Duration
09 Nights / 10 Days
Routing
Arrival New Jalpaiguri - Darjeeling – Gangtok – Lachen – Lachung – Gangtok – New Jalpaiguri Departure
Darjeeling
Tiger Hill, Joy Ride- Toy Train, Chholing & Darli Monasteries, Mountaineering Institute, Observatory Hill, Tibet Handicraft Centre & Tea gardens.
Gangtok
Phensang Monastery, Botanical Garden, Santi View Point, Sikkim Research Institute of Tibetology, Dodurl Chorten, Government Institute of Cottage Industry, Orchid House Flower Show, Tashi View Point, Ganesh Tok and Bakthang Falls, Himalayan Zoological Park and Nathu la Pass.
Lachen
Singhik, Seven Sister Water Falls, Chungthang Confluence, Thangu Village, Chopta Valley
Lachung
Chungthang Confluence, Vimnala Water Falls, Yumthang Valley, Yumesamdong Valley
Day 01: Arrive New Jalpaiguri – Darjeeling (75 km / 02-03 hrs)
Arrive at New Jalpaiguri Railway station, after traditional Indian style ‘Swagat’ (Welcome) by Exceptional Escapes representative, he would assist you at Railway Station & transfer to Dargeeling.
Darjeeling, Queen of India's hill stations. Its setting is one of incomparable beauty. A Victorian town of old world charm 'discovered' by the British. It is surrounded by fragrant tea gardens which seem to flow over the layered slopes like emerald swells on a rough sea.
Arrive Darjeeling and check-in at the hotel.
Get QuotesEvening at leisure to explore the Queen of India's hill stations.
Overnight Hotel – Darjeeling (B, D)
Day 02: Darjeeling
Morning START your DAY with the visit of Tiger Hill, famous for its magnificent view of Kanchenjunga, Mt. Everest & other eastern Himalayan peaks especially at the time of sunrise.
Later enjoy the toy train ride of Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR), now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ghoom, as the name suggests it is gloomy & clammy with perpetual fog. A Tibetan village, one can hear the foghorn-like sounds of Buddhist monks blowing their giant Gyeling pipes from the rooftops of the nearby Yiga-Choling ' Yellow Hat' Buddhist Temple.
Also visit the Mountaineering Institute, created by the late Tenzing Norgay, the Sherpa who conquered Mt Everest with Sir Edmund Hillary. A display of equipment used on the climb is one of the highlights..
Post lunch visit the two Buddhist monasteries Chholing & Darli.
Continue visit the Tibet Handicraft Centre & the beautiful Tea gardens.
Evening visit the Observatory Hill known locally as Makal-Babu-Ko-Thaan. According to legend, a Red Hat Buddhist Monastery called Dorje Ling, or 'place of the Thunderbolt', stood at this very spot. The Nepalese destroyed it in the 19th century, now the Shivas & Buddhists share the temple that stands there today.
Get QuotesEvening FREE.
Overnight Hotel – Darjeeling (B, D)
Day 03: Darjeeling – Gangtok (110 / 4 Hrs)
Post breakfast drive to Gangtok (Alt 5550Ft / 1675M), a fairytale capital in the clouds and balances precariously on Steep Mountain slopes, Surrounded by lush rice terraces, swifts flowing rivers & distant snow views. It is situated in the lower Himalayas & was a small hamlet until the construction of the Enchey Monastery in 1840 made it a pilgrimage center..
Afternoon FREE to explore the beautiful CITY.
Overnight Hotel - Gangtok (B, D)
Day 04: Gangtok
Post breakfast leave for full tour of Gangtok. (Timing 8.30AM to 4.30PM).
Visit Phensang Monastery, Botanical Garden, and Santi View Point, Sikkim Research Institute of Tibetology, Dodurl Chorten, Government Institute of Cottage Industry (Closed on Sunday, 2nd Saturday), Orchid House Flower Show. After lunch visit Tashi View Point, Ganesh Tok and Bakthang Falls.
Back to hotel and free evening to roam around M G Marg Mall for shopping.
Overnight Hotel - Gangtok (B, D)
Day 05: Gangtok – Lachen (130 / 06-07 hours)
Post breakfast drive to Lachen in North Sikkim (Alt 9175Ft / 2750M). On the way visit Singhik, Seven Sister Water Falls, Chungthang Confluence. Lunch at a local restaurant on the way at Mangan. Check in at local Guest house or hotel. Free evening to relax.
Overnight Hotel- Lachen (B, D)
Day 06: Lachen – Lachung (50 Kms (2-3 hrs)
Early morning drive to Thangu Village (Alt 13625Ft / 4100M), a remote high altitude village of Tibetan Nomads and also proceed further to Chopta Valley (Alt 13325Ft / 4000M) to get some breathtaking view of alpine valley of frozen rivers.
You can also visit Gurudongmar Lake (Alt 17375Ft / 5225M) close to Tibet Border, the one of the Highest and biggest fresh water lakes in Sikkim. Another 30kms/1.5hr Drive to reach Gurudongmar Lake from Chopta Valley.
Back to Lachen by Lunch.
Check out from Lachen and drive further to Lachung (Alt 8075Ft / 2425M) via Chungthang.
