It is good to have an end of a journey but it is the journey that matters in the end…
SUGGESTED ITINERARIES
Visitors to Sikkim normally also include a visit to Darjeeling and Kalimpong in their itinerary. There are some who venture a step further and also include Bhutan in their programme. The Alternative I Itinerary has been tailormade for such tourists.
Alternative1 (Comprehensive 15 day Darjeeling, Sikkim Bhutan itinerary)
Day 1: Arrival at Darjeeling from Siliguri/Bagdogra after 3 hr road journey. If you opt to come via Mirik lake resort, it will take you 2 hrs more.
Day 2: Tiger Hill in the early morning (4am) by hired taxi, after breakfast visit places of interest in Darjeeling town which will take about 4 hrs, after lunch take the 3 pm toy train to Batasia and be back in town by 5 pm. Return to hotel after shopping souvenirs.
Day 3: Darjeeling to Kalimpong taking 2 hrs; Halt at Kalimpong for 3 hrs for sightseeing and lunch; Kalimpong to Gangtok taking 3 hrs. Contact local travel agent on arrival at Gangtok for permit to vist Nathula on Day 5
*Although Changu lake is open to tourists every day, visit to the Nathula pass is allowed for tourists only on Saturday, Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday. There is a quota on the number of tourists that can visit Nathula so during season time you may have a problem getting a permit at a very short notice. A Changu permit will also allow you to visit Baba Mandir and the Sherathang Trade Mart but not Nathula. A Nathula permit will allow you to visit all the places: Nathula, Changu, Sherathang, BabaMandir
Day 4: Local Sightseeing – 3 point morning tour; and 5 point day tour (See Places of Interest chapter for detail itinerary of these points)
Day 5: Changu Lake, Nathula and back by hired taxi
Day 6& 7: Yumthang, Phodong and Back by hired taxi
Day 8: Gangtok to Rabongla (Buddha Park) Tashiding Monastery, Yoksum, Kechopalri lake to Pelling (breathtaking waterfalls on the way)
Day 9: Visit Pemayanste Monastery, Changey waterfalls, Singshor Bridge, Hee Bermiok area, Sanga Choelling Monastery and back to Pelling
Day 10: Pelling to Legship Shiva Mandir, Hot Spring at Reshi, Jorethang, Namchi for Statue of Guru Padmasambva and Char Dham and proceed via Manpur to Siliguri by hired taxi
Day 11: Siliguri to Phunsoling
Day 12: Phunsoling to Paro
Day 13: Sightseeing at Paro and arrival at Thimphu in evening (add one day if you intend to visit Taksang Monastery, near Paro)
Day 14: Sightseeing at Thimphu
Day 15: Thimphu to Phunsoling and Siliguri
(If you are interested in water rafting on Tista river or paragliding at Gangtok add one more day to your itinerary)
Alternative II (for Trekkers)
Add days accordingly to your itinerary if you want to do the other treks indicated in the chapter on Trekking as follows
Panthang -Fambongla Sactuary-Sang -1 day
Yoksum Dzongri-Goechala and back -5 days
Lachen-Green Lake – Zemu Glacier and back -5days
Thangu-Lhasar Valley-Sebula-YumeySamdong -3 days
Rabongla-Maenam and back – 1 day
Damthang-Tendong and back- 1day
Namphu- Dechenphu Cave and back-2 days
Labdang-Laringnimphu Cave and back – 2 days
Uttrey-chiwabhanjang-HMI Base camp-Zongri-Yoksum -6 days
Does not include journey time to the trek start point
Alternative III(Buddhist Circuit)
Day 1: Enchey Monastery, Nor Gompa, Tsukllakhang Monastery, Guru Lhakang Monastery Chorten Tibetology
Day 2: Lingdum Monastery, Rumtek Monastery, Old Rumtek Monastery and back to Gangtok
Day 3: Gonjang Monastery (near Tashi View Point), Phodong Monastery, Labrang Monastery and back to Gangtok
Day 4: Gangtok to Phe Phu Holy Cave (Sajong),Rabongla (Buddha Park), Ralang Monastery and halt at Rabongla
Day 5: Rabongla to Bon Monastery (near Kwezing) Tashiding Monastery, Yoksum Norbugang and halt at Yoksum
Day 6: Dubdi Monastery (Yoksum), Kechopalri Lake, Pemayanste Monastery, Sanga Choling Monastery and halt at Pelling
Day 7: Pelling to Phurchachu Holy Cave at Reshi Hotspring, Statue of Guru Padmsambva and back to Siliguri or Gangtok
(You may also add treks to holy caves of Decehnphu and Lariningphu but this would entail an addition of 4 days to your itinerary)
Alternative IV (Sikkim Flora tour)
Recommended that this trek is done in the month of April when rhodendrons, Orchids and other flowers are in full bloom.
Day1: Flower Show in Gangtok
Day2&3: Gangtok to Pastanga to Khedi (Contact KEEP at Pastanga to organise your trek)
Day4: Damthang to Tendong
Day 5 to day 7: Gangtok to Singba Wildlife Sanctuary, Yumthang
(See chapter on Trekking for further details)
