Sikkim Darjeeling 8-Day Tour Package: Gangtok, Tsomgo Lake, Nathu La, Pelling and Darjeeling
Our Sikkim Darjeeling 8-day tour package is a Sikkim 7 nights 8 days tour package and the complete Gangtok Pelling Darjeeling tour package. Spend three nights in Gangtok for its monasteries, MG Marg and a day at the glacial Tsomgo Lake and the Nathu La pass, two nights in Pelling for close views of Kanchenjunga and its old monasteries, and two nights in Darjeeling for Tiger Hill sunrise, the toy train and the tea gardens. 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 8-day tour.
- Tour name: Mesmerizing Sikkim Darjeeling
- Duration: 8 days and 7 nights
- Stay: Gangtok (3 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 vehicle for Tsomgo Lake and Nathu La
- Highlights: MG Marg, Enchey Monastery, Tsomgo Lake, Baba Mandir, Nathu La, Pemayangtse Monastery, Rabdentse, the Pelling Skywalk, Khecheopalri Lake, Tiger Hill sunrise, the toy train and a tea estate
- Best for: families, couples, photographers and snow lovers
- Best time: March to May and October to December; snow at Tsomgo from about December to April
Why Choose This Tour
- Everything in one trip: the Sikkim Darjeeling 8-day tour covers Gangtok, Tsomgo Lake, Nathu La, Pelling and Darjeeling.
- Kanchenjunga three ways: from Gangtok, from Pelling and from Tiger Hill.
- No backtracking: a circle from Bagdogra through Gangtok, West Sikkim and Darjeeling.
- Permits arranged: we handle the Tsomgo Lake and Nathu La permits.
- Private and flexible: add Kalimpong, North Sikkim or an extra night anywhere.
Sikkim Darjeeling 8-Day Tour Itinerary
This is the day-by-day plan of the tour.
Day 1: Bagdogra or NJP to Gangtok
Your Sikkim Darjeeling 8-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 8-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 8-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 Pelling
Day 4 of the Sikkim Darjeeling 8-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 5: Pelling Sightseeing
Day 5 of the Sikkim Darjeeling 8-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 6: Pelling to Darjeeling
Drive 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 7: Tiger Hill Sunrise and Darjeeling Sightseeing
Day 7 of the Sikkim Darjeeling 8-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 8: 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 8-day tour package ends here.
Meals: breakfast
What Is Included
Your Sikkim Darjeeling 8-day tour package includes:
- Three nights in Gangtok, two in Pelling and two in Darjeeling, with breakfast
- Permits for Tsomgo Lake and Nathu La 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 8-day tour does not include:
- Flights or trains to Bagdogra or NJP
- The local permit vehicle for Tsomgo Lake and Nathu La, 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 8-day tour, with pleasant days and clear views of Kanchenjunga, best from October to December. From about December to April, Tsomgo Lake and Nathu La are often under snow. December to February is cold but often clear. June to September is the monsoon, with clouds and landslides on some roads.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is this different from the 7-day tour?
The Sikkim Darjeeling 7-day tour has no day for Tsomgo Lake and Nathu La. This tour adds a third night in Gangtok for them.
Can foreign nationals visit Nathu La?
No. Nathu La is open only to Indian nationals. Foreign guests can visit Tsomgo Lake with a permit, and we plan another sight instead of Nathu La.
Are the drives long?
Gangtok to Pelling and Pelling to Darjeeling each take about four to five hours on mountain roads, with stops for views.
Is this a good family or honeymoon package?
Yes. It is one of our most popular Sikkim family tour packages and Sikkim honeymoon packages. See our honeymoon packages.
Can I add Kalimpong or North Sikkim?
Yes. See our 9-day tour with Kalimpong or the 11-day tour with North Sikkim.
How much does the Sikkim Darjeeling 8-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 8-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 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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