Darjeeling & Sikkim Tour from Mumbai by Train – 9 Days

Tour Overview

There is a certain charm in choosing rail over flight and this Darjeeling Gangtok Tour Package from Mumbai is all about that concept. Instead of rushing overhead you get to see the whole country roll out beneath your window, plains becoming forest, forest becoming hills, before finally arriving in the cool air of Darjeeling and the mountain kingdom of Sikkim. Sunrise over Kanchenjunga, tea gardens older than most cities, valleys heavy with prayer flags, this trip takes its time, and that is exactly the point.

Day 1: Mumbai to Train Transfer

The journey begins at Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT), Mumbai, boarding a direct train towards New Jalpaiguri (NJP), the gateway to the eastern Himalayas.

• Suggested train: 22511 Karmabhoomi Express.
• Departure: 13:15 hrs.
• Boarding point: Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT).
• Arrival at New Jalpaiguri: Around 05:50 hrs on Day 3.
• Duration: Roughly 40 hours (please reconfirm schedule before booking).
• Settle in as the city fades into open countryside, with the rest of the day and night spent onboard.
• Overnight: Train.

Day 2: Onboard Across India

An entire day unfolds aboard one of the country's longer continuous rail routes, passing through:

• Maharashtra's plateau country.
• The forested stretches of Chhattisgarh.
• The Odisha and Jharkhand belt.
• Bihar's river plains.
• West Bengal, as the land begins softening towards the delta.
• Time passes easily with meals, station chai, and conversation with fellow travellers.
• Overnight: Train.

Day 3: NJP to Darjeeling (Roughly 70 km, About 3 Hours)

Arrival at New Jalpaiguri comes with a noticeable drop in temperature. Your driver takes you up into the hills towards Darjeeling, the road climbing steadily through changing terrain.

Along the way:

• Sprawling tea gardens across terraced hillsides.
• Dense forest valleys thick with pine and rhododendron.
• Fast, cold mountain rivers cutting through the landscape.
• Small hillside villages moving at their own pace.

After check-in, explore the town:

• Mall Road, Darjeeling's pedestrian promenade lined with shops and viewpoints.
• Chowrasta square, the traditional town centre.
• The local market, busy with woollens, tea, and mountain produce.
• Observatory Hill, a short walk offering early views of the surrounding ranges.
• Overnight: Darjeeling.

Day 4: Full Day in Darjeeling

An early 4:00 AM start takes you to Tiger Hill, where first light touches Kanchenjunga before anything else around it. On a clear morning, the view stretches across a wide arc of the eastern Himalayas, worth every bit of the early wake-up call.

On the way back:

• Ghoom Monastery, among the oldest Buddhist monasteries in the Darjeeling hills.
• Batasia Loop, where the toy train track spirals around a war memorial garden.
• The War Memorial, honouring soldiers of the Gorkha regiments.

After breakfast, a fuller town tour follows:

• Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, tracing Everest expedition history.
• Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, home to red pandas and snow leopards.
• Tibetan Refugee Self-Help Centre, watching handicrafts made by hand.
• The Japanese Temple, a quiet stop.
• Peace Pagoda, just above it, with wide views over town.
• Happy Valley Tea Estate, one of Darjeeling's oldest working gardens.

Optional add-on:

• A joy ride on the Darjeeling Himalayan Toy Train, a UNESCO-listed narrow-gauge line running since the 1880s.
• Evening free for cafés, bakeries, and shopping.
• Overnight: Darjeeling.

Day 5: Darjeeling to Gangtok (Roughly 100 km, About 4 Hours)

Breakfast, then the drive towards Gangtok, Sikkim's capital, following the Teesta River past waterfalls, swaying suspension bridges, and deepening valleys.

• Check-in on arrival, evening spent exploring MG Marg, Gangtok's lively pedestrian high street.
• Local cafés serving momos, thukpa, and Sikkimese specialities.
• Handicraft stores selling thangka paintings and woven textiles.
• Shops offering Sikkim souvenirs, prayer wheels, and local teas.
• Overnight: Gangtok.

Day 6: Tsomgo Lake and Baba Mandir

A full-day excursion into the high mountains, weather and road conditions permitting.

• Tsomgo (Changu) Lake, a glacial lake above twelve thousand feet, often edged with snow.
• The Baba Harbhajan Singh Memorial, a shrine revered along this border stretch.
• Viewpoints around Kyongnosla Alpine Sanctuary, known for alpine flora and seasonal rhododendron blooms.

Optional (weather and permit permitting):

• Nathula Pass, the historic India-China trade route, reachable only with prior permits.
• Return to Gangtok by evening, free time before dinner.
• Overnight: Gangtok.

Day 7: Gangtok City Tour, then on to NJP

Morning sightseeing covers Gangtok's key landmarks:

• Tashi View Point, facing Kanchenjunga on clear days.
• Ganesh Tok, a small temple with sweeping town views.
• Hanuman's Tok, set among quiet forest.
• Enchey Monastery, a two-hundred-year-old seat of the Nyingma sect.
• Do Drul Chorten, a large white stupa surrounded by prayer wheels.
• The Flower Exhibition Centre, showcasing orchids and seasonal blooms.
• Optional ropeway ride over the town.
• Directorate of Handicrafts, a final look at local craftsmanship.

Afterwards, drive to New Jalpaiguri Railway Station and board the return train to Mumbai.

• Suggested return train: 22512 Karmabhoomi Express (subject to running days; reconfirm schedule before travel).
• Overnight: Train.

Day 8: Journey Back to Mumbai

A full day retracing the route home by rail, hills gradually giving way to open plains again, with plenty of time to relax and reflect on the trip.

• Overnight: Train.

Day 9: Back in Mumbai

Arrival at Lokmanya Tilak Terminus, Mumbai, closing out the trip with memories of Darjeeling's tea gardens, sunrise over Kanchenjunga, and Sikkim's mountain landscapes.

Package Includes

• Mumbai to NJP to Mumbai train tickets, Sleeper or 3AC as booked.
• Transfers to and from railway stations.
• Private vehicle for all sightseeing.
• 2 nights hotel stay in Darjeeling.
• 2 nights hotel stay in Gangtok.
• Daily breakfast and dinner.
• Driver allowance.
• Parking charges.
• Toll taxes.
• Fuel charges.
• All sightseeing according to the itinerary.

Package Excludes

• Drinks and lunch.
• Entrance fees to monuments.
• Toy Train tickets.
• Ropeway tickets.
• Nathula Pass permit, if needed.
• Personal costs.
• Camera charges.
• Travel insurance.
• GST.
• Anything not specifically mentioned under inclusions.

Cost Per Head

• Rs. 33,850/- for 2 persons.
• Rs. 29,000/- for a minimum of 4 persons.
• Rs. 26,750/- for a minimum of 6 to 8 persons.
• Rs. 23,000/- for a minimum of 8 to 12 persons.

This Darjeeling Gangtok Tour brings together everything the eastern Himalayas do best: tea estates, sunrise views, monasteries, and high-altitude lakes, all planned around a comfortable train journey instead of a rushed flight schedule. Getting the timing right between trains, mountain roads, and permits takes real planning, and that is exactly where Garhwal Himalayan Expedition helps, putting together routes that let travellers enjoy the mountains without worrying about the logistics. For bookings or customisation of this itinerary, reach out at +91 9811275279 or +91 9717237624.