Your first full day in Sikkim begins after breakfast, with a city tour that covers both cultural and scenic landmarks. The morning starts with a drive toward Tashi View Point, where on a clear day, the Kanchenjunga range appears layered behind the eastern ridgelines. Just above it sits Ganesh Tok and Hanuman Tok — small temples perched on high curves with open views of Gangtok’s hill layout.

From there, you descend to Bakthang Waterfall, a quiet stop where the water drops right off the roadside. Later, you enter the cultural section of the day with a visit to the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, which houses rare manuscripts, thangkas, and artefacts tracing Tibetan Buddhism’s influence in the region.

After lunch, you stop at the Flower Exhibition Centre, a glasshouse filled with seasonal Himalayan blooms, followed by the Banjhakri Waterfalls—a landscaped park built around a natural cascade and traditional Sikkimese healing folklore.

If time permits, a cable car ride over Gangtok’s skyline offers a different view of the city. By early evening, you return to the hotel. You can either rest or head back to MG Marg for dinner or shopping. Overnight stay in Gangtok.

The North Sikkim segment begins early. After breakfast, you leave Gangtok behind and start ascending along the Teesta River’s upper course. The road narrows after Mangan, turning more rugged and winding. Waterfalls spill onto the road at several points—Seven Sisters and Naga Falls being the most photographed.

A lunch stop is arranged at a local eatery near Chungthang, after which the final stretch toward Lachen begins. The altitude begins to rise steadily as you enter alpine terrain. Lachen, located at 2,750 meters, is quiet and colder, often covered in low mist by evening.

You arrive by late afternoon and check in to a basic hotel or homestay. Mobile networks may be patchy, but most lodges provide hot meals and electric blankets. You’ll need both — Lachen nights can be cold even in April. Dinner and overnight stay in Lachen.

This is the most demanding day of the entire tour, and it begins well before sunrise. You leave Lachen around 4:00 AM, heading deeper into military zones and high-altitude terrain. The road climbs fast through Thangu Valley and Chopta Valley—both sitting above 4,000 meters—and the vegetation disappears completely.

By 8:00 or 8:30 AM, you arrive at Gurudongmar Lake, one of the highest freshwater lakes accessible by road in the world. At 5,430 meters, the air is dry and thin. The lake remains frozen during winter and partially thawed from late April to June. Oxygen is low, and visitors are advised not to stay longer than 25 to 30 minutes.

The descent to Lachen follows the same road, and you return by late morning for a warm brunch. After a brief rest, you begin the journey to Lachung. The road backtracks to Chungthang, where the Lachung Chu river forks eastward. The drive to Lachung from here takes about two hours.

Lachung is more populated than Lachen, with slightly better facilities. Set at around 2,600 meters, it offers a good balance of elevation and comfort. You check in by evening and rest for the night. Dinner is served at the homestay.

The day starts early again, around 6:30 AM. You drive north along the Lachung Chu, and within an hour, you arrive at Yumthang Valley. Known as the Valley of Flowers, the region transforms each season—from rhododendron fields in spring to snow-covered plains in winter.

A natural hot spring near the river is accessible by foot. It is simple and unmarked, but locals visit it for its sulphur-rich water believed to ease joint pain.

If roads are open and permits are available, the journey can continue to Zero Point, about 25 kilometers beyond Yumthang. Situated at 4,724 meters, this is the farthest civilians can travel in this sector, close to the Indo-Tibetan border. The landscape is stark and snow-bound for most of the year.

After returning to Lachung for lunch, you begin the return drive to Gangtok. The road retraces the previous day’s route, descending into more temperate forest and river valleys. You arrive in Gangtok by evening and check in. Overnight stay in Gangtok.

After breakfast, you check out and leave for Darjeeling. The drive begins with a descent from Gangtok toward Rangpo, where you exit Sikkim and re-enter West Bengal. The Teesta River stays in view through much of the journey, flowing steadily alongside you until you reach the plains near Kalimpong.

From there, the road curves upward again through Peshok and Lamahatta forests. This stretch is often foggy and lined with dense pine. By early afternoon, you enter Darjeeling—a hill town that still carries traces of its British-era layout.

After check-in, the rest of the day is at leisure. You may take a walk to the Mall Road, sip tea at one of the old cafés, or simply enjoy the view from your hotel balcony. The town is quieter at night, and colder than you might expect. Overnight stay in Darjeeling.

The day begins very early, around 4:00 AM, with a drive to Tiger Hill. If the skies are clear, you will witness one of the most iconic views in the Himalayas—first light striking the peak of Kanchenjunga while the town still sleeps below.

On the way back, you visit Ghoom Monastery, one of the oldest Tibetan monasteries in the area, and Batasia Loop, a war memorial built around a spiraling railway track that offers excellent views of the city.

After breakfast, you continue with local sightseeing. The Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, founded by Tenzing Norgay, gives insight into the region’s climbing legacy. Nearby, the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park is home to red pandas, snow leopards, and other high-altitude species.

Later visits include a walk through a working tea estate, a brief stop at the Japanese Temple and Peace Pagoda, and, if interested, a ride on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway’s Toy Train (subject to availability and ticket purchase).

You return to the hotel by evening. Overnight stay in Darjeeling.

After breakfast, your vehicle will be ready for the final drop to NJP Railway Station or Bagdogra Airport. The descent is smoother and quicker compared to earlier mountain roads. Depending on traffic, you arrive by midday or early afternoon.

This marks the end of the tour. What began with alpine drives in North Sikkim now closes with the slow hills and tea fields of Darjeeling — a complete circle through the Eastern Himalayas.