Sikkim Tour

Day 02: Darjeeling
After breakfast go for a half-day sight seeing of Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park & Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (Closed on Thursday), Tenzing & Gombu Rock, Tibetan Refugee Self-Help Center (Closed on Sunday) & Tea Estate. Also visit to Rock Garden & Ganga Maya Lake.
Over night stay at hotel.

Day 03: Darjeeling
After breakfast visit to the Bhutia busty monastery & Tong Soong monastery.
Over night stay at hotel.

Day 04: Darjeeling - Pemayangtse
after breakfast drive to Pemayangtse. Today's drive is truly a naturalist's delight. The hillsides and mountain slopes of Sikkim are strewn with bright patches of myriad colours. The lower mountain slopes are abundant with lush green bamboo and ferns. The northern valley are draped with wild cherry, oaks, chestnut, pines as well as magnolia variety's called Magnolia Campbell and Michelia Doltsopa.

The higher altitude is abloom with 46 species of Rhododendrons. And of course, Sikkim 600 varieties of orchids are everywhere. This day 05 hours drive is interesting as we move upstream along the river Rangit through dense forest of Sal and Teak.

Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 05: Pemayangtse - Yuksom
After an early breakfast visit Pemayangtse monastery.
later, drive to Yuksom via Kecheopalri Lake. See some common wild orchids like the Dendrobium.
Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 06: Yuksom - Gangtok
Yuksom - The original capital of Sikkim, the tiny hill town of Yoksum is the base for treks and climbing expeditions to Mount Kanchenjunga and other important peaks. Walk to the coronation throne, Dubdi monastery and the nearby jungles to see wild orchids like the Coelogyne and Dendrobium, as well as the indigenous flora of sikkim.

Drive to Gangtok. Day Half day city tour of Gangtok Directorate of Handicrafts and Handlooms, Enchey Monastery, Research Institute of Tibetology, Chorten (Stupa), Orchid Sanctuary, Rumtek Monastery.

Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 07: Gangtok
After an early breakfast an excursion to Tsomgo - situated at a height of 3,780 meters with an average depth of 50 feet. The cool water of the Lake is perfectly attuned with the scenic beauty around. Also visit Nathula Pass (subject to permission).
Over night stay at hotel.

Day 08: Gangtok
After breakfast a day excursion to the Phudong monastery. Built in the mid 18th century, it is one of the important Kagyupa monasteries of Sikkim.
A kilometre uphill is the Labrang monastery which belongs to the Nyingmapa sect of Buddhism. En route to Phudong, a stream of prayer flags leads to the Phensang monastery. This monastery follows the Ningmapa sect and has about 300 monks.
Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 09: Gangtok - Kalimpong
After breakfast drive to Kalimpong - before the Chinese take over of Tibet, Kalimpong was the centre of India's wool trade with that country, with Tibetan caravans wending their way down from the Tibetan plateau to trade wool for manufactured goods.
PM - sightseeing tour. Today Kalimpong is a holiday resort for it's fabulous mountain views, bird watching, and walks in the hills. It has become a centre for Orchid and Cactus nurseries, and exports these plants to different places all over the world. Here we visit several nurseries.
Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 10: Kalimpong - Bagdogra
Transfer to Bagdogra airport in time to catch flight to Calcutta or Delhi and further for onward journey.