Sikkim Darjeeling 9-Day Tour Package: Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Pelling and Gangtok
Our Sikkim Darjeeling 9-day tour package is a Sikkim 8 nights 9 days tour package and our Darjeeling Gangtok Pelling Kalimpong tour package, with two nights in each of four hill towns. Watch sunrise on Kanchenjunga from Tiger Hill and ride the toy train in Darjeeling, explore the monasteries, viewpoints and flower nurseries of quiet Kalimpong, see the snow peaks up close from Pelling in West Sikkim, then end in Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim. Your hotels, 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 9-day tour.
- Tour name: Sikkim Darjeeling Splendour
- Duration: 9 days and 8 nights
- Stay: Darjeeling (2 nights), Kalimpong (2 nights), Pelling (2 nights), Gangtok (2 nights)
- Starts and ends: Bagdogra airport or New Jalpaiguri (NJP) station
- Tour type: private car with driver
- Highlights: Tiger Hill sunrise, the toy train, a tea estate, Deolo Hill, Zang Dhok Palri Monastery, Dr Graham’s Homes, the Kalimpong nurseries, Pemayangtse Monastery, the Pelling Skywalk, Khecheopalri Lake, Enchey Monastery and MG Marg
- Best for: families, couples, culture lovers and slow travellers
- Best time: March to May and October to December
Why Choose This Tour
- Four hill towns: the Sikkim Darjeeling 9-day tour covers Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Pelling and Gangtok, two nights each.
- Kalimpong included: the only one of our tours with the monasteries and flower nurseries of Kalimpong.
- An easy pace: two nights everywhere, so every second day is for sightseeing, not driving.
- No special permits needed for Indian nationals on this route.
- Private and flexible: add Tsomgo Lake, Nathu La or North Sikkim.
Sikkim Darjeeling 9-Day Tour Itinerary
This is the day-by-day plan of the tour.
Day 1: Bagdogra or NJP to Darjeeling
Your Sikkim Darjeeling 9-day tour begins when we meet you at Bagdogra airport or New Jalpaiguri station. Drive about three hours up through the tea gardens to Darjeeling, and spend the evening at the Mall and Chowrasta. Read our Darjeeling travel guide.
Overnight: hotel, Darjeeling
Day 2: Tiger Hill Sunrise and Darjeeling Sightseeing
Day 2 of the Sikkim Darjeeling 9-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 3: Darjeeling to Kalimpong
Day 3 of the Sikkim Darjeeling 9-day tour takes you to Kalimpong, a drive of about two to three hours along a ridge above the Teesta valley. Check in and walk through the old town and its market in the evening.
Meals: breakfast. Overnight: hotel, Kalimpong
Day 4: Kalimpong Sightseeing
Day 4 of the Sikkim Darjeeling 9-day tour explores Kalimpong. See the views of the Teesta valley and the mountains from Deolo Hill, visit Zang Dhok Palri Monastery on Durpin Hill and the older Thongsa Gompa, and see the stone buildings of Dr Graham’s Homes. End at a flower nursery, known for orchids and cacti.
Shamrock travel tip: Kalimpong is quieter than Darjeeling, so it is a good place to slow down. Try Kalimpong cheese, a local speciality, in the market. See our Shamrock India Travel Tips.
Meals: breakfast. Overnight: hotel, Kalimpong
Day 5: Kalimpong to Pelling
Drive about four to five hours into West Sikkim, crossing the Teesta and climbing through villages to Pelling. Check in with views of the mountains. Read our Pelling travel guide.
Meals: breakfast. Overnight: hotel, Pelling
Day 6: Pelling Sightseeing
Day 6 of the Sikkim Darjeeling 9-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 7: Pelling to Gangtok
Day 7 of the Sikkim Darjeeling 9-day tour takes you to Gangtok, a drive of about four to five hours through the hills of Sikkim. In the evening, walk along MG Marg, the clean, car-free main street. Read our Gangtok travel guide.
Meals: breakfast. Overnight: hotel, Gangtok
Day 8: Gangtok Local Sightseeing
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, stop at Banjhakri Falls and end the day on MG Marg.
Meals: breakfast. Overnight: hotel, Gangtok
Day 9: Gangtok to Bagdogra or NJP
After breakfast, drive about four to five hours down to Bagdogra airport or New Jalpaiguri station for your flight or train. Your Sikkim Darjeeling 9-day tour package ends here.
Meals: breakfast
What Is Included
Your Sikkim Darjeeling 9-day tour package includes:
- Two nights each in Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Pelling and Gangtok, with breakfast
- 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 9-day tour does not include:
- Flights or trains to Bagdogra or NJP
- 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 9-day tour, with pleasant days and clear views of Kanchenjunga, best from October to December. December to February is cold but often clear. June to September is the monsoon, with clouds and landslides on some roads.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why visit Kalimpong?
Kalimpong is a quieter hill town with monasteries, viewpoints over the Teesta valley and flower nurseries. It is part of our Kalimpong Darjeeling and Kalimpong Gangtok tour packages, and only this tour includes it.
Can I add Tsomgo Lake and Nathu La?
Yes, with an extra night in Gangtok. Our Sikkim Darjeeling 8-day tour includes them. Nathu La is open only to Indian nationals.
Are the drives long?
Darjeeling to Kalimpong takes about two to three hours. Kalimpong to Pelling and Pelling to Gangtok take about four to five hours each.
Is this a good family package?
Yes. Two nights in every town keeps the pace easy for children and older travellers. It also works as a Sikkim honeymoon package; see our honeymoon packages.
Do foreign nationals need a permit?
Yes. Foreign nationals need a Restricted Area Permit to enter Sikkim, which we help you get. Darjeeling and Kalimpong need no permit.
How much does the Sikkim Darjeeling 9-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 different length than our Sikkim Darjeeling 9-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 8-day tour: Gangtok, Tsomgo Lake, Pelling and Darjeeling.
- Sikkim Darjeeling 7-day tour: Darjeeling, Pelling and Gangtok.
- Sikkim Darjeeling 11-day tour: adds North Sikkim and Yumthang Valley.
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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