Dooars – Gangtok – Darjeeling

 This programme is designed as an 8-day Siliguri–Siliguri journey. For institutions preferring a Kolkata start and end, the programme can be extended to include curated Kolkata-based experiences.

This is a representative programme and can be adapted based on your institution’s requirements.

Day 1 | Arrival in Siliguri – Transfer to Dooars
Night Halt: Dooars
Arrival at Bagdogra/NJP and transfer to the Dooars.
Introduction to the region—forested foothills of the eastern Himalayas, tea gardens, and river systems shaping the landscape.
Evening at leisure within the natural surroundings.

Day 2 | Dooars – Forests, Wildlife, and Tea Landscapes
Night Halt: Dooars
Early morning forest safari in Gorumara National Park or Jaldapara National Park (subject to permits), with the possibility of sightings of Indian rhinoceros, elephants, and rich birdlife.
Exploration of riverine forests and grasslands that define the Dooars ecosystem.
Visit through tea garden areas to understand plantation systems, labour structures, and the regional economy.

Day 3 | Dooars to Gangtok – Into the Himalayas
Night Halt: Gangtok
Drive towards Gangtok with a gradual transition from plains to mountainous terrain along the Teesta valley.
Evening visit to MG Marg—an introduction to Gangtok’s urban character and public spaces.

Day 4 | Gangtok – Monasteries, Culture, and Landscape
Night Halt: Gangtok
Visit to Rumtek Monastery or Enchey Monastery—understanding Buddhist traditions and monastic life.
Tibetan Museum and Directorate of Handicrafts & Handloom—insights into culture, craft, and identity.
Ropeway ride for a view of the town and surrounding mountains.
Visit to the Orchid Exhibition Centre (seasonal), reflecting the region’s biodiversity.

Day 5 | Gangtok to Darjeeling – Tea and Transition
Night Halt: Darjeeling
Drive to Darjeeling through mountain roads and tea-growing regions.
En route visit to a tea estate—introduction to cultivation and landscape.
Evening visit to the Mall—orientation to Darjeeling’s town centre and social life.

Day 6 | Darjeeling – Heritage, Ecology, and Landscape
Night Halt: Darjeeling
Visit to Himalayan Mountaineering Institute and Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park—understanding mountain ecology and conservation.
Batasia Loop and Ghoom Monastery—engineering, landscape, and cultural intersections.
Rock Garden and surrounding areas—terrain and settlement patterns.
Views of the Kanchenjunga range (weather permitting).

Day 7 | Darjeeling – People, Livelihoods, and Mountain Life
Night Halt: Darjeeling
Morning engagement centred around one of Darjeeling’s key working ecosystems—either a tea estate, a Tibetan Refugee Centre, or a local school—offering a closer understanding of livelihoods, migration, and community life in the hills.
Interaction-based session with time for observation and discussion.
Evening free for local exploration and shopping at the Mall.

Day 8 | Darjeeling to Siliguri – Departure
Morning at leisure.
Transfer to Siliguri/Bagdogra/NJP for onward journey.

Programme Essentials and Flexibility

Optional Extensions
Programmes can be further enriched with additional modules, depending on time and objectives. These may include curated Kolkata-based experiences for institutions opting for a Kolkata start and end, visits to nearby locations such as Kalimpong or other parts of Sikkim, organic farming interactions around Gangtok, tea estate workshops, conservation-focused sessions, extended NGO engagements, and specialised heritage or ecology-based explorations across the region.

Accommodation
Student accommodation is typically arranged on a triple occupancy basis. Accompanying teachers are provided twin-sharing rooms.

Faculty Support
A limited number of accompanying teachers are hosted on a complimentary basis, depending on overall group size.

Meals
Balanced, hygienic meal plans are arranged with a mix of regional and familiar cuisines suitable for student groups. Detailed menus are shared during the planning stage.

Transport
Travel is arranged using experienced, vetted transport providers suited for student groups.

Safety & Supervision
All programmes are guided and supervised with appropriate safety considerations in place for each location.

Important Information
Detailed inclusions, exclusions, operational guidelines, packing advisory, and other relevant information are shared as part of the formal proposal and pre-departure process.

Planning Your Programme

Each journey is customised based on academic objectives, group size, and preferred pace. We work closely with institutions to design programmes that are meaningful, practical, and well-paced.

Let’s collaborate to design a programme that best fits your institution’s needs.