Sikkim Darjeeling 11-Day Tour Package: Gangtok, North Sikkim, Lachung, Yumthang Valley, Pelling and Darjeeling
Our Sikkim Darjeeling 11-day tour package is our longest Sikkim 10 days tour package and our North Sikkim tour package with Darjeeling. Spend four nights in Gangtok with a day at Tsomgo Lake and Nathu La, travel north to the mountain village of Lachung for the flower meadows of Yumthang Valley and the snows of Zero Point, see Kanchenjunga up close from Pelling, and end in Darjeeling with Tiger Hill sunrise and the toy train. Your hotels, permits, transfers and sightseeing by private car are all planned for you.
Shamrock Journeys is a trusted India tour operator. Since 2002 we have planned private holidays across India for families, couples and groups.
Tour at a Glance
Here are the key facts of our Sikkim Darjeeling 11-day tour.
- Tour name: Sikkim Darjeeling Panorama
- Duration: 11 days and 10 nights
- Stay: Gangtok (4 nights), Lachung (2 nights), Pelling (2 nights), Darjeeling (2 nights)
- Starts and ends: Bagdogra airport or New Jalpaiguri (NJP) station
- Tour type: private car with driver; local permit vehicles for Tsomgo Lake, Nathu La and North Sikkim
- Highlights: MG Marg, Tsomgo Lake, Nathu La, Seven Sisters Waterfall, Lachung, Yumthang Valley, Zero Point, Pemayangtse Monastery, the Pelling Skywalk, Khecheopalri Lake, Tiger Hill sunrise and the toy train
- Best for: nature lovers, photographers, families and snow lovers
- Best time: March to May for rhododendrons; October to December for clear views; snow from about December to April
Why Choose This Tour
- The full Sikkim and Darjeeling journey: the Sikkim Darjeeling 11-day tour covers East, North and West Sikkim and Darjeeling.
- North Sikkim: two nights in Lachung for Yumthang Valley, the valley of flowers, and Zero Point.
- High lakes and passes: Tsomgo Lake and Nathu La from Gangtok.
- Permits arranged: we handle the permits for Tsomgo Lake, Nathu La and North Sikkim.
- Private and flexible: add Lachen and Gurudongmar Lake, or Kalimpong.
Sikkim Darjeeling 11-Day Tour Itinerary
This is the day-by-day plan of the tour.
Day 1: Bagdogra or NJP to Gangtok
Your Sikkim Darjeeling 11-day tour begins when we meet you at Bagdogra airport or New Jalpaiguri station. Drive about four to five hours along the Teesta river to Gangtok. In the evening, walk along MG Marg, the clean, car-free main street. Read our Gangtok travel guide.
Overnight: hotel, Gangtok
Day 2: Gangtok Local Sightseeing
Day 2 of the Sikkim Darjeeling 11-day tour is a full Gangtok local sightseeing tour. Visit the Directorate of Handicrafts and Handloom, the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, the Do Drul Chorten stupa and Enchey Monastery, and see the White Hall and the Flower Exhibition Centre (in season). Then drive up to Ganesh Tok, Hanuman Tok and Tashi View Point for views over the city, stop at Banjhakri Falls and end the day on MG Marg.
Meals: breakfast. Overnight: hotel, Gangtok
Day 3: Tsomgo Lake and Nathu La
Day 3 of the Sikkim Darjeeling 11-day tour climbs to East Sikkim’s high country. Tsomgo (Changu) Lake, about two hours from Gangtok, is a glacial lake ringed by mountains, often frozen in winter and sacred to the local people. Continue to Nathu La, the old trade pass on the border with Tibet, once part of a branch of the Silk Route, and stop at the Baba Harbhajan Singh Mandir. Return to Gangtok in the afternoon.
Shamrock travel tip: Tsomgo Lake and Nathu La need permits arranged a day ahead, so carry photo ID and two passport photos. Nathu La is open only on certain days and only to Indian nationals, and roads can close after heavy snow. The air is thin at this height, so walk slowly. For more advice, read our Shamrock India Travel Tips.
Meals: breakfast. Overnight: hotel, Gangtok
Day 4: Gangtok to Lachung, North Sikkim
Day 4 of the Sikkim Darjeeling 11-day tour heads into North Sikkim, a drive of about six to seven hours along the Teesta river. Stop at the Seven Sisters Waterfall and pass Mangan and Chungthang, where the Lachen and Lachung rivers meet. Arrive in Lachung, a mountain village of wooden houses below snow peaks.
Shamrock travel tip: North Sikkim needs a permit arranged in Gangtok, and hotels here are simple, with home-style meals. Roads can close after landslides, so we check conditions before you set off. See our Shamrock India Travel Tips.
Meals: breakfast, dinner. Overnight: hotel, Lachung
Day 5: Yumthang Valley and Zero Point
Day 5 of the Sikkim Darjeeling 11-day tour starts early for Yumthang Valley, about an hour away, a wide meadow bright with rhododendrons and wild flowers from about April to June, with hot springs and grazing yaks. Indian nationals can continue to Zero Point (Yume Samdong), where the road ends in snow for much of the year. Return to Lachung in the afternoon.
Meals: breakfast, dinner. Overnight: hotel, Lachung
Day 6: Lachung to Gangtok
Day 6 of the Sikkim Darjeeling 11-day tour brings you back to Gangtok, about six to seven hours through Chungthang, Mangan and Singhik, with views of the mountains along the way. Spend the evening on MG Marg.
