A 2-day Digha and Mandarmani beach tour from Kolkata is the easiest seaside getaway in West Bengal, covering roughly 185 km each way along the smooth NH16 (Kolkata–Chennai highway) and Contai (Kanthi) link road in about 4 to 4.5 hours by car. Our standard package picks you up from your Kolkata doorstep, covers Mandarmani’s drive-on beach on day one and the bustling Digha sea-front plus nearby attractions on day two, and drops you home the next evening, with the whole road trip handled by an experienced driver who knows the coastal route.
This page lays out the full day-wise itinerary, exactly what is included and excluded, indicative per-cab and per-person price ranges for 2026, and the best time of year to go. Whether you are a family of four, a group of college friends, or a couple wanting a quick break, the twin-beach combination of laid-back Mandarmani and lively Digha works beautifully over a single weekend.
Why combine Digha and Mandarmani in one trip
Digha and Mandarmani sit only about 14 km apart on the East Medinipur coast, so it makes little sense to visit just one. They have very different personalities:
- Mandarmani is quieter, with a long, hard-packed beach where you can actually drive a car right up to the waterline at low tide. It is known for red crabs, fresh seafood shacks and beach resorts with private stretches of sand. Great for relaxing.
- Digha is the classic, busy Bengali sea-resort town with New Digha and Old Digha sea-faces, a marine aquarium, the Marine Drive connecting it to Mandarmani, and plenty of shopping, snacks and crowd energy. Great for sightseeing and family fun.
Doing both over two days gives you a calm first evening and an activity-filled second day, all within a tight, fuel-efficient driving loop from Kolkata. If you would rather build a longer coastal trip, our Kolkata tour packages can extend this toward Tajpur, Shankarpur and Udaipur as well.
The route from Kolkata
From central Kolkata the drive runs out via Kona Expressway and the Bombay Road / NH16 corridor toward Kolaghat, then onto the Nandakumar–Contai (Kanthi) road and finally the coastal access roads to Mandarmani and Digha. Kolaghat, roughly the halfway mark at about 80 km, is the usual breakfast or tea stop, famous for its riverside dhabas and fish thalis.
- Kolkata to Mandarmani: approx. 175 km, 4 to 4.5 hours
- Kolkata to Digha: approx. 185 km, 4 to 4.5 hours
- Mandarmani to Digha (via Marine Drive): approx. 35 km by road, scenic 1 to 1.5 hour drive
Most travellers prefer a sedan or SUV for this distance for comfort over the long haul. If you only need the drop and pick-up handled and want to plan the stay yourself, an outstation cab from Kolkata is the flexible option.
Day-by-day itinerary
The itinerary below is the standard 2-day, 1-night plan. Timings are indicative and the driver can adjust the morning departure to suit your family.
| Time | Day 1 — Kolkata to Mandarmani |
|---|---|
| 6:30 AM | Pickup from your Kolkata residence; depart via NH16 |
| 8:30 AM | Breakfast / tea break near Kolaghat (own cost) |
| 11:00 AM | Arrive Mandarmani; check in to resort, freshen up |
| 1:00 PM | Seafood lunch — try fresh prawns, pomfret and crab |
| 4:00 PM | Beach time: red crabs, low-tide drive-on sands, sunset |
| 8:00 PM | Dinner and overnight stay at Mandarmani |
| Time | Day 2 — Mandarmani, Digha & return |
|---|---|
| 6:00 AM | Optional sunrise walk on Mandarmani beach |
| 9:00 AM | Breakfast, check out |
| 10:00 AM | Drive to Digha via scenic Marine Drive |
| 11:00 AM | New Digha sea-face, Marine Aquarium & Research Centre, Amrabati Park |
| 1:30 PM | Lunch at Digha; shopping for shells, cashews and dry fish |
| 3:30 PM | Old Digha sea-face / Chandaneswar Temple option, then depart |
| 8:00 PM | Drop back at your Kolkata home |
Families with more time often add a half-day to cover Tajpur (a sleepy, less-crowded beach about 10 km from Mandarmani) or the Talsari beach just across the Odisha border near Digha. Let us know and we will reshape the plan.
Indicative price range (2026)
We quote two ways: a cab-only fare (transport, fuel, driver, tolls covered — you arrange your own stay and meals) and an all-inclusive per-person package (cab plus one night’s stay on twin/triple sharing plus breakfast). Choose whichever suits your group size.
| Option | Car / Basis | Indicative 2-day range |
|---|---|---|
| Cab only | Sedan (Dzire/Etios, up to 4 pax) | Rs 7,500 – Rs 10,000 |
| Cab only | SUV (Ertiga/Innova, up to 6–7 pax) | Rs 11,000 – Rs 15,000 |
| All-inclusive | Standard resort, per person (min 2) | Rs 3,500 – Rs 5,500 / person |
| All-inclusive | Premium beachfront resort, per person | Rs 6,000 – Rs 9,000 / person |
Note: all fares are indicative 2026 ranges and vary by season, fuel rates, traffic, exact car model, resort category and number of travellers. Long weekends and Durga Puja dates cost more; mid-week off-season is cheapest.
Ready to lock your dates? You can book your Digha–Mandarmani trip now and we will confirm the car and resort tier on call.
What is included
- Air-conditioned cab for the full 2-day round trip with experienced driver
- Fuel, road tolls, parking and inter-state taxes
- Driver night halt and allowances
- Doorstep pickup and drop within Kolkata city limits
- 1 night accommodation on twin/triple sharing (all-inclusive package only)
- Breakfast on day 2 (all-inclusive package only)
- Coordination for sightseeing at Mandarmani and Digha
What is excluded
- Lunch, dinner and any meals not specified above
- Entry tickets (Marine Aquarium, Amrabati Park, Science Centre, etc.)
- Beach activities, water sports, banana-boat or ATV rides
- Any extra sightseeing beyond the itinerary (Tajpur, Shankarpur, Talsari) unless pre-agreed
- Personal expenses, tips and shopping
- AC usage charges in some hill/coastal-resort properties
- Anything not listed under inclusions
Best time to visit Digha and Mandarmani
The coast is enjoyable for most of the year, but the experience changes by season:
- October to February (best): Pleasant 18–28°C weather, calm sea, clear skies — ideal for the beach and the long drive. Peak crowds around Christmas–New Year and Puja, so book early.
- March to mid-June: Hot and humid (touching 38°C), but early mornings and evenings on the sand are fine; resort rates dip mid-week.
- Mid-June to September (monsoon): Lush and dramatic but the sea gets rough and beach driving at Mandarmani is often restricted; carry rain gear.
For weekend planning, a Saturday-morning departure and Sunday-evening return fits this package perfectly without taking leave from work.
Local tips for a smooth trip
- Carry cash for beach shacks and small vendors; UPI works in town but is patchy on the sands.
- At Mandarmani, confirm low-tide timings with your resort if you want the famous drive-on-beach experience.
- Bargain politely while buying cashews, shells and dry fish at Digha market.
- Keep ID cards handy — resorts require them at check-in.
- Swim only in marked safe zones; the undertow near New Digha can be strong.
- If you are arriving in Kolkata by flight first, pre-book a Kolkata airport taxi so your beach trip starts without a hitch.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Digha and Mandarmani from Kolkata?
Mandarmani is about 175 km and Digha about 185 km from Kolkata, roughly a 4 to 4.5 hour drive each way via NH16 and the Contai road, with a common breakfast halt near Kolaghat.
What is the price of a 2-day Digha Mandarmani tour package from Kolkata?
A cab-only round trip runs about Rs 7,500 to Rs 10,000 for a sedan and Rs 11,000 to Rs 15,000 for an SUV. All-inclusive packages with one night’s stay and breakfast start around Rs 3,500 per person on standard resorts. Fares vary by season, car and resort category.
Which is better, Digha or Mandarmani?
Mandarmani is quieter with a clean drive-on beach and seafood shacks, ideal for relaxing, while Digha is livelier with a marine aquarium, sea-faces and shopping. Since they are only about 14 km apart, this 2-day package lets you enjoy both.
What is the best time to visit Digha and Mandarmani?
October to February offers the most pleasant weather and calm sea, making it the best season. Avoid the peak monsoon months of July to September when the sea turns rough and beach driving at Mandarmani is often restricted.
Does the package include hotel and meals?
The all-inclusive option covers the cab, one night’s stay on sharing basis and day-2 breakfast. Lunches, dinners, entry tickets and beach activities are excluded. The cab-only option covers transport, fuel, tolls and driver only.
