6-day Darjeeling & Gangtok tour: Toy train and monasteries

The toy train climbs through Darjeeling's tea estates. The monasteries anchor Gangtok.

A 6-day tour based in Darjeeling and Gangtok in the Indian Himalayas, with private transport, an English-speaking guide, and entry to the UNESCO-listed Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. You ride the toy train through tea estates, visit Tiger Hill and the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute in Darjeeling, then move to Gangtok to explore Enchey and Rumtek monasteries, Tsomgo Lake, and the Research Institute of Tibetology. Minimum age is 14. The itinerary includes six nights and daily sightseeing with hotel pickup and drop-off in city limits.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and travel to Darjeeling

• Arrive at Railway Station or Bagdogra airport
• Travel to Darjeeling

Day 2: Darjeeling sightseeing

• Visit Tiger Hill
• Visit Ghoom Monastery and Batasia Loop
• Visit Himalayan Mountaineering Institute
• Visit Lebong race course and Peace Pagoda
• Visit Tibetan Refugee Self Help Center
• See Tensing-Gumbo rock and ropeway
• Visit Parmesan Nadia Himalayan Zoological park

Day 3: Travel to Gangtok and rest

• Drive to Gangtok after breakfast
• Rest day in Gangtok

Day 4: Gangtok sightseeing

• Visit Enchey Monastery
• Visit Rumtek Monastery
• Visit Research Institute of Tibetology
• Visit Directorate of Handicrafts and Handlooms
• Visit Chorten and Orchid sanctuary

Day 5: Excursions from Gangtok

• Visit Tsomgo lake and Baba Mandir
• Visit Research Institute of Tibetology
• Visit Directorate of Handicrafts and Handlooms
• Visit Chorten and Orchid sanctuary

Day 6: Departure from Gangtok

• Breakfast in Gangtok
• Transfer to New Jalpaiguri railway station or Bagdogra airport

The experience

The tour starts with arrival in Darjeeling, a hill station at 6,700 feet known for its tea gardens and views of the Himalayan range. Day two covers the main sightseeing: Tiger Hill in the morning, then Ghoom Monastery, Batasia Loop, the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Lebong race course, Peace Pagoda, the Tibetan Refugee Self Help Center, and the Himalayan Zoological Park. The toy train ride (the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, a UNESCO site famous as the toy train) is included as part of the tour, letting you travel through the tea estates the way visitors have for over a century.

On day three you drive to Gangtok, a separate hill station in Sikkim, and rest. Day four focuses on Gangtok's monasteries: Enchey, believed to be 200 years old and a seat of the Nyingma order of Tibetan Buddhism, sits about 3 km from town. Rumtek, slightly older, houses relics of the 16th Karmapa and welcomes all Buddhist visitors. The same day also includes the Research Institute of Tibetology, the Directorate of Handicrafts and Handlooms, the Chorten, and the Orchid sanctuary.

Day five is reserved for Tsomgo Lake and Baba Mandir, with a permit and English-speaking local guide included for the lake visit. You return to the same attractions in Gangtok if you wish. On day six, after breakfast, you transfer to New Jalpaiguri railway station or Bagdogra airport for your journey home. Throughout the tour, you travel in an air-conditioned private vehicle with hotel pickup and drop-off within city limits. Complementary water bottles are provided each day.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned vehicle for all transfers, sightseeing and arrival/departure.
• toy train tickets on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway.
• permit and English-speaking local guide for Tsomgo Lake.
• hotel pickup and drop-off within city limits.
• complementary water bottles each day.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day15 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 16:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (14 to 65 years) · Under 14: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availableNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Travel Component

Is this one for you?The tour moves at a steady pace with multiple stops each day and early starts (Tiger Hill requires a dawn visit), so it suits travelers comfortable with a structured itinerary and daily sightseeing rather than a slower, more flexible schedule. The six-day length lets you spend two full days in each destination instead of rushing through either one.

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Top questions

What is the toy train ride like on this Darjeeling tour?

The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, known as the toy train, is a UNESCO-listed narrow-gauge railway that winds through the tea estates surrounding Darjeeling. The ride is included in your tour itinerary and takes you through the same route travelers have used for over a century, offering views of the Himalayan foothills and the plantations that make Darjeeling famous for tea.

How much walking or physical activity is involved each day?

Days in Darjeeling and Gangtok involve visits to multiple sites (monasteries, institutes, viewpoints and parks) reached by vehicle and explored on foot at each stop. Tiger Hill requires an early morning visit but is a short walk. Tsomgo Lake involves moderate walking around the site. The tour is suitable for all fitness levels, though it is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or during pregnancy.

What are Enchey and Rumtek monasteries, and why visit both?

Enchey Monastery, located 3 km from Gangtok, is believed to have been built 200 years ago and is an important seat of the Nyingma order of Tibetan Buddhism. Rumtek Monastery, slightly older, houses relics of the 16th Karmapa and is open to visitors of all Buddhist traditions. Both are significant religious and cultural sites in Sikkim and are visited on day four of the tour.

Is a guide included, and what language do they speak?

Yes, an English-speaking guide is included for the tour. For the Tsomgo Lake visit on day five, a local English-speaking guide accompanies you with the required permit to access the lake.

What happens on the rest day in Gangtok, and can I explore on my own?

Day three, your arrival day in Gangtok, is a rest day with no scheduled sightseeing. You can rest at your hotel, explore the town independently, or arrange activities with your guide. The itinerary is flexible on this day.