Highlights
- Hit the highlights of New Delhi, including icons like India Gate
- Enjoy tea tastings and pagoda visits in Darjeeling
- Visit some of the oldest Tibetan-Buddhist monasteries in India
- Witness the various sects of Tibetan Buddhism on display in northern India
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in New Delhi, Heritage Walk in Lodhi Garden | Delhi |
| Day 2 | Fly to Darjeeling, Optional Activities | Darjeeling |
| Day 3 | Darjeeling Sightseeing & Tea Tasting | Darjeeling |
| Day 4 | Visit Peace Pagoda & Tea Estate Tour | Darjeeling |
| Day 5 | Transfer to Pelling, Stop at Monasteries & Ruins | Pelling |
| Day 6 | Transfer to Yuksom, Visit Khecheopalri Lake & Dubdi Monastery | Yuksom |
| Day 7 | Transfer to Gangtok, Stop at Tashiding Monastery | Gangtok |
| Day 8 | Gangtok Sightseeing Tour | Gangtok |
| Day 9 | Day Trip to Phodong & Labrang Monasteries | Gangtok |
| Day 10 | Transfer to Kalimpong, Stop at Rumtek Monastery | Kalimpong |
| Day 11 | Kalimpong Sightseeing Tour | Kalimpong |
| Day 12 | Transfer to Bagdogra, Fly to Delhi | Delhi |
| Day 13 | Depart India |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in New Delhi, Heritage Walk in Lodhi Garden
Welcome to India! This adventure takes you through this massive country's spectacular north. It begins in New Delhi, India's capital and largest city. You couldn't ask for a better introduction to all things Indian, as this metropolis crackles with energy and is home to various historical landmarks known for their dazzling Indo-Islamic architecture.
A driver will pick you up at the hotel for the ride to your hotel. After settling in, you can stretch your legs after the long flight with a guided walk around Lodhi Garden, one of the city's most popular parks. This 90-acre (36 ha) green lung This beautiful garden contains the royal tomb of the 15th-century Sultan Mohammed Shah, as well as some smaller buildings and beautiful verandas dating back to the late Mughal period (17th-18th centuries).
After the relaxing stroll, join the locals for a cup of chai (sweet, strong, milky tea) at a tea shop in the center of the gardens. Fun fact: Delhi's iconic monument, India Gate, is a stone's throw from Lodhi.
Day 2: Fly to Darjeeling, Optional Activities
Rise and shine! This morning, you'll return to the airport for the two-hour flight north to Bagdogra. This town sits in the foothills of the Lesser Himalaya in the state of West Bengal. Bagdogra is one of the gateways to India's famed Darjeeling region, known for its lush tea plantations backed by snowy Himalayan peaks. Upon arrival at the airport, you'll meet a driver for the 3-4-hour scenic drive north to the town of Darjeeling, where your northern adventures begin.
One of the highlights of the drive is the Teesta River, whose emerald waters run alongside the road for much of the journey. The drive continues up into the hills, offering panoramic views of the lush green valleys and terraced tea gardens. You'll also pass charming hillside villages inhabited by diverse communities, including the Gorkhas, Lepchas, and Tibetan refugees. These villages are known for their vibrant prayer flags, monasteries, and traditional homes, offering a glimpse into the region's rich heritage.
As you enter Darjeeling, you'll pass historic tea estates, many of which have opened their doors for tours. These plantations are not only scenic but also produce some of the world's finest tea varieties. The town was founded as a hill station by the British in 1835 and is filled with colonial-era architecture, colorful markets, and bustling streets lined with shops selling handicrafts, woolens, and local tea. After settling into your accommodation, you'll have the rest of the day to browse these shops and markets.
Day 3: Darjeeling Sightseeing & Tea Tasting
It's an early start as today's sightseeing tour begins before dawn with a transfer up to Tiger Hill Sunrise Point. As the sun rises above the mountains, you'll enjoy panoramic views of the Himalaya, including peaks like Kanchandzonga and Mount Everest, as they come alive in the morning morning light. Then, on your way back down, visit the Ghoom Monastery to see its large gilded statue of the Maitreya Buddha.
After breakfast at the hotel, the city tour continues with visits to the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Zoological Park, Tenzing Rock, and the Japanese Temple. You'll also enjoy the views at Observatory Hill, once home to the oldest monastery in Darjeeling. (The building was moved in the late 1800s.) After a 15-minute uphill walk, you'll reach the top to scope out the views and can spend then spend time browsing the local market.
Later in the afternoon, discover Darjeeling's most famous export on a tea tasting. This two-hour experience takes place at a tea boutique in town. Here, you'll stroll the shop's hillside gardens and witness the production process, from harvesting to withering the leaves. You'll also sample the different varietals of Darjeeling teas, known for their complex flavor profiles ranging from light and floral to fruity and robust.Day 4: Visit Peace Pagoda & Tea Estate Tour
Continue exploring the highlights around Darjeeling today on a tour. One highlight you'll visit is the Peace Pagoda, located about an hour outside town via train. Situated on the slopes of Jalapahar Hill, this pagoda was founded by a Japanese Buddhist monk and inaugurated in 1992. It was designed as a monument to world peace and to offer a sanctuary for people of all races and creeds to support this goal.
After the pagoda, you'll visit a historic tea estate and factory for a two-hour tour. The Makaibari estate is located in Darjeeling's beautiful Kurseong Valley and has been run by the same family for four generations. While here, you'll learn about the tea production process from field to cup, then cap the outing with a tasting. Later, you'll return to town and your hotel.
