Affordable trips
A cheaper trip, not a worse one
Same routes, same permits, same care. You save on the things that do not change the trip: shared jeeps on transfer days, the quieter months, homestays and government lodges, and two or three bases instead of five.
Where the money goes
Five ways we keep the price down
- Shared jeeps on transfer daysA seat from NJP or Siliguri to Darjeeling, Kalimpong or Gangtok costs a fraction of a reserved car. We keep the car for sightseeing days, when it earns its price.
- The quieter monthsLate November to early December and February give clear mountains at lower rates. Peak weeks are the Puja holidays, Christmas to New Year and April to mid-June.
- Homestays and government lodgesVillage homestays usually include dinner and breakfast. WBTDC, forest department and Sikkim Tourism lodges sit in some of the best spots at fair prices.
- Fewer basesEvery hotel change costs half a day and a transfer. Two or three bases with day trips is cheaper and calmer than a new town every night.
- What is freeMonasteries, the Mall and Chowrasta, MG Marg, tea-garden roads, village trails and most viewpoints cost nothing. We tell you which tickets are worth buying.
Darjeeling rate boardindicative, 2026
- Shared jeep NJP / Siliguri → Darjeeling₹250–400 a seat
- Reserved car NJP / Bagdogra → Darjeeling₹3,500–4,500
- Tiger Hill, Batasia and Ghum car, early morning₹1,500–2,200 per car
- Toy-train joyride Darjeeling–Ghum₹800–1,600 (diesel to steam)
- Budget hotel or WBTDC lodge, Darjeeling₹1,800–3,500 per room night
- Village homestay with all meals₹1,500–2,800 per person per night
- Sandakphu Land Rover from Manebhanjan, return₹5,500–7,500 per vehicle
- Plate of momos₹60–150
Fares and fees change with fuel prices, season and local union rates. Check current rates before you travel.
Tour packages
Budget fares, lowest per night first
Prices are per person, twin sharing, from Bagdogra, NJP or Siliguri. Each package lists exactly what its budget fare includes.
Under ₹15,000
per person, budget fare
per person, twin₹12,000
per person, twin₹6,500
per person, twin₹14,000
per person, twin₹13,000
per person, twin₹13,500
per person, twin₹13,500
per person, twin₹14,000
per person, twin₹8,500
per person, twin₹11,500
per person, twin₹11,500
per person, twin₹14,500
per person, twin₹12,000
per person, twin₹6,000
per person, twin₹12,000
per person, twin₹6,000
per person, twin₹12,000
per person, twin₹12,500
per person, twin₹12,500
per person, twin₹9,500
per person, twin₹9,500
per person, twin₹6,500
per person, twin₹13,000
per person, twin₹13,000
per person, twin₹13,000
per person, twin₹13,000
per person, twin₹10,000
per person, twin₹10,000
per person, twin₹10,000
per person, twin₹13,500
per person, twin₹13,500
per person, twin₹13,500
per person, twin₹7,000
per person, twin₹10,500
per person, twin₹14,000
per person, twin₹7,000
per person, twin₹7,500
per person, twin₹12,500 Build your own route Tell us your dates, who is coming and what you want to see. We draw the route and price it three ways. Start Working to a budget? Give us a number per person. We will tell you honestly what it buys, and where to save. Start Ask someone who has been A first plan and price within one working day. No payment to start. Start
₹15,000 – 25,000
per person, budget fare
per person, twin₹17,500
per person, twin₹21,000
per person, twin₹16,000
per person, twin₹24,000
per person, twin₹16,500
per person, twin₹20,000
per person, twin₹17,500
per person, twin₹20,500
per person, twin₹15,000
per person, twin₹21,000
per person, twin₹16,000
per person, twin₹19,500
per person, twin₹19,500
per person, twin₹19,500
per person, twin₹17,000
per person, twin₹17,000
per person, twin₹21,000
per person, twin₹21,000
per person, twin₹15,500 Build your own route Tell us your dates, who is coming and what you want to see. We draw the route and price it three ways. Start Working to a budget? Give us a number per person. We will tell you honestly what it buys, and where to save. Start Ask someone who has been A first plan and price within one working day. No payment to start. Start
₹25,000 and above
per person, budget fare
per person, twin₹28,000
per person, twin₹33,500
per person, twin₹26,000
per person, twin₹39,000
per person, twin₹31,000
per person, twin₹47,000
per person, twin₹37,000
per person, twin₹37,500
per person, twin₹33,500
per person, twin₹34,000
per person, twin₹36,500
per person, twin₹36,500
per person, twin₹26,000 Build your own route Tell us your dates, who is coming and what you want to see. We draw the route and price it three ways. Start Working to a budget? Give us a number per person. We will tell you honestly what it buys, and where to save. Start Ask someone who has been A first plan and price within one working day. No payment to start. Start
Land by land
What things cost on the ground
Indicative 2026 rates for shared jeeps, cars, rooms and tickets, and the one tip per land that saves the most.
