Sikkim Darjeeling Private Trip (7D/6N)

Duration: 7 Days, 6 Nights
Group Size: Minimum 2
Best for group of Friends, Family & Couples
Starting/Ending Location : Bagdogra Airport

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Overview of Sikkim trip

Hello travelers!

Sikkim is gifted with stunning natural wonders like high mountain passes, numerous glaciers, alpine lakes, chilling cold rivers, hot water springs and rich culture.

As part of this 7 Days Sikkim Darjeeling tour package, we will cover places in East & North Sikkim where popular attractions like Nathu La, Lachen & Lachung are located, along with Gangtok, the capital city.

We will start the trip with Queen of Hills – Darjeeling, a picturesque hill station in north Bengal, famous for its lush green tea gardens, colonial charm, and breathtaking views of the Himalayas.

After reaching Gangtok, we will move up north towards Lachen valley, with a visit to the majestic Gurudongmar Lake, one of the highest lakes in the world allowed for visitors. This lake remains mostly frozen throughout the winter but summers present an opportunity for visitors to enjoy this “slice of heaven”.

Then comes Lachung, a scenic mountain village with gushing waterfalls, apple & apricot orchards, and handicraft centers.

Part of Lachung valley is Yumthang, known as Valley of Flowers, is home to numerous species of Rhododendron flowers on the banks of river Lachung which is a tributary of Teesta, the main river originating from Sikkim. It’s also home to hot water springs believed to be having medicinal properties.

We will end the trip with places in east Sikkim like Tsomgo Lake (Changu Lake) that is known for seasonal change in the colour of its water, Baba Mandir which has an interesting “Ghost” story behind it, and the Nathu La Pass – Indo China border post.

The monasteries, temples, bridges hoisted with colorful Buddhist prayer flags, and the unmatched beauty of Sikkim will give an opportunity to spend blissful time amidst mother nature, detox and unwind.

A trip to Sikkim is a blend of innumerable view points, glittering sights of Himalayan peaks, ice cold climate, a bit of culture and a sense of rejuvenation and peace.

Why wait!

Highlights of Sikkim Trip

The heavenly Gurudongmar Lake
Yumthang – Valley of Flowers
Lachen – mini Switzerland
Lachung Valley
Free flowing Teesta River
Chungthang view point
7 Sisters Waterfalls
Nathu La Pass, Baba Mandir
Changu Lake (Tsongmo Lake)
Zero Point (Optional)
Splendid views of Kanchenjunga
Gangtok MG Road stroll
Darjeeling Tea Garden
Batasia Loop Toy Train Station
Ghoom Monastery
Peace Pagoda & Japanese Temple

Inclusions

Travel for 7 Days (Bagdogra to Bagdogra)
Stay for 6 nights
6 times Breakfast
5 times Dinner
Inner Line Permit (ILP) charges for North Sikkim
Nathu La Special Permits
All entry tickets, permissions for scheduled places in the Itinerary
Expert Drivers
Operations Manager support 24x7 during trip
Once in a lifetime experience visiting all places mentioned in Highlights section

Exclusions

Lunches, 1 Dinner
Any misc. expenses that are not in Inclusions list, permits to Optional places like Zero point (if open)
Any extra cost arising due to any change in the itinerary/stay/route on account of bad weather, traffic-congestion, landslides/roadblocks, natural calamities, political disturbances and/or any other factors beyond our control.

Price Chart:

Guests	Vehicle	Standard Package Cost (Per Person)	Deluxe Package Cost (Per Person)
2	Hatchback	₹35450	₹40450
3	Hatchback	₹30450	₹35450
4	SUV	₹27450	₹32450
5	SUV	₹25450	₹30450
6	SUV	₹23450	₹28450
7	SUV + Hatchback	₹28450	₹33450
8	SUV + Hatchback	₹27450	₹32450
9	SUV + Hatchback	₹25450	₹30450
10	2 SUV	₹23450	₹28450
11	2 SUV	₹22450	₹27450
12	2 SUV	₹21450	₹26450

*Important Notes:

A 5% GST is applicable for all the costing given above.
Tour Guide Extra Cost = 2000 per day.
Standard package will have comfortable Homestays & Guest houses.
The above Price Chart is not applicable for peak/holiday season (like end year, summer holidays, festival holidays). The cost may increase by 1000 to 2000 per person based on the season (April, May, November, December).
Contact Bookings Team on 9880539183 for more details on all the above points.

