Darjeeling and Sikkim Tour

Morning after breakfast as time set for the sightseeing tour, our city guide will lead you for few hours in our fascinating heritage and cultural tour around places of interest, tour of holy Pashupatinath temple, Bouddhanath (Little Tibet), the stupa of Bouddhanath lays 8 kms east of Kathmandu. This ancient colossal stupa is one of the biggest in the world and the center of Buddhism, listed in the UNESCO Heritage Monument in 1979. Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple) & monasteries, old historical Palaces, courtyard; and then back to hotel after the wonderful tour, afternoon free for individual activities and Darjeeling trek preparation.

Morning leave the hotel for the wonderful journey to Darjeeling, on reaching at Kathmandu domestic airport, board on the plane for a super scenic flight towards Far South East of Nepal near India border at Bhadrapur, overwhelming views of mountains from Ganesh, Langtang, Jugal Himal to Everest, Makalu and Kanchenjunga range, after 45 minutes of pleasant flight reaching the warm sub-tropical area at Bhadrapur and then an interesting drive towards mid hill around cooler area to Darjeeling town for overnight stop, world famous for its tea with vast plantations.

Morning our local guide from Darjeeling (of Nepalese origin) receives you for the tour of Asia’s first Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, established by late Tenzing Norgay Sherpa (the 1st Everest summiteers with Hillary) provides basic and advance climbing training, visit of interesting small Zoological Park with rare Himalayan mammal’s snow leopard, red panda and other wild life kept here for research and breeding. Afternoon visit Tea Gardens, Darjeeling world famous with its many gardens of more than 100 years old started by British. Tibetan Refuge Centre is to be visited for handicraft and enjoy Toy Train enlisted in the list of World Heritage.

Early morning before the break of dawn, a short of few hours leading to the high forested green hill on the winding uphill road to Tiger Hill at 2,590 meters high, an awesome viewpoints catch the morning striking sunrise which touches its first rays on top of Mt. Everest, Kanchenjunga, Lhotse and at Makalu with other range of Khumbukarna Himalaya mountains, a fabulous place to be in the morning with tremendous scenery in the midst alpine forest of rhododendron, pines, oaks and magnolia trees, from here heading down hill at Bhattese loop, where the toy train circles before it leaves to its next stations with snow capped mountain backdrop, at Ghoom the highest town of Darjeeling at 2,200 m – 7,218 ft, built around 1879 and 1881 AD the railway about 78 k.m / 48 m long.

Its elevation level varies from about 100 m (328 ft) at New Jalpaiguri to about 2,200 m /7, 218 ft at Darjeeling. Four modern diesel locomotives handle most of the scheduled services; however the daily Kurseong-Darjeeling return service and the daily tourist trains from Darjeeling to Ghoom (India’s highest railway station) here in Ghoom visit the monastery, enshrines an image of the Matriya Buddha (the future / coming Buddha) on the way back to hotel, afternoon at leisure for independent activities.

After a wonderful time in Darjeeling with impressive tour, our journey to Sikkim begins with few hours good drive to Melle Bazaar, through the maze of tea gardens coming to subtropical area at River Teesta after the bridge over river Teesta in the state of Sikkim with refreshing stop at Mele Bazaar, from here our journey leads to Gangtok, first overnight in Sikkim in a nice hotel, a serene town, situated at an altitude of just above 1,600 m with magnificent view Mt. Kanchenjunga.

Gangtok, capital of northern Indian state of Sikkimm established as a Buddhist pilgrimage site in the 1840s, the city became capital of an independent monarchy after British rule ended, but joined India in 1975. Today, it remains a Tibetan Buddhist center and a base for hikers organizing permits and transport for treks through Sikkim’s Himalayan mountain ranges.

Morning visit hilltop Buddhist monastery Pemayangtse, which dates to early 1700 AD, and continue to Enchey Gompa, around months of August and January, dances and festivals are held during that period. The central attraction is a Chinese Pagoda styled edifice built in 1901. The Gompa (monastery) offers a stunning view of the Kanchenjunga. Afternoon visit Namgyal Research Institute of Tibet logy a famous institute, promotes research on Mahayana Buddhism, with time visit cottage institute established in 1957. It is a great place to purchase local handicrafts like Tangkhas, woolen carpets, dolls and masks among other handicrafts. Late afternoon visit the local busy market and observe the natives Sikkimese way of life.

After a pleasant time in Gangtok, the morning drive leads back to Testa River in Melle bazaar on route Kalimpong, our route diverts heading North East of Darjeeling at Kalimpong, another sub-division town of Darjeeling district, which is a quaint town situated at an altitude of 1,200m, about 50 km from Darjeeling, a much warmer hill town, an early gateway to Tibet during the British Raj days of 1800 to 1947 AD. Kalimpong is located on route Sikkim / Bhutan and to other parts of Indian cities like Siliguri, Kalimpong, famous for flower and orchids nurseries and it exports to other foreign countries also, afternoon visit monasteries and Nepalese Buddhist temple also to be visited with magnificent views of the hills. In Kalimpong overnight in one of the most convenient accommodations at Hotel Himalaya or similar, located near the town and the hotels, still retains the touch of heritage from the British Raj era.

After a nice time in this wonderful town, morning drive towards much warmer area in the low lands around large Siliguri city suburb and then heading to Nepal border at Kakarvita, after going through visa and passport formalities on both side of the border then continue drive to Bhadrapur airport on time for a scenic flight back to Kathmandu, as per the flight time board on the plane for a sweeping flight for 40 minutes, on reaching Kathmandu, transfer back to respective hotels with afternoon free at leisure for individual activities.

Today your last day in Nepal with great memories, amazing experience Tour of Darjeeling & Sikkim Hill Towns, transfer to Tribhuvan International airport for final departure towards homeward bound or to next port of call.