Sikkim & Darjeeling Tour Packages from Kolkata
An hour's flight to Bagdogra or a night on the Darjeeling Mail – then Kanchenjunga sunrises, Tsomgo Lake, the Yumthang valley and the toy train, planned around your Puja holidays.
For Bengali families, Darjeeling has been the default hill holiday for generations, and Sikkim is the natural next step once the children are old enough for a high-altitude lake. Kolkata is unusually well placed for both: an hour's flight lands you at Bagdogra, and overnight trains from Sealdah or the morning Vande Bharat from Howrah reach New Jalpaiguri, the railhead for the whole region. From there Darjeeling is about three hours by road and Gangtok four to five.
This page is for travellers starting from Kolkata. It explains what a combined Sikkim and Darjeeling trip costs at each hotel level, the flight, train and road choices with station names, how the Nathula, Tsomgo and North Sikkim permits work, three day-wise itineraries, the Puja-holiday rush and how to beat it, a month-by-month table, and practical notes on food and altitude. Your trip is planned by our team in Ahmedabad and booked over WhatsApp or phone; you do not need to visit an office. The packages listed here show live prices.
Updated October 2026 by the Vibrant Holidays team, Ahmedabad.
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Sikkim and Darjeeling package cost from Kolkata (2026)
Our Sikkim packages start at ₹17,999 per person today, and 24 are on sale. The ranges below are per person for two adults sharing a room, excluding the flight or train from Kolkata. They cover hotels with breakfast and dinner (all meals in Lachung), a private vehicle from Bagdogra or NJP and back, sightseeing as per itinerary, and the standard permits for Tsomgo Lake and North Sikkim.
| Nights and route | Standard (good 2–3-star hotels) | Deluxe (3-star superior / 4-star) | Premium (best available, including heritage and luxury) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 nights – Gangtok 3, Darjeeling 2 | ₹13,500 – 18,000 | ₹19,000 – 26,000 | ₹32,000 – 50,000 |
| 6 nights – Gangtok 3, Lachung 1, Darjeeling 2 | ₹17,500 – 23,000 | ₹24,000 – 32,000 | ₹40,000 – 60,000 |
| 7 nights – adds Pelling | ₹21,000 – 27,500 | ₹29,000 – 38,000 | ₹48,000 – 72,000 |
| 8 nights – Gangtok, Lachung, Pelling, Darjeeling at an easy pace | ₹24,000 – 31,500 | ₹33,000 – 44,000 | ₹55,000 – 85,000 |
Getting there from Kolkata, on top: a return flight to Bagdogra usually costs ₹7,000 – 13,000 per person booked a few weeks ahead, rising to ₹15,000 – 25,000 in Puja week and around Christmas. A 3AC berth to NJP costs a fraction of that, if you can get one.
Paid separately on the spot: the Nathula vehicle supplement and permit (roughly ₹3,000 – 5,000 extra per vehicle), the Zero Point extension beyond Yumthang (₹3,000 – 4,500 per vehicle, snow permitting), the Darjeeling toy train joy ride (about ₹1,000 – 1,800 per person, steam costs more than diesel), the Tiger Hill sunrise vehicle, Gangtok ropeway, yak rides at Tsomgo, hired boots and jackets for snow points (₹150 – 300 a set), monument and skywalk tickets in Pelling, lunches, and tips.
Why per-person prices vary so much: the vehicle is the biggest single cost, and it is the same whether two or six people ride in it. A family of four sharing one car pays noticeably less per head than a couple. Hotel location matters too – a Darjeeling room with a Kanchenjunga view, or a Gangtok hotel within walking distance of MG Marg, costs more than one 2 km away.
Getting to Sikkim and Darjeeling from Kolkata
By air: Kolkata (CCU) to Bagdogra (IXB)
- Many non-stop flights each day from Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, operated by IndiGo, Air India and others; the flight takes a little over an hour.
- Bagdogra is about 1 hour 15 minutes from NJP, 3 hours from Darjeeling, 4½–5 hours from Gangtok and 5–6 hours from Pelling. Take a morning flight so the drive up is done in daylight.
- Sikkim's own Pakyong airport has had only intermittent service; we do not plan a trip around it unless a flight is actually operating on your dates.
By train: Kolkata to New Jalpaiguri (NJP)
| Train | From | Timing (approximate) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vande Bharat Express | Howrah | Leaves about 5.55 am, reaches NJP about 1.30 pm; does not run on Wednesdays | Day travel; reach Darjeeling by evening |
| Darjeeling Mail | Sealdah | Leaves late evening, reaches NJP early morning | The classic overnight – full first day in the hills |
| Padatik Express | Sealdah | Leaves late night, reaches NJP mid-morning | Work-day departure after office hours |
| Other overnight trains (Uttar Banga, Teesta Torsa, Saraighat and more) | Sealdah or Howrah | Varied | Back-ups when the above are full |
Reservations open 60 days in advance. For Puja week, tickets on the Darjeeling Mail and Padatik often go within minutes of opening, so set an alarm for the opening day or plan on flying one way. Tatkal is a gamble in October.
