Day 01: Arrival at the Bagdogra Airport or NJP Railway Station and Transfer to Darjeeling.Total distance approx 90 km. About 3 hours drive.
OR
Bhadrapur Airport (Nepal side) and transfer to Darjeeling about 4 hours drive.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 02: In Darjeeling. Early Morning visit Tiger Hill to view sunrise over Mt Khangchendzonga, the third highest mountain in the world. Height: 8595 mtrs. On the way back Visit Yiga Choling, the old Buddhist Monastery, which was built in 1880.
Back to Hotel for breakfast.
Morning Visit Tukvar Tea Estate to see tea processing**. (Darjeeling is renowned in the world for its tea)
On the way back to the hotel visit Tibetan Refuge Self Help Center&&, which was established in 1959 to rehabilitate displaced Tibetans, who had followed His Holiness the Dalai Lama to India It has now evolved into a prime-manufacturing center for excellent ethnic Tibetan handicraft especially Woolen Carpets. It also helps to preserve the cultural heritage of Tibet.
Visit Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI) @@ established in 1954; after the conquest of Mount Everest, to impart training in high altitude mountaineering. There is a museum on mountaineering, which you can visit.
Visit the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park@@, which houses many endangered animals from the Himalayan region. It is also a breeding center for Snow Leopards, Red Panda and Tibetan Wolf.
Back to hotel for lunch.
Afternoon: Free to pursue your own activities. OR Go for a walking visit to Bhutia Busty Buddhist Monastery.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 03: Morning: Go for a joy ride till Ghoom, on the world famous Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, a world heritage sight.
Back to hotel for lunch
Afternoon: Free to pursue you own activities. OR Go for a walk to Lloyd Botanical Garden. It’s a park, which houses many different species of Trees form different parts of the world. OR Walk along the Mall and market area.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 04: Darjeeling to Pelling (alt 2000 mtrs), a small village in the West Sikkim On a Clear day you can see mount Khangchendzonga range just on the opposite hill. Vist Pemayangtse Monastery, A Buddhist monastery founded in AD 1705. Visit of Rabdantse Ruins, which was the Second Capital of Sikkim. It is in a walking distance of Pemayangtse. From Here the view of the valleys bellow are very scenic.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 05: Visit Yuksom, a small farming village, which is 32 km from Pelling. This place was the first capital
of Sikkim. According to historical records, the first King (Chogyal) of Sikkim was coronated, by three
Tibetan Buddhist monks, here at a place called Norbugang, where one can still see the stone seats and
footprints of the head monk. You can visit Dubdi Buddhist monastery, which is one of the oldest
Monastery of Sikkim. It is half an hour uphill walk. On the way visit Khecheopalri Lake, which is
considered a holy lake by both the Hindus and Buddhist. Over night stay at hotel in Pelling
Day 06: Leave for Gangtok, the capital of the State of Sikkim. Distance 115 km approx. About 5 hours drive.
Day 07: In Gangtok.
Early Morning:Visit Tashi View Point to view Mount Khangchendzonga and other Peaks of the range.
Morning: After Breakfast vist Rumtek Buddhist Monastery, which is 24 km away from Gangtok.
On the way back visit The Research Instiutte of Tibetology, which was built in 1954 by the Late
Chogyal (King of Sikkim) Palden Thondup Namgyal. It has a large collection of Tibetan
literature, rare manuscripts, paintings, thankas, statues and religious objects. It is renowned for
study of Buddhist philoshopy and religion.
Afternoon:After Lunch Visit Government Institute of Cottage Industries. It is a training center for
handicrafts. There is a sales emporium where you can buy the finished products.Visit Enchey Buddhist Monastery, which is about 200 yrs old. Walk around the market.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 08: Leave for Lachung, 115 km away from Gangtok, a Bhutia village with a unique loacl self-governing body
called the Zumsa. The village, lies on either side of the Lachung Chu, has managed to retain its unique culture and tradition.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 09: Visit of Yumthang valley which is 25 Km from Lachung. Yumthang valley is famed for its flowers,
and natural beauty. In the left bank of the Lachung chu (river) there is a hot water spring in which one
can go for a dip. Over night stay at Lachung.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 10: Lachung to Gangtok
Overnight at hotel.
Day 11 Gangtok to Kalimpong. Distance 73 km. Time taken 2½ hrs. Drive is along the river Tista on which
you can go for river rafting, which is optional and on direct Payment bases.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 12y: In Kalimpong. Alt 1250 mtrs.
After Breakfast visit Delo View Point in the Delo Hills. You can have a magnificent view of the
Kanchendzonga Mountain Range and the River Tista meandering down in the valley. On the way back
visit Mangal Dham, a hindu temple, and a Christian church built in style of Tibetan Monastery.
After lunch visit Zandok Palri Buddhist monastery located on top of Durpin Hills. You can have a
view of Kalimpong Town and The Kanchendzonga Mountain Range from here. On the way back visit
a flower nursery. Walk around the town.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 13: Departure from Kalimpong to Bagdogra Airport. Distance 78 km approx, about3 hours drive.
Or
Bhadrapur Airport (Nepal domestic airport) to connect flight for Kathmandu.
(** Processing of tea is done six days a week, except Monday’s, starting from mid March till mid November.)
(@@ The HMI and ZOO in Darjeeling is closed every Thursday)
(&& The Tibetan Refugee Self Help Center is closed every Sunday and Tibetan Holidays)
(In Sikkim Government institute such as Tibetology, Handicraft Institute and Enchey Monastery are closed on Sundays)
For More Information Contact us at info@himalayan-guide.com
