Dooars and the Terai · tour package Nº 64109
Dooars forests and Darjeeling hills in 6 nights
Most people do the Dooars or Darjeeling. Doing both in one trip makes sense: Lataguri is about 2 hours from Siliguri, Darjeeling 3, and the climb between them takes you from 100 m in sal forest to 2,042 m in a single day, through tea gardens all the way. We start low, where the weather is warm and the animals are, and finish in the hills, so that the hardest driving is behind you by day 4.
Samsing, at about 750 m on the edge of the Neora Valley forest, breaks the climb. It is a tea-slope village with homestays, the Murti river and Rocky Island nearby. In Darjeeling we keep the classics: Tiger Hill for Kangchenjunga at sunrise, the toy train's Batasia Loop, the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute and a tea estate. Gorumara closes from mid-June to mid-September; check current status before you travel.
Fare chart
Pick your class
The same route at three price levels. The difference is the room, the car and the meals, never the safety or the permits.
Indicative 2026 fares. Punch a ticket to choose a class; your written quote follows.
Day by day
The timetable
- Day1
Siliguri to Lataguri
We meet you at Bagdogra, NJP or Siliguri and drive east over the Coronation Bridge at Sevoke and through the Mahananda forest and the Odlabari and Malbazar tea gardens. Lataguri is a one-street town at the gate of Gorumara National Park. After lunch, drive 15 km to the Murti river for the late afternoon, where the water runs shallow and clear in winter. Leave before dusk: elephants cross here in the evening. Back at the lodge, many places arrange a Rajbanshi or Adivasi dance programme for a small fee. Dinner is usually Bengali home food.
- Day2
Gorumara watchtowers
Gorumara's safaris take you by jeep to a watchtower, where you sit above a salt lick for an hour. In the morning we aim for Chukchuki, good for birds, and in the afternoon Jatraprasad or the Rhino Observation Point for gaur, elephants and sometimes rhinos. A jeep for up to six with a watchtower costs about ₹2,500–3,500, indicative 2026. Safaris are usually closed on Thursdays, and slots sell out at weekends; check current status before you travel. Between the two sessions, drive to Chalsa to see the tea gardens and the view over the Chapramari forest.
- Day3
Lataguri to Samsing
A short drive north through Chalsa and Matelli climbs into the tea slopes of Samsing, at about 750 m, where the air is noticeably cooler. Settle into your homestay and walk the garden roads in the afternoon. Drive down 5 km to Rocky Island, a bend in the Murti river full of boulders, for an hour by the water; entry or parking costs ₹20–50, indicative 2026. Suntalekhola, a forest stream and lodge area just above Samsing, makes a short extension. Samsing borders the Neora Valley forest, and the evening birdsong is the best of the trip.
- Day4
Up to Darjeeling
The longest drive. We go back down through Malbazar, west to Sevoke and Siliguri, then up the Rohini road to Kurseong and along Hill Cart Road through Sonada and Ghum to Darjeeling at 2,042 m. Expect 5–6 hours with a lunch stop in Kurseong, where you can buy tea direct from the estates. The road climbs about 1,900 m in 50 km after Siliguri, so carry a jacket in the car. Arrive by late afternoon and walk to Chowrasta, the Mall, for the evening. Darjeeling nights drop to 2–8 °C in winter.
- Day5
Tiger Hill and Darjeeling sights
Leave at about 4 am for Tiger Hill, 2,590 m, to watch the sun light up Kangchenjunga, 8,586 m, if the sky is clear. On the way back stop at Ghum Monastery and the Batasia Loop, where the toy train circles a war memorial. After breakfast, visit the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute and the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, sold on one ticket, and the Tibetan Refugee Self Help Centre, set up in 1959. Tiger Hill entry and car fees apply; check current status before you travel. Evening free around Chowrasta.
- Day6
Toy train and a tea estate
Take the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway's joy ride, about two hours from Darjeeling to Ghum and back with a stop at the Batasia Loop. The railway opened to Darjeeling in 1881 and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999. Book seats online well ahead; timings and fares change, so check current status before you travel. In the afternoon visit Happy Valley Tea Estate, just below town, for a garden walk and a tasting when it is open. Pick up loose-leaf tea from a reputable shop, not a roadside stall.
