Self-Launched Trek: Darjeeling, Sikkim & the Singalila Ridge

Fly into Indira Gandhi International Airport and make your way to a budget hotel in the Paharganj or Karol Bagh area. Spend the evening settling in, grabbing street food on the main bazaar, and preparing for the adventure ahead. Delhi is a city of contrasts — chaotic, colourful and full of Mughal and colonial architecture. If you arrive early, explore Connaught Place or the lanes around New Delhi Railway Station.

🚌Delhi Metro Airport Express from Terminal 3 to New Delhi Station (~£2)

🛏Zostel Delhi or Hotel Namaskar, Paharganj (~£10-14/night)

• →Explore Paharganj bazaar
• →Street food dinner in Old Delhi or Karol Bagh
• →Pick up any last-minute gear from local camping shops

Take an early domestic flight from Delhi to Bagdogra (1.5–2 hrs). Book in advance with IndiGo or Air India for best fares. On arrival at Bagdogra, join a shared jeep or taxi from the prepaid stand to Gangtok (~£6-9, 4-5 hrs). The road climbs through the Teesta Valley, crossing at Rangpo where you'll clear Sikkim border formalities — bring your passport and one passport photo. Gangtok sits at 1,680m and has great views of Kanchenjunga on clear mornings.

🚌Domestic flight Delhi to Bagdogra (~£35-55 booked ahead); shared jeep Bagdogra to Gangtok (~£6-9)

🛏Modern Central Lodge or Hotel Sonam Delek, Gangtok (~£12-16/night)

• →Arrive and check in to guesthouse
• →Evening stroll on MG Marg (pedestrianised mall)
• →Try local Sikkimese thukpa or momos for dinner

Spend the morning exploring Gangtok independently — wander the Mall Road, browse the indoor vegetable market, and visit the Enchey Monastery (founded 1840, rebuilt 1908), about an hour's walk from the centre. After lunch, hire a shared taxi or book a local day-tour to Rumtek Monastery (~30 mins from Gangtok). Rumtek is the largest monastery in Sikkim and houses the golden stupa of the 16th Karmapa. Continue 30 mins further to Martam village, a scenic Himalayan settlement in East Sikkim.

🚌Shared taxi/jeep Gangtok to Rumtek to Martam (~£5-8 total)

🛏Martam Village Resort or local homestay (~£12-18/night)

• →Enchey Monastery visit
• →Rumtek Monastery — golden stupa and main prayer hall
• →Handicraft Centre near Gangtok for carpet weaving and wood carving

A relaxed day in the traditional Sikkimese village of Martam. In the morning, hike the 6km loop around the village, visiting the Nyingma Institute (a centre for higher Buddhist philosophy), a small local monastery, and the Krishna Mandir. The village is home to both Bhutia and Nepali communities and offers a genuine slice of rural Sikkim life. The afternoon is free — sit on your guesthouse terrace with views of the hills, or chat with local families.

🚌Walking only today

🛏Martam Village Resort or local homestay (~£12-18/night)

• →6km village hike loop
• →Visit Nyingma Institute
• →Local monastery and Krishna Mandir
• →Afternoon free — local tea and relaxation

Leave Martam and take a shared jeep back towards the Teesta River and on to Darjeeling (~4 hrs, 80km). The road winds through West Bengal's tea country. Arrive by lunchtime and check in near Chowrasta (the mall). This afternoon, head to the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI) and adjacent Zoological Park — entry is around £3. HMI has fascinating exhibits on early Everest expeditions and the mountaineering legacy of Tenzing Norgay. Walk the Victorian-era Mall in the evening.

