Northeast India & Darjeeling by Rail — Self-Launched
13 days · India
G Adventures charges £2,100
No-markup version: ~£432 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched, train-first version of G Adventures' 13-day Calcutta-to-Delhi rail trip through Sikkim, Darjeeling and Varanasi. You book your own Indian Railways tickets (or use 12Go/IRCTC), stay in guesthouses and budget hotels, join local day tours for Tiger Hill and the Ganges, and ride the UNESCO-listed Darjeeling Himalayan Railway toy train — all for roughly a third of the group tour price. Costs are approximate backpacker/mid-budget estimates in GBP and exclude international flights and the Indian e-Visa fee (~£30-40).
Day-by-day
Arrive in Calcutta (Kolkata)
Kolkata
Land and make your way by prepaid airport taxi or the Kolkata Metro + suburban rail into Sudder Street / Esplanade, the traveller hub. Settle into a guesthouse, grab your first kathi roll and mishti doi, and sort your onward railway tickets online (IRCTC account or 12Go Asia) for the Kamrup Express to New Jalpaiguri later in the week. Evening stroll around New Market.
🚌Airport prepaid taxi ~£4-5 (45-60 min) or metro ~£0.30
🛏Guesthouse near Sudder Street, Kolkata (£12-18/night)
- →Sudder Street orientation walk
- →New Market browse
- →Book onward train tickets
Kolkata sights then overnight train north
Kolkata → New Jalpaiguri
Morning at the Victoria Memorial (entry ~£1), then walk to Mother Teresa's House and the Indian Museum if time allows. Late afternoon head to Howrah Station for the overnight Kamrup Express to New Jalpaiguri — book a 3AC or sleeper berth roughly 24-48 hours ahead. Bring snacks and a padlock.
🚌Kamrup Express Kolkata–New Jalpaiguri, 3AC ~£12-16 (sleeper ~£5)
🛏Sleeper/3AC berth on Kamrup Express (overnight train)
- →Victoria Memorial
- →Mother Teresa's House
- →Indian Museum (optional, ~£0.50)
New Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling
Darjeeling
Arrive early at New Jalpaiguri and take a shared jeep or bus up the hill to Darjeeling (~3.5 hrs, ~£2-3). Check into a guesthouse in the Chowrasta area, then take a self-led orientation walk: Mall Road, the Clock Tower and the view over Kanchenjunga if the sky is clear. Book your shared-jeep Tiger Hill sunrise trip for tomorrow.
🚌Shared jeep NJP–Darjeeling ~£2-3
🛏Guesthouse near Chowrasta, Darjeeling (£10-15/night)
- →Mall Road / Chowrasta walk
- →Clock Tower
- →Arrange Tiger Hill jeep
Tiger Hill sunrise, tea estate, toy train
Darjeeling
Pre-dawn shared jeep to Tiger Hill for the sunrise over Kanchenjunga (~£2-3 shared, or ~£12 for a private jeep). Return via the Mahakal Temple and Dali Monastery. Midday visit a tea estate (Happy Valley or Makaibari, tasting ~£1-2). In the afternoon ride the UNESCO-listed Darjeeling Himalayan Railway toy train from Darjeeling to Ghum and back — book the steam-hauled service direct on IRCTC (~£3-5). Finish at the Peace Pagoda.
🚌Shared jeep to Tiger Hill, toy train Darjeeling–Ghum return ~£3-5
🛏Guesthouse near Chowrasta, Darjeeling
- →Tiger Hill sunrise
- →Mahakal Temple
- →Tea estate visit and tasting
- →Darjeeling Himalayan Railway steam toy train
- →Peace Pagoda
Darjeeling to Gangtok
Gangtok
Shared jeep or bus from Darjeeling to Gangtok (~4-5 hrs, ~£3-4; note Sikkim permits may be checked en route — Indian nationals only need a standard permit, foreigners an extension at Rangpo/Melli). Arrive and take an orientation walk through MG Marg, the pedestrian main street, with views up to the Himalayan ridgelines.
🚌Shared jeep Darjeeling–Gangtok ~£3-4
🛏Budget guesthouse just off MG Marg, Gangtok (£12-18/night)
- →MG Marg evening walk
- →Ridge viewpoint
Free day in Gangtok
Gangtok
Self-guided day in and around Gangtok. Options: Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, Do-drul Chorten, the Ropeway over the valley (~£2), or a half-day jeep trip to Tsomgo Lake (permit required, ~£15-20 shared). Plenty of cafés and momo spots on MG Marg for lunch and dinner.