Darjeeling Hills
Use shared jeeps for every transfer day; a seat costs a tenth of a reserved car for the same road.
Darjeelingindicative, 2026
- Shared jeep NJP / Siliguri → Darjeeling₹250–400 a seat
- Reserved car NJP / Bagdogra → Darjeeling₹3,500–4,500
- Tiger Hill, Batasia and Ghum car, early morning₹1,500–2,200 per car
- Toy-train joyride Darjeeling–Ghum₹800–1,600 (diesel to steam)
- Budget hotel or WBTDC lodge, Darjeeling₹1,800–3,500 per room night
- Village homestay with all meals₹1,500–2,800 per person per night
- Sandakphu Land Rover from Manebhanjan, return₹5,500–7,500 per vehicle
- Plate of momos₹60–150
Fares and fees change with fuel prices, season and local union rates. Check current rates before you travel.
Kalimpong and Neora
Take a shared jeep from Siliguri to Kalimpong and a reserved car only from Kalimpong onwards, which can save ₹2,000 or more per car.
Kalimpongindicative, 2026
- Shared jeep Siliguri → Kalimpong₹200–300 a seat, indicative, 2026
- Reserved car NJP or IXB → Kalimpong₹3,000–4,500 per car, indicative, 2026
- Shared jeep Kalimpong → Lava₹100–150 a seat, indicative, 2026
- Full-day Kalimpong sightseeing car₹2,500–3,500 per car, indicative, 2026
- Village homestay with meals₹1,200–2,200 per person a night, indicative, 2026
- Neora Valley entry, vehicle and guideAbout ₹1,500–2,500 for a small group, indicative, 2026
- Thali or thukpa in a local eatery₹100–250, indicative, 2026
- Tandem paragliding at Deolo₹2,500–4,000, indicative, 2026
Fares and fees change with fuel prices, season and local union rates. Check current rates before you travel.
Gangtok and East Sikkim
Book the Nathu La permit for a Wednesday or Thursday, when quotas are less contested than at weekends.
Gangtokindicative, 2026
- Shared jeep Siliguri/NJP → Gangtok₹400–600 a seat
- Reserved car Bagdogra → Gangtok₹4,000–7,500 per car
- Tsomgo + Baba Mandir reserved vehicle₹4,500–6,500 per vehicle
- Tsomgo + Nathu La shared seat₹1,500–2,500 per person
- Silk Route vehicle, 2–3 days₹14,000–20,000 per vehicle
- Budget hotel near MG Marg₹1,800–4,500 per room night
- Village homestay, Zuluk or Aritar, with meals₹1,500–2,500 per person per night
- Momos or thukpa in Gangtok₹60–150 a plate
Fares and fees change with fuel prices, season and local union rates. Check current rates before you travel.
North Sikkim
Book a group package for the Lachen–Lachung loop and a private car only for the Gangtok sightseeing days.