Day 5: Transfer to Pelling, Stop at Monasteries & Ruins
This morning, you'll meet your driver and leave Darjeeling and West Bengal on a ride north through the Rangeet River Valley to Pelling. This small town is located in Sikkim, at the foothills of Mount Khangchendzonga, in a region famous for its mountain-biking destinations and historic monasteries.
Speaking of which, the drive to Pelling takes around three hours, and on the way, you'll stop at such monasteries for tours and to enjoy the views. One highlight is Pemayangste. Dating to 1705, this is one of the oldest monasteries in the state and offers excellent Himalayan views. Nearby are the ruins of Rubdentse, a capital city of the Sikkim Kingdom that was destroyed in the early 19th century. Today, these ruins are part of a popular Buddhist pilgrimage route.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 6: Transfer to Yuksom, Visit Khecheopalri Lake & Dubdi Monastery
The road trip continues this morning with a 1.5-hour ride from Pelling to the historic mountain town of Yuksom. On the way, you'll stop at the glassy waters of Khecheopalri Lake, considered sacred by Buddhists and Hindus. Fringed by forests, it's believed that even the birds prevent a single leaf from falling into the water.
Continue to Dubdi Monastery (which translates to "the retreat"). Founded in 1701, this is one of the oldest monasteries in Sikkim. It's an hour's walk up the hill to the monastery through forests with mountain views. Birders will love this walk, as there are opportunities to spot colorful species like the Himalayan Cutia, Tibetin serin, red-headed trogon, and many more.
Later, you'll arrive in Yuksom, and after checking into your hotel, you can explore the highlights. One can't-miss locale is Norbugang Park. This historic woodland garden contains a stupa built following the crowning of Sikkim's first Chogyal (monarch) in 1642.
Day 7: Transfer to Gangtok, Stop at Tashiding Monastery
Day 8: Gangtok Sightseeing Tour
Give the road a break as you take the day to see the highlights of Gangtok on a guided tour. It begins at the Enchey Monastery, also known as the Solitary Temple. It's an important seat of the Nyingma order, the oldest of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism. When it was initially built over 200 years ago, no other construction was allowed near it. The site was blessed by Lama Druptob Karpo, a tantric master known for his flying powers, and every year, a chaam (masked religious dance) is performed with great fanfare for over two days.
Continue to the city's corner towers, colorful murals, and the Namgyal Institute, a Tibetan museum. The main hall houses a priceless collection of Tibetan/Buddhist iconography and artifacts, ranging from thangkas (cloth paintings), coins, and amulets to tantric skull-cap bowls and trumpets made from human thigh bones. Buddhist statuary includes an eight-armed bronze image of victory goddess Namgyalama, who appears to be texting on an invisible phone.
On your way back to Gangtok, stop at the Handloom and Handicrafts Center to browse traditional handicrafts, handloom carpets, and more. If there's time left in the day, and you'd like a thrill, you can opt for a paragliding adventure to enjoy a bird's-eye view of Gangtok and the surrounding mountains.
Day 9: Day Trip to Phodong & Labrang Monasteries
Spend the day visiting some of the highlight monasteries around Gangtok. First up is 18th-century Phodong, one of the six most important Buddhist monasteries in Sikkim. It's affiliated with the Kargyupa sect (Karmapa) of Buddhism and sits at 4,500 feet (1,372 m). The next stop is at the nearby Labrang. Founded in 1826, this monastery's large stretch of land makes it ideal for mass congregations. At the end of the day, you'll return to Gangtok and your hotel.
Day 10: Transfer to Kalimpong, Stop at Rumtek Monastery
This morning, leave Gangtok on a two-hour drive south back into West Bengal and the mountain town of Kalimpong. There will be a stop on the way to tour Rumtek. One of the most impressive monasteries of the tour, Rumtek dates to the mid-18th century and is the seat of the Karmapa Lama, the third highest monk in Tibetan Buddhism. The beautiful structure enshrines a golden stupa, which contains statues and paintings dating to the 16th Karmapa, along with religious art objects and some fine religious scriptures.
Later, you'll arrive in Kalimpong. This picturesque hill station was originally part of the Sikkimese and later Bhutanese kingdoms and was annexed by the British in the 19th century. After checking into your hotel, you'll visit one such icon of the British colonial period: Crookety House.
This bungalow was initially built in the English cottage style by wool traders in the 18th century. In the mid-19th century, it gained prominence as the residence of Helena Roerich, a noted Russian theosophist, writer, and philosopher. Today, this landmark is a place of pilgrimage for those interested in theosophy and the Roerich family's contributions to spiritual and philosophical thought.
Day 11: Kalimpong Sightseeing Tour
Next up is Thongsa Gumpa, the oldest monastery in Kalimpong. It's of Bhutanese origin and was built in 1692, though the original structure was destroyed in the inter-clan wars before the British arrived. The tour culminates at MacFarlane Memorial Church, an imposing 19th-century Gothic edifice looming over Kalimpong. The evening is yours to enjoy dinner in town and browse the local markets.
Day 12: Transfer to Bagdogra, Fly to Delhi
Rise early and meet your driver for the 3.5-hour drive south back to Bagdogra. It's a scenic drive during which you'll relish some final views of the green valleys surrounded by Himalayan foothills. At the airport in Bagdogra, you'll board a two-hour flight back to New Delhi. A driver will be waiting at the terminal to take you to your hotel, after which you'll have one more evening to enjoy Delhi.
Day 13: Depart India
You've explored some of the most beautiful and mystical parts of India, now it's time to pack up the memories and head home. Sip chai as you enjoy one more leisurely breakfast before transferring back to the airport, where your departing flight awaits. Safe travels!
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