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Hi Raj,
First of all accept my New Year Greetings. Wish you and your family a very happy and prosperous new year.
Planning to visit NAMCHI & RAVANGLA. Please advise me of these two places which place to stay so that it will be easy to for me at access the other place. Also please let me know whether it will be possible for me to visit other places like BORONG, KALUK & UTTAREY, if possible from that place(either NAMCHI or RAVANGLA).
Awaiting yours to finalize the program. Thanks & Best Regards,
Raju Basu (January 2018)
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Hi, happy new year. Ravangla would be a good place to stay for your tour plans. You can make easy day trips to Namchi, Kaluk, Borong etc. For Uttarey plan to first visit Kaluk and then onward to Uttarey and stay there overnight.
Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) January 2018
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We are 4 senior citizen would like to travel Gangtok-Pelling-Darjeeling from 31st March to 8th April 2018; 8 nights and 9 days. I have subscribed to your e-book which is a treasure of information. With the help of the e-book I have drawn the itinerary. My problem is I am not able to fit Gangtok local sightseeing in the itinerary. Is it possible to fit it? If so where and if not possible which place should I drop, Lachung or Yumthang or Pelling; kindly suggest.
Day 1: Arrival Bagdogra airport around 15 hrs. , drive down to Gangtok. Night stay at Gangtok.
Day 2 : Visit to Changu lake and Baba mandir, Kuppu valley and if possible visit Nathula Pass. Overnight stay at Gangtok.
Day 3: Transfer from Gangtok to Lachung. En-route visit Singhik View point, Seven Sisters Water Falls, Naga Water Falls, Chungthang etc. Night stay at Lachung.
Day 4 :Excursion to Yumthang Valley & Sulphur Hot Spring. Transfer from Lachung to Gangtok.
Day 5 : Transfer from Gangtok to Pelling. En-route visit Namchi.
Day 6 : Pelling full day sight seeing including Khechepalri Lake, Changey falls, Pemayangtse Monastery, Kanchandzonga Falls, Rimbi Falls and Rock Garden.
Day 7 : Transfer from Pelling to Darjeeling.
Day 8 :Darjeeling sightseeing including Tiger Hill, Batasia Loop, Ghoom Monastery, HMI, Darjeeling Zoo, tea garden, Tenzing Rock, Tibetan Self Help Refugee Centre, Japanese Temple, Peace Pagoda etc.
Day 9 : Transfer from Darjeeling to Siliguri/Bagdogra.
H S Shastry (January 2018)
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Hello, if 9 days is all what you have, you should drop Pelling to accommodate a day in Gangtok. This is anyway advisable because your tour plan looks quite hectic for your age.
Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) January 2018
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Dear Raj ji,
I seek your kind advise on my itinerary below. We are 2 adult members 2 Child (6 yrs and 13 yrs) travelling to DJ & GGTK in last week of march.
23 March : Reaching Bagdogra 4 PM --> Bagdogra to Gangtok, stay & night halt at Gangtok
24 March : Proceeding to Gangtok Sightseeing (Day Tour) visit to Handicraft Centre, Bakthang Falls, Tashi Viewpoint, Ganesh Tok, (Flower Show) / Chorten Tibetology etc. and MG Marg for shopping handicrafts etc. - stay & night halt at Gangatok.
25 March: Visit to Nathula Pass ,Tsomgo (Changoo) Lake, Baba Mandir etc. - stay & night halt at Gangtok.
26 March : Early Morning(5-6 AM) Proceeding to Darjeeling (via Lamhatta Eco park visit), Hotel-Check-in. Late Afternoon Toy Train, evening at Chowk bazar, stay & night halt at Darjeeling
27 March: Proceeding to Darjeeling Sightseeing (Day Tour) Visit to Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, P.N. Zoological Park, Tenzing Rock, Tibetan Refugee, Self-help Centre, (Sunday closed) Ava Art Gallery, Japanese Temple, Rope way, etc. - stay & night halt at Darjeeling
28 March: Return to Bagdogra to DLI to JP
Some Queries I have:
1. Is the itinerary above ok??
2. Can we travel on DAY 3 in evening to Darjeeling or should we stay at hotel overnight and next day (Day4) morning transfer to Darjeeling?
