Arrive at Darjeeling from NJP or Bagdogra and check into your hotel with the rest of the day free. Take an evening walk through the Chowrasta or the local market, pick up some Darjeeling tea, and get a feel for the town before the busier days ahead.

Wake up at 4 AM and head to Tiger Hill, where the sunrise over Kanchenjunga is one of the most talked-about morning experiences in the eastern Himalayas. Stop at the Batasia Loop and Ghoom Monastery on the way back before breakfast. The afternoon covers the Darjeeling Zoo and its rare Himalayan species, the HMI Museum, a Ropeway ride over the valleys, the Japanese Temple, Peace Pagoda, a tea garden, and Tenzing Rock.

Spend the day on the quieter side of the Darjeeling hills, driving through Takdah with its old monastery and orchid centre, continuing to the wide valley views of Tinchuley, and ending at the Lamahatta Eco Park — a forest clearing with a small lake and walking trails that's far calmer than anything in the main town. The Triveni confluence adds a scenic riverside stop on the route.

Drive back toward NJP through Mirik, stopping at the lakeside for a last look at the hills before heading down to the plains. A short and easy end to four well-spent days in the mountains.