Meals: breakfast. Overnight: hotel, Gangtok
Day 7: Gangtok to Pelling
Day 7 of the Sikkim Darjeeling 11-day tour crosses to West Sikkim, a drive of about four to five hours through valleys and villages, with views of the mountains along the way. Read our Pelling travel guide.
Meals: breakfast. Overnight: hotel, Pelling
Day 8: Pelling Sightseeing
Day 8 of the Sikkim Darjeeling 11-day tour starts early for sunrise on Kanchenjunga. Then visit Pemayangtse Monastery, founded in the early 18th century, and walk to the ruins of Rabdentse, the old royal capital. Walk the glass Pelling Skywalk to the Chenrezig statue, see Rimbi Falls and Kanchenjunga Falls, and visit the sacred Khecheopalri Lake, known as the wish-fulfilling lake.
Shamrock travel tip: clouds often build by mid-morning, so look for Kanchenjunga at sunrise. Keep quiet near Khecheopalri Lake, which is sacred. See our Shamrock India Travel Tips.
Meals: breakfast. Overnight: hotel, Pelling
Day 9: Pelling to Darjeeling
Day 9 of the Sikkim Darjeeling 11-day tour is a drive of about four to five hours to Darjeeling, through the hills of West Sikkim and West Bengal. Spend the evening at the Mall and Chowrasta. Read our Darjeeling travel guide.
Meals: breakfast. Overnight: hotel, Darjeeling
Day 10: Tiger Hill Sunrise and Darjeeling Sightseeing
Day 10 of the Sikkim Darjeeling 11-day tour starts before dawn at Tiger Hill for sunrise on the Kanchenjunga range. On the way back, see Ghoom Monastery and the Batasia Loop with its war memorial. After breakfast, visit the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Tenzing Rock, the Tibetan Refugee Self Help Centre, a tea estate and the Peace Pagoda, and ride the ropeway if it is running. Take a joy ride on the toy train, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Shamrock travel tip: leave for Tiger Hill around 4 am with a warm jacket, and book toy train tickets early in the busy season. For more advice, read our Shamrock India Travel Tips.
Meals: breakfast. Overnight: hotel, Darjeeling
Day 11: Darjeeling to Bagdogra or NJP
After breakfast, drive about three hours down to Bagdogra airport or New Jalpaiguri station for your flight or train. Your Sikkim Darjeeling 11-day tour package ends here.
Meals: breakfast
What Is Included
Your Sikkim Darjeeling 11-day tour package includes:
- Four nights in Gangtok, two in Lachung, two in Pelling and two in Darjeeling, with breakfast
- Dinner in Lachung
- Permits for Tsomgo Lake, Nathu La and North Sikkim for Indian nationals
- Pickup and drop at Bagdogra airport or New Jalpaiguri station
- All transfers and sightseeing by private car
- Tolls, parking, driver costs and taxes
What Is Not Included
Your Sikkim Darjeeling 11-day tour does not include:
- Flights or trains to Bagdogra or NJP
- Local permit vehicles for Tsomgo Lake, Nathu La and North Sikkim, if charged separately
- The Zero Point excursion, if charged separately
- Toy train tickets, the ropeway and entry tickets
- Lunches and dinners
- Personal expenses, tips and travel insurance
Best Time for This Tour
March to May and October to December are the best time for our Sikkim Darjeeling 11-day tour. April to June brings the rhododendrons of Yumthang Valley, and October to December the clearest views of Kanchenjunga. From about December to April, Tsomgo Lake, Nathu La and Zero Point are often under snow. In the monsoon, landslides can close the roads to North Sikkim. December to February is cold but often clear. June to September is the monsoon, with clouds and landslides on some roads.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can foreign nationals visit North Sikkim?
Foreign nationals can usually visit Lachung and Yumthang Valley with a permit, but Nathu La and Zero Point are generally open only to Indian nationals. We check the current rules and plan other sights where needed.
Can I add Lachen and Gurudongmar Lake?
Yes, when the road is open, by spending one night in Lachen instead of Lachung. This becomes our Gangtok Lachen Lachung tour package. Gurudongmar Lake is usually open only to Indian nationals.
When are the rhododendrons in bloom?
From about April to June in Yumthang Valley.
Are the drives long?
Gangtok to Lachung takes about six to seven hours each way, and Gangtok to Pelling and Pelling to Darjeeling about four to five hours each.
Is it suitable for children and older travellers?
Yes, with care. North Sikkim, Tsomgo Lake and Nathu La are very high and cold, so take it slowly and keep warm.
How much does the Sikkim Darjeeling 11-day tour cost?
The price depends on your hotels, the number of travellers and the season. We can add flights or trains from Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore or your city. Tell us your dates and we will send a clear quotation.
More Sikkim and Darjeeling Tours
Want a shorter trip than our Sikkim Darjeeling 11-day tour?
- Sikkim Darjeeling 5-day tour: Gangtok and Darjeeling in five days.
- Sikkim Darjeeling 6-day tour: Gangtok, Tsomgo Lake and Darjeeling.
- Sikkim Darjeeling 7-day tour: Darjeeling, Pelling and Gangtok.
- Sikkim Darjeeling 9-day tour: adds Kalimpong.
- Sikkim Darjeeling 8-day tour: Gangtok, Tsomgo Lake, Pelling and Darjeeling.
See all our Sikkim Darjeeling tour packages, our Sikkim travel guide, all our India tour packages and the best North India tours. Request your free quote
About Shamrock Journeys
Shamrock Journeys is a trusted India tour operator. Since 2002 we have planned private tours, family holidays, honeymoons and group trips across India, from the Golden Triangle and best North India tours to Kashmir, Kerala, Goa, Odisha and the Andaman Islands.
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