Sikkim and Darjeeling Jeep Safari Tour

Upon arrival at Bagdogra airport, clients will be greeted by our guide who will accompany the group for the rest of the Darjeeling and Sikkim tour. Bagdogra to Darjeeling is a three-hour drive through tea gardens and small towns. We will occasionally come across the famous Darjeeling Toy Train.

Early in the morning, we will visit Tiger Hill for spectacular views of the sunrise over the world’s third highest mountain, Kanchenjunga, at an altitude of 28,156 feet, and if the weather is clear, other Himalayan giants can be seen on the horizon. On our way back to the hotel, we will stop at Ghoom to visit the Yigacholing Monastery. After breakfast, we will visit the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Zoological Park, Tibetan Refugee Self-Help Centre and a nearby tea garden to see the orthodox production process of Darjeeling tea.

Today’s drive is truly a naturalist’s delight. The hills and mountain slopes of Sikkim are awash with a myriad of vibrant colours. The lower mountain slopes are covered with lush green bamboo and ferns. The northern valleys are covered with wild cherry, oak, chestnut, pine as well as a magnolia species called Magnolia campbellii and Michelia doltso-pa. At higher altitudes, 46 species of rhododendrons bloom. And of course, Sikkim’s 600 varieties of orchids are everywhere. Our 5-hour drive on this day is interesting as we move through dense forests of sal and teak to the upper reaches of the Rangit River.

After breakfast we walk to Pemayangtse Monastery. Here we hear the chanting of morning prayers by young and old monks and the scent of burning Juniperus squamata and Rhododendron nivel. Pemayangtse, also known as the "Perfect Sublime Lotus", is one of the oldest monasteries in Sikkim and belongs to the Reed Hat sect of Tibetan Buddhism. After visiting its monastery we will drive towards Kechipalri Lake - Ichcha Tal and then proceed to Yuksom.

The original capital of Sikkim, the small hill town of Yuksom is a base for trekking and climbing expeditions to Mount Kanchenjunga and other important peaks. On this day we will visit the Coronation Throne, Dubdi Monastery and the nearby forests where we can see wild orchids such as Coelhozin and Dendrobium, as well as indigenous flora of Sikkim.

The 5-hour drive from Yuksom to Gangtok takes in the famous large Sikkim cardamom trees as well as the lush green fields of Golden Rice.

Gangtok is a quaint, colorful town perched on a hilltop at an altitude of 1520 meters. This small modern town is the capital of Sikkim. Here we visit the famous monastery of Rumtek (27 km from the main city), which is the headquarters of the Kagyu sect. Later, we visit the Institute of Tibetan Science which has a collection of about 30,000 books on diverse subjects like astrology, philosophy, magic and religion. After lunch we visit the Enche Monastery, Flower Show, Du Drul Chorten and take a walk around the city.

This region was recently opened to foreign visitors. We will see the breathtaking landscapes of the northern part of Sikkim. Our drive takes us through lush green bamboo thickets mixed with tropical vegetation and we reach the historical site of “Kabi Logstok” where the Lepchas and Bhutias signed their brotherhood treaty. Later we pass through scattered villages and terraced rice fields. A few kilometers before reaching Mangan (the capital of North Sikkim), we will cross the Rang Rang Bridge which is one of the highest bridges in Asia. After Mangan the landscapes get even more dramatic interesting as we encounter magnificent waterfalls cascading down steep mountain walls.

Today we visit the Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary located at 12000 feet. Here we find a variety of rhododendrons and pines. Yumthang is also rich in sulphur springs and even the kings of Sikkim have built their own bathing huts. As we enter the valley, the air starts to cool down, with towering peaks looming on all sides. Tibet is just 25 km away from this point as the crow flies. Return to our lodge in Lachung in the evening.

After breakfast, visit the Lachung Monastery before starting the return drive. Lachung is famous for apples and October and November are the lively months when the apples are harvested and shipped to Gangtok. On our return drive, we will stop at various places and take short walks to explore the countryside. We will have a picnic lunch at Singhik, which is famous for its clear and unobstructed views of the Himalayas.

Explore Gangtok city further and transfer to Siliguri A 5-hour drive from Gangtok is along the banks of the Teesta River and we will stop to see the Himalayan flora at low altitudes. And slowly we will enjoy the nature and settle in Siliguri for the flight tomorrow morning

Today is the last day of the trip where a representative of AlpineTrav Treks & Expeditions will transfer you to Bagdogra Airport for your flight to Delhi. From there, you will catch a connecting flight back to your hometown/onward destination. Thus ends the Sikkim Darjeeling Jeep safari trip. (Safe travels!! We hope to see you again).