Self-Launched North East India: Kolkata, Kalimpong, Gangtok, Pelling & Darjeeling

Arrive at Kolkata's Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport or Howrah/Sealdah train station. Make your way to your guesthouse in the Sudder Street or Park Street backpacker area — both are well-connected and close to major sights. Take the evening to wander around New Market or grab a cheap thali dinner at a local dhaba. Get a local SIM card at the airport (Jio or Airtel, ~£2).

🚌Pre-paid taxi from airport to city centre (~£5-7) or AC bus (~£0.50). If arriving by train, Sudder Street is ~£3 by taxi from Howrah/Sealdah.

🛏Parasnath Guest House, Backpackers Inn Kolkata, or similar on Sudder Street (~£8-14/night for a dorm or budget double)

• →Arrive and check in to guesthouse in Sudder Street area
• →Pick up a local SIM card at the airport (Jio or Airtel, ~£2)
• →Evening stroll around New Market or Park Street
• →Dinner at a local dhaba — try a Bengali fish thali (~£2-3)

A full day exploring Kolkata's remarkable mix of British colonial grandeur, Bengali culture and vibrant street life. Start early at the Victoria Memorial, then hop on the historic Kolkata Metro to travel across the city. Visit Belur Math on the banks of the Hooghly, cross the iconic Vidyasagar Setu, explore the lanes of Chinatown (Tiretti Bazaar) and pay your respects at the Mother Teresa House (Missionaries of Charity). Wind down with a leisurely walk through a local market.

🚌Use the Kolkata Metro and local buses throughout the day (~£1-2 total). Ferry to Belur Math from Chandpal Ghat (~£0.20).

🛏Parasnath Guest House or similar, Sudder Street (~£8-14/night)

• →Visit Victoria Memorial (entry ~£1.50)
• →Ride the Kolkata Metro (~£0.20 per journey)
• →Visit Science City (entry ~£1)
• →Take a ferry across the Hooghly to visit Belur Math (free entry, ferry ~£0.20)
• →Visit Mother Teresa's House — Missionaries of Charity (free)
• →Explore Chinatown / Tiretti Bazaar on foot
• →Walk across or view Vidyasagar Setu from the ghats
• →Evening market stroll around New Market

Take an early morning domestic flight from Kolkata (Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Airport) to Bagdogra Airport near Siliguri — flights run frequently with IndiGo and Air India (~45 mins). From Bagdogra, board a shared jeep or cab from the stand outside the airport heading to Kalimpong (~3 hours via NH717). Kalimpong is a charming, less-touristed hill town with Tibetan Buddhist monasteries and a famous Saturday market. Check in and explore the town in the afternoon.

🚌Domestic flight Kolkata → Bagdogra (~£25-40, book via MakeMyTrip or IndiGo app). Shared jeep Bagdogra → Kalimpong (~£4-6).

🛏Himalayan Hotel, Lodge Kalimpong, or Cloud 9 Guesthouse (~£10-18/night)

• →Take an early domestic flight from Kolkata to Bagdogra (IndiGo/Air India, book in advance ~£25-40)
• →Board a shared jeep from Bagdogra to Kalimpong (~£4-6, ~3 hours)
• →Check in to guesthouse and explore Kalimpong town on foot
• →Visit Zang Dhok Palri Phodang Monastery (free)
• →Browse the local market stalls for Tibetan crafts

After breakfast, take a shared jeep from Kalimpong's motor stand to Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim (~3 hours via the scenic NH10 route along the Teesta River). You'll need to obtain a Protected Area Permit (PAP) for Sikkim at the check post — UK nationals can get this at the border (~£1-2, or arrange in advance via the Sikkim government office in Kolkata). Check in to your hotel in Gangtok's MG Marg area and spend the afternoon strolling the pedestrianised main street.

🚌Shared jeep Kalimpong → Gangtok (~£4-6, departs from Kalimpong motor stand, ~3 hours).

🛏Hotel Sonam Delek, Cherry Resort, or Nettle & Fern Hostel (~£10-18/night)

• →Morning shared jeep from Kalimpong to Gangtok (~3 hours)
• →Obtain Sikkim Inner Line Permit / Protected Area Permit at check post (bring passport copies, ~£1-2)
• →Check in and walk MG Marg pedestrian zone
• →Visit Do-Dul-Chorten (Stupa) — free entry
• →Evening momos and Sikkimese cuisine at a local restaurant (~£3-4)

A full day exploring Gangtok's key sights. Hire a local taxi for a half-day sightseeing circuit (very affordable and easy to arrange at your hotel). Take the cable car for panoramic Himalayan views, visit the Rumtek Monastery (the most important Karma Kagyu monastery outside Tibet), and explore the Botanical Garden. The Research Institute of Tibetology houses a remarkable collection of Buddhist manuscripts and artefacts — note it's closed on Sundays.

🚌Local taxis for sightseeing (~£5-8 for a half-day shared taxi circuit). Cable car own ticket (~£2-3).

🛏Hotel Sonam Delek or similar (~£10-18/night)

• →Hire a shared/local taxi for morning sightseeing circuit (~£5-8)
• →Visit Hanuman Tok and Ganesh Tok viewpoints (free)
• →Visit Tashi View Point for Kanchenjunga panoramas (free)
• →Visit Rumtek Monastery or Banjhakri Waterfalls (~£1-2 entry)
• →Gangtok Cable Car ride (book own ticket, ~£2-3)
• →Visit Research Institute of Tibetology (closed Sundays, ~£0.50 entry)
• →Visit Do-Dul-Chorten and Botanical Garden (free/nominal entry)
• →Browse Directorate of Handicrafts & Handloom (closed Sundays, free)

An early start for a scenic drive from Gangtok south to Namchi, breaking the journey to visit the impressive Samdruptse Hill — home to a giant statue of Guru Padmasambhava — and the Char Dham complex, a replica of India's four sacred Hindu pilgrimage sites. Continue onwards to Pelling in West Sikkim, a peaceful hill town with outstanding views of Kanchenjunga on clear days. Shared jeeps connect these towns; expect a long but scenic travel day.