North Sikkimindicative, 2026
- Shared jeep Siliguri → Gangtok₹350–500 a seat, indicative, 2026
- Reserved car NJP/Bagdogra → Gangtok₹3,500–5,500 per car, indicative, 2026
- Group package Gangtok–Lachung, 1N/2D₹3,500–5,500 per person, all meals, indicative, 2026
- Group package Lachen + Lachung, 2N/3D₹6,000–9,000 per person, all meals, indicative, 2026
- Private car Gangtok–Lachen–Lachung, 2N/3D₹16,000–22,000 per car, indicative, 2026
- Zero Point add-on from Yumthang₹3,000–4,500 per vehicle, indicative, 2026
- Dzongu homestay with all meals₹2,000–3,500 per person a night, indicative, 2026
Fares and fees change with fuel prices, season and local union rates. Check current rates before you travel.
West and South Sikkim
Arrive in Siliguri by mid-morning so you can catch a shared jeep instead of paying for a reserved car.
Pellingindicative, 2026
- Shared jeep Siliguri → Gyalshing / Pelling₹400–550 a seat, indicative 2026
- Reserved car NJP / Bagdogra → Pelling₹5,500–7,500 per car, indicative 2026
- Shared jeep Gangtok → Gyalshing₹350–500 a seat, indicative 2026
- Pelling half-day sightseeing car₹1,500–2,500 per car, indicative 2026
- Village homestay with meals₹1,200–2,000 per person per night, indicative 2026
- Budget hotel room, Pelling₹1,500–3,000 per room night, indicative 2026
- Monastery and site entry fees₹20–100 each, indicative 2026
- Thali or momo meal₹150–350, indicative 2026
Fares and fees change with fuel prices, season and local union rates. Check current rates before you travel.
Bhutan
Travel in a group of four to six, because the car and guide cost the same per day for two people or six.
Bhutanindicative, 2026
- SDF, Indian nationals₹1,200 per person per night; children 6–12 half, under 6 free
- SDF, most international visitorsUS$100 per person per night to 31 Aug 2027, plus US$40 visa
- Bus Siliguri → Jaigaon₹150–300 a seat
- Car with driver₹4,500–6,500 a day
- Licensed guide₹2,000–3,000 a day
- Certified 3-star hotel₹3,000–6,000 per room night
- Farmhouse homestay with meals₹2,500–4,500 per room night
- Local set lunch₹250–450 per person
Fares and fees change with fuel prices, season and local union rates. Check current rates before you travel.
Dooars and the Terai
Book safari tickets on the official forest department portal or at the park counter, never from a stranger at the gate who offers seats at double price.
Dooarsindicative, 2026
- Shared jeep or bus Siliguri → Lataguri₹100–200 a seat, indicative 2026
- Reserved car Siliguri → Lataguri₹2,800–3,800, indicative 2026
- Gorumara jeep safari with watchtower₹2,500–3,500 per jeep (up to 6), indicative 2026
- Jaldapara jeep safari₹2,800–4,000 per jeep (up to 6), indicative 2026
- Forest or tourism lodge room₹1,500–4,000 a night, indicative 2026
- Day hire of a car for local sightseeing₹2,500–3,500, indicative 2026
- Thali in a roadside hotel₹100–200, indicative 2026
- Kanchankanya Express, Sealdah → New Mal (sleeper)₹400–550, indicative 2026
Fares and fees change with fuel prices, season and local union rates. Check current rates before you travel.
Budget stays
Clean rooms at honest prices
Government lodges, homestays and budget hotels we would send our own families to, each with one honest line about what to watch out for.