3. Assuming it will be lean season at this time, is advance booking required? Should we go with travel agents for this pass visit permit, booking etc. or STDC vehicles booked from their office at MG MARG?
Many Thanks in advance.
Manish Juneja (January 2018)
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Your itinerary is okay. You should stay overnight at Gangtok on Day-3 and proceed to Darjeeling next morning. Since you are travelling with your family with kids, book your rooms in advance. Your hotel can set up an authorized operator to get your permits for touring Tsomgo, Nathula etc. If you go to STDC office in MG Marg, they too will re-direct you to an authorized operator.
Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) January 2018
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Roughly this is what we have in mind.
19th April - Pick up from Bagdogra airport at about 1500 hrs. and transfer to Kalimpong.
20th. Kalimpong sight seeing
21st. Transfer to Ravangla via Namchi sightseeing.
22nd. Sightseeing in Ravangla and transfer to Gangtok.
23rd Free day in Gangtok. ( tour to Tsomgo, Baba Mandir)
24th -26th Yumthang valley package with Zero point, Hot springs.
26th back to Gangtok
27th. free day in Gangtok
28th Gangtok - Darjeeling (2 nights)
30th dep Darjeeling for Bagdogra airport (to arrive at the airport by 10 am , keeping sufficient time for 12:30 flight)
Is this itinerary good or do you suggest we tweak it. Thank you Raj.
Ahluwalia (January 2018)
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The itinerary looks ok. Unless you have specific sightseeing in mind around Ravangla, you can stay one night extra at Darjeeling and make a day trip to Mirik ... visit Mirik lake as well as see rolling tea gardens (go 8kms beyond Mirik up to Tingling View Point).
Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) January 2018
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Hello Raj,
We are a group of 4 friends and visiting north east from 24th feb to 4 march. Can you please review our itinerary for the trip which is as following:
24 Feb: Reaching Bagdogra at 4 PM. Bagdogra to Gangtok. Night stay at Gangtok.
25 Feb: Local Sightseeing at gangtok and visit casino at night.
26 Feb: Visit to Tsomgo Lake and Nathula Pass.
27 Feb: Leave for Lachung, Overnight stay at Lachung.
28 Feb: Visit Yumthang valley and Zero Point and return to Lachen.
1 Mar : Visit Gurudongmar Lake, Return to Lachen.
2 Mar : Leave for Pelling early morning, Local Sightseeing at pelling.
3 Mar. : Visit remaining places near pelling. Leave for darjeeling in the evening, Overnight stay at Darjeeling.
4 Mar : Day tour in the darjeeling,
5 Mar. : Leave for Bagdogra and take return flight in the evening.
Anshul Jain (February 2018)
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Hi,
Having visited Gurudongmar, you can return to Gangtok instead of staying overnight at Lachen. Next morning you can proceed to Pelling ... that way you get more time in Pelling and do some sightseeing there on the same day. Rest is okay.
Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) February 2018
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Hi Raj,
We are two people arriving Mar 26 2.30 pm Bagdogra leaving on April 1st 6pm flight.Like to visit Darjeeling Gangtok mirik what do you recommend should we visit Darjeeling via Mirik then move to Gangtok or do Gangtok first move to Darjeeling and visit Mirik on April 1st going to the airport.
Please advise.
Dinesh Kukreja (February 2018)
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Hi, your second plan (Gangtok - Darjeeling - Mirik - Bagdora) would be better because on your day of arrival, it would be dark soon after you leave Mirik and you will miss out on several attractions on the way like Pashupati market, Simana view point at Indo-Nepal border, picturesque Gopaldhara tea estate etc. While on April 1, you can additionally plan to visit Jorpokhri on the way.
Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) February 2018
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Dear Mr Raj,
Your web site is just amazing. Thank you for providing such a wonderful well organized information.
I am planning to travel with family. My sons are aged 13yr & 7yr.