🚌Shared jeep Gangtok → Namchi (~£3-5). Shared jeep Namchi → Pelling (~£3-5). Alternatively, book a private taxi for the full day if timing is tight (~£20-25 for the vehicle).

🛏Hotel Garuda, Norbu Ghang Resort, or Pelling Hostel (~£10-18/night)

• →Shared jeep Gangtok to Namchi (~£3-5, ~2.5 hours)
• →Visit Samdruptse Hill with giant Guru Padmasambhava statue (entry ~£1)
• →Visit Char Dham complex in Namchi (entry ~£1)
• →Shared jeep Namchi to Pelling (~£3-5, ~2 hours)
• →Check in and enjoy Kanchenjunga views from Pelling

Leave Pelling in the morning and travel by shared jeep down to Jorethang, then change for a jeep heading to Darjeeling via Kalimpong road (~4-5 hours total). Alternatively, head back to Siliguri and take a shared jeep up the famous Hill Cart Road to Darjeeling. Arrive in Darjeeling in the afternoon — check in and take a gentle stroll along the Mall Road and Chowrasta (Observatory Hill area) to get your bearings. Sample Darjeeling's famous first-flush tea at a local tea house.

🚌Shared jeep Pelling → Jorethang (~£3-4), then Jorethang → Darjeeling (~£3-5). Total journey ~4-5 hours. Book early morning departures from the jeep stand.

🛏Zostel Darjeeling, Revolver Youth Hostel, Hotel Broadway, or Andy's Guest House (~£8-16/night)

• →Shared jeeps Pelling → Jorethang → Darjeeling (~£6-9, ~4-5 hours)
• →Check in to guesthouse and walk Mall Road
• →Visit Chowrasta and Observatory Hill (free)
• →Sample Darjeeling first-flush tea at a local tea house (~£1-2)

Set your alarm for 4am to join the crowd heading up to Tiger Hill for the famous sunrise over Kanchenjunga and, on clear days, Everest. Shared jeeps run from the town centre. After breakfast, explore Darjeeling's wealth of attractions: the famous Toy Train (UNESCO World Heritage Site), Ghoom Monastery, Batasia Loop war memorial, the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, the Japanese Peace Pagoda, and the Padmaja Naidu Zoological Park. End the day browsing the Tibetan Refugee Self Help Centre (closed Sundays).

🚌Shared jeep to Tiger Hill (~£2-3 return, arrange through your guesthouse). Walk or take cycle-rickshaws between town sights (~£0.50-1 each).

🛏Zostel Darjeeling or Andy's Guest House (~£8-16/night)

• →Pre-dawn shared jeep to Tiger Hill for Kanchenjunga sunrise (~£2-3 return)
• →Visit Ghoom Monastery (free)
• →Visit Batasia Loop war memorial (entry ~£0.50)
• →Toy Train joyride from Darjeeling Station (book via IRCTC or at station, ~£2-5)
• →Visit Japanese Temple and Peace Pagoda (free)
• →Visit Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park (entry ~£1)
• →Visit Himalayan Mountaineering Institute & Tenzing Rock (entry included with zoo ~£1)
• →Visit a working Tea Estate — Happy Valley Tea Estate is walkable (free/nominal entry)
• →Browse Tibetan Refugee Self Help Centre (closed Sundays, free)

Take a shared jeep from Darjeeling down to Bagdogra (~3 hours) and catch an afternoon domestic flight back to Kolkata (IndiGo/Air India, book in advance). Arrive in Kolkata by evening and check back in to a guesthouse near Sudder Street. Use the evening for any last-minute shopping or a farewell Bengali dinner.

🚌Shared jeep Darjeeling → Bagdogra (~£4-6, ~3 hours). Domestic flight Bagdogra → Kolkata (~£25-40 with IndiGo or Air India).

🛏Parasnath Guest House or similar, Sudder Street (~£8-14/night)

• →Morning shared jeep Darjeeling to Bagdogra (~3 hours, £4-6)
• →Domestic flight Bagdogra to Kolkata (~£25-40, book in advance)
• →Check in to Kolkata guesthouse
• →Last-minute shopping at New Market or Hatibagan
• →Farewell Bengali dinner — try Bhojohori Manna for authentic local cuisine (~£4-6)

Your final morning in Kolkata. If time allows before your onward flight or train, grab breakfast at the iconic Indian Coffee House on College Street, stroll through the flower market at Mullick Ghat, or revisit a favourite neighbourhood. Make your way to the airport or station for your onward journey. Pre-paid taxis from Sudder Street to the airport cost ~£5-7.

🚌Pre-paid taxi Sudder Street to airport (~£5-7) or metro to airport (~£0.80).

🛏No accommodation needed if departing today

• →Morning breakfast at Indian Coffee House, College Street (iconic, ~£1-2)
• →Optional: Mullick Ghat Flower Market for a stunning early-morning spectacle (free)
• →Optional: Final visit to a favourite Kolkata neighbourhood
• →Transfer to airport or station for onward journey (~£5-7 pre-paid taxi)