Sikkim, Darjeeling with Nepal Tour is a comprehensive holiday package that not only encapsulates the charisma of Sikkim and Darjeeling- the two splendid hill stations in the Indian state of West Bengal, but also unfolds the grandeur of the historical, cultural and natural wonders of Nepal- another serene Himalayan terra firma. This luxury trip offers you the opportunity to take a comfy cruise along the best known attractions of Sikkim and Darjeeling. Well, if that is not enough, you also get to explore the three awesome cities of Nepal, viz. Kathmandu, Chitwan and Pokhara. To be honest, the roads do get bouncy, narrow and curvy, but there is nothing much to worry, when you are inside a luxury car, driven by one of the most experienced roadies. If you are a short vacationer type and are narrowing down your eyebrows at the length of this trip, all we want to say is, getting acquainted to the three Himalayan paradises of Asia viz. Nepal, Sikkim and Darjeeling in just a fortnight, is not a big ask at all, in terms of days!!
So what’s the catch about this trip? First would be an informative and enticing sightseeing in Kathmandu valley after which you will fly to the easternmost corner of Nepal, a small town called Bhadrapur, located near the Indian border. From Bhadrapur, your comfy drive begins, which takes you to Darjeeling, also known as the “queen of hills”. The fresh air of the hills keeps us pumped up all day as we go about visiting some of the best attractions here like- the Tiger Hills, the lush tea garden, zoological park and a tidy market place. We drive further to Gangtok, the prudent, prosperous and peaceful capital of Sikkim, poised under the canopy of the mighty Kanchenjunga (8586m). The Tashi View Point, Namgyal Research Institute of Tibetology, Rumtek Monastery etc. are some of the sites we explore in Gangtok. The drive and the subsequent exploration of sites continue, this time in Kalimpong. Here, we visit several monasteries like- Tharpa Choling, Fo-brang etc. and also stroll around the local market place. We then drive back to Bhadrapur to board a flight to Kathmandu.
The fun is not yet over. The comfy drive resumes as we head to Chitwan for an array of entertaining jungle activities in the Chitwan National Park. Pokhara would be our next destination. We explore this fascinating tourist hotspot, admiring the chain of beautiful lakes like- Phewa, Rupa, Begnas etc. and also visit the very famous, Davis Falls. Thus, capturing the beautiful moments of the tour on our stills, we eventually drive back to Kathmandu. To make your last night Nepal memorable, Marron Treks will host a farewell dinner program, featuring a range of traditional Nepali cuisines and a live cultural show. With all said and done, we bet you are not still complaining about the length of the trip now, are you?
OUTLINE ITINERARY
Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu (1400m)
Day 02: Kathmandu city sightseeing (1400m)
Day 03: Flight from Kathmandu to Bhadrapur (91m/1hr) and drive from Bhadrapur to Darjeeling (2050m/4-5 hrs)
Day 04: Sightseeing in Darjeeling
Day 05: Drive from Darjeeling to Gangtok (1650m/4-5 hrs)
Day 06: Sightseeing in Gangtok
Day 07: Drive from Gangtok to Kalimpong (1250m/3hrs)
Day 08: Drive from Kalimpong to Bhadrapur (91m/4-5 hrs) and flight from Bhadrapur to Kathmandu
Day 09: Drive from Kathmandu to Chitwan(150m/4hrs); Trisuli River Rafting en route
Day 10: Full day jungle activities in Chitwan National Park
Day 11: Drive from Chitwan to Pokhara (830m/4 hrs)
Day 12: Early morning drive from Pokhara to Sarangkot (1600m/2.5 hrs); drive back to Pokhara followed by a half day city sightseeing
Day 13: Flight from Pokhara to Kathmandu
Day 14: Final departure
Important Snippets
The itinerary prescribed above is the standard template of the trip plan offered by Marron Treks which can be readily customized to match the guests’ preferences. However, the guests are expected to understand that the execution of the trip plan might be circumvented by an array of uncontrollable factors like bad weather, political turmoil, strikes, blockades and other unforeseen contingencies. Besides, the domestic flights in Nepal could be subjected to delays or cancellations owing to adverse weather conditions or technical glitches. It is worth mentioning that the flights cannot be operated in the condition where the visibility is less than 1600 meters. Under such abnormal circumstances, the trip plans might undergo slight or sharp alterations, taking into consideration, the best interest of the clients. Wherever the changes are made, Marron Treks cannot be held responsible for the consequences. Nevertheless, we shall endeavor our level best to make sure that the trip is carried out with respect to the original trip specifics.
Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu (1400m)
Upon arrival at the Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu, you will be received by a representative from Marron Treks and then transferred to your hotel. At the hotel, you will be greeted with welcome drinks. We then have a quick pre-trip meeting where you will be briefed on the necessary formalities and your trip itinerary. To avoid the jetlag, you can spend the remaining half of the day, resting. Or if lying flat is too unbecoming for you, stroll around the nearby places just to get the feel of what this city is like. Overnight at hotel in Kathmandu; breakfast included.