- Day7
Darjeeling to Siliguri
After breakfast drive down to Siliguri, about 3–3.5 hours via Ghum and Kurseong, or via Mirik if you want a last look at the hills and a lake. Budget travellers ride a shared jeep from the Darjeeling motor stand for ₹300–400 a seat, indicative 2026. For a flight from Bagdogra, choose one leaving after 2 pm; landslides and traffic can slow the hill road. Stop at a Kurseong tea shop on the way down if you missed it on day 4.
Included
- 6 nights in your chosen tier, twin sharing
- Breakfast and dinner daily
- Car for all transfers and sightseeing (shared jeep down on budget)
- One Gorumara safari on budget, two on comfort and premium
- Toy-train joy ride on comfort and premium
Not included
- Flights and trains
- Lunches
- Entry fees at Darjeeling sights and Tiger Hill
- Camera and guide fees at Gorumara
- Personal expenses and medical costs
Make it cheaper
- Travel in March, early April or November, when Darjeeling hotels often discount and Gorumara is open.
- Ride the shared jeep from Darjeeling down to Siliguri at ₹300–400 a seat instead of a reserved car at ₹3,500–5,000.
- Watch the toy train cross the Batasia Loop for the price of the garden entry instead of buying the joy ride.
Good to know
- Gorumara closes from mid-June to mid-September, and safaris are usually closed on Thursdays. Check current status before you travel.
- Darjeeling is cold from December to February, with nights near freezing; pack a down jacket and thermals.
- Kangchenjunga is clearest from October to early December and in March; spring haze and monsoon cloud often hide it.
- Book toy-train seats online as soon as you have dates; joy rides sell out in October, May and June.
- Samsing homestays are simple; hot water may come by the bucket.
The route
Where you could sleep
Stays on this route
Questions people ask
About this package
Can we combine the Dooars and Darjeeling in one trip
Yes. Lataguri is about 80 km from Siliguri and Darjeeling about 70 km, so both sit on the same gateway. We do the Dooars first, then climb through Samsing and Siliguri to Darjeeling. Six nights gives you two safari sessions and three full Darjeeling days without rushing. Four or five nights also works if you drop Samsing.
How long is the drive from Lataguri to Darjeeling
About 140–150 km and 5–6 hours, via Malbazar, Sevoke, Siliguri and the Rohini road to Kurseong, then Hill Cart Road. Some drivers go via Mirik. Traffic in Siliguri and roadworks on the hill road decide the time. We break the trip with a night at Samsing, so day 4 is the only long drive.
What is the best month for a Dooars and Darjeeling trip
March, early April, October after the parks reopen, and November. These months have Gorumara open, mild days in the plains and good mountain views in Darjeeling. December to February also work, but Darjeeling is cold. Avoid mid-June to mid-September, when the parks close and the hills are under monsoon cloud.
Is Samsing worth a night
We think so. Samsing sits at about 750 m on tea slopes at the edge of the Neora Valley forest, about 35 km from Lataguri. It breaks the long drive, is cooler than the plains, and has Rocky Island on the Murti river nearby. Homestays are simple and friendly. Skip it if you are short of time.
How much does this 6-night trip cost
From ₹16,500 per person on budget, ₹28,000 on comfort and ₹60,000 on premium, twin sharing, indicative 2026. That covers stays, breakfast and dinner, the car or shared jeeps, and one or two Gorumara safaris by tier. Flights, trains, lunches and most entry fees are extra. Prices rise in Puja week and over Christmas and New Year.
Do we need permits for the Dooars or Darjeeling
Indian nationals need no permits for either. You need safari tickets for Gorumara, with ID that matches the booking, and entry tickets for some Darjeeling sights. Foreign nationals also need no permit for this route; permits apply only if you add Sikkim. Check current status before you travel.
Is Tiger Hill worth the 4 am start
On a clear morning, yes: you see the first light on Kangchenjunga, 8,586 m, and on a very good day Everest far to the west. In haze or cloud you may see nothing. October to early December and March are the best bets. Crowds are heavy in peak season, so arrive early for a good spot.
Is the toy-train joy ride suitable for families
Yes. The joy ride runs about two hours from Darjeeling to Ghum and back, with a stop at the Batasia Loop. Children love it, and steam or diesel trains run depending on the service. Book online ahead; fares and timings change, so check current status before you travel.
What should we pack for both plains and hills
Layers. Lataguri in winter is 10–25 °C, while Darjeeling can be 2–9 °C. Pack cotton for the Dooars days, earth-coloured clothes for the safaris, and a warm jacket, cap and thermals for Darjeeling. Add mosquito repellent, walking shoes and motion-sickness tablets for the hill road.
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