Sikkim and Darjeeling itinerary for 7 days with family
A 7-day Sikkim and Darjeeling itinerary for families: 3 nights in Gangtok, 3 in Darjeeling, Tsomgo Lake, Tiger Hill at sunrise, permits, hotels and seasons.
AVR Travels · · 6 min read
This 7-day Sikkim and Darjeeling itinerary suits families, grandparents and couples who want two hill towns in one week. The route is Bagdogra, Gangtok and Darjeeling: three nights in each, with Tsomgo Lake, Tiger Hill at sunrise and a day in the villages of Takdah, Tinchuley and Lamahatta.
It is the plan behind our Darjeeling and Sikkim trip. Drives are 3 to 5 hours on the three transfer days, and the days in between are for sightseeing.
Best time to visit: October to December gives the clearest views of Kanchenjunga from Tiger Hill. March to May is the spring flush tea season, with mild weather. June to September is the monsoon, and the views are often clouded over.
Day by day
Day 01
Bagdogra to Gangtok
Arrive at Bagdogra, where our representative meets you. Drive to Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim, about 125 km and 4 to 5 hours through the hills. The evening is free. Overnight in Gangtok.
Day 02
Tsomgo Lake and Baba Mandir
An excursion to Tsomgo Lake at 12,400 ft, a glacial lake ringed by snow peaks, and New Baba Mandir at 13,100 ft, the shrine to Baba Harbhajan Singh. The permit needs two passport photos and a copy of a passport, driving licence or voter ID; Aadhaar and PAN are not accepted, and under-18s need a school ID. Back to Gangtok for the night.
Day 03
Gangtok sightseeing
A full day around Gangtok: Tashi View Point, Hanuman Tok, Ganesh Tok, Bakthang Falls, Do-Drul Chorten, the Research Institute of Tibetology, the Directorate of Handicrafts and Handloom, and Enchey Monastery. The Institute and the Directorate are closed on Sundays. Free time on MG Marg. Overnight in Gangtok.
Day 04
Gangtok to Darjeeling
Check out and drive to Darjeeling in West Bengal, about 115 km and 4 to 5 hours. The evening is free to walk the Mall and Chowrasta. Overnight in Darjeeling.
Day 05
Tiger Hill and Darjeeling
A 4am start for Tiger Hill, to watch the sun rise over Kanchenjunga, then Ghoom Monastery and Batasia Loop on the way back. After breakfast: Tenzing-Gombu Rock, the Tibetan Refugee Self-Help Centre, the Japanese Temple and Peace Pagoda, the zoo (closed on Thursdays) and Happy Valley Tea Estate. Evening on the Mall. Overnight in Darjeeling.
Day 06
Takdah, Tinchuley and Lamahatta
An early start for Takdah, 28 km from Darjeeling, and its orchid centre. Stop at Gumba Dara viewpoint for the Kanchenjunga range on the way to Tinchuley and its monastery, road conditions permitting. A nature walk and the gardens at Lamahatta, then back to Darjeeling for the night.
Day 07
Departure
A last breakfast with the hill views, then the drive to Bagdogra airport, about 100 km and 3 to 4 hours.
Where to stay
There is a Comfort and a Premium option in each town. These are the hotels in the plan, or similar on your dates.
- Gangtok, 3 nights: Ramada Gangtok (Comfort) or Mayfair Spa Resort & Casino (Premium)
- Darjeeling, 3 nights: Ramada by Wyndham Darjeeling (Comfort) or Glenburn Tea Estate (Premium)
Glenburn is a working tea estate bungalow and the heritage choice. If you are on the Comfort tier, you can still add a single night there.
Getting there
Fly to Bagdogra, the airport for both towns. Gangtok is about 125 km and 4 to 5 hours from the airport, and Darjeeling about 100 km and 3 to 4 hours back to it, so you fly in and out of the same airport without retracing your route. Flights to and from Bagdogra are not included.
A private vehicle (an Innova, Xylo or similar) stays with you for the whole trip, and all the permits the itinerary needs are included.