Itinerary for Sikkim Trip

Day 1 - Bagdogra to Darjeeling, Mall Road stroll

Our Darjeeling vehicle will pick you at Bagdogra Airport as per your flight arrival time.
Journey towards the Queen of Hills – Darjeeling. It’s a drive of 70 Km that usually takes 3-3.5 hours along with a Tea break.
Enroute, we will visit Ghoom Monastery known for its speldid architecture, colorful artwork, tranquil atmosphere and scenic views.
Note: Sometimes, we may visit Ghoom Monastery on Day 2 instead of today.
Check into the guest house by evening and take a walk on the famous Mall road of Darjeeling.
Finish Dinner and wrap up for the day early as we need to wake up for sunrise next morning.

Day 2 - Darjeeling sightseeing, Journey to Gangtok

Start the day with Breakfast, checkout of the stay.
Visit Peace Pagoda & Japanese Temple showcasing traditional Japanese architecture and symbolizing peace & harmony.
Witness the Darjeeling Toy Train winding its way around the Batasia Loop, presenting opportunity to click some selfies.
Visit beautiful Darjeeling Tea Garden, and learn about tea processing & history. Shop for your favourite tea.
We will start our journey towards the capital city of Sikkim – Gangtok along the curvy road that runs parallel to the free flowing Teesta river originating from the glaciers of Sikkim.
It’s a drive of 100 Km that usually takes 3.5-4 hours along with a Tea break.
Check into the guest house by late evening and take a walk on the famous MG marg – the mall road of Gangtok. Finish Dinner.
Good night.

Day 3 - Lachen Valley Trip

Check out of the stay after a heavy Breakfast.
Today we will start our journey towards high altitude North Sikkim famous for snow capped mountains, pristine lakes, gushing water falls and natural hot springs.
Take a pit stop at 7 Sister Falls (waterfalls enroute Lachen).
Chungthang viewpoint – beautiful village at the confluence of Lachen and Lachung rivers.
Reach one of the most picturesque villages of Sikkim, Lachen that is located close to worlds third highest peak – the mighty Kanchenjunga!
We will take a stroll in the evening enjoying splendid views of surrounding Himalayas.
Have Dinner and rest at Lachen guest house.

Day 4 - Gurudongmar Lake & journey to Lachung

Start the day very early at 4 AM to take a beautiful journey to Gurundongmar, one of the highest lakes in India as well in the world at an elevation of 17,800 feet. We will have Breakfast en route. One can spot a barrage of Army vehicles and camps throughout the journey as it is a highly protected area.
The journey itself is not a cake walk. Because of high altitude, one can experience shortage of oxygen levels but our body would gradually get acclimatized during the journey. Traveling on rugged roads and taking umpteen number of curves would also take its toll on the body.
But when we eventually reach the destination after all the hardships, the stunning beauty of Gurudongmar will make you feel its worth every bit of the tiring journey.
After spending good amount of time at the pristine lake and taking numerous pictures, we will start our return journey towards Lachen & Chungthang village.
We will continue our journey to the next destination Lachung Valley.
Rest for the night after Dinner at Lachung guest house.

Day 5 - Yumthang Valley, back to Gangtok

Start the day very early around 6 AM.
We will head towards Yumthang valley, situated at an elevation of 11800 feet, a 1.5 hour drive from Lachung.
Yumthang which is known as ‘Valley of Flowers” is located in the valley by the Lachung river. It’s a picture perfect setting surrounded by snow-clad mountains on all sides.
(Optional places) Give a visit to natural Yumthang hot springs which are known for their medicinal properties because of rich Sulphur and other mineral content. There is a place named Zero point which is famous among tourists. An instant permit needs to be taken at local checkpost to visit these optional places.
Start long return journey towards Gangtok by late afternoon, reach by night.
Finish Dinner.
Take well deserved rest after a long North Sikkim trip of previous 3 days.

