Hello Fodorites,
we have about 6 days 5 nights from This December 22. We have to be back in Delhi latest by mod day 28 th December. We are in early stages of planning for Sikkim area, more questions on that later. But my question right now is can we squezze in couple of days in Kathmandu, or does it appear too ambitious? Will greatly appreciate your feedback.

Thanks

Not really practical to try this. First, there is no easy way to get from Kathmandu to Sikkim. You'd have to fly from Kathmandu to Kolkata to Bagdogra, then it's a 4 hours drive to Gangtok. In any case, I'd think you would want all of your 5 days in Sikkim. We loved our time there. Here are our photos from that trip: https://marlandc.smugmug.com/Sikkim-2010

Hi Bimal,

In my opinion 6 days, 5 night is not enough time to explore Sikkim and Kathmandu. Both place even you do all trip by flight. 6 days is enough for 1 place but when you are moving the place obviously you will spend the day and in final you don't have more than 3 days. that's why I would like to recommend you just chose one place wherever you went and make your best moment in there I think visiting more place in short time is kind strang full

Thanks Kathie and infopol. We have decided to do just Sikkim and Darjeeling area and leave Nepal for another time. We are reaching Bagdogra on December 20 and leaving From Bagdogra on December 28. We are trying to work out itinerary for those days, if you have suggestions. We will tak e it. Also can you please suggest how we should arrange transport for our trip, is it possible to reserve large enough vehicle for 9 people for the entire trip? Or we have to breakup each leg/each day?any ideas will be greatly appreciated.

I don't know about getting a large enough vehicle for 9 people. The roads are narrow and winding, and I don't know that I would want to travel in a large vehicle there. We had our hotel make transport arrangements for us, and that worked well. We stayed in Gangtok and Pelling during our time there, and went from telling to Darjeeling, making a circle: Bagdogra to Gangtok to Pelling to Darjeeling to Bagdogra.

Enjoy this beautiful and amazing part of the world.

BTW, since you are Indian, I don't know if you will require a special permit to enter Sikkim. We did need a special permit and stopped at Rangpo to get it on our way to Gangtok.

Thanks Kathie. Every one in our group has US passport. At this time of the year will we be able to go to Nathula pass and the lake?

Sorry, I don't know the conditions of the passes at this time of the year.

I agree that Darjeeling is a much better fit with Sikkim. Though I was closer than Gangtok I went to Darjeeling & Kalimpong by private car after staying a while in the countryside and it worked very well. It's a stupendous part of the world and I wish you cloud-free views.

Spend your last couple of days at the Glenburn Tea Estate, about 1.3 hours drive from Darjeeling & about 5 hours from Bagdogra airport. It is expensive but you will love every bit of your stay there. The vintage property is beautifully restored with fantastic views of Darjeeling on one side & Sikkim on the other, from the Bungalows.
The rooms are fabulously decorated, with a pantry that is manned by staff in white! The factory may not be running in December as the tea leaf plucking dwindles to a trickle, but the process is explained by a very able manager. It ends up with a great Tea Tasting session, where you can make your pick and purchase the packet from the Glenburn store!
You can hike to the Rungit river for a wonderful Barbeque at the riverfront campsite. You can take to the river, which runs gin clear here!
You can also walk to the Manjitar Bridge, which was originally made of Banyan Tree roots, the pictures of which you see in the old albums of Berne & Shephards, washed away by flash floods at the turn of the 20th century. Across the bridge lies Sikkim!
I stayed at the Glenburn in 2012 in the Old 1842c Guest House, with Burma teak floors, functioning fire place, resplendent washroom and an attached pantry, with piping hot meals. You will actually live the lavish life of a Tea Planter, of an era gone by!
Happy travels!

You wont be permitted to Nathula if they check your identity.

Also double check regarding the car with your operator or person you're hiring a car from - Sikkim permits only Sikkim number plate taxis to enter in restricted areas - so depending on your itinerary, this may warrant that you modify your itinerary. This doesn't apply to private (white number plate) cars. Regarding the 9 seater - you can get a tempo traveler but the comfort level is not as good as say, hiring two toyota innovas.

Personally, I'd spend the entire time in Sikkim, going by Kathie and others' advice. Have you read Sikkim: Requiem for a Himalayan Kingdom by Andrew Duff? It'd make you want to.

Thanks for he book recommendation, AroraV, I'll add it to my Sikkim collection.