5-Day Private Tour of Gangtok and Darjeeling from NJP

Five days in the eastern Himalayas, from arrival to departure arranged

A 5-day private guided tour departing from NJP railway station or IXB airport, moving through Gangtok and Darjeeling with all transport, road taxes, tolls and monument entry fees included. You travel with an English-speaking guide, stay in 3-star hotels, and visit Tsomgo Lake, Tiger Hill at sunrise, Ghum Monastery, Batasia Loop, the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park and the Japanese Peace Pagoda. The route is fixed; the guide, vehicle and hotel rooms are yours alone for the five days.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Arrival and transfer to Gangtok

• Arrive at NJP railway station or IXB airport
• Meet representative and transfer to Gangtok
• Check-in to hotel and rest

Day 2 — Tsomgo Lake and Baba Mandir visit

• Depart hotel for Tsomgo Lake visit
• Visit Baba Harbhajan Singh Memorial Temple
• Evening free for shopping and activities

Day 3 — Travel from Gangtok to Darjeeling

• Breakfast at hotel
• Drive from Gangtok to Darjeeling
• Check-in to hotel in Darjeeling

Day 4 — Darjeeling local sightseeing tour

• Early morning visit to Tiger Hill for sunrise
• Return to hotel for breakfast
• Visit Old Ghoom Monastery
• Visit Batasia Loop viewpoint
• Visit Himalayan Mountaineering Institute
• Visit Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park
• Visit Tibetan Refugee Self Help Centre
• View Peace Pagoda from outside
• Explore local town of Darjeeling

Day 5 — Departure from Darjeeling

• Breakfast at hotel
• Check out from hotel
• Transfer to NJP railway station or IXB airport

The Experience

You arrive at NJP railway station or IXB airport and a representative meets you for the drive to Gangtok — about 125 kilometers, 4 to 5 hours through the eastern Himalayas. Gangtok sits at 5,410 feet in the Himalayan range, a city of 100,000 people from Bhutia, Lepcha and Gorkha communities. Check into your 3-star hotel and the rest of the day is yours to rest or explore on your own.

Day two takes you on a half-day excursion to Tsomgo Lake, 32 kilometers from Gangtok at 12,400 feet. The lake is almost a kilometer long and 15 meters deep, held sacred by local people. You return to Gangtok for the afternoon and evening free for shopping and individual activity. On day three, after breakfast, the drive to Darjeeling is about 98 kilometers and takes 4 hours. Darjeeling, known as the queen of the hills, sits among tea gardens, waterfalls and villages in the Himalayan range. You check in to your hotel at 2,042 meters elevation.

Day four is the full Darjeeling experience. You start at 4 a.m. for Tiger Hill to watch the sunrise over Mount Kanchenjunga, the highest peak in India, then return to the hotel for breakfast. The half-day city tour covers Ghum Monastery (Old Yiga Choeling), a 15-foot statue of the Maitreya Buddha inside; Batasia Loop, a scenic point with the narrow-gauge train track and a monument to Indian soldiers; the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, established in 1954; Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, a 67-acre zoo at 7,000 feet; the Tibetan Refugee Self Help Centre, a handicraft production facility; and the Japanese Peace Pagoda, one of several Peace Pagodas built to unite people in the search for world peace. The afternoon is free in town. On the final morning, you check out after breakfast and transfer to NJP or the airport for your onward journey.

What’s included

• All transportation from NJP railway station or IXB airport through both cities and back.
• road tax, parking fees and tolls.
• entry fees to monuments and museums including Tiger Hill, Ghum Monastery, Batasia Loop, the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park and the Japanese Peace Pagoda.
• five nights in 3-star hotels.
• and an English-speaking guide throughout the tour.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Your Trip Planner

Is this one for you?Book this if you're arriving at NJP or IXB and want a fixed five-day itinerary with early starts (Tiger Hill at 4 a.m.); choose self-guided instead if you prefer flexibility or later departures.

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Top questions

What do I see at Tiger Hill on the sunrise visit?

Tiger Hill is the sunrise point over Mount Kanchenjunga, the highest peak in India. You watch the glorious Himalayan mountains at daybreak, with the sunrise against Kanchenjunga as the centerpiece of the view.

Is the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park open every day?

Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park is closed on Thursdays. It is a 67-acre zoo at an average elevation of 7,000 feet and is the largest high-altitude zoo in India.

What is included in the tour price?

The tour includes all transportation between NJP or IXB airport and both cities, road tax, parking fees and tolls; monument and museum entry fees; accommodation in 3-star hotels for all five nights; and an English-speaking guide for the entire tour. Lunch and dinner are not included.

How long is the drive from Gangtok to Darjeeling?

The drive from Gangtok to Darjeeling is approximately 98 kilometers and takes about 4 hours.

Can I arrange this tour if I arrive at different times?

The tour departs from NJP railway station or IXB airport on arrival. The half-day Tsomgo Lake excursion on day two leaves between 8 and 10 a.m., depending on permit availability, which the driver will communicate to you.