This is a per-route taxi fare guide for Sikkim and Darjeeling in 2026. The rates below are approximate market ranges, based on our own experience quoting hundreds of bookings a year and cross-referencing what other Sikkim-registered operators charge. Actual quotes vary with season, fuel prices, group size and permit inclusions. Use these as planning benchmarks, not fixed prices. For an exact quote for your dates, contact us and we'll price it against current conditions.
How to read the rate tables
Each table below has two vehicle columns. Small car (Wagon-R, Sedan) suits 2 to 3 passengers with light luggage. SUV or Innova (Xylo, Innova, Innova Crysta, Ertica) suits 4 to 6 passengers with full luggage. The range in each cell spans standard-season to peak-season pricing. Standard is January-March and July-September. Peak is April-June and October-December. On a phone, swipe the table sideways to see both columns.
Airport and rail transfers
These are the entry points for almost every Sikkim trip. Bagdogra (IXB) is the main airport; New Jalpaiguri (NJP) is the main railhead. Both are near Siliguri in North Bengal. Prices are one-way for the whole vehicle.
| Route | Small car | SUV / Innova |
|---|---|---|
| Bagdogra ✈ → Gangtok (123 km, 4 hr) | ₹4,500-6,500 | ₹7,500-11,500 |
| Bagdogra → Pelling (135 km, 5 hr) | ₹5,000-7,000 | ₹7,500-12,000 |
| Bagdogra → Darjeeling (68 km, 3.5 hr) | ₹4,000-5,500 | ₹6,500-10,500 |
| Bagdogra → Kalimpong (76 km, 3 hr) | ₹4,000-5,500 | ₹6,500-10,500 |
| Bagdogra → Namchi (100 km, 4 hr) | ₹4,500-6,500 | ₹7,500-11,500 |
| Bagdogra → Ravangla (125 km, 5 hr) | ₹5,000-7,000 | ₹7,500-12,000 |
| NJP 🚉 → Gangtok (113 km, 4 hr) | ₹5,000-7,000 | ₹7,500-12,000 |
| NJP → Pelling (127 km, 5 hr) | ₹5,000-7,000 | ₹8,000-14,000 |
| NJP → Darjeeling (69 km, 3.5 hr) | ₹4,000-5,500 | ₹6,000-10,000 |
| NJP → Kalimpong (69 km, 3 hr) | ₹4,000-5,500 | ₹5,500-9,000 |
Gangtok day trips and local sightseeing
These are the classic Gangtok-based day trips. Prices are for the full day including the return to Gangtok. Tsomgo Lake day trip typically covers Baba Mandir and lake shore; Nathula (Wed, Thu, Sat, Sun, Indian passports only) is quoted separately by permit availability. Buddha Park and Char Dham is a South Sikkim day trip via Namchi.
| Route | Small car | SUV / Innova |
|---|---|---|
| Gangtok Grand full-day (city + monasteries + ropeway, 53 km) | ₹3,000-4,500 | ₹6,500-10,500 |
| (Half-day) Gangtok Himalayan Viewpoints + monastery tour (28 km) | ₹2,000-3,000 | ₹3,000-4,500 |
| (Half-day) Gangtok Cultural + Ropeway (25 km) | ₹2,000-3,000 | ₹3,000-4,500 |
| Spiritual Sikkim monastery tour (Rumtek + Ranka + Lingdum, 67 km) | ₹3,000-4,500 | ₹6,500-10,500 |
| Tsomgo Lake + Baba Mandir day tour (120 km) | ₹4,000-5,500 | ₹6,500-10,500 |
| Buddha Park + Char Dham (Namchi) day tour from Gangtok (168 km) | ₹4,500-6,500 | ₹6,500-10,500 |
North Sikkim: 2N and 3N vehicle packages
North Sikkim (Lachung, Lachen, Yumthang, Gurudongmar) is always sold as a multi-night vehicle package. The same vehicle and driver stay with you for the whole loop; individual legs are not quoted because you cannot swap vehicles mid-trip up there. Small cars are not permitted; the road above Chungthang requires SUV or larger. Rates below are the total vehicle cost for the full package, one vehicle end-to-end, standard-season and peak-season.
| North Sikkim package | Xylo / Innova | Innova Crysta |
|---|---|---|
| 2N Lachung + Yumthang (Gangtok → Lachung → Yumthang Valley + Zero Point → back to Gangtok) | ₹24,000-32,000 | ₹28,000-37,000 |
| 3N Lachen + Lachung + Gurudongmar + Yumthang (Gangtok → Lachen → Gurudongmar → Lachung → Yumthang → back to Gangtok) | ₹42,000-54,000 | ₹50,000-64,000 |
Inter-town transfers (Gangtok, Pelling, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Ravangla)
These are the point-to-point transfers between the main hill towns, one-way for the full vehicle. Every route below is a standard drive; add-on halts (like Rumtek monastery en route to Pelling) can be included on request without a separate charge for the vehicle itself.