Day 6 - Day trip to Tsomgo Lake, Baba Mandir, Nathula Pass

Start the day early with Breakfast.
Go on a day trip towards Nathula Pass on the Indo-China border at an elevation of 14,100 feet, which needs a special permit (we would have pre-applied beforehand).
Nathu La is strategically important for the Indian Army, and is one of the very few Himalayan border posts open for visitors like us.
Continue journey to Baba Mandir at an elevation of 13,000 feet. There is an interesting “Ghost” story of Baba Harbhajan Singh who served Indian Army during the 1960s.
We will then head to picturesque oval-shaped Tsomgo Lake (also called Changu Lake) which is famous for sturdy Yaks and various migratory Birds.
Take a joy ride on the Yak if interested, or just pose for photos.
Head back to the Gangtok by late evening.
Finish Dinner and take good rest for the night.

Day 7 - Return journey, Airport Drop

Check out after early Breakfast.
We will bid adieu to the Himalayas and head back towards planes of West Bengal where we started our journey 6 days back. It’s a 5 hour journey including some buffer time, so we may start early based on the flight timings.
Our driver will drop you at Bagdogra Airport.
Note: This route is unpredictable with traffic. It is recommended to book return flights starting only after 1.30 PM from Bagdogra.

What to Expect from Sikkim Trip

Travel:

Trip starting/ending point: Bagdogra Airport (Siliguri).
Pick up and drop at Bagdogra Airport.
SUV, Hatchback or similar tourist vehicle (7 days journey).
Note: Bigger vehicles like Tempo Traveller, Buses are not allowed in Sikkim.
Start time: First day, 01:45 PM (afternoon)
End time: Seventh day, 1.30 PM (afternoon)
You can book flights to/from Bagdogra on based on the above timings.
Note 2: The vehicles are usually different for Darjeeling, Gangtok and North Sikkim.

Stay:

Standard Package: Comfortable Homestays & Guest Houses.
Deluxe Package: Hotels & Resorts.
Double & Triple sharing rooms.
Darjeeling 1 night.
Gangtok 3 nights.
Lachen 1 night.
Lachung 1 night.
Contact Booking Team on 98271 17555 if you wish to see stay pictures.

Food:

All Breakfasts & 5 times Dinners are included.
Lunches & 1 time Dinner are self-sponsored.
How much you have to spend for good food?
200 – 300 per meal

Misc. info:

Trek Difficulty: No trekking
Max altitude: Gurudongmar at 17,800 feet above Sea level
Climate:
Very cold at Lachen, Lachung
Cold at Gangtok

Booking Procedure:

50% amount has to be paid to confirm the trip.
Remaining 50% shall be paid at the beginning of the trip after boarding vehicle.
Payment mode will be shared by our Bookings Team.

Special Notes for Sikkim:

Expect seasonal variations in Sikkim depending on the month we are travelling.
Travelers are expected to come with open heart by appreciating complexities of mother nature.
Please be mindful of the fact that nature & weather in Sikkim have been unpredictable in the past few years because of Global Warming & Climate change. In case any issues happen with routes, we will need to be flexible enough to change itinerary accordingly.
There is no luxury involved in any part of this trip.

Seasonal Variations:

Mid Mar to June: Summers (and pre-monsoon) are pleasant in Sikkim which pull tourists in good numbers.
Jul to mid Sept (monsoons): The rains hit the eastern Himalayas starting from mid June. Journey would be tough during this time. We usually avoid traveling to Sikkim in rains.
Mid Sept to Jan (Winter): Another good season to travel before extreme winter sets in. One can expect high tourist footfall in these months.
Feb to mid Mar: Temperatures will drop below 0 degrees towards the end of the year with the onset of snow fall covering the entire valley. It will be very difficult to travel and important roads will be closed by Indian Army.