🚌Shared jeep Martam/Gangtok to Darjeeling (~£8-12)

🛏Dekeling Hotel or Hostel Darjeeling (~£14-20/night)

• →Himalayan Mountaineering Institute & museum (~£3 entry)
• →Himalayan Zoo (snow leopards, red pandas)
• →Evening walk on Chowrasta Mall
• →Try Darjeeling tea at a local tea house

Rise early for sunrise views of Kanchenjunga from your hotel rooftop. After breakfast, take the UNESCO Darjeeling Himalayan Railway toy train for the 40-minute ride to Ghoom — buy tickets at Darjeeling station (around £5-8 for tourists). The train loops around the famous Batasia spiral and stops at Ghoom, where there's a well-known monastery. From Ghoom, hire a shared jeep to Rimbik (~4 hrs). Here you'll need to arrange a local trekking guide and porter if required, and register your Singalila National Park permit (~£8). Trek 1.5km uphill through rhododendron forest to Manedara camp.

🚌Toy train Darjeeling–Ghoom (~£5-8); shared jeep Ghoom to Rimbik (~£8-12)

🛏Trekking camp or basic guesthouse at Manedara (altitude 2,450m) (~£6-10/night)

• →Toy train Darjeeling to Ghoom (~£5-8)
• →Ghoom Monastery visit
• →Singalila National Park trekking permit registration (~£8)
• →Short 1.5km introductory trek to Manedara camp

A manageable 9km trek through beautiful forest with gradual elevation gain. The trail passes small farmhouses and fields, then enters forest for about two hours to Shepi village. Descend to the Gurdum Khola river, cross by bridge, and climb steeply for one hour to Gurdum village (altitude 2,400m). Tea houses in local villages provide chai and snacks along the route. Independent trekkers need a registered guide in Singalila National Park — hire one in Rimbik for around £15-20/day.

🚌Trekking on foot

🛏Trekking guesthouse or camp at Gurdum (altitude 2,400m) (~£6-10/night)

• →9km forest and village trek
• →Chai stop at Shepi village tea house
• →Birdwatching — Singalila is excellent for Himalayan bird species

The most physically demanding day of the trek — 14km with significant ascent to Sandakhphu (3,636m), the highest point of the trek and the highest peak in West Bengal. The trail climbs steeply through rhododendron forest before emerging onto the open ridgeline. On a clear day, the panorama is breathtaking: Kanchenjunga, Everest, Lhotse and Makalu are all visible. Have lunch at Sandakhphu's tea house. In the afternoon, follow the rough jeep track descending gradually to the campsite at Chandu.

🚌Trekking on foot

🛏Guesthouse or trekking camp at Chandu (altitude 3,570m) (~£6-10/night)

• →Summit Sandakhphu (3,636m) — highest point of the trek
• →Four-peak panorama: Kanchenjunga, Everest, Lhotse, Makalu
• →Lunch at Sandakhphu tea house (~£2-4)

One of the most spectacular days of the entire route — 13km along the Singalila Ridge, which forms the border between India and Nepal. The trail undulates through chestnut, oak and silver fir forest, with commanding Himalayan panoramas all day. In spring, dwarf rhododendrons and primulas create a blaze of colour. The campsite at Sabargam (3,536m) offers sublime sunset views over Kanchenjunga, Everest and Makalu. This is wild camping at its finest.

🚌Trekking on foot

🛏Trekking camp or guesthouse at Sabargam (altitude 3,536m) (~£6-10/night)

• →13km ridge walk with Himalayan panoramas
• →India–Nepal border ridge walking
• →Sunset views of Kanchenjunga from Sabargam camp

The longest day of the trek at 23km, but the trail is mostly ridgeline with a long descent to finish. The route continues along the Singalila Ridge to the endpoint at Phalut (3,600m), where a viewpoint surrounds you with Himalayan giants — Kanchenjunga looms largest from here. A dramatic descent through oak, conifer, pine and rhododendron forest leads down to Samaden, a small settlement with great valley views. Take it steady on the descent — poles are useful.