🚌Local taxis / shared jeep for excursions ~£5-15
🛏Budget guesthouse, Gangtok
- →Tibetology institute
- →Do-drul Chorten stupa
- →Ropeway
- →Tsomgo Lake jeep trip (optional)
Gangtok to Kalimpong via Rumtek
Kalimpong
Hire a shared jeep or take a bus toward Kalimpong (~3 hrs, ~£3), stopping at Rumtek Monastery on the way (shared jeep drop, ~£1-2). Arrive in Kalimpong and walk the town: Tharpa Choling Monastery, the old bazaar and viewpoints over the Teesta valley. Cheap thali dinner in the bazaar.
🚌Shared jeep Gangtok–Kalimpong ~£3, local hop to Rumtek ~£2
🛏Guesthouse in Kalimpong (£10-14/night)
- →Rumtek Monastery
- →Kalimpong bazaar
- →Tharpa Choling Monastery
- →Valley viewpoint
Deolo Hills then overnight train toward Varanasi
Kalimpong → New Jalpaiguri
Morning shared-jeep ride up to Deolo Hills for the mountain views, back to Kalimpong for lunch, then a bus/jeep down to New Jalpaiguri (~3 hrs, ~£3). In the evening board the overnight train toward Mughal Sarai (3AC ~£12-16). Confirm your berth on IRCTC or 12Go a day or two prior — this route books up fast.
🚌Jeep to Deolo ~£2, Kalimpong–NJP bus ~£3, overnight train ~£12-16
🛏Sleeper/3AC berth on overnight train to Mughal Sarai
- →Deolo Hills
- →Kalimpong market
- →Overnight train
Mughal Sarai to Varanasi — evening ghats
Varanasi
Arrive at Mughal Sarai in the morning and take a shared auto or local train into Varanasi (~45-60 min, ~£1-2). Check into a guesthouse in the Assi Ghat or Dashashwamedh area, rest up, then walk the ghats at dusk to watch the Ganga Aarti prayer ceremony at Dashashwamedh Ghat. Eat at a local thali place away from the main tourist strip.
🚌Shared auto Mughal Sarai–Varanasi ~£1-2
🛏Guesthouse near Assi Ghat, Varanasi (£10-16/night)
- →Ghat walk
- →Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat
Sunrise boat on the Ganges and Sarnath
Varanasi
Sunrise rowing boat on the Ganges from Assi Ghat (~£4-6 for a shared boat, negotiate direct on the ghats) — the best light and the busiest bathing hour. Afternoon auto to Sarnath (~£2-3 return) to see the Dhamek Stupa and museum, then free time back in the old city lanes.
🚌Auto to Sarnath ~£2-3 return
🛏Guesthouse near Assi Ghat, Varanasi
- →Sunrise boat on the Ganges
- →Sarnath stupa and museum (~£1)
- →Old city lanes
Varanasi to Lucknow and Bara Imambara
Lucknow
Morning Varanasi–Lucknow Intercity train (book on IRCTC, ~3AC £6-9). Drop bags at a budget hotel in the Aminabad/Hazratganj area, then visit the Bara Imambara and its famous bhool bhulaiya labyrinth (~£1.50). Evening kebab crawl in Aminabad — Lucknow's tunday kebabs are legendary and cheap.
🚌Varanasi–Lucknow Intercity train ~£6-9, autos ~£2
🛏Budget hotel, Hazratganj/Aminabad, Lucknow (£12-18/night)
- →Bara Imambara
- →Bhool Bhulaiya
- →Aminabad kebab crawl
Lucknow to Delhi by Swarna Shatabdi
Delhi
Spend the morning exploring Lucknow — the Residency ruins (~£0.50) and the Chota Imambara — then board the afternoon Swarna Shatabdi Express to Delhi (3AC ~£10-14, dinner on board ~£2-3). Arrive into New Delhi in the evening and check into a Paharganj guesthouse.
🚌Swarna Shatabdi Lucknow–New Delhi ~£10-14
🛏Guesthouse in Paharganj, Delhi (£12-18/night)
- →The Residency
- →Chota Imambara
- →Evening in Paharganj
Delhi and departure
Delhi
Final morning in Delhi: walk through Old Delhi's Chandni Chowk, visit the Red Fort or Jama Masjid (~£1), or simply coffee in Connaught Place. Take the Airport Express metro (~£1.50) or a prepaid taxi (~£5) to Indira Gandhi International for your flight home.
🚌Airport Express metro ~£1.50
🛏—
- →Chandni Chowk
- →Jama Masjid
- →Connaught Place
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£432 | £2,100 |
| Duration | 13 days | 13 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,668 per person (79%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£432
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Northeast India & Darjeeling by Rail — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £432 per person for 13 days in India. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £2,100 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £432 — a saving of roughly £1,668 (79%) per person.
How long is the India trip?+
This itinerary runs 13 days, covering 13 day-by-day stops through India.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, budget, backpacker trip through India, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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