Read before you go
Budget guides
Shared jeeps are how the Darjeeling hills move. Ten seats, a fixed fare per seat and a departure when full: ₹250–400 from …
budgetDarjeeling Darjeeling on a budget: a good trip for lessA careful traveller can do Darjeeling for about ₹1,800–3,000 a person a day, indicative 2026. The savings come from shared jeeps instead …
budgetKalimpong Kalimpong, Lava and the villages by shared jeepShared jeeps link Siliguri, Kalimpong, Lava, Lolegaon, Pedong, Darjeeling and Gangtok for a fraction of a reserved car, often ₹60–300 a seat, …
budgetKalimpong Kalimpong on a budget: a good trip for lessKalimpong is already one of the cheapest hill bases in the eastern Himalaya. A careful traveller can do it for about ₹1,800–3,000 …
budgetGangtok Gangtok on a budget: a good trip for lessA careful traveller can do Gangtok for about ₹2,000–3,000 a person a day, indicative 2026. The savings come from four habits: shared …
budgetGangtok Gangtok shared taxi stands: which one goes whereGangtok has no single bus station. Shared taxis to Siliguri, NJP, Kalimpong and Darjeeling use the Deorali stand on NH10; North Sikkim …
budgetNorth Sikkim North Sikkim group tour or private car: real costsFor one or two travellers, a shared group package from Gangtok is the cheapest way into North Sikkim, at about ₹6,000–9,000 per …
budgetNorth Sikkim North Sikkim on a budget: where the money goesA careful traveller can see Lachung and Yumthang for about ₹8,000–10,000 per person from Siliguri, and both valleys for about ₹11,000–14,000, indicative …
budgetPelling Pelling and West Sikkim on a budgetYou can see Pelling, Yuksom and Khecheopalri well for about ₹2,000–2,500 a day per person, indicative 2026, excluding travel to Siliguri. The …
budgetPelling West Sikkim by shared jeep: routes, fares and timingsShared jeeps are the cheapest and most local way around West and South Sikkim. A seat from Siliguri to Pelling costs about …
budgetBhutan Bhutan on a Budget by Road from SiliguriThe cheapest way into Bhutan from India is by road: a ₹150–300 bus or a train to Hasimara from Siliguri, then a …
budgetBhutan Bhutan Trip Cost for Indians: A 6-Night BreakdownA 6-night Bhutan trip from Siliguri costs an Indian couple about ₹47,000–71,000 each if they book every piece themselves, and a group …
budgetDooars Dooars on a budget: safaris and forests for lessThe Dooars can cost ₹1,800–3,000 a day per person if you ride the trains, sleep in government forest and tourism lodges, share …
budgetDooars Dooars trip cost from Kolkata, line by lineA 3-night Dooars trip from Kolkata costs about ₹9,000–12,000 per person on a frugal plan with the overnight train, ₹18,000–25,000 with a …
Build your own route Tell us your dates, who is coming and what you want to see. We draw the route and price it three ways. Start Working to a budget? Give us a number per person. We will tell you honestly what it buys, and where to save. Start Ask someone who has been A first plan and price within one working day. No payment to start. StartQuestions people ask
Travelling for less
What is the cheapest month to visit Darjeeling and Sikkim?
Hotel rates are usually lowest in the monsoon (July to mid-September) and from mid-January to February, outside the Christmas and New Year week. The monsoon brings landslides and hidden mountains; late January and February bring cold, clear days and lower prices. Late November and early December balance price and views well.
How much does a budget trip to Darjeeling cost?
A 3-night Darjeeling trip using a shared jeep from NJP or Siliguri, a clean budget hotel or homestay and local sightseeing by shared taxi can cost roughly ₹7,000 to ₹10,000 per person, twin sharing, plus food. A reserved car for sightseeing and a mid-range hotel roughly doubles that. These are indicative figures; check current rates.
Is a shared jeep safe for families?
Shared jeeps are how most locals travel, on fixed routes from fixed stands, with drivers who know these roads. They are cramped, with ten or eleven passengers and luggage on the roof, so for small children, older travellers or long routes a reserved car is more comfortable. Ask for the front seats.
Are homestays cheaper than hotels?
Usually, once meals are counted. Many village homestays charge a per-person rate that includes dinner and breakfast, often less than a budget hotel room plus meals in town. In Darjeeling and Gangtok town, budget hotels can be cheaper than homestays in peak weeks, so we compare both for your dates.
What can we see for free?
Most monasteries, the Mall and Chowrasta in Darjeeling, MG Marg in Gangtok, many viewpoints and walks, village trails, haats and tea-garden roads cost nothing. Fees apply to the zoo and mountaineering institute, the Batasia Loop, ropeways, Tiger Hill vehicle entry, national parks and toy-train rides.
Does the cheapest package skip anything important?
Our budget fares keep the same route, safety and permits as the comfort fare. The differences are hotel class, whether transfers are shared or reserved, the vehicle and how many meals are included. Each package lists exactly what its budget fare covers.