🚌Trekking on foot

🛏Basic guesthouse or trekking camp at Samaden (altitude 2,480m) (~£5-8/night)

• →Phalut viewpoint (3,600m) — closest point to Kanchenjunga on the trek
• →23km full day ridge and descent trek
• →Evening rest and recovery at Samaden camp

The final 14km of the trek winds through small settlements inhabited by Rai, Sherpa and Tamang communities, passing terraced fields and hilltop villages. Descend along a jeep track to Sri Khola for a well-earned lunch at a local dal bhat spot (~£2). Cross the suspension bridge and walk another 2.5 hours through forest villages to Rimbik, a large Sherpa village at 2,286m. Rimbik has several lodges with valley views — celebrate completing the trek with a local Tongba (millet beer) or chai.

🚌Trekking on foot

🛏Rimbick Lodge or similar guesthouse, Rimbik (~£8-12/night)

• →14km final trek through Sherpa and Tamang villages
• →Dal bhat lunch at Sri Khola (~£2)
• →Rimbik village exploration
• →Trek completion celebration

Take a shared jeep from Rimbik back to Darjeeling (~3-4 hrs). Ask your driver or guesthouse in Rimbik to arrange a stop at one of the tea estates along the route — many welcome independent visitors for a short tour and tasting. Collect any bags left at your Darjeeling hotel from Day 5-6. The afternoon is free — browse the covered market, pick up Darjeeling tea to take home, or just relax.

🚌Shared jeep Rimbik to Darjeeling (~£8-12)

🛏Dekeling Hotel or Hostel Darjeeling (~£14-20/night)

• →Darjeeling tea estate visit and tasting en route
• →Afternoon free in Darjeeling — covered market and tea shops
• →Recover and re-pack for onward journey

A final free morning in Darjeeling — if the toy train didn't run on Day 6, this is your second opportunity. Otherwise, visit Tiger Hill at dawn for sunrise Himalayan views, or explore Bhutia Busty Monastery near Chowrasta. By midday, take a shared jeep down to New Jalpaiguri (NJP) railway station near Siliguri (~2-3 hrs, £5-8). Book your overnight sleeper train NJP to Kolkata in advance on IRCTC (3AC class, ~£10-15, around 12 hrs). Trains depart NJP in the evening and arrive Kolkata Howrah in the morning.

🚌Shared jeep Darjeeling to New Jalpaiguri (~£5-8); overnight train NJP to Kolkata Howrah (~£10-15)

🛏Overnight sleeper train NJP–Kolkata (~£10-15 for 3AC berth)

• →Optional: toy train ride Darjeeling to Ghoom if missed on Day 6 (~£5-8)
• →Optional: Tiger Hill sunrise view
• →Bhutia Busty Monastery visit
• →Shared jeep to New Jalpaiguri for overnight train

Arrive at Howrah Station in the morning. Take the Kolkata Metro or a prepaid taxi to your guesthouse in the Sudder Street / Park Street area (backpacker hub). Kolkata is India's cultural capital — spend the day exploring the Victoria Memorial (£2 entry), the colonial grandeur of BBD Bagh, the bustling Malik Ghat flower market, and the atmospheric Kumartuli potters' quarter. In the evening, head to Park Street for street food or a restaurant, or try traditional Bengali cuisine (mustard fish, mishti doi).

🚌Kolkata Metro from Howrah to Park Street (~£0.50)

🛏Zostel Kolkata or Hotel Lytton, Sudder Street (~£10-16/night)

• →Victoria Memorial and gardens (~£2 entry)
• →Malik Ghat flower market (early morning)
• →Kumartuli potters' quarter
• →Howrah Bridge walk
• →Bengali dinner on Park Street

Your final morning in Kolkata before departing from Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport. If time allows, grab a morning coffee on Park Street, visit the Indian Museum (the oldest museum in Asia, ~£1 entry), or take a tram ride — Kolkata is one of the last cities in Asia with a functioning tram network. The airport is around 45 mins from central Kolkata by taxi or Uber (~£6-8).

🚌Taxi/Uber to Kolkata airport (~£6-8)

🛏Check out — depart from Kolkata airport

• →Indian Museum (~£1 entry, optional)
• →Kolkata tram ride — a unique city experience
• →Final chai and street food breakfast