Arrival and Departure Dates are fixed. I have already booked Tickets. I know duration is very long but I wanted to spend whole vacation in pleasant weather. As May is a very hot here in my home town Surendranagar / Gujarat. I would like to have relaxed itinerary. I have read many posts in your site about itinerary but such a long planning is not seen.
Following is a rough planning of tour. It is based on information from your site. I am purely going to travel as per your guidance. So please spare some time to suggest me regarding the itinerary.
Thanking you,
Ketan Raval (February 2018)
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Hello, here are my suggestions:
On day-5 drop Triveni Sangam and cover that on day-6 on the way to Kalimpong. On day-7 stay back at Kalimpong and start for Gangtok next morning (you can reduce one sightseeing day in Gangtok to accommodate this). Note that permits for Tsomgo, Nathula Pass needs to be done on the previous day (usually in the first half) unless you get that done in advance through an operator. Rest is okay, however Pelling to Mirik will be a long drive. Mirik is best covered from Darjeeling on the way to NJP or while going to Darjeeling from NJP.
Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) February 2018
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Dear Raj ji,
I am planning to visit Gangtok and Darjeeling in the month May 2018. I have a plan. Iwould be grateful to you for valuable suggestions on this.
30th April 2018- Arrival NJP railway station @2 PM. Proceed to Gangtok.
1st MAY 2018- Tsomgo lake, BABA mandir
2nd MAY 2018 - local sightseeing, shopping at Mg Marg, Cable car ride.
3rd MAY 2018 - Gangtok to Pelling.
4th MAY 2018 -Pelling to Darjeeling via Kalimpong. Half day sightseeing at Kalimpong, then proceed to Darjeeling). Evening exploring the city on own, shopping, etc
5th MAY 2018 - Darjeeling. Early morning sunrise view at tiger Hill, Batasia Loop. Afterwards, by 3 PM depart to NJP railway station to catch train @ 10PM .
Please advise if this plan is feasible for 5Nights and 6 Days trip.
Thank you, Best Regards,
Gaurav (March 2018)
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The plan is feasible but quite hectic. You may have to swap plans for 1st and 2nd May depending on how quickly you can get the permits. Start early from Pelling if you go for sightseeing in Kalimpong enroute to Darjeeling.
Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) March 2018
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Is it possible to go to Nathula pass, Tsomgo lake and also come back from Gangtok to Darjeeling in a single day ?? We have planned to go to Nathula pass in the morning and return to gangtok by 3:30 pm. And from there we are planning to go to Darjeeling and reach there by 8:00 pm. Is it feasible and safe ??
Rajiv Kumar (March 2018)
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Possible, but will be very hectic and tiring. Better start for Darjeeling next morning.
Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) March 2018
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Hello Raj,
I am very much thankful to your wonderful website. I (24yrs female) am planning for a 6-day Gangtok-Darjeeling-Mirik tour with my sister(18yrs) and my parents (52 and 57 years) and arriving at NJP station on 10th may around 9.30 a.m. Our return train ticket is from NJP station on 16th may midnight(2.45 a.m.). I want to travel mainly to Gangtok and have a wish to enjoy sunrise in Tiger hill in Darjeeling. Basically I am taking responsibility of my first ever tour itinerary planning and I have prepared it after going through your website, the posts and your responses to them. So I am looking upto your kind suggestions. My itinerary is as follows:
10th May:
Reaching NJP at 9.30 a.m. then NJP to Gangtok, local sightseeing and night stay at Gangtok.
11th May:
Visiting to Tsogmo lake,Baba mandir, Nathula Pass. Back to Gangtok and nightstay.
12th May:
Gangtok to Lachung via Chungthang. Visit seven sisters waterfall, Bhimnala, Yumthang valley, Zero point, Lachung Monastery. Staying at Lachung overnight.
13th May:
Lachung to Pelling. Visiting Kheceopelri Lake, Changey falls, Rimbi falls, Rock garden, Singsore bridge (confused! can we move to Darjeeling on the same day or we have to wait for next morning)
14th May:
Darjeeling sightseeing( depending upon when we reach at Darjeeling). Roaming in mall ground in the evening. Night-stay at Darjeeling.
