Himalaya only · Saver trips from ₹7,500
Try "Spiti", "snow leopard", "Char Dham", "homestay", "Tiger's Nest"
Route · Darjeeling & Kalimpong
Down from the Darjeeling ridge past Ghum and the Lopchu tea gardens, then a long descent through Peshok to the Teesta river at about 200 m and a climb up to Kalimpong. About 50 km and 2.5–3 hours, with shared jeeps every morning.
Photo: Bernard Gagnon · CC BY-SA 4.0 · CommonsEvery way to go
| How | Time | Cost, indicative 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Shared jeep | 2.5–3 h | ₹200–300 a seat |
| Shared jeep with change at Teesta Bazaar | 3–3.5 h | ₹200–350 in two legs |
| Private car | 2.5 h | ₹3,000–4,000 one way |
Shared jeeps for Kalimpong leave from the motor stand below Chowk Bazaar in Darjeeling, most often in the morning, and go when full. Buy your seat at the counter or from the line manager. The road drops about 1,800 m to the Teesta and climbs 1,000 m again, so sit by a window if you are prone to motion sickness. The last useful departures are usually by early afternoon.
If no jeep is leaving for Kalimpong, take one towards Teesta Bazaar or Gangtok and change at Teesta Bazaar, where jeeps from Siliguri to Kalimpong pass through the day. It takes longer but keeps you moving, and the riverside market has tea stalls and momo shops for the wait.
A reserved car lets you stop at the Lopchu tea gardens, the Peshok viewpoint over the meeting of the Teesta and Rangeet, and Lamahatta's prayer-flag park if you take the Takdah road. Agree the route and stops before you start. Prices rise during Puja and summer holidays.
At each end
Photo: Arne Hückelheim 2010-09-21 12:41:53 This is a … · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
The thunderbolt ridge, its tea and its two-foot railway
Photo: Bernard Gagnon · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Old wool-trade town of nurseries, monasteries and schools
Questions
About 50 km by road via Ghum, Peshok and Teesta Bazaar, which takes 2.5–3 hours. The road descends from about 2,000 m to the Teesta river at roughly 200 m and climbs back to Kalimpong at 1,250 m, so allow time for bends and traffic at Teesta Bazaar.
Yes. Shared jeeps leave from the motor stand below Chowk Bazaar, mostly in the morning, for about ₹200–300 a seat. If none is filling, take a jeep towards Teesta Bazaar and change there. Go before early afternoon, as later departures are uncertain.
A reserved car costs about ₹3,000–4,000 one way in 2026, more for an SUV, in peak weeks or with a detour via Lamahatta and Takdah. Agree the price, stops and luggage before you set off. A day trip there and back costs more, with waiting time.
It is used daily, but from June to September landslides can block the Peshok road or NH10 near Teesta Bazaar for hours. Travel in the morning, carry water and snacks, and keep a spare day. Check current status with your driver or hotel before setting off.
More in Darjeeling & Kalimpong
Plan with a local planner
We reply within one working day with a route, a sleeping-altitude profile and an itemised price in your tier. Change anything. Pay nothing until you are sure.