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East India, Sikkim and Bhutan Discovery

Ancient kingdoms at the roof of the world

16
Nights
Duration
$
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Start in the cultural capital of Kolkata, navigating the shaded winding streets with your guide. The city is a vibrant mix of neighbourhoods with a decided bookshop culture and a revitalized artisanal quarter. Head up to the foothills of the Himalayas to spend a few nights in the charming hill town of Darjeeling, hopping the famous Toy Train and sipping tea at the plantation. Travel overland into permit-controlled Sikkim, nestled in the heart of India’s Eastern Himalayan range, to explore the stunning landscapes of this mountain kingdom. Forge onward through lush forests and emerald-green tea plantations into Bhutan and spend six blissful days with your host contributing to the gross national happiness of this peaceful and breathtakingly scenic country. Photographers will love the awesome settings from flower markets to giant prayer wheels, from picture book pastoral scenes with Himalayan backdrops to colourful monasteries with exotic interiors.
DAY
PLACE
HIGHLIGHTS
01-03
Calcutta
Architectural walking tour
04-05
Darjeeling
Toy Train journey
06-08
Gangtok
Rumtek Monastery
09
Kalimpong
Traditional villages
10
Phuntsholing
Spectacular Himalayan scenery
11-12
Thimphu
Bhutan’s cultural treasure-house
13-14
Punakha
Monasteries and mountains
15-16
Paro
The Tiger’s Nest
17
Departure
Depart

Detailed Itinerary

DAY
01-03
The soulful city
Calcutta
,
India
Perhaps no other city overwhelms a visitor as Kolkata does - vibrant, alive, and friendly; a city with a rich intellectual and cultural heritage. The former capital and Raj-era ‘Jewel of the East’ is an intriguing blend of colonial-era architecture mixed with a growing hipster culture. Upon arrival in Kolkata, you will be met on arrival at the airport by our local representative and transferred to our hotel. On Day 2 take an architectural walking tour to learn about the urban revival spearheaded by authors and culturalist