En route visit Chungthang Confluence and Vimnala Water Falls.
Arrive and check-in at hotel. Evening free at leisure.
Overnight Hotel- Lachung (B, D)
Day 07: Lachung – Day excursion to Yumthang Valley (25 kms / 1.5 hrs per way)
Early morning drive to Yumthang Valley (Alt 11925Ft / 3575M), an Alpine flower valley in North Sikkim. Enjoy the scenic landscape and Hot spring and drive back to Lachung for Lunch.
Free evening to roam around the village and river valley.
Optional Yumesamdong Valley (Alt 15750Ft / 4725M) for Indian tourists only– From Yumthang Valley you can drive for another 30kms in 1.5hr to Yumesamdong or Zero Point close to Tibet Border, and back to Lachung. (Additional Cost for Yumesamdong Valley)
Overnight Hotel- Lachung (B, D)
Day 8: Lachung – Gangtok (125 kms / 4-5 hrs)
Check out from Lachung and drive back to Gangtok (Alt 5550Ft / 1675M) via Chungthang. Check-in at hotel by late afternoon. Free evening
Overnight Hotel- Gangtok(B, D)
Day 09: Gangtok DAY Excursion to Tsongo Lake
Post breakfast day excursion to Tsongo Lake; considered extremely sacred by the local people. The place is a paradise for bird lovers with large number of Blue Whistling Thrush, Redstarts & Fork tails around. It hosts a number of migratory birds prominent among which is the Brahminy ducks. The word Tsongo in Bhutia language means source of the lake.
Do Drul Chorten; are two exquisite Stupas, the Dul-dul-Chorten, was built to commemorate the victory of good over evil. The Jhang Club Chorten was built to perpetuate the memory of a great spiritualist of today. Thrul-Shik Rinpoche an ardent devotee of Buddha and one of his best interpreters died in 1962, the stupa immortalizes Rinpoche in the land of his birth.
Rumtek Monastery; meandering roads through emerald green rice terraces, lays Rumtek, the main monastery of Kagyud or 'Black Hat' sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Built in 1959 by His Holiness the 16th Reincarnated Gyalwa Karmapa, it is a replica of Tsurphu Monastery from the Kham region of Tibet.
Himalayan Zoological Park; known as Bulbuley. It has paved cement path that passes by fenced open air enclosure housing the Red Pandas, barking deer & bears in a semi natural habitat.
Visit Nathu la Pass, Nathu La is a mountain pass in the Himalayas. It connects the Indian state of Sikkim with China's Tibet Autonomous Region. The pass, at 4,310 m above mean sea level, forms a part of an offshoot of the ancient Silk Road. (Depending upon the availability of permit) at Additional Cost.
Evening explore Lal bazaar, melody of colour. Various ethnic groups from different villages gather to haggle, bargain, gossip their wares.
Overnight Hotel – Gangtok (B, D)
Day 10: Gangtok – New Jalpaiguri Railway station Depart (130 Kms / 02-03 Hrs)
Post breakfast transfer to Railway station for onward destination taking back a wonderful HOLIDAY Memory…..
Tour Concludes: Exceptional Escapes Manager will assist you with your transfer to the airport for boarding onward flight.
The arrangement of our trip was so perfectly done, that i could not find even a single fault or drawback for which i could provide a suggestion. We are so much impressed and touched by the hospitality and services provided. To be frank, we have already started to plan for our next holiday, may be sometime in the end of the year. We will get back to you soon :-) Thanks again Exceptional Escapes.....you guys are truly EXCEPTIONAL!!!! - read more...
The trip in general has been exceptional
The driver was a sweetheart. Always bringing me something to eat or drink and also always carrying a beautiful smile - read more...
Airport Representative was very Good Tour & Guide Services was very Good Ground Services was excellent Hotel Services was excellent - read more...
Generally all are good except that in shimla. Silverine hotel is not a suitable hotel for elderly people as they need to walk up and downhill to the hotel….though the place is ideal for shoppers - read more...
Thank you so very much for going above and beyond to ensure that we had a wonderful trip. I have been telling everyone about your hospitality. I truly had a great time and I especially am thankful for all your organizing and to take time to show us your family and invite us to your home. You have a beautiful family and I think Choti (your little sister) is so adorable - read more...
Hi Gaurav, thanks for following up and for all your efforts in making all the necessary arrangements for my trip. I thoroughly enjoyed the trip. A few suggestions on how you might improve your services for future bookings - read more...
Many thanks for putting together a wonderful and memorable vacation for us. We thoroughly enjoyed it. We did not find anything lacking from your side. It was our first visit to India and it seems like we are already planning to be back. The pace was hectic so we did not find much time to visit the local markets which we will have to make up next time - read more...
We reached home safely on Sunday morning (USA time) and slept most of the day. I cannot thank you enough for all your help and efforts in making our trip such a wonderful success. I will never forget the experiences we had and fun time we enjoyed all throughout the trip. I will send you pictures soon.....'not to worry!!!' - read more...
We waited almost two years to meet again and it was well worth it. Everybody had a fantastic time and loved every moment of it. Your friend speaks very good English now and we all wish her well in the future. It seems that shopping with your friend was the highlight of the trip, the ladies would not stop talking about it - read more...
