Darjeeling Gangtok Kochi to the Eastern Hills
Gangtok's monasteries and ropeway, the high road to Tsomgo Lake and Baba Mandir, and Darjeeling's Tiger Hill dawn with the tea gardens — one clean hill pairing.
Return flights, five nights on twin sharing, entry tickets at every monument, and Xylo/Innova/Scorpio vehicles throughout — with a Fortune tour manager on the group.
The Journey in One Look.
Six days and five nights, departing Kochi on set dates in the clear seasons. Return economy class flights between Kochi and Bagdogra are included, with meet and greet at the airports, and the hills are covered by Xylo, Innova or Scorpio class vehicles throughout. You spend three nights in Gangtok and two in Darjeeling, in well-appointed rooms on a twin sharing basis, with a tea and coffee maker replenished daily. Entry tickets at all monuments and places on the itinerary are included, along with breakfast, lunch and dinner on a standard fixed menu, a packed lunch on the high day, and one litre of drinking water per person per day. The optional Nathula Pass is available as a permit-dependent supplement, quoted on request. An experienced tour manager from Fortune Tours travels with the group. This is a domestic journey, with special permit ID rules set out under Documents.
Duration
6 Days, 5 Nights
Route
Gangtok · Darjeeling
Nights
3 Gangtok · 2 Darjeeling
Vehicles
Xylo / Innova / Scorpio
High Day
Tsomgo Lake & Baba Mandir
Flights
Return, Ex Kochi
Day by Day
The Gangtok circuit, the high day to Tsomgo and Baba Mandir, the ridge to Darjeeling, and Tiger Hill dawn.
Meet and greet on arrival at Bagdogra International Airport, then the four-hour climb to Gangtok. Check in, with the rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Gangtok. Meals: dinner.
After breakfast, the local sightseeing runs the capital end to end: the flower show as available, the Cottage Industry and Handicraft Centre, the Institute of Tibetology, the Do-drul Chorten, the Gonjang Monastery, Hanuman Tok and Ganesh Tok on their hilltops, and the Gangtok Ropeway above the town.
Overnight in Gangtok. Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.
After breakfast, the excursion climbs to Tsomgo Lake, 37 kilometres and about two hours from Gangtok at 12,400 feet, then a further 16 kilometres to the New Baba Mandir at 13,200 feet, with a packed or late lunch on the mountain and the evening return. Nathula Pass can be joined this day as a supplement when permits allow, per the rules under Terms. If landslide or weather closes the lake road, alternate sightseeing is provided.
Overnight in Gangtok. Meals: breakfast, packed lunch, dinner.
After breakfast, the ridge road crosses to Darjeeling in about three and a half hours, with the drop at the hotel on arrival.
Overnight in Darjeeling. Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.
The day opens at 4 AM with the drive to Tiger Hill for the sunrise, subject to the day's permit and token, and returns for breakfast. From 8.30, the full circuit runs: the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, the P.N. Zoological Park (closed Thursdays), Tenzing Rock, the Tibetan Refugee Self-Help Centre (closed Sundays), the tea gardens on outer view, and the Japanese Temple, with the evening free for the Mall and shopping.
Overnight in Darjeeling. Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.
After breakfast, check out for the four-hour descent to Bagdogra International Airport and the return flight, the hills folding away behind. The tour ends with sweet memories.
Tour ends. Meals: breakfast.
What's Included & What's Not
Documents
Documents, the Essentials
A domestic journey, but the Tsomgo and Baba Mandir permits have their own ID rules. Here is what to carry.
01
Photo ID for Flights
A valid government photo ID travels for the flights, as on any domestic tour.
02
Permit IDs
For the Tsomgo Lake and Baba Mandir permits: two passport-size photos and a Passport, Driving Licence or Voter ID with a photocopy, since PAN and Aadhaar cards are not accepted.
03
Carry Originals
Originals of the ID travel with you on the excursion day.
04
Children Under 18
Children below 18 carry a birth certificate, school ID or college ID.
05
Foreigners & OCI/PIO
Foreigners, OCI and PIO card holders follow a different permit process and must inform the desk well in advance.
06
Insurance
Travel insurance is not included, so anyone wanting cover arranges their own before departure.
Cancellation Policy
| When you cancel | Charge |
|---|---|
| More than 15 days before departure | 50 percent of the tour cost |
| 15 to 7 days before departure | 75 percent of the tour cost |
| Less than 7 days before departure | 100 percent of the tour cost |
Tea in One Hand, Kanchenjunga in the Other.
Set departures in the clear seasons, permits briefed before you fly, and the sunrise already on the calendar. Call us with your headcount, and the desk holds your places.