FAQ

Things to carry

Toiletries, moisturizer, light towel, lip balm, wet wipes, toothbrush, toothpaste etc.
A lightweight large Backpack for the entire trip (50-60 liters). Strictly no trolleys. Remember this is a Backpacking trip.
A small backpack for basic items (to carry valuables, water bottle, snacks, etc. for outdoor activities).
Photo identity proof with address (DL/Passport/Voter ID). Aadhar is not useful for inner-line permits in Sikkim.
2 Passport size color photographs (important for permit).
Thermal inners and warm clothes (cold climate).
A rainproof jacket with a hood (to protect from cold winds, sudden rain).
Thick socks, track pants, full sleeve t-shirts (to keep your body warm).
Cap/Hat/Sunglasses (to protect from harmful sun rays).
Sunscreen (SPF 50 or more).
Power bank, charger, camera, binoculars (if you wish to).
Hand sanitizer and liquid hand wash for outdoors.
Proper water bottle for your trip. You may fill at our stays.
Disposable garbage covers (to separate used/unused clothes).
Water-resistant good grip shoes for travel, extra slippers to use at stays.
Personal medications, any drugs that you may feel necessary (remember ghat roads, cold climate), basic first aid kit.
No need to carry snacks/chocolates. You may buy at local shops to support local people in Sikkim.

What's next after booking your trip?

Organizers will get in touch with you, or vice versa.
Once minimum number of people book this trip (at least 4 members), Organizing team will give a green signal to book your flights.
A Whatsapp group will be created for all the registered folks 5 days before the event.

Terms & Conditions

The itinerary of the event is fixed. No special requests to change itinerary/schedule shall be entertained.
Guests are expected to respect and follow the instructions of both the Driver and the Operations Manager to ensure a safe, timely, and smooth execution of the planned itinerary.
Each guest is responsible for their own safety and well-being throughout the trip. We strongly advise against engaging in any illegal, irresponsible, or careless behavior that could potentially cause harm to themselves, fellow travelers, or local communities.
Consumption of alcohol and smoking is strictly prohibited during the journey and all outdoor activities. Guests may indulge in alcohol/smoking moderately and responsibly at the stay during night hours, ensuring it does not disturb others or affect the trip experience.
The use of foul or abusive language, issuing threats, or engaging in any form of physical assault is strictly prohibited. Such behavior may lead to immediate action, including the possibility of filing a formal complaint with local Police Station.
Unexpected situations like bad weather, landslides, wildlife activity, traffic delays, or sudden site closures by authorities may impact the planned itinerary. In most cases, if time permits, our Operations Manager will suggest alternate options. However, in some cases, no alternatives may be available. No refunds will be provided in such scenarios, as these are beyond our control.
All travel and accommodation arrangements are non-AC by default across our Private trips. The specific differences between Standard and Deluxe packages are clearly outlined in the Stay section of each event.
All guests are required to digitally sign a liability waiver provided by the Operations Manager prior to the trip, along with uploading any necessary ID proofs required for permits. This waiver releases Muddie Trails from any legal responsibility in the event of unforeseen circumstances such as injury, loss, theft, or death during the course of the trip.

Cancellation & Refund

Cancellation by Guests

80% refund if a cancellation request is sent 30 days before the trip start date.
50% refund if a cancellation request is sent between 30 to 15 days before the trip start date.
An email has to be sent to muddietrails@gmail.com to raise a cancellation request.
No refund within 15 days of the event start time whatever is the reason (Health, COVID, Accident, Family crisis, Office issue, or anything else).
No refund during/after the event.
No refund on the partial payment (advance) done to block your seat for the trip.

Cancellation due to external factors

If the event has to be cancelled due to external factors that are beyond our control like – Natural Disasters, Extreme Weather Conditions, Red Alerts, Political Disturbances, War, Bandh/Curfews, Local Issues, Covid-19 or any other disease outbreaks etc..

In such scenarios:

No Refund is applicable.
100% trip amount can be used for future dates.