Crossings
A two-week journey from Darjeeling can cross into Sikkim, Bhutan and Nepal, each with its own post. These are the six crossings our routes use, with what a US passport shows at each.
Photo: Soham Kundu / Pexels
1. Rangpo
About 85 km and under three hours from Bagdogra, at 333 m (1,090 ft) on the Teesta. Foreign guests show the Sikkim permit printed from e-FRRO; the post checks it but no longer issues it.
Photo: Boudhayan Bardhan / Unsplash
2. Melli
The Teesta crossing about 69 km from Bagdogra, used for Pelling, Yuksom and South Sikkim, with the same permit check as Rangpo. If a plan enters by Jorethang instead, we first confirm that foreign permits are accepted there.
Photo: Rutva Andharia / Unsplash
3. Phuentsholing
162 km and about 4.5 hours from Bagdogra. We time the crossing for weekday office hours, 09:00 to 17:00. Beyond the first checkpoint at Rinchending a guide is required, so your Bhutanese guide and car take over at the gate. Clocks move 30 minutes forward.
Photo: Rama Krushna Behera / Unsplash
4. Paro
Flights land only in daylight and good visibility, so nothing either side of a Paro flight is planned tight. Drukair and Bhutan Airlines link Paro with Delhi, Kolkata, Bagdogra, Bangkok and Kathmandu, and your visa approval is checked at the arrivals desk.
Photo: Rama Krushna Behera / Unsplash
5. Kakarbhitta
The Mechi bridge, 22 km from Bagdogra. Foreign guests take an Indian exit stamp at Raniganj in Panitanki and buy Nepal's visa on arrival at Kakarbhitta. On an Indian e-Visa you cannot re-enter India here. Nepal runs 15 minutes ahead.
Photo: Ujjwal Chettri / Unsplash
6. Bhadrapur
Chandragadhi airport sits 21 km past Kakarbhitta, and Buddha Air lists five flights a day to Kathmandu, about 45 minutes each. The runway was cut from 1,500 to 1,400 m after an overrun on January 2, 2026, so we confirm aircraft and times for your date.
Photo: Sushanta Rokka / Unsplash
Next step
At every post your driver or guide holds the permits, receipts and ID copies for the party, and you hand over originals when asked. Tell us which borders your route crosses, and the papers for each go into your final plan.
Photo: Ajay Kumar Roy / Unsplash