How to plan a trip to Sikkim and Darjeeling
Sikkim and Darjeeling are two stunning destinations in the Eastern Himalayas, known for their breathtaking landscapes, rich culture, and pleasant weather. Though geographically close, they each offer unique experiences.
Here’s a comprehensive overview of sikkim from Darjeeling, two of the most popular travel destinations in the Eastern Himalayas of India. Perfect for nature lovers, culture seekers, honeymooners, and adventure travelers.
Top tourist attractions in Sikkim and Darjeeling
🌄 SIKKIM OVERVIEW
📍 Location
A small but diverse state in Northeast India, bordered by Bhutan, Nepal, and Tibet (China).
⭐ Highlights
- Home to Mount Kanchenjunga (India’s highest peak)
- Monasteries, lakes, and snow-capped mountains
- Diverse culture: Lepcha, Bhutia, and Nepali influences
- Adventure: trekking, river rafting, paragliding
📌 Popular Destinations
- Gangtok – Capital city; clean, organized, and lively
- Tsomgo Lake & Baba Mandir – Sacred glacial lake at 12,400 ft
- Nathula Pass – Indo-China border (permit required)
- Lachung & Yumthang Valley – Valley of Flowers, hot springs
- Lachen & Gurudongmar Lake – High-altitude lake at 17,800 ft
- Pelling – Known for skywalk, waterfalls, and views of Kanchenjunga
- Zuluk / Old Silk Route – Offbeat route with stunning roads and military history
🎯 Best For
- Snow & mountains
- Peaceful monasteries
- Natural beauty
- Offbeat travel
🌄 DARJEELING OVERVIEW
📍 Location
A picturesque hill station in West Bengal, located close to Sikkim.
⭐ Highlights
- Tea plantations with world-famous Darjeeling Tea
- Views of Mount Kanchenjunga
- Colonial charm and British-era buildings
- UNESCO World Heritage Toy Train (Darjeeling Himalayan Railway)
📌 Popular Attractions
- Tiger Hill – Spectacular sunrise over Kanchenjunga
- Batasia Loop – Toy train spiral with war memorial
- Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI) – Training center with museum
- Darjeeling Zoo – Famous for red pandas and snow leopards
- Peace Pagoda – Japanese Buddhist temple with great views
- Happy Valley Tea Estate – Tea tasting and tours
🎯 Best For
- Tea tourism
- Toy train rides
- Colonial architecture
- Short hill getaways
🌤️ BEST TIME TO VISIT
| Season | Months | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | Mar – May | Flowers bloom, clear skies |
| Autumn | Oct – Dec | Best for views of Kanchenjunga |
| Winter | Jan – Feb | Snow in high-altitude areas (cold!) |
| Monsoon | Jun – Sep | Avoid due to rain, landslides |
🚗 DISTANCES & TRAVEL TIME – Gangtok to Darjeeling
| Route | Approx Distance | Travel Time |
|---|---|---|
| Bagdogra/NJP → Gangtok | ~125 km | 4–5 hours |
| Bagdogra/NJP → Darjeeling | ~70 km | 3–4 hours |
| Gangtok → Darjeeling | ~100 km | 4–5 hours |
| Gangtok → Tsomgo/Nathula | ~55 km | 2–3 hours (1 way) |
| Gangtok → Lachung/Lachen | ~120–130 km | 6–8 hours |
📝 Travel Requirements
- Permits needed for Nathula Pass, Tsomgo Lake, and North Sikkim (for Indian nationals; foreigners need special approval)
- Travel via registered operators only in restricted zones
🚗 How to Reach
✈️ Nearest Airports:
- Bagdogra (IXB) – For both Sikkim and Darjeeling (approx. 3-4 hours by road)
- Pakyong Airport – For Gangtok (limited flights)
🚆 Nearest Railway Station:
- New Jalpaiguri (NJP) – Connected to major Indian cities
🧭 Suggested Itinerary (7–10 Days)
Day 1-2: Arrive in NJP/Bagdogra → Transfer to Darjeeling
Day 3: Explore Darjeeling (Tiger Hill, Toy Train, Tea Estates)
Day 4: Transfer to Gangtok
Day 5: Local Gangtok sightseeing
Day 6: Tsomgo Lake + Baba Mandir + Nathula Pass
Day 7-8: North Sikkim (Lachung, Yumthang Valley) or Pelling
Day 9: Return to Gangtok or head to NJP/Bagdogra
📝 Travel Tips
- Permits Required: Nathula Pass, Tsomgo Lake, and North Sikkim require permits (Indians only; foreigners need special permission)
- Clothing: Carry layers, especially for high altitudes
- Altitude Sickness: Acclimatize before heading to North Sikkim or Nathula
- Transport: Hire local taxis from registered operators; shared vehicles are common
Here’s a practical guide on hotels and permits for both Sikkim and Darjeeling to help you plan smoothly.
