Collect hold luggage at NJP and take a shared jeep/bus or booked private taxi up to Darjeeling; journey takes ~3–4 hours on hill roads so expect arrival around midday. This places you at your base to start the afternoon sights.
Small but excellent high-altitude zoo and conservation centre (see red pandas); good introduction to Himalayan wildlife. Note opening hours roughly 9:00am–4:00pm, so arrive early in the afternoon.
Short visit to the mountaineering museum with historic climbing exhibits; open roughly 9:30am–4:30pm — time accordingly for a quick visit after the zoo.
Evening stroll along Mall Road for shops and cafés; Glenary's (bakery/café) or Sonam's Kitchen (popular momos and Tibetan food) are reliable for dinner. Check Glenary's opening times (often opens early morning and remains open till evening).
Pre-dawn pickup to watch the sunrise over Kanchenjunga — iconic Darjeeling experience. Expect very early start (approx 4:00am) and chilly weather; best to book a local jeep. Tiger Hill is open before dawn for sunrise viewing.
After returning from Tiger Hill, have a hearty English/continental breakfast and fresh bakery items at Glenary's or a local bakery on Chowrasta (opens from early morning).
Visit the Batasia Loop (rail spiral with views and war memorial) and nearby Ghoom Monastery (historic Buddhist monastery). Both are open during the day and are short visits with great photo ops.
Walk or take a short ride to the Happy Valley Tea Garden for a guided tea tasting and a look at tea processing (gardens usually open 9:00am–4:00pm; confirm tour slots).
Take a short heritage ride on the Toy Train (timings vary; book or check day's schedule at station). It's a classic, short experience rather than a full steam run.
Shop for tea and handicrafts on Ladenla Road/Mall Road; the Darjeeling ropeway (if running) gives valley views (ropeway timings usually daytime but subject to maintenance).
Cheap breakfast at a local café then decide between an easy local day (relax, museums, more tea gardens) or a longer day trip to Mirik/Kalimpong (both ~2–3 hours each way).
Drive to Kalimpong to see flowers, nurseries, Zang Dhok Palri Phodang monastery and local markets — good for floral/botanical interest (approx 2–3 hours each way).
Arrive back in Darjeeling; enjoy an inexpensive dinner and pack for onward travel. If you stayed in Darjeeling you’ll have low transfer costs to NJP next day.
Estimated per-person budget starting from the afternoon of 6 Sept (arrived NJP earlier same day) for a 2-night stay (6th afternoon to 8th morning return): covers basic shared transport, budget guesthouse, meals, local transport and modest entry fees. Estimates are approximate; book early for lower rates.
Estimated per-person budget starting from the afternoon of 6 Sept for a 3-night stay (6th afternoon to 9th morning return): includes an extra night, one optional day-trip, meals and local sightseeing. Prices shown are conservative, budget-traveller estimates — group splitting (taxi) lowers per-person costs.
Book guesthouse in advance (INR700–1000/night for budget rooms); reserve Tiger Hill jeep a day earlier; confirm Toy Train timings and Happy Valley tour slots on arrival. All times and costs are approximate — expect small seasonal variance.