Derjeeling and Sikkim

Destinations: Sikkim
Trip Duration: 9 days
Best Time: May to Oct
Grade: Easy
Highlights: valley, Monastery and Mountains
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Derjeeling and Sikkim

Day by Day Details Itinerary

Day 01 : Arrive Siliguri / Bagdogra / Derjeeling (85 km, 3 hours)

Meeting & assistance on arrival and transfer to Darjeeling. Overnight at the hotel in Darjeeling.

Day 02 : Darjeeling

Full day sightseeing of Darjeeling which includes early morning sunrise view from Tiger Hill (2,585m), visit to Ghoom Monastery. The main feature of this monastery is the magnificent statue of Maitreya, ‘the future Buddha’ draped in white silk scarves of offering called Khadas. After breakfast visit the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute and the Tibetan Refugee Self Help Centre where you can see Tibetan craftsmen making traditional items like carpets, woolen boots, wood carvings and leather goods. Overnight at the hotel in Darjeeling.

Day 03 : Darjeeling – Pemayangtse (131 km, 5 hours)

Transfer to Pemayangtse entering Sikkim through Melli and passing through the towns of Lorethang and Gayzing. Overnight at the hotel in Pemayangtse.

Day 04 : Pemayangtse

Visit Sangacholing Monastery which is an hour’s walk from the hotel. Afternoon visit the Pemayangtse Monastery located on top of a hillock. Built by patron saint of Sikkim, Lhatsun Chempo in the 17th century, it is the paramount seat of Nyingmapa monasteries and regarded as Sikkim’s most prestigious centre of religious learning. Overnight at the hotel in Pemayangtse.

Day 05 : Pemayangtse / Khechopalri / Pemayangtse (29 km, 1.1/2 hour)

This unusually Cal Lake, located in the midst of a dense forest is considered very sacred. A steep walk up a hillock takes you to the Khechopalri Monastery which still retains its original design and architecture. Late afternoon drive back to Pemayangtse.

Day 06 : Pemayangtse / Gangtok (117 km, 4 hours)

Transfer to Gangtok en route visiting tea plantations and factory at Temi Lake. After a picnic lunch at the tea garden continue driving to Gangtok arriving in late afternoon. Overnight at the hotel in Gangtok.

Day 07 : Gangtok

Full day sightseeing, visiting the Enchey Monastery, Cottage Industries, the Research Institute of Tibetology, Do-drul Chorten and the Rumtek Monastery and Deer Park. Overnight at the hotel in Gangtok

Day 08 : Gangtok – Kalimpong (77 km, 3 hours)

Morning drive to Kalimpong. Afternoon visit to Tharpa Choling Monastery, belonging to the Gelugpa sect of Dalai Lama. Then drive to Deolo Hill, the highest point in Kalimpong at 5,500 ft, which offers good view of the surrounding region. It also has two water reservoirs, the source of Kalimpong drinking water. Then visit Zong-Dog Palri Fo-brang Monastery followed by visit to Gauripur House, the favorite retreat of Rabindra Nath Tagore who wrote many of his works here. Overnight at the hotel in Kalimpong.

Day 09 : Kalimpong – Siliguri / Bagdogra airport / New Jalpaiguri (80 km, 3 hours)

Morning transfer to Siliguri / Bagdogra airport / New Jalpaiguri for onward journey.

 

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