Day 02: Kathmandu city sightseeing (1400m)
This is the day that gives you the opportunity to get well versed to the city. After a succulent breakfast at your hotel, we will introduce you to our amiable and experienced city guide. Hop in to our transport vehicle and head for a drive piercing the heart of the Kathmandu valley. You will be visiting the most renowned historical and cultural landmarks of Kathmandu - like Pasupatinath Temple (The Most Revered Hindu Shrine), Swayambunath (The Monkey Temple) and Kathmandu (Basantapur) Durbar Square . All these sites are included in the UNESCO world heritage list. After this informative and enticing, tour, we drive back through the noisy and usually cluttered streets of Kathmandu to the serene premises of the hotel. Hope the tour lived up to your expectations. Overnight at hotel in Kathmandu; breakfast included.
Day 03: Flight from Kathmandu to Bhadrapur (91m/1 hr) and drive from Bhadrapur to Darjeeling (2050m/4-5 hrs)
After breakfast you will be driven to the domestic wing of Tribhuwan airport. You board a flight to Bhadrapur, which is a small city located near Nepal's eastern border with India. Within an hour you will find yourself at a very unsophisticated looking airport of Bhadrapur. A representative from Marron Treks will receive you who will accompany you throughout the tour in India. We drive on a private car to Kakarvitta, which is the last town before Nepal's eastern border with India. We have to wait here for sometime until a custom and immigration formalities are sorted out. Crossing Kakarvitta, we immediately enter the Indian state of West Bengal. Our drive continues to Siliguri, a busy Indian town, where we possibly halt for lunch. The post lunch drive commences towards Darjeeling, a beautiful British designed hill station cum school town of India. The road to Darjeeling comprises of treacherous hair-pin curves. As you glance out of the car's window you can see the snaky tracks below which you just traversed. In about 5-6 hours you will reach Darjeeling. One can clearly feel the chilly winds hitting the ribs hard. We have an extra day at Darjeeling tomorrow, so we can get ourselves well rested and take a sound sleep. Overnight at hotel in Darjeeling; breakfast included.
Day 04: Sightseeing in Darjeeling
On the chilly morning at Darjeeling, we wake up only to be greeted with a steamy cup of coffee/tea. We then freshen ourselves and have our breakfast. The sightseeing then begins with a drive along the narrow and curvy roads of this splendid hill-town. Darjeeling has many popular sites worth visiting. Our sightseeing covers most of the famed spots herein, viz. Tiger Hill (it offers a spectacular mountain and sunrise views) Ghoom Monastery (Yiga-Choling), statue of Maitreya (future Buddha). The post lunch sightseeing includes the visits to the Tibetan Refugee Self Help Centre, Tea Garden, Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park and local marketplace. We will also have an opportunity to take a ride in the famous Toy Train (subject to operation) up to Ghoom. Overnight at hotel in Darjeeling; breakfast included.
Day 05: Drive from Darjeeling to Gangtok (1650m/4-5 hrs)
After breakfast we bid farewell to the "queen of hills" and get our wheels going along the familiar twist and turns until we arrive at another stunning hilly paradise, Gangtok, which also happens to be the capital of Sikkim state. The long drive has perhaps made us a little fatigued, so its better if we check in to our hotel and rest. We have a busy day tomorrow, packed with plenty of entertaining activities. Overnight at hotel in Gangtok; breakfast included.
Day 06: Sightseeing in Gangtok
We are at the capital of Sikkim state, so sightseeing should definitely be on the cards. After breakfast we drive to the Rumtek Monastery and Tibetology & Orchid Sanctuary. The post lunch tour comprises of a visit to Enchey Monastery, Cottage Industry, Tashiling, White Hall & Lal Market. Overnight at hotel in Gangtok; breakfast included.
Day 07: Drive from Gangtok to Kalimpong; half day sightseeing in Kalimpong (1250m/3hrs)
After early breakfast, we drive to Kalimpong. Upon arrival we check in to our hotel and freshen ourselves. The half day sightseeing begins after lunch. The attractions for the day are Durpin Dara, Tharpa Choling Monastery, Zong Dog Palri, Fo-brang Monastery, Nursery & local market. Kalimpong is also well known for its British styled schools. Most of children from the eastern region of Nepal are brought here by their parents for schooling. We can take a sneak peek on some of such schools here. Overnight at hotel in Kalimpong; breakfast included.
