Darjeeling Gangtok Itinerary help

fundoo_ustad

Hi Friends,

Namaste, Hi to all. I am planning a visit to Darjeeling/Gangtok from 26th Sep to 4th Oct. After doing a lot of research on the net i have come up with the following Itinerary.


26th Sep - Reach Bagdogra at 2:30 PM from Delhi. Take a shared Taxi and reach Darjeeling at 7:00 PM. Tie up with Tour Operator so that Tiger Hills can be visited on Sunday. Stay overnight in Hotel.(Should the hotel be prebooked?

27th Sep - Early Morning Sunrise Tour to Tiger Hill at 4 am and on return visit Ghoom Monastery, Batasia Loop.Breakfast. Darjeeling Seven points sight seeing from 8.30 am to 12.30 am,includes-HMI,Himalayan Zoo, Tea Garden,Tibetan Refugee Centre. Return to Hotel,Lunch. Afternoon roam to Mall road ,Rope way(first passenger rope way system in India an d perhapsthe longest in Asia, which take approximately 45 minutes.),Tanzing and Gombu Rock.Overnight at Hotel.

28th Sep - Leave early for Kalimpong. At Kalimpong visit Mangal Dham, Deolo Hill,Durpin Dara, Dr.Graham’s Home & Flower Nurseries. Overnight stay at kalimpong.

29th Sep - Early Departure to Gangtok.On way stop at Mirik. Reach Gangtok. Submit form for clearance to Army so as to visit Nathula Pass. Find Tour Operator to fix North Sikkim Tour (2N3D tour.Should this be pre-booked?). Tour around Gangtok including Rumtek Monastery, Flower show, Hanuman Tok, Institute of Tibetology, Tashiview Point, Chorten Stupa, Gangtok Ropeway. Overnight stay in Gangtok Hotel.

30th Sep - After breakfast reach the stand around 10AM, wait for your pass for 1 hour and start around 11 AM. (Keep photo identity with you along with 4 passport size photos). Lunch at Managn and reach Lachen around 7.30PM. Lachen becomes very cold in night, so keep warm clothes.

1st Sep - Start early morning, breakfast at thango, reach Gurudongmar Lake around 11.30AM, come back to Lachen around 3.30 PM, have lunch then move to Lachung via Chunthang, you'll reach Lachung around 8PM.

2nd Oct - Have breakfast at Lachung, then go to Yumthang Valley. Come back to Lachen, have lunch and start journey back to Gangtok. Reach gangtok around 8PM, overnight stay at hotel.

3rd Oct - Day trip to Tsongo Lake, Babamandir and Nathula Pass.

4th Oct - Early Morning Leave for Bagdogra. Catch flight back to Delhi.


Here are few of my queries: -
1. Is the itinerary feasible? If you have any suggestion please let me know. One thing more. I am going with my wife so if you think that on any particular day the Journey is going to be hectic please let me know. As such there is no problem in having an hectic day but it is always good to know it beforehand

2. This season the monsoons in India are running behind schedule. So how will be the weather in Darjeeling and Gangtok. Since i have planned for North Sikkim Trip also how will the weather be there?

3. I am traveling on Budget. I have spent a lot on booking flights so i have to cut short on my hotel budget. Do you think i would get good deals if i reach the destination and then search for Hotels or if this is to be tourist season, would it be better to pre-book?

4. As seen i am planning for 2N3D North Sikkim Trip. Is it better to go there and find a Tour Operator and Negotiate with him or it would be better if i prebook the tour? If prebooking is better please provide me tour operator details.

Thanks in advance friends for your help.
Fundoo Ustad.

arupratan ghosh

Your planning is nice. But a bit hectic as u r doing lot of things at One time. I will suggest

a. If u go to Darjeeling, be there for One more day.Youu will get the desired rest before going to Gangtk & N Sikkim. in that case drom the overnight staying at Kalimpng. Coz, after darjeeling its best to go to Gangtok straight way.

b. This is Puja season.. so there will definite be huge pressure of tourists in these places (Darjeeing will be less populated, because of the recent Bandhs and political turmoil). So its really tough to tell how much negotiation u can have there regarding hotel booking..

c. You may Do Nathula + Baba mandir trip ahead of North Sikkim. For two reasons. firstly, North Sikkim is the Climax. So it should come at the end. Also, you may require 1/2 Days for making of north Sikkim Permit after reaching Gangtok.

D. always book the N.Skm trip after reaching gangtok from local tour Operators. Simply coz, it will be economical.