🏨 Hotels in Sikkim & Darjeeling
🔹 Gangtok (Sikkim)
- Luxury:
- Mayfair Spa Resort & Casino
- Denzong Regency
- Mid-range:
- Lemon Tree Hotel
- Summit Golden Crescent Resort
- Budget:
- Hotel Mount Siniolchu
- Hotel Sonam Delek
🔹 Lachung / Lachen (North Sikkim)
- Note: Mostly basic hotels & homestays due to remote location
- Yarlam Resort (Lachung) – Best among limited options
- Apple Valley Inn
- Tenzing Retreat (Lachen)
🔹 Pelling (West Sikkim)
- The Elgin Mount Pandim – Heritage property
- Norbu Ghang Resort
- BluBen Alpine
🔹 Darjeeling
- Luxury:
- Glenburn Tea Estate – Heritage tea bungalow
- The Elgin Darjeeling
- Mid-range:
- Mayfair Darjeeling
- Cedar Inn
- Budget:
- Revolver Hotel – Beatles-themed budget stay
- Zimba Happy Home Stay
👉 Tip: Always book hotels in North Sikkim and near Nathula through Gangtok travel operators, as they manage accommodation + permits together.
🛂 Permit Requirements
🔸 For Indian Nationals
✅ Required for:
- Nathula Pass
- Tsomgo Lake & Baba Mandir
- North Sikkim (Lachung, Lachen, Yumthang, Gurudongmar)
How to Get:
- Through a registered travel agent in Gangtok
- Provide:
- 2 passport-size photos
- A government-issued photo ID (Aadhar, Voter ID)
- No self-driving or private vehicles allowed beyond checkpoints – you must hire a registered local taxi
Processing Time: 1–2 days
Permit Cost: Usually included in package; Nathula may have an extra ₹300–₹500 fee
🔸 For Foreign Nationals
- Nathula Pass is NOT allowed
- Tsomgo Lake, Baba Mandir: Allowed with Protected Area Permit (PAP)
- North Sikkim: Restricted, often not allowed, but exceptions exist via group bookings with special permissions
- Documents Needed:
- Passport
- Indian visa
- 2 passport photos
- Travel agent’s support
🧾 Suggested Travel Agents (based in Gangtok)
These agents can handle permits + vehicles + hotels:
Great! To suggest custom hotel and tour booking options, I need a few details from you. Please fill in what you can:
✅ Please Provide:
- Travel Dates (or month):
- Number of Travelers:
- Total number of adults:
- Total number of children (and their ages):
- Preferred Duration (e.g. 5 days, 7 days, 10 days):
- Arrival Point: NJP / Bagdogra / Pakyong / Siliguri
- Places You Want to Cover (Choose any):
- Darjeeling
- Gangtok
- Tsomgo Lake / Baba Mandir / Nathula Pass
- Pelling
- North Sikkim (Lachung / Lachen / Yumthang / Gurudongmar)
- Zuluk / Old Silk Route
- Budget Per Person (approx., optional):
- Budget: ₹8,000–12,000
- Mid-Range: ₹13,000–20,000
- Premium: ₹21,000+
📦 What You’ll Get:
Once you give the above info, I’ll provide:
- Suggested itinerary
- Hotel options with links or names (within your budget)
- Approximate per person cost
- Local tour operators or booking tips
- Permit & transport planning (private/shared car options)