Day 08: Drive from Kalimpong to Bhadrapur (91m/4-5 hrs) and flight from Bhadrapur to Kathmandu
Its time now we say good bye to this lovely hill station. After an early breakfast we drive back to Bhadrapur airport. Its actually a long drive along the narrow and curvy roads for about 4-5 hours. We then board on a flight back to Kathmandu. Upon arrival, you will be received by a representative from Marron Treks and transferred to your hotel. The remaining time is on your own. You would probably want to do some souvenir shopping at Thamel. In the evening, Marron Treks will host a farewell dinner party featuring a range of mouth watering Nepali cuisines, followed by a live cultural program. Overnight at hotel in Kathmandu; breakfast included.
Day 09: Drive from Kathmandu to Chitwan(150m/4hrs); Trisuli River Rafting en route
After an early morning breakfast we drive out of Kathmandu towards our rafting spot. Relishing this adventure sport on the swift waters of Trishuli for sometime, we resume our drive to Chitwan which takes about 2 hours from here. We have an adventure packed day at Chitwan tomorrow, so the remaining time today can be spent resting.Overnight at hotel in Chitwan on full board (breakfast, lunch and dinner) basis with jungle activities.
Day 10: Full day jungle activities in Chitwan National Park
The day is entirely dedicated to an array of jungle activities that include:
Overnight at hotel in Chitwan on full board (breakfast, lunch and dinner) basis with jungle activities.
Day 11: Drive from Chitwan to Pokhara (830m/4 hrs)
A profound indulgence in the dense and lively jungle of Chitwan yesterday perhaps got us real intimate with the wild side of Nepal. Its now time to once again evoke that city-persona within us. So, after breakfast, we head on for a drive to Pokhara, the most famed tourist hot spot of Nepal. The stunning mountains and the lush green valleys that you witness on the way, inching closer to Pokhara, gives you the sense of how blessed this city is. Upon arrival, we check in to our hotel and relax for sometime. In the evening, we can stroll around, watching the funky crowd. The youngsters here seem to be really fashionable and bubbly. Pokhara is literally flooded with international tourists all the year round, so the people here are actually very well accustomed to dealing with them. You won't find anybody being shy or uncomfortable talking to the tourist. So, you can have some good chit-chat with the local people here. We have an extra day at Pokhara tomorrow, so, this evening let's not stick to our routine and do whatever pleases us. Overnight at hotel in Pokhara; breakfast included.
Day 12: Early morning drive from Pokhara to Sarangkot (1600m/2.5 hrs); drive back to Pokhara followed by a half day city sightseeing
We enjoy our breakfast simultaneously relishing the view of the fascinating milieu. Before we explore Pokhara any further, a quick visit to another absolutely picturesque hill station nearby should be worth taking. We drive to Sarangkot which takes us about 2.5 hours. Sarangkot is boisterously perched on a mountainside ridge at an altitude of 1600 meters. This emerging tourist destination offers stunning views of Dhaulagiri range in the far west as well as an incredibly close up view of the Annapurna massif. The village overlooks the fascinating lake city, Pokhara to the south. We can have our lunch in one of the resorts here. There is also a paragliding service available from Sarangkot to Pokhara. (Please let us know if you want to glide all the way to Pokhara instead of the regular monotonous drive).
We drive back to Pokhara and then begin the sightseeing tour of this wonderful lake city. We cruise around visiting the major tourist attractions here, viz. Phewa Lake, Rupa Lake, Begnas Lake, Barahi Temple and Davis Falls. If you are one of those party freaks and craving to get loud and crazy, you can try one of the funkiest pubs here. Enjoy your heart out but make sure to save yourself for a drive back to Kathmandu tomorrow. Overnight at a hotel in Pokhara, breakfast included.
Day 13: Flight from Pokhara to Kathmandu
We board the short scenic flight to Kathmandu, beholding the fascinating chain of mountains from the tiny closed glass windows of our aircraft. After about 25 minutes, we touch down the domestic wing of the Kathmandu airport. A representative from Marron Treks will receive and transfer you to your hotel. You have the whole lot of day remaining, so after freshening up yourselves, you can indulge in some souvenir shopping at Thamel, but make sure that you cling to hardcore bargaining, as if it is your religion! If you think, the fun is now over, you’ve just made a premature judgment, because Marron Treks has some great stuff in store for you this evening. Come and be a part of a lavish farewell dinner program; a full-fledged Nepali cuisines and an enticing cultural show…the night is all yours!!! Overnight at a hotel in Kathmandu; breakfast and dinner included.
Day 14: Final departure
A representative from Marron Treks will escort you to the airport. It is advisable to get there, three hours prior to the flight schedule. Goodbyes are not forever, goodbyes are not the end; they simply mean we’ll miss you, till we meet again! Hope you had a great time with us and we look forward to being you adventure companion to Nepal again.
Please be noted that trips can always be extended. You can extend your stay to try out some of our other adventurous packages like Bungy Jumping, Mountain Biking, Jungle Safari, White Water Rafting, Golfing & Paragliding etc. Please let us know about your desire for trip extension so that we can make the necessary arrangements for you.
