Kolkata to Darjeeling & Gangtok via Siliguri: Cheapest Hill Station Packages Under ₹10,000

4N/5D Budget Itinerary Under ₹10,000 (Ex‑NJP/Bagdogra)

This structure is common across many “Darjeeling & Gangtok low‑cost” packages:​

Day 1: Kolkata → NJP/Bagdogra → Darjeeling

• Overnight train or morning flight from Kolkata (booked separately).

• Pickup at NJP/Bagdogra, drive to Darjeeling, evening at Mall Road / Chowrasta.

Day 2: Darjeeling Sightseeing

• Tiger Hill sunrise, Batasia Loop, Ghoom Monastery in the early morning.

• After breakfast: Padmaja Naidu Zoo, HMI, tea‑garden outer view, Japanese Temple, Peace Pagoda, and local markets, depending on package circuit.​

Day 3: Darjeeling → Gangtok

• Drive via scenic valleys and river views to Gangtok.

• Evening free at MG Marg, cafés and market.

Day 4: Gangtok Local + Tsomgo Lake (budget version)

• Half‑day Gangtok city tour: Tashi View Point / Ganesh Tok / Hanuman Tok, waterfalls, Flower Show, Do Drul Chorten and Institute of Tibetology.​

• Some under‑₹10k packages include shared Tsomgo Lake + Baba Mandir at extra cost; others keep it optional to control base price.

Day 5: Gangtok → NJP/Bagdogra → Kolkata

• Checkout, transfer back to NJP/Bagdogra for your return train or flight to Kolkata.

By using standard hotels, shared or small vehicles, and carefully limiting “included” meals and tickets, operators bring the land cost for this 4N/5D Darjeeling–Gangtok loop near the ₹7,000–₹10,000 window when starting from Siliguri/NJP.​

Where the Budget Is Spent

Market examples give a rough idea of where your money goes on sub‑₹10k Darjeeling–Gangtok tours:​

• Hotels (4 nights) – Budget/deluxe rooms in both Darjeeling and Gangtok, mostly on twin/triple sharing, often with daily breakfast and sometimes dinner.

• Transport – Non‑AC WagonR/Xylo or similar vehicles for all pickups, drops, and point‑to‑point sightseeing, priced for a minimum group size (often 6 pax) to keep per‑head cost low.

• Sightseeing – Standard circuits in both towns (Tiger Hill loop and city tour in Darjeeling; city tour and optional lake trip in Gangtok).

• Permits & basic taxes – Sikkim entry permits, some parking and driver allowances; high‑altitude add‑ons like Nathula typically cost extra.

Exclusions almost always include the Kolkata–NJP train or Kolkata–Bagdogra flight, most lunches, personal expenses, some paid entry tickets, and travel insurance.​

Choosing Between Darjeeling‑First or Gangtok‑First

Itineraries can run both ways:​

• Darjeeling → Gangtok: Good if you want to acclimatise at a slightly lower altitude first and enjoy the “classic hill‑station” vibe before moving to the more spread‑out Gangtok.

• Gangtok → Darjeeling: Works well if your main focus is Sikkim (Tsomgo Lake, Baba Mandir, maybe North Sikkim) and you want Darjeeling as a softer finish with tea gardens and toy train.

Cost differences are small; your decision should be based on priority sights and your Kolkata–NJP/Bagdogra arrival and departure timings.

Keeping the Total (Kolkata + Land) Under Control

To keep overall spend near ₹10,000–₹12,000 per person including Kolkata–NJP travel:

• Look for land‑only 4N/5D Darjeeling–Gangtok packages ex‑NJP/Bagdogra priced between ₹7,000–₹9,000 per head for groups.​

• Pair them with SL/3AC train tickets from Kolkata to NJP and back rather than flights during peak seasons.

• Avoid upgrading to higher‑end hotels unless essential; stick to standard/deluxe base category to retain “cheapest hill station package” positioning.​

• Treat Nathula Pass, toy‑train, ropeway and premium activities as optional add‑ons rather than must‑includes; this keeps the quoted base price low while still giving choice.

By combining a realistic land‑package ex‑Siliguri/NJP with smart train booking from Kolkata, travellers can enjoy a complete Darjeeling–Gangtok circuit without crossing the psychological ₹10k land‑budget line.