Contact Travels agency for your help
+91 9933435779 / +91 9434086128
support@siliguritravels.com / travelsdbs@gmail.com
Here’s a clear and helpful comparison of Offbeat vs Popular Routes for Sikkim and Darjeeling to help you choose based on your travel style:
🌟 POPULAR ROUTES – Ideal for First-Time Visitors
| 🔹 Route | Key Places |
|---|---|
| Darjeeling – Gangtok – Tsomgo – Nathula | A mix of scenic beauty, culture, and snow |
| Gangtok – Lachung – Yumthang – Zero Point | Great for experiencing North Sikkim’s snow valleys and flowers |
| Pelling – Gangtok | Monasteries, Kanchenjunga views, waterfalls |
✅ Highlights
- Easier access
- Well-developed roads & infrastructure
- Plenty of hotel options
- Ideal for families, honeymooners, senior travelers
🧭 Example Itinerary (7N/8D)
- Day 1: NJP/Bagdogra → Darjeeling
- Day 2: Darjeeling sightseeing (Tiger Hill, Tea Gardens, Toy Train)
- Day 3: Darjeeling → Gangtok
- Day 4: Gangtok sightseeing
- Day 5: Tsomgo Lake + Baba Mandir + Nathula
- Day 6: Gangtok → Lachung
- Day 7: Yumthang Valley + Zero Point → Gangtok
- Day 8: Return to NJP/Bagdogra
🌄 OFFBEAT ROUTES – Ideal for Explorers & Nature Lovers
| 🔹 Route | Key Places |
|---|---|
| Old Silk Route (East Sikkim) | Zuluk – Gnathang – Kupup – Lungthung |
| Pelling – Yuksom – Uttarey | Ancient monasteries, hidden lakes, low tourist footfall |
| Kalimpong – Lava – Loleygaon | Forests, birding, peaceful villages near Darjeeling |
| Namchi – Ravangla – Temi Tea Garden | Monastic culture, Buddha Park, off-grid tea stay |
✅ Highlights
- Fewer tourists, raw Himalayan beauty
- Stunning roads (like Zuluk’s 32-hairpin bends)
- Cultural immersion (village life, tribal areas)
- Ideal for photographers, bikers, trekkers
⚠️ Considerations
- Limited luxury hotels (homestays common)
- Some remote areas may lack mobile network
- Permits needed (especially in Zuluk & North Sikkim)
- Best avoided during monsoon (June–Sept)
🔍 Summary Table
| Feature | Popular Route | Offbeat Route |
|---|---|---|
| Accessibility | Easy, paved roads | Some rough terrains, longer drives |
| Accommodation | Wide range (budget to luxury) | Mostly homestays and mid-range hotels |
| Mobile/Internet | Generally available | Often weak or no signal |
| Permits | Required for some places (e.g., Nathula) | Required for most (Silk Route, North Sikkim) |
| Best For | Families, first-timers, honeymooners | Nature lovers, bikers, adventure seekers |
| Season | Mar–May, Oct–Dec | Avoid monsoon; best in Apr–May, Oct |
🤔 Which Should You Choose?
✅ Choose POPULAR if you want:
- Easy travel
- Famous spots like Nathula, Tsomgo, Tiger Hill
- Comfortable stays and smooth logistics
🌱 Choose OFFBEAT if you want:
- Hidden gems
- Fewer crowds
- Unique experiences (e.g., 360° views from Zuluk, monasteries in Yuksom)