Important Snippets
The itinerary prescribed above is the standard template of the trip plan offered by Marron Treks which can be readily customized to match the guests’ preferences. However, the guests are expected to understand that the execution of the trip plan might be circumvented by an array of uncontrollable factors like bad weather, political turmoil, strikes, blockades and other unforeseen contingencies. Besides, the domestic flights in Nepal could be subjected to delays or cancellations owing to adverse weather conditions or technical glitches. It is worth mentioning that the flights cannot be operated in the condition where the visibility is less than 1600 meters. Under such abnormal circumstances, the trip plans might undergo slight or sharp alterations, taking into consideration, the best interest of the clients. Wherever the changes are made, Marron Treks cannot be held responsible for the consequences. Nevertheless, we shall endeavor our level best to make sure that the trip is carried out with respect to the original trip specifics.
Accommodation
During Sikkim, Darjeeling with Nepal Tour we opt you accommodate in 3 star or 5 star hotels like Hotel Royal Singhi (3 star), Hotel Manaslu (3 star), Radisson (5 star), Yak & Yeti (5 star) or similar in Kathmandu City.
While you are on tours in Sikkim and Darjeeling, you will be accommodated in Hotel Dekeling or similar.
Meals
We arrange the best quality food for all members while Sikkim, Darjeeling with Nepal Tour. Basically we recommend you local community foods of Sikkim so that you could enjoy the culture, the way of living of local people around there.Other than that many kind of Continental, Chinese, Italian and Indian cuisine like Pizza, Spaghetti, French Fries, Soups, Breads etc are also available in most of the places based upon your requirement.
Best Months
In general speaking, March-May & October-December is the best months for Sikkim, Darjeeling with Nepal Tour.
Our Guides
The Guides play a very active role during the trip .Marron Treks has experienced and helpful treking guides who make your trip enjoyable as well as successful. To make our visitors journey fruitful, the team of MarronTreks has got number of guides who have good knowledge about the culture, language, location of Sikkim which would help our visitors to enjoy the full potential of the trail and communicate easily with the people along the trail.
Entry Formalities
Foreigners require an Inner Line Permit (ILP) in addition to normal Indian visa to enter Sikkim and can visit Gangtok, Rumtek, Phodang and Pemayangtse. No permit is required to enter & stay in Darjeeling & other parts of North Bengal including Kalimpomg.
All foreigners intending to visit Sikkim can avail of 15 days inner-line permit with a further 15 days extension available in Gangtok. Re-entry into Sikkim is not possible within 3 months of leaving Sikkim. Restricted area permit for individuals & groups for restricted areas i.e., Gangtok. Rumtek, Phodong, Pemagyantse can be obtained in advance from all Indian missions aboard, Sikkim tourism offices at Delhi, Calcutta, Siliguri & Gangtok, after furnishing requisite documents. A standard Permit allows one to visit Gangtok, Rumtek, Phodong and Pemagyantse. The permits are checked and the visas stamped while entering and leaving Sikkim.
Foreigners without a valid passport and permit are not allowed to enter Sikkim. The best and the easiest way to get the permit is when the individual/group is getting their Indian visa stamp on their passport. All they have to do is express their desire to visit Sikkim & the Indian missions abroad endorses the permit while granting the India visa.
Access
From Kathmandu, fly to Bhadrapur in the east Nepal (1 hour), then drive to Kakarbhitta (Nepal-India border, 34 km), to Siliguri (36 km) and to Gangtok (110 km, 3 hours 30 minutes). Gangtok is also connected by road with Darjeeling (5 hours) and Bhutan (7 hours). The closest Indian airport is at Bagdogra, 124 km from Gangtok, where scheduled flights operate from Kolkata, new Delhi and Guwahati. Taxis for Gangtok (4 hours) are available at the airport. Grand Sikkim Tourism development Corporation also operates daily helicopter flights from Bagdogra airport to Gangtok (20 minutes).The closest railway stations are Siliguri and New Jalpaiguri (121 km) which are connected to Kolkata,New delhi, Guwahati and other major Indian cities. Taxis and buses for Gangtok are available at Siliguri.
Travel Insurance
Before starting your journey with MarronTreks it is advised that you arrange your travel insurance before leaving your homeland. The main thing is to make sure your insurance covers you for both medical and evacuation costs. In some places it is not necessary but it would be better if you have the travel insurance with you all the time. That would make your trip safe and hassle free.
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Starting Price: USD XXXX (On request) on twin sharing accommodation basis.
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Cost Includes
Cost Excludes
Not Required...
Generally, the private tours do not have fixed departures. Please contact us directly and let us know about your preferred date for the trip. We will endeavor our best to ensure that your trip commences on the set date.