| Route | Small car | SUV / Innova |
|---|---|---|
| Gangtok → Pelling (124 km, 5 hr) | ₹4,500-6,500 | ₹6,500-10,500 |
| Gangtok → Darjeeling (96 km, 4 hr) | ₹4,500-6,500 | ₹6,500-10,500 |
| Gangtok → Kalimpong (75 km, 3 hr) | ₹4,500-6,500 | ₹6,500-10,500 |
| Gangtok → Ravangla (64 km, 2.5 hr) | ₹4,500-6,500 | ₹6,500-10,500 |
| Pelling → Darjeeling (68 km, 4 hr) | ₹4,500-6,500 | ₹7,500-11,500 |
| Darjeeling → Bagdogra Airport (68 km, 3.5 hr) | ₹4,000-5,500 | ₹6,000-10,000 |
Old Silk Route (Zuluk, Nathang, Aritar)
East Sikkim's Silk Route loop typically covers Zuluk, Nathang Valley, Kupup, Baba Mandir and back to Gangtok. Requires a specific East Sikkim permit and a driver familiar with the loop road. October to November is the classic autumn window; December to February for snowfall.
| Route | Small car | SUV / Innova |
|---|---|---|
| Gangtok → Zuluk via Tsomgo Lake (93 km, 4.5 hr) | ₹4,500-6,500 | ₹9,000-14,000 |
| Zuluk → Gangtok (90 km, 4 hr) | ₹4,500-6,500 | ₹7,500-12,500 |
Darjeeling area day trips
| Route | Small car | SUV / Innova |
|---|---|---|
| Darjeeling sunrise + full-day heritage (Tiger Hill + Batasia + Ghoom + local, 48 km) | ₹4,000-5,500 | ₹6,500-10,500 |
| Darjeeling City sightseeing half-day (Mall + Chowrasta + zoo + tea estate, 22 km) | ₹4,000-5,500 | ₹6,500-10,500 |
| Darjeeling → Tinchuley + Lamahatta scenic day trip (68 km) | ₹5,000-7,000 | ₹6,500-10,500 |
| Darjeeling → Mirik + Nepal border hidden gems (100 km) | ₹4,000-5,500 | ₹6,500-10,500 |
| Kalimpong sightseeing (38 km, half-day) | ₹4,500-6,500 | ₹6,500-10,500 |
Pelling and West Sikkim day excursions
| Route | Small car | SUV / Innova |
|---|---|---|
| (Half-day) Pelling Skywalk + monastery experience (11 km) | ₹2,500-3,500 | ₹3,500-5,500 |
| Explore Pelling: Pemayangtse + Rabdentse + Sanga Choling + Skywalk (74 km, full day) | ₹4,500-6,500 | ₹6,500-10,500 |
| Yuksom heritage + scenic excursion from Pelling (90 km) | ₹4,500-6,500 | ₹6,500-10,500 |
| Buddha Park + Char Dham (Namchi) day tour from Pelling (137 km) | ₹4,500-6,500 | ₹6,500-10,500 |
South Sikkim day trips (Namchi and Ravangla)
Namchi and Ravangla are 60-100 km south of Gangtok. Char Dham temple complex at Namchi (with the 108-ft Shiva statue) and Buddha Park (Tathagata Tsal) at Ravangla with the 130-ft Buddha statue are the two anchors. These are typically done as one long day from Gangtok, or if you stay in Ravangla overnight, split across two easier half-days.
| Route | Small car | SUV / Innova |
|---|---|---|
| Char Dham + Buddha Park day trip from Ravangla (77 km) | ₹4,000-5,500 | ₹6,500-10,500 |
| Sadam scenic village excursion from Ravangla (84 km) | ₹4,500-6,500 | ₹6,500-10,500 |
| Buddha Park + Char Dham day tour from Gangtok (168 km, long day) | ₹4,500-6,500 | ₹6,500-10,500 |
Why peak and standard rates differ
Peak season (April-June and October-December) drives higher rates for three reasons. First, driver demand: our own transport team's cost from local drivers rises by about 19% in peak months versus off-season. Second, road-condition risk premiums: North Sikkim and Silk Route drivers price in weather-related detour and delay risk during shoulder-peak months (April rain, December snow). Third, our operational cost of holding vehicles in reserve for guaranteed availability during high-demand weeks. Standard rate applies from January to March and July to September. Peak rate applies from April to June and October to December.
What can add to the base fare
- Driver-night halt allowance: about ₹300 per night at destination (Lachung, Lachen, Zuluk, Yuksom). Not applied for same-day return trips or when the driver stays in the same town.
- Government permits: Nathula (₹2,000-3,000 vehicle fee plus ₹200 per head), North Sikkim PAP (₹1,500-2,000 per vehicle from 1 October 2026), Zuluk East Sikkim permit (around ₹500 per vehicle). See our permit guide for the full 2026 rate chart.
- Extra halts and detours: single-halt add-ons like Rumtek en route to Pelling or Char Dham en route to Ravangla are typically included. Multi-halt detours (Darjeeling to Gangtok via Buddha Park and Char Dham, for instance) are quoted separately at about 25% above the direct rate.
- Toll charges on West Bengal roads (Sevoke, Coronation Bridge): approximately ₹200-400 per vehicle round-trip.
- Airport and city parking: usually rolled into the rate, occasionally added for extended waits.
How these rates are maintained
The ranges above are approximate market rates for Sikkim taxi hire as of September 2026, based on our operator experience and cross-checked with what other Sikkim-registered operators quote. Individual quotes vary with season, fuel prices, group size, permit inclusions and vehicle availability on your dates. Use these as planning benchmarks. For your dates, request a formal quote and we'll price it against current conditions. The 1 October 2026 permit-portal changes will also affect the permit-fee line separate from the fare ranges above.