15th May:
Sunrise at Tiger hill, ghoom, Batasia Loop. Checking out hotel at Darjeeling and heading towards NJP station via Mirik. Visiting Jorpokhri while returning.
16th May: Returning train at 2.45 a.m.(midnight) from NJP
How do you find my itinerary? Will be a hectic one? Now I have few queries:
Q1. Should I include Pelling in it or rather add 1 day more to stay at Gangtok?
Q2. If include Pelling in my itinerary, is it possible to return Darjeeling on the same day or I should take a hotel to night stay at Pelling and head to Darjeeling in the next morning?
Q3. Is shared jeep/taxi available in Gangtok for sightseeing like Darjeeling?
Q4. Do the shared jeep towards Tiger hill-Ghoom-Batasia loop including round trip journey and return or I have to take another jeep for returning?
Q5. I have booked my tickets. If I book hotels in different places of my own according to my itinerary, will it be too difficult for me to arrange the tour hiring private cars or shared jeep?
I am looking up to your suggestion and modification if needed. Thank you in advance.
Ananya Biwas (March 2018)
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Hello Ananya,
There are a few glitches in your plan and require changes. Once you reach Gangtok, it usually takes first half of a day to get necessary permits for Tsomgo, Nathula, Lahung etc because these are protected areas. Since you will be reaching Gangtok in the afternoon, this may not be possible on arrival unless you get the permits in advance through a registered operator in Sikkim. Otherwise keep one more day in Gangtok on arrival.
Lachung to Pelling will require about 7 hours by car by the shortest route, and since you have to go through an operator (i.e. registered tour agency) to Lachung, you need to take a private vehicle if you want a transfer from Lachung to Pelling (instead of returning to Gangtok) and that can cost a lot. After reaching Pelling, you can not do local sightseeing on the same day, and reaching Darjeeling on the same day is impractical (which takes another 4.5 hours).
In Darjeeling going for Tiger Hill sunrise early in the morning and catching a train at 2:45am next day while doing sightseeing along the way would be very tiring and is actually quite impractical.
3-point tour in shared jeeps for Tiger hill sunrise, Batasia etc are return trips. You can book hotels on your own except for Lachung where you need to go through an operator for the package (you can mention which hotel you want though). There are also group packages available on per person rate, but they are return trips starting from and ending at Gangtok.
So I am afraid you need to rework your itinerary and possibly eliminate a few places. Good luck!
Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) March 2018
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Thank you for spending your valuable time to answer my queries in detail. Keeping your suggestion in my mind I have reworked my itinerary, decided to discard the Lachung trip not to make it tiring. Please check my revised itinerary:
10th May, Thu/G: Reaching NJP at 9.30 a.m. Night staying at Gangtok.
11th May, Fri/G: (after breakfast) Full-day city tour covering Tashi view point,hanuman tok, ganesh tok, Gangtok Zoo, Bakthang Falls, Enchey Monastry, Do- Dul Chorten,Institute of Tibetology,Flower show, Handicraft centre etc
12th May, Sat/G: Visit to Tsogmo lake,Baba mandir, Nathula Pass and back to Gangtok. Nightstay at Gangtok.
13th May, Mon/D: Gangtok to Darjeeling (Q. if possible, can I go en-route any place like Namchi/ Kalimpong/ any of your suggestion?). Roaming in mall area, shopping, dining. Nightstay at Darjeeling.
14th May, Tue/D: (early morning)Sunrise at Tiger hill, ghoom, Batasia Loop. (Afternoon), Half-Day Sightseeing covering Padwaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, Himalayan Mountaineering Institute , Tibetan Refugee Self-Help Center, Tea Estates, Peace Pagoda, Darjeeling Ropeway etc. Night-stay at Darjeeling.
15th May, Wed/NJP: Checking out hotel at Darjeeling and heading towards NJP station via Mirik, visiting Jorpokhri while returning.
16th May: Returning train at 2.45 a.m.(midnight) from NJP
Is it ok now? Please do reply!!!!!! Thank you again.
