away from people and the destination culture
• Dress up on visiting places of worship
• Avoid handling and taking prayer wheels and religious objects
General Tips:
• Start your day early in the morning to avoid the tourist crowd
• Keep some money handy, as ATMs are unlikely to be available
• Be ready to take random good photos with your camera
• Dine out but at clean restaurants
• Boutique shops from official government stores for authentic products
• Learn a few words of the local language
Environmental Responsibility Tips:
• Do not litter; the mountains must remain clean
• Use biodegradable soap and shampoo
• Observe birds and don't tease animals
• Don't pluck flowers and plants
• Don't use plastic bags
• Praise the locals by buying local products
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is this tour suitable for elderly people and children?
Yes, our tour is for people of every age with a soft vehicle and a soft walk. But old people must take prior permission from their doctor before reaching a high altitude.
2. What kind of food is available on the tour?
Veg and non-veg, and Indian and local cuisine will be provided during the tour. Special food would also be arranged if we got prior knowledge.
3. Are there any additional costs during the tour?
A lot of major expenses are included in the tour, but you will have to leave part of your money behind for spending on your shopping, tips, and other unstated uses not included in the itinerary.
4. What about bad weather, and we can't view mountain landscapes?
Mountain weather is unpredictable, and the scenery can sometimes be limited by the weather. Something else will always be available to see or do if the scenery is affected.
5. Can days be added to the tour, or can the tour be tailored according to your interests?
Yes, Irish Travels and Tours can be customized according to your choice and your duration preference. Approach them for your requirements.
6. Is travel insurance on the tour compulsory?
It is not compulsory but recommended for medical issues while traveling, trip cancellation, or loss of baggage if carried.
7. What is the group size for this tour?
The tour is well-suited for small groups and single travelers, too. The tour groups are kept small so that individual attention is provided and easy travel is facilitated.
8. How difficult is walking involved in sightseeing?
There has been even walking on roads and stairs to take in all the sightseeing. The tour has been planned for people with average physical fitness.
Conclusion
Irish Travels and Tours Sikkim Darjeeling tour package is something that will be etched in your mind forever for some of the most incredulously breathtaking mountain vistas of the world. This carefully planned 6-day adventure combines the best of both destinations, giving you a perfect mix of natural beauty, cultural experiences, and comfortable travel. You will be creating memories for a lifetime and taking with you an even greater respect for the Himalayas.
Because once you're outside of Kathmandu, up until the point you're in your own home, all of this is so beautifully put together with love by people for whom these mountains are their backyard. The whole trip is all about ensuring that you have a hassle-free stay, good food, good guides, and to ensure you see all those things which you somehow or other never could miss out on. From dawn break at Mount Kanchenjunga, to the small shopping at MG Marg of Gangtok, to sipping tea amidst the gardens of Darjeeling, all are worth it.
Irish Travels and Tours have been organizing popular tours to Darjeeling and Sikkim for years, earning a reputation for unparalleled service and satisfaction. Our organized staff understands what the traveler needs and does everything possible to make sure everyone enjoys themselves. We provide safe transportation, professional guides, and 24/7 support for your tour.
Our moral tourism practice guarantees that your vacation will not only be healthy for the people in such locations that you will visit, but also guarantee the natural beauty of the destination nations of the world. It is merely planning your vacation to be part of Irish Travels and Tours - being among a community of like-minded people who share the idea of an authentic experience, as well as ecotourism. Don't let Darjeeling and Sikkim's enchantment slip away with a sure-footed guide, the one who will make your dream at the top of the hill come true.