Darjeeling Gangtok itinerary which gives you countless memories!

Overview

Pay a visit to the beautiful mountains, the valley of flowers, fascinating flora and fauna, as well as shopping, nightlife and monasteries in Gangtok. Darjeeling, located in West Bengal, India offers amazing cuisines, majestic peaks, marvellous backdrops, and vast tea plantations in its store for its visitors. The Darjeeling Gangtok itinerary has everything a person asks for.

Darjeeling Gangtok Tour

Located amidst the Himalayas in Northeast India, the majestic Sikkim with its exciting capital of Gangtok and the charming town of Darjeeling are few of the most beautiful vacation destinations in India. With this Darjeeling Gangtok itinerary, travellers can experience the remarkable landscapes, the aroma of tea leaves, exquisite multicultural cuisines, the soulful sound of Buddhist prayers, and the peaceful touch of nature- truly a treat to the senses. Below is the day-wise Darjeeling Gangtok itinerary for your quick reference.

Day-wise Itinerary:

1. 1st Day – Arrival, Darjeeling city
2. 2nd Day – Visit Tiger Hill and Darjeeling local sightseeing
3. 3rd Day – Transfer to Gangtok and Gangtok afternoon half day sightseeing
4. 4th Day – Take Changu lake excursion with Baba mandir
5. 5th Day – Last-Minute Shopping, Departure

Day 1 – Arrival, Darjeeling city

In the first day of your Darjeeling Gangtok itinerary, you will arrive at Bagdogra airport which is approximately 70 km away from Darjeeling. From here, you will be assisted on arrival and get transferred to Darjeeling. Standing high in the Himalayas at an altitude of 2134m, ‘this city is known as “Land of Thunderbolt”. It offers breathtaking views of snow-capped mountain tops, with the Kanchendzonga rising higher than all the others.

This place remains just as seducing with its tiny waterfalls, little villages and a narrow-gauge railway track. Surrounded by World Famous Tea Gardens and snow-capped mountains, Darjeeling remains one of the most fascinating destinations. Given that this will be your first day, we have not included any sightseeing as such. Enjoy your arrival by refreshing and explore the city on your own to know more about its culture and traditions.

Also read: Best Time to Visit Darjeeling

Day 2 – Visit Tiger Hill and Darjeeling local sightseeing

In the second day of your Darjeeling Gangtok itinerary, you will be visiting Tiger Hill first. This will be an early morning visit and you will witness a beautiful sunrise and Himalayan Range like Kanchandzonga, Mount Everest etc. You can see the skyline changing colours just before sunrise and then the entire Himalayan range turn golden. Post this, head back to the hotel to have hot breakfast served.

After a light breakfast, you will proceed for city tour visiting Himalayan Mountaineering Institute. This institute was established by Tenzing Norgay after he climbed Mt Everest. Post your visit to the institute, you will head to the Zoological Park. Also known as Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, this is yet another typical attraction that you will see in the city. You will be able to actually see some of the high altitude amazing Himalayan animals and some endangered species.

Your last stop on the second day of your Darjeeling Gangtok itinerary would be Peace Pagoda. Peace Pagoda showcases four avatars of Lord Buddha. From the top of the Peace Pagoda, you will get a panoramic view of Darjeeling landscape including the Kanchenjunga range. Usually, the prayer timings would be from 4.30 am to 6:00 am in the morning and again from 4.30 pm to 6.30 pm in the evening. If you can visit this place during these timings, you can also join the prayers. Post this, you will head to the hotel after a really tiring day to have your dinner and rest for the day.

Also read: Darjeeling 2 nights 3 days Itinerary- Here’s Dazzling Darjeeling for you!

Day 3 – Transfer to Gangtok and Gangtok afternoon half day sightseeing

In the third day of your Darjeeling Gangtok itinerary, you will be heading to Gangtok and have an afternoon city tour. Have a leisurely breakfast at the hotel and drive to Gangtok. Located at an altitude of 1750m, Gangtok became the state capital in the mid 19th century and has undergone rapid growth since then. The downtown or central region is controlled by huge government buildings decorated with traditional Buddhist symbols. Gangtok also acts as a resting ground for people travelling to North Sikkim. Surrounded by Monasteries and Orchids, Gangtok is truly a travellers pleasure.

In the afternoon, you will be having the half-day sightseeing tour. The first stop would be at the Flower Show. This place showcases flowers from the different parts of Sikkim together under a single roof which makes it a heaven for all the nature lovers. Next, you would pay a visit to Do Drul Chorten Monastery. Located at a short walking distance from the Research Institute of Tibetology and on a hillock, you can see this Drul Chorten marked by a golden top dome. You will get to see this dome from various places in Gangtok.

The final stop in the third day of your Darjeeling Gangtok itinerary would be the Institute of Tibetology. Do keep in mind that this place is generally closed on Sundays. Also known as Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, it showcases research on the religion, history, language, art and culture of the people of the Tibetan cultural area which includes Sikkim. Post this, you will head back to your hotel for an overnight stay.

Also Read: Best places to visit in South Sikkim – Best sides of Sikkim

Day 4 – Take Changu lake excursion with Baba mandir

In the 4th day of your Darjeeling Gangtok itinerary, you will take an excursion to Changu Lake along with a visit to Baba Mandir. Have a scrumptious breakfast at the hotel and head for the excursion. This lake is located 35 km from Gangtok at an altitude of 12,400 feet. The lake receives its waters from melting snows off the surrounding mountains. Myths say that lamas could forecast the future by studying the colour of the lake’s waters. Along with this, you will pay a visit to Baba mandir. Dedicated to Baba Harbhajan Singh, guards here believe that his spirit is still alive and he is therefore treated as a living being.

Also read: Top Hill Stations In North India – What Makes It Unique And Worth Visiting?

Day 5 – Last-Minute Shopping, Departure

Indulge in some last-minute shopping after having your breakfast. Fill your carts to the brim and head off to the airport. Drive to Bagdogra airport in time for flight to onward destination with fondest of memories. With this, we come to the end of the 4 nights 5 days Darjeeling Gangtok itinerary.

Does the Darjeeling Gangtok itinerary make you want to pack your bags and head to this destination? Well, you can make your dream come true by booking one of the tour packages from Pickyourtrail and personalize your own itinerary according to the budget that you have in mind. So, wait no more and lace up your boots to get a never before Darjeeling Gangtok trip experience. Plan your Darjeeling Gangtok itinerary with your loved ones and you will definitely be awestruck by the riveting beauty of Darjeeling and Gangtok. Also, check out our guides page.