Ananya Biwas (March 2018)
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Now you have a nice itinerary. While taking transfer from Gangtok to Darjeeling, ask the driver to take you through Lamahatta ... a nice mountain village with a wonderful landscaped roadside garden on the hill slope with pine forest in the backdrop. You get great views of Kanchenjunga as well. You can spend half an hour here. Read about Lamahatta from my website menu option on 'Offbeat Stays'. You need to pay little more to the driver for the stoppage.
Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) March 2018
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Dear sir,
My name is Vignesh. I am planning my honeymoon from June 4 to 8.
I made 5 days itinerary. Kindly provide feedback.
My train is expected to reach on 7AM at NJP. I am planning to book toy train from NJP at 8.30AM till Darjeeling. Then I will take taxi to hotel from Darjeeling. Then rest at the hotel. Next day 3 point and mixed point tour in private taxi. Next day I plan to start early morning from Darjeeling for Tsomgo Lake and Baba Mandir in Taxi and return to Gangtok hotel. Next day to 10 point tour full day in Gangtok and return to hotel. Last day leaving to NJP by bus.
Regards
Vignesh (March 2018)
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It is unlikely that you can proceed to Tsomgo/Baba Mandir immediately on reaching Gangtok, because it takes a while in the morning half to get the permits. You need one more day for this.
Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) March 2018
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Hi sir,
Pleased to see your portal. Found it highly usefull. Planned a tour to Gangtok Sikkimn with wife and two kids aging 16 and 6 yrs. On the basis of your e-book/forum I have have planed the following itinerary.
2/4/18---- Shifting from Bagdogra to Gangtok-
3/4/18----- Local sight-seeing(12 point)- eve/night at MG Road
4/4/18----Changulake, Baba Mandir and Nathula- eve/night at MG Road
5/4/18-- Early morning to Namchi- local sights and stay at Namchi only.
6/4/18-- Early morning to Darjeeling/shifting at Hotel and local-sights.
7/4/18- Tiger Hill, ghoom and Batista. Local tour and Toy train ride.
8/4/18- Shifting to Bagdogra via Mirik halt.
My requests-
1). Is it correct or any suggestion from your side.
2). Any other option on 5th at Namchi. Can very easily any thing be clubbed or substituted wit Nanchi. I do not want rigorous travelling.
3). Transportation cost: I have been told 3000/-per day excluding Changu lake/ Mandir (4500/-) and if Nathula it will be 6500/- with permit). Is it advisable to opt this tour or hire locally after reaching there.
4). What type of clothing in Applicable 1st week. Heavy jackets or normal Woolens for Nathula.
Will be highly obliged if you can guide me on the above points.
Thanking You. Regards
Vinod Kumar Yadav (March 2018)
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Hello, your tour plan is quite good. While visiting Namchi from Gangtok, you can go via Temi Tea Garden (the only tea garden of Sikkim). This will take 30 minutes more than the shortest route of 2 hours 45 minutes. On 7th April, accommodating three trips on a single day may be hectic. Try to take the morning toy train ride so that you can take a local sightseeing tour in the afternoon... but do not visit Batasia again which is covered in most local package tours. You may be able to get slightly better rate for Tsomgo/Nathula etc if you book on reaching Gangtok. Tsomgo/Nathula will require heavy winter clothing, otherwise light woolens would be okay.
Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) March 2018
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Hi there, first of all thanks for such detailed information on Sikkim. It's very helpful. We are planning to visit Sikkim for 4-5 days in last week of April with 2 kids (4yr & 6 months) mainly to relax. Now, my questions are, will it be ok to go with small kids? I'm thinking of including Gangtok- pelling- darjeeling in itinerary. Will it be ok itinerary? Ideally, how many days needed for each place? Although days of vacation can be increased, but if I have to drop one place what it should be? Thanks in advance for your help.
Poonam (March 2018)
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Hi, there is no problem travelling with kids to these three places. You need 2-3 full days in Darjeeling and Gangtok. Suggest you drop Pelling if 4-5 days is all that you have.
Raj (darjeeling-tourism.com) March 2018
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