By road
Kolkata to Siliguri is about 560–600 km via NH12 and Farakka, 11–13 hours of driving. Overnight Volvo and government buses leave from Esplanade. Families rarely choose road for the full trip, but it works for those who want their own car the whole way.
Inside the hills
Sightseeing within Sikkim must be done in Sikkim-registered vehicles, and permit areas such as Tsomgo, Nathula and Lachung need locally permitted drivers. A typical package therefore uses one car from Bagdogra or NJP to Gangtok and the Sikkim circuit, and another for Darjeeling. We arrange both and give you each driver's number in advance. Drive times: Gangtok–Lachung 6–7 hours, Gangtok–Pelling about 5 hours, Pelling–Darjeeling 4–5 hours via Jorethang, Darjeeling–Gangtok about 4 hours. NH10 along the Teesta is closed by landslides at times in the monsoon; drivers then take the longer route via Kalimpong or Lava.
Nathula, Tsomgo and North Sikkim permits explained
- Who issues them: protected-area permits for East and North Sikkim are issued by the Sikkim government only through registered tour operators and drivers – individuals cannot apply alone. We apply through our Gangtok partner.
- What we need: a photo ID (Aadhaar, voter ID, passport or driving licence – not PAN) and two passport-size photographs for every traveller, children included. Send clear scans on WhatsApp a week before travel and carry the originals.
- Tsomgo Lake and Baba Mandir: permit applied the day before; open most days, weather permitting.
- Nathula Pass (14,140 ft): open only to Indian nationals and closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Quotas are limited, so on Puja and Christmas dates we cannot guarantee a slot. If Nathula is unavailable, Tsomgo and Baba Mandir still go ahead.
- Lachung and Yumthang: permit issued in Gangtok, usually a day ahead; the trip leaves Gangtok around 11 am. North Sikkim closes during heavy rain and landslides – it was shut for several months in 2025 before reopening that September – so we check status at the time of booking and again a week before.
- Lachen and Gurudongmar Lake: access has been interrupted repeatedly since the 2023 Teesta flood. We offer it only when permits are actually being issued.
- Foreign nationals: need an Inner Line Permit for Sikkim and cannot visit Nathula; tell us early if any traveller holds a foreign passport, including OCI cardholders.
Altitude note: Tsomgo is at about 12,300 ft and Nathula above 14,000 ft. Travellers with heart or lung conditions, high blood pressure, pregnancy or infants under about two should consult a doctor; we can plan a lower alternative such as Rumtek and Banjhakri Falls for those who stay back.
Three itineraries from Kolkata
5 nights / 6 days – Darjeeling and Gangtok by train
- Day 1: Darjeeling Mail from Sealdah the night before; arrive NJP in the morning, drive to Darjeeling (3 hours) via Kurseong. Evening on the Mall and Chowrasta.
- Day 2: Tiger Hill sunrise over Kanchenjunga (leave around 4 am), Ghoom Monastery, Batasia Loop. After breakfast, Himalayan Mountaineering Institute and the zoo (closed Thursdays), Peace Pagoda, Happy Valley tea garden. Toy train joy ride in the afternoon.
- Day 3: Drive to Gangtok (4 hours) by way of the Lamahatta or Teesta viewpoints; MG Marg in the evening.
- Day 4: Tsomgo Lake and Baba Mandir; Nathula if permitted (not Monday or Tuesday).
- Day 5: Gangtok: Rumtek Monastery, Enchey Monastery, Ganesh Tok, Hanuman Tok, Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, ropeway.
- Day 6: Drive to NJP for the Vande Bharat or an overnight train home.
6 nights / 7 days – Sikkim with Lachung, flying from Kolkata
- Day 1: Morning flight to Bagdogra; drive to Gangtok and rest.
- Day 2: Tsomgo Lake, Baba Mandir and Nathula if open.
- Day 3: Drive to Lachung via Seven Sisters Falls and Chungthang; basic but warm guesthouse, dinner included.
- Day 4: Early drive to Yumthang Valley (rhododendrons in April–May, snow in winter); Zero Point optional. Return to Gangtok by evening.
- Day 5: Drive to Darjeeling.
- Day 6: Tiger Hill, Batasia, toy train, tea estate.
- Day 7: Drive to Bagdogra for the afternoon flight home.