Budget
We price this trip for your dates and group rather than quoting one figure. The price covers 6 nights in Comfort or Premium hotels, breakfast and dinner daily, the private vehicle throughout, all permits, the transfers and sightseeing in the plan, and GST and applicable taxes.
Not included: flights to and from Bagdogra, lunches, tips for drivers and guides, travel insurance, in-room dining, minibar and alcoholic drinks.
Tips for travelling with kids and parents
- Carry the right ID for Tsomgo Lake: two passport-size photos and a copy of a passport, driving licence or voter ID for each adult, and a school or college ID for children under 18. Aadhaar and PAN are not accepted. Carry the originals too.
- Tsomgo Lake is at 12,400 ft and Baba Mandir at 13,100 ft. Anyone with heart or breathing conditions should check with their doctor before the trip.
- The Research Institute of Tibetology and the Handicrafts Directorate in Gangtok are closed on Sundays, and the Darjeeling zoo on Thursdays. We set the sightseeing days around this.
- Tiger Hill means a 4am start. Grandparents who would rather rest can skip the sunrise and begin Day 5 after breakfast.
- Pack warm layers for the early morning at Tiger Hill and the day at Tsomgo Lake.
How one family did it
A family of four travelled this route with us in May 2026, with three nights in Gangtok and three in Darjeeling. Their version differed in two places. The Tsomgo Lake day also went up to Nathu La, the pass on the border at 14,140 ft, and it was placed on a Saturday, a day the pass was open, with the permits prepared in advance. And the drive from Gangtok to Darjeeling went via Kalimpong, with stops at Deolo Hill, Durpin Monastery and the flower and cactus nurseries.
One private Innova and the same driver covered all seven days, and the driver had a written briefing on the route and daily timings. We requested valley-view rooms in Gangtok and interconnecting rooms in Darjeeling, and told the family in advance which Gangtok sights would be closed on the Sunday. The full day-by-day is on the Sikkim and Darjeeling family trip page.
How to change it
- Add Nathu La to the Tsomgo Lake day, as that family did, on a day the pass is open.
- Go via Kalimpong on the Gangtok to Darjeeling drive.
- Ride the Darjeeling toy train. The joy-ride on the UNESCO-listed Darjeeling Himalayan Railway runs to Ghoom and back via Batasia Loop in about two hours.
- Spend a night at Glenburn Tea Estate.
- Less time on the road: a helicopter transfer is one of the upgrades we can arrange in Sikkim.
If you want more of Sikkim, our Sikkim trip covers Gangtok and Pelling. For this route, send us your dates and who is travelling from the Darjeeling and Sikkim trip page and we will reply on WhatsApp.
Questions families ask
Is 7 days enough for Sikkim and Darjeeling?
Yes, for Gangtok and Darjeeling. Seven days gives three nights in each, with Tsomgo Lake, Gangtok's monasteries and viewpoints, Tiger Hill at sunrise and a village day around Takdah. Adding Pelling needs more days.
What is the best time to visit Sikkim and Darjeeling?
October to December for the clearest Kanchenjunga views from Tiger Hill, or March to May for the spring flush tea season and mild weather. June to September is the monsoon, when views are often clouded over.
What documents do we need for Tsomgo Lake?
Two passport-size photos and a copy of a passport, driving licence or voter ID. Aadhaar and PAN are not accepted. Children under 18 need a school or college ID. Carry the originals.
Is this trip suitable for senior citizens?
Yes, with care. All the sightseeing is by private car, and the Tiger Hill sunrise can be skipped. Tsomgo Lake is at 12,400 ft and Baba Mandir at 13,100 ft, so anyone with heart or breathing conditions should check with their doctor first.
How far is Gangtok from Bagdogra?
Gangtok is about 125 km and 4 to 5 hours from Bagdogra. Darjeeling is about 100 km and 3 to 4 hours back to the airport.
Which days should we avoid?
The Research Institute of Tibetology and the Handicrafts Directorate in Gangtok are closed on Sundays, and the Darjeeling zoo is closed on Thursdays. We plan the sightseeing days around this.
