Sikkim and Darjeeling Highland Trail
Darjeeling and Sikkim sit close together on the map but feel like different worlds: colonial hill-station tea country giving way to Sikkim’s monasteries and high mountain lakes. This route takes the slow road between the two, with a genuine sunrise at Tiger Hill and a day trip up to Tsomgo Lake, altitude permitting.
Day by day
Arrive Bagdogra, drive to Darjeeling
Airport pickup and the drive up into the hills. Evening free to walk along the Mall Road.
Darjeeling
Pre-dawn drive to Tiger Hill for sunrise over Kanchenjunga, then a ride on the Darjeeling Himalayan toy train and a stop at a working tea estate.
Darjeeling to Pelling
Drive to Pelling, with clear-day views of Kanchenjunga from the town itself.
Pelling to Gangtok
Visit Pemayangtse Monastery en route, then continue to Gangtok.
Gangtok
Morning at Rumtek Monastery, afternoon cable car ride, and evening along MG Marg.
Tsomgo Lake day trip
Day trip up to the high-altitude Tsomgo Lake and Baba Mandir, conditions and permits allowing.
Gangtok to Bagdogra, departure
Drive back down to Bagdogra for your onward flight.
