Seven days across three ridges, with the good rooms
The same three ridges as the classic circuits, but built for two people rather than a group: the mountain-facing rooms rather than the cheap ones, fewer stops in each day, and the two towns where an evening out is actually pleasant.
Pelling replaces Kalimpong here for one reason, which is that you can watch Kanchenjunga turn gold from bed. That is the whole argument and we think it wins.
We add a candlelit dinner and a decorated room on one night, and flowers and a cake on arrival. These are arranged with the hotel, so tell us the dates that matter and we will place them on the right night.
This is the plan as we would run it. Days can be swapped, dropped or added — say what you want changed and we will rebuild it before you pay anything.
Day 1
Met at Bagdogra or NJP and up through the tea gardens, about three hours. Flowers and a cake in the room on arrival. Evening on Chowrasta, which is at its best just after the lamps come on.
Day 2
Sunrise at Tiger Hill, then Batasia Loop and Ghum. After breakfast, Happy Valley Tea Estate and the Peace Pagoda, and then the afternoon is deliberately free. Candlelit dinner this evening.
Day 3
The DHR joyride to Ghum in the morning, then west into Sikkim via Jorethang to Pelling. Ask for the curtains to be left open.
Day 4
Kanchenjunga from the balcony at first light. Pemayangtse Monastery and the forest walk to the Rabdentse ruins in the morning; Khecheopalri Lake, Rimbi and the Skywalk in the afternoon, or none of it if you would rather not move.
Day 5
East across the state with a stop at the Buddha Park at Ravangla, about five hours in all. Gangtok by late afternoon, and MG Marg in the evening.
Day 6
Up to 3,780 m for the glacial lake, the prayer flags and the yaks, and the shrine beyond it. Back in Gangtok for a last evening.
Day 7
Down the Teesta, five hours. Flights after 1 pm.
Hotels are named on your written itinerary before you pay. The properties below are the ones we normally use in this band; if one is full on your dates we substitute a hotel of the same standard and tell you which, rather than leaving you to find out at check-in.
One private vehicle for the two of you throughout, plus the permitted Sikkim vehicle for the Tsomgo leg.
Up to 4 travellers normally ride in a Wagon R, Swift Dzire or similar; 5 to 7 in an Innova, Xylo or Scorpio; 8 and above in a Tempo Traveller or a second vehicle. On the North Sikkim and Silk Route legs the vehicle is always a Bolero, Sumo or Scorpio, because that is what those roads take.
Your written confirmation carries the exact advance, the balance date and the cancellation schedule for your trip. Those numbers, not this page, are the ones that apply. Full terms are on the booking conditions page.
General questions: permits, seasons, packing and how to get here
Enquire
Fill this in and we will come back with a proper day-by-day itinerary for your dates, with named hotels and one all-in price. No payment is taken at this stage and nothing is confirmed until you say so.
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Dates, how many of you, and anywhere you have your heart set on — that is enough for us to start. You will get a day-by-day plan with named hotels and one all-in price, in writing, before you pay anything.
