Try "Sandakphu", "toy train", "homestay", "Gangtok in April"
Route · Dooars
Siliguri to Samsing is about 85–95 km and two and a half to three hours by road via Sevoke, Malbazar, Chalsa and Metali, the last 15 km climbing through tea gardens to about 900 m.
| From | To | How | Time | Fare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SILIGURI | SAMSING | Reserved car | 2.5–3 h | ₹3,500–4,500 A C |
| SILIGURI | SAMSING | Bus and shared jeep | 3.5–5 h | ₹150–250 |
From our route pages. Fares change with fuel prices, season and demand: check current status before you travel.
The easiest way, especially with luggage. Past Chalsa the road narrows and climbs from the plains through Metali into the Samsing tea garden. Drivers often combine Samsing with Suntalekhola, Rocky Island and the Murti, so agree stops and price before you leave.
Take a bus from Siliguri to Malbazar or Chalsa, then a shared jeep or local service to Metali and Samsing. Jeeps up to Samsing run on no fixed timetable and fill slowly after midday. Start early from Siliguri.
Local tip: Carry cash from Siliguri or Malbazar; Samsing has very limited ATM and card options.
Questions people ask
About 90–95 km, roughly three hours by car via Sevoke, Malbazar and Chalsa. A reserved car costs ₹3,500–4,500 one way. Bagdogra is a little further. If you arrive on an afternoon train, plan to reach Samsing around dusk.
Yes, but slow. Buses run from Siliguri to Malbazar and Chalsa, and shared jeeps or local buses go on from Chalsa or Metali to Samsing a few times a day. Expect a wait. It works for backpackers with time, not for families on a short trip.
The climb from Metali is narrow and slides are common in heavy rain, and the Murti and Suntalekhola streams rise quickly. We avoid June to September. If you go, travel in daylight, keep a buffer day and check current status before you travel.
Easily. Lataguri is about 35–40 km from Samsing, roughly an hour by car via Chalsa. A common plan is two nights in Samsing or Suntalekhola, then two nights in Lataguri or Murti for safaris, returning to NJP from there.
Plan with a local
Where you want to go, how many of you, and roughly what you want to spend a day. A planner who lives in these hills replies within one working day with a route and every rupee written down.