Sikkim Tour Package

5 Nights 6 Days Sikkim Tour

The 5 Nights 6 Days Sikkim Tour puts east and west Sikkim in one loop. Gangtok and the Tsomgo Lake permit day come first, then Pelling for the monasteries.

Duration

5 nights / 6 days

Destinations

Gangtok, Tsomgo Lake, Pelling

Highest point

Tsomgo Lake, about 3,753 m

Pace

Moderate

The trip

5 Nights 6 Days Sikkim Tour Overview

The 5 Nights 6 Days Sikkim Tour is the first itinerary that shows you two different Sikkims. Three nights in Gangtok cover the capital and the high day east; two nights in Pelling cover the oldest monasteries in the state and the closest road view of Kangchenjunga you will get without trekking.

The transfer between them is a real day — four to five hours on hill roads — but it is scenic rather than punishing, and it breaks the trip in a way that stops Gangtok becoming repetitive. This is the length most first-time visitors should be looking at.

The route

Tour Highlights

Two contrasting bases rather than one, with no wasted backtracking
Tsomgo Lake at roughly 3,753 m, with the permit filed for you
Pemayangtse, among the oldest and most important monasteries in Sikkim
The Rabdentse ruins, reached on a level forest walk to a ridge-top view
Khecheopalri, a forest lake sacred to Buddhists and Hindus alike
Kangchenjunga from Pelling on a clear morning, straight from your hotel

At a glance

Quoted for your party

Start & end

Bagdogra Airport or NJP station

Tour style

Private, two bases

Permits

Included for Tsomgo Lake

Day by day

Itinerary at a Glance

Day 1 Bagdogra or NJP to Gangtok
Day 2 Gangtok sightseeing — monasteries, chorten and viewpoints
Day 3 Tsomgo Lake and Baba Mandir, subject to permits and weather
Day 4 Gangtok across to Pelling, arriving late afternoon
Day 5 Pelling sightseeing — Pemayangtse, Rabdentse, Khecheopalri
Day 6 Pelling down to Bagdogra or NJP

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Bagdogra or NJP to Gangtok

Met on arrival and driven up the Teesta valley on NH10, usually four to five hours. Nothing scheduled afterwards — the evening on MG Marg is enough.

Day 2: Gangtok Sightseeing

Rumtek Monastery in the morning, about 45 minutes out on its facing ridge; the Do-Drul Chorten, the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology and a viewpoint in the afternoon. Carry photo identification for Rumtek.

Day 3: Tsomgo Lake and Baba Mandir

The high day, east to Tsomgo Lake at roughly 3,753 m and on to Baba Mandir if the permit covers it. Stops at the top are short — this is a fast altitude gain and we would rather come down early than push on.

Day 4: Gangtok to Pelling

A long, scenic transfer west across the grain of the country, usually four to five hours. We can route via Ravangla and the Buddha park if you would rather break it, which adds an hour or so.

Day 5: Pelling Sightseeing

Pemayangtse Monastery and its extraordinary carved model of the celestial palace, then the short forest walk to the Rabdentse ruins. Khecheopalri Lake in the afternoon, or the Sangachoeling ridge if you prefer a climb.

Day 6: Pelling to Bagdogra or NJP

Down through the tea country to the plains, roughly four to five hours. We ask for a four-hour cushion before your flight or train.

On the road

Along this route

Tour Inclusions

Private vehicle and driver throughout, including all transfers
Accommodation on the stated basis, twin or double
Pick-up and drop at Bagdogra Airport or NJP station
Driver allowance, fuel, tolls and parking
A named contact, reachable throughout your trip
Protected Area Permit and vehicle permit for the Tsomgo Lake day

Tour Exclusions

Flights and train fares to and from Bagdogra or NJP
Meals not stated in the day-by-day itinerary
Entry fees and camera charges at monuments and viewpoints
Travel insurance, which we strongly recommend
Anything personal — laundry, tips, drinks, calls
Costs arising from road closures or weather

Exact inclusions are confirmed in your written quotation. If something matters to you and is not listed, ask before you book.

Important

Permits & Important Travel Notes

The Gangtok to Pelling transfer is a full day on hill roads. It is not a half-day drive with sightseeing attached, and we do not pretend otherwise.
Tsomgo Lake needs a Protected Area Permit filed at least 48 hours ahead. Aadhaar is not accepted; voter ID or a driving licence is.
Pelling's Kangchenjunga view is weather-dependent and best in the early morning. Nobody can promise you a clear day.
Journey times are typical rather than guaranteed, and hill itineraries depend on road and weather conditions. If a day has to change we rearrange it and tell you why.

Permit rules can change Access rules for protected areas change, and nothing here guarantees entry. Full detail is on our Sikkim travel information page; we confirm the position when we file your permits.

Best Time for This Sikkim Tour

October and November are the strongest months for this route, because it depends on two different views — Tsomgo in the east and Kangchenjunga from Pelling — and autumn is the only season that reliably delivers both.

March to May is a close second and adds flowering hillsides on the western leg. Winter keeps Pelling clear but makes the Tsomgo road unreliable. In the monsoon the west Sikkim roads need slack in the plan.

Who Is This Tour Best For?

First-time visitors with about a week, wanting more than one region
Travellers drawn to monasteries and history as much as to mountain views
Couples and small groups happy to change hotel once mid-trip
Anyone who wants Kangchenjunga without trekking for it
Not ideal if you dislike long transfer days — day four is a real drive
Not suitable if north Sikkim is your priority; that needs eight days or more

Make it yours

Customize This Sikkim Trip

The usual change is to route day four through Ravangla and Namchi, turning the transfer into a sightseeing day and adding an overnight in the south. Travellers with an extra day sometimes add Yuksom instead, which puts you at the trailhead for the Dzongri route and among the quietest villages in the state.

Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the drive from Gangtok to Pelling?

Usually four to five hours for around 120 km, and longer if you break it at Ravangla. Hill roads here average well under 30 km an hour. We schedule it as a full travel day rather than pretending it can be combined with sightseeing.

Will we actually see Kangchenjunga from Pelling?

Often, but not always. The view is best shortly after sunrise and clouds over as the day warms. October to December offers the highest chance, the monsoon the lowest. No operator can guarantee a mountain view and we will not price the trip as though we could.

Can we add Yuksom or the Dzongri trek to this itinerary?

Yuksom fits easily as an extra night from Pelling. The Dzongri trek is a different proposition — it needs trekking permits cleared through the Forest and Home departments, a guide and porters, and at least five more days. Ask and we will quote it separately.

Is this itinerary too much driving?

There are two long transfer days out of six, at the start and the end, plus the cross-country day in the middle. Days two, three and five are based out of one hotel. If that balance sounds wrong for your party, the four-night Gangtok-only itinerary is the gentler option.

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