Way to travel
Solo and backpacking
Shared jeeps, dorms and a daily budget
The hills are easy for solo travellers: shared jeeps leave from fixed stands when full, and most homestays happily take one guest. Women travelling alone generally report feeling safe; use the usual care at night.
Permit tours to North Sikkim and Nathu La are sold per vehicle, so solo travellers save by joining shared group tours booked in Gangtok.
In brief
Shared jeeps from Siliguri, hostels and lodges in Darjeeling and Gangtok, the Singalila trek with a guide, and village buses. Possible on about ₹1,500 to ₹2,500 a day outside the Sikkim permit tours.
Trips
Solo and backpacking on a ticket
Shoestring
Darjeeling5 nights · Shared jeeps
Darjeeling and the forest villages by jeep
Darjeeling · Lepchajagat · Jorepokhri
₹12,000per personabout ₹2,000 a day
Shoestring
Darjeeling2 nights · Shared jeeps
Darjeeling long weekend on a budget
Darjeeling
₹6,000per personabout ₹2,000 a day
Shoestring
Darjeeling3 nights · Mixed
Darjeeling ridge and Ghoom on a shoestring
Darjeeling · Ghoom
₹8,000per personabout ₹2,000 a day
Shoestring
Darjeeling6 nights · Shared jeeps
A student week in Darjeeling, Bijanbari and Ghoom
Darjeeling · Bijanbari · Ghoom
₹13,500per personabout ₹1,950 a day
Shoestring
Kurseong & Mirik3 nights · On foot
Dow Hill and Chimney forest walks
Kurseong · Chimney
₹7,000per personabout ₹1,750 a day
Shoestring
Kurseong & Mirik5 nights · Mixed
Kurseong, Sittong and Mirik on a shoestring
Kurseong · Sittong · Mirik
₹11,500per personabout ₹1,900 a day
Shoestring
Kurseong & Mirik2 nights · Shared jeeps
Kurseong: toy train, Netaji and tea
Kurseong
₹5,500per personabout ₹1,850 a day Shoestring Kurseong & Mirik3 nights · Shared jeeps Three nights inside Makaibari tea estate Makaibari ₹7,500per person
about ₹1,900 a day Shoestring Kurseong & Mirik3 nights · Mixed Sittong orange village and Ahaldara Sittong ₹8,000per person
about ₹2,000 a day
Shoestring
Kalimpong4 nights · Shared jeeps
Lava and Rishyap by shared jeep
Kalimpong · Lava · Rishyap
₹10,000per personabout ₹2,000 a day
Shoestring
Kalimpong5 nights · Mixed
Lolegaon and Charkhole backpack loop
Kalimpong · Lolegaon · Charkhole
₹13,000per personabout ₹2,150 a day
Shoestring
Kalimpong3 nights · Shared jeeps
Sillery Gaon and Pedong homestays
Sillery Gaon · Pedong
₹8,000per personabout ₹2,000 a day
Shoestring
Kalimpong2 nights · Shared jeeps
Kalimpong town and Deolo on a shoestring
Kalimpong
₹5,500per personabout ₹1,850 a day
Shoestring
Singalila5 nights · On foot
The classic Sandakphu trek on a shoestring
Maneybhanjan · Tumling · Kalipokhri · Sandakphu
₹12,500per personabout ₹2,100 a day
Shoestring
Singalila3 nights · Mixed
Ride up to Sandakphu, walk down to Srikhola
Maneybhanjan · Sandakphu · Srikhola
₹9,500per personabout ₹2,400 a day
Shoestring
Singalila2 nights · On foot
Dhotrey and Tonglu on a shoestring
Dhotrey · Tonglu
₹7,000per personabout ₹2,350 a day
Shoestring
Singalila8 nights · On foot
The full Singalila Ridge on a shoestring
Maneybhanjan · Tumling · Kalipokhri · Sandakphu
₹19,000per personabout ₹2,100 a day
Shoestring
Gangtok7 nights · Shared jeeps
A backpacker week in East Sikkim
Gangtok · Rumtek · Aritar
₹16,000per personabout ₹2,000 a day
Shoestring
Gangtok3 nights · Shared jeeps
Gangtok and Tsomgo Lake on a shoestring
Gangtok
₹8,000per personabout ₹2,000 a day
Shoestring
Gangtok2 nights · Shared jeeps
A Gangtok long weekend on a budget
Gangtok
₹5,000per personabout ₹1,650 a day
Shoestring
Gangtok5 nights · Mixed
Zuluk and the Silk Route by shared jeep
Gangtok · Rongli · Zuluk · Aritar
₹12,000per personabout ₹2,000 a day
Shoestring
North Sikkim3 nights · Shared jeeps
Three nights with a Lepcha family in Dzongu
Dzongu
₹8,500per personabout ₹2,100 a day
Shoestring
North Sikkim2 nights · Shared jeeps
Gurudongmar and Yumthang on a shared tour
Lachen · Lachung
₹7,000per personabout ₹2,350 a day
Shoestring
North Sikkim2 nights · Shared jeeps
Kabi, Phodong and Singhik: Sikkim's old story
Phodong · Singhik
₹5,500per personabout ₹1,850 a day
Shoestring
North Sikkim5 nights · Shared jeeps
Teesta valley by shared jeep: Phodong to Dzongu
Phodong · Singhik · Dzongu · Mangan
₹12,000per personabout ₹2,000 a day
Shoestring
West & South Sikkim4 nights · Shared jeeps
Ravangla and Namchi on a shoestring
Ravangla · Namchi
₹10,000per personabout ₹2,000 a day
Shoestring
West & South Sikkim5 nights · Shared jeeps
Uttarey and Dentam village stay
Pelling · Dentam · Uttarey
₹12,500per personabout ₹2,100 a day
Shoestring
West & South Sikkim5 nights · Shared jeeps
Pelling and Yuksom by shared jeep
Pelling · Yuksom
₹12,000per personabout ₹2,000 a day
Value
West & South Sikkim7 nights · Mixed
Sacred lakes and monasteries of West Sikkim
Pelling · Khecheopalri · Yuksom · Tashiding
₹24,000per personabout ₹3,000 a day
Shoestring
Dooars5 nights · Mixed
Jaldapara, Buxa and Jayanti on a budget
Jaldapara National Park · Buxa · Jayanti
₹11,000per personabout ₹1,850 a day
Shoestring
Dooars3 nights · Mixed
Buxa Fort and Jayanti on foot
Buxa · Jayanti
₹7,000per personabout ₹1,750 a day
Shoestring
Dooars2 nights · Mixed
Gorumara forest weekend on a shoestring
Lataguri
₹5,000per personabout ₹1,650 a day
Shoestring
Dooars6 nights · Shared jeeps
Dooars rhino loop by train and jeep
Lataguri · Samsing · Jaldapara National Park
₹13,000per personabout ₹1,850 a day
Places