8 nights / 9 days – complete circuit at a senior-friendly pace
- Days 1–3: Fly to Bagdogra; Gangtok two nights with Tsomgo and local sights, one easy day.
- Days 4–5: Lachung and Yumthang (skip Zero Point for seniors); back to Gangtok.
- Days 6–7: Pelling: Pemayangtse Monastery, Rabdentse ruins, Chenrezig statue and skywalk, Khecheopalri Lake, Kanchenjunga Falls; sunrise view of the range from the hotel.
- Days 8–9: Darjeeling one night with Tiger Hill, then NJP or Bagdogra for the trip home.
Bengali joint families and para friends who holiday together travel as a private group on their own dates, in a Tempo Traveller or two or three SUVs, with hotels chosen to keep everyone in one building.
Planning around Kolkata's Puja holidays
For many Kolkata households the hills trip happens right after Durga Puja: offices close from around Shashthi to Lakshmi Puja, schools take a longer break, and the monsoon has just withdrawn from the Himalaya. In 2026 Vijaya Dashami falls on 20 October and Kali Puja and Diwali follow in early November. Clear skies and first views of Kanchenjunga make this the most demanded fortnight of the year.
- Book early: Darjeeling and Gangtok hotels for the week after Dashami fill by July–August. Train tickets open 60 days ahead; Bagdogra fares climb steadily from August.
- Go a few days later: leaving three or four days after Dashami avoids the peak exodus from Sealdah and gives clearer weather.
- Reverse the route: when Darjeeling is packed, start with Pelling or Lachung and end in Darjeeling – or swap Darjeeling for Kalimpong.
- Other windows: Christmas–New Year for snow at Tsomgo; Poila Baisakh and the West Bengal summer vacation (May) for rhododendrons and an escape from the Kolkata heat.
| Month | Weather in the hills | Good for | Demand from Kolkata |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Cold; snow at Tsomgo and Zero Point; Nathula may close after snowfall | Snow lovers, clear views | Medium |
| February | Cold, mostly clear; Losar celebrations | Couples, photographers | Low-medium |
| March | Warming; spring haze begins | Value trips, tea estates | Medium |
| April | Mild; rhododendrons in Yumthang start | Poila Baisakh long weekend | High |
| May | Pleasant days, cool nights | School summer vacation; flowers in North Sikkim | Very high |
| June | Monsoon begins; landslide risk | Only short Darjeeling trips | Medium |
| July–August | Heavy rain; North Sikkim often closed | Tea-garden stays, budget | Low |
| September | Rain easing, lush | Early-bird Puja trips | Medium |
| October | Clear, crisp; best Kanchenjunga views | Durga Puja holidays | Peak |
| November | Cold mornings, clear skies | Kali Puja and Diwali; honeymoons | High |
| December | Cold; first snow at higher points | Christmas, New Year | High |
Food, packing and tips for travellers from Kolkata
Eating in the hills
- Darjeeling: many hotels catering to Kolkata guests serve rice, dal, fish curry and alu posto on request. On the Mall, old bakeries and tea rooms are part of the ritual – breakfast with a view of the range.
- Gangtok: Bengali, North Indian and vegetarian restaurants around MG Marg and Lal Bazaar, alongside momos, thukpa and Sikkimese dishes. River fish is less common than in Bengal; chicken and pork dominate local menus.
- Lachung: fixed homestyle meals – rice, dal, vegetables and egg or chicken. Pure-vegetarian is easy; Jain food needs advance notice and stays simple.
- Pelling: hotel dining rooms with Indian, Chinese and Nepali menus.
- Vegetarian and Jain: pure-veg meals are available everywhere; Jain meals are possible in Gangtok and Darjeeling with notice and are confirmed in writing on your vouchers.
Packing and practical points
- Layers: even in October, Tsomgo and Lachung are close to freezing at night. Carry thermals, a down or fleece jacket, woollen caps and gloves, and sturdy shoes with grip. Boots and heavy jackets can be hired near the snow points.
- Motion sickness: hill roads wind for hours; take medicine before the drive and eat lightly.
- Altitude: drink plenty of water, avoid alcohol on the Tsomgo and Yumthang days, and descend if anyone gets a strong headache or breathlessness.
- Plastic: Sikkim restricts packaged drinking water bottles and single-use plastic in many areas; bring a refillable bottle.
- Cash and network: ATMs are reliable in Gangtok and Darjeeling but scarce in Lachung; mobile data drops out north of Mangan.
- Permit documents: keep photo IDs and photographs for every member, including children, in the hand bag, not the suitcase.
Why book Sikkim and Darjeeling with Vibrant Holidays
- A team in Ahmedabad, reachable from Kolkata: we have planned trips since 2014 from our C G Road office and handle Kolkata bookings entirely on WhatsApp and phone, Monday to Saturday; itineraries, vouchers and invoices come as PDFs.
- Permits handled through registered partners: we collect documents early and tell you honestly when Nathula or North Sikkim cannot be confirmed.
- Transport matched to your train or flight: NJP and Bagdogra pick-ups are timed to the Darjeeling Mail, Vande Bharat or your flight, with Sikkim and Darjeeling vehicles arranged separately as the rules require.
- Live prices: the packages above show today's price, and supplements for Nathula, Zero Point and the toy train are listed before you pay.
- 24×7 help on the road: a WhatsApp line answered throughout the trip, plus ground partners in Gangtok and Darjeeling for landslide re-routing. IATA-accredited; member of TAAI, TAFI, ADTOI and IATO; recognised by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.
See all North East and Sikkim packages, snow holidays, family packages and tour packages from Kolkata.
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Get a Free Quote WhatsApp 9089090790Sikkim & Darjeeling tour from Kolkata: FAQs
How much does a Sikkim & Darjeeling tour package from Kolkata cost?
Our Sikkim & Darjeeling packages currently start at ₹17,999 per person for 2 nights. Most of our Sikkim & Darjeeling packages fall between ₹32,499 and ₹45,000 per person. The final cost depends on the travel month, hotel category, number of travellers and whether flights from {$from} are added. Open any package below to see exactly what is included, or ask us for a quote with flights.
What is the best way to reach Sikkim and Darjeeling from Kolkata?
Fly to Bagdogra, which takes about an hour, or take a train to New Jalpaiguri. The overnight Darjeeling Mail or Padatik from Sealdah saves a hotel night, and the Vande Bharat from Howrah reaches NJP by early afternoon. From Bagdogra or NJP, Darjeeling is about three hours and Gangtok four to five by road.
How many days are needed for Sikkim and Darjeeling from Kolkata?
Five nights covers Gangtok with Tsomgo Lake and two nights in Darjeeling. Six nights adds Lachung and Yumthang, and seven or eight nights add Pelling at a comfortable pace. Add one night if you travel by overnight train each way.
Is Nathula open every day?
No. Nathula Pass is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, is open only to Indian nationals, and can close after heavy snow or for security reasons. Permits are issued only through registered operators the day before, with limited quotas, so a visit is never fully guaranteed.
Which documents are needed for Sikkim permits?
Every traveller, including children, needs a government photo ID such as Aadhaar, voter ID, passport or driving licence, plus two passport-size photographs. PAN cards are not accepted. Send scans a week before travel so permits for Tsomgo, Nathula and North Sikkim can be applied for on time.
When should we book for the Durga Puja holidays?
Book hotels by July or August for the week after Dashami, and book trains the day reservations open, 60 days before travel. Bagdogra fares rise sharply from August. Leaving a few days after Dashami or reversing the usual route helps when Darjeeling is full.
Is North Sikkim open now?
Lachung and Yumthang reopened in September 2025 after a long monsoon closure, but North Sikkim can shut at short notice after landslides, especially from June to September. Lachen and Gurudongmar have had repeated interruptions since 2023. We check the status when you book and again a week before departure.
Can we see snow in Sikkim in October or November?
Snow is not guaranteed in October. Fresh snow at Tsomgo, Nathula and Zero Point is most likely from December to March. In October and November you get the clearest Kanchenjunga views, and higher points may have patches of old snow.
Is the Darjeeling toy train worth it?
Yes, for most families. The joy ride runs from Darjeeling to Ghum and back in about two hours, with a stop at Batasia Loop, using either steam or diesel engines. The steam ride costs more and sells out in peak season, so we book it in advance.
Is Bengali food available in Darjeeling and Gangtok?
Yes. Many Darjeeling hotels serve rice, dal and fish curry for Bengali guests, and Gangtok has Bengali and vegetarian restaurants near MG Marg. In Lachung meals are simple fixed menus. Vegetarian and Jain requirements are confirmed in writing on the hotel vouchers.
Is Sikkim suitable for senior citizens from Kolkata?
Yes, with planning. Gangtok, Pelling and Darjeeling are comfortable, but Tsomgo and Nathula are above 12,000 ft and the North Sikkim drive is long. Seniors with heart or breathing conditions should consult a doctor; we offer lower-altitude alternatives and fewer long drives.
Can we drive our own car from Kolkata to Sikkim?
You can drive to Siliguri in about 11–13 hours and on to Darjeeling or Gangtok. However, permit areas such as Tsomgo, Nathula and Lachung must be visited in Sikkim-registered vehicles with local drivers, so most families use our arranged vehicles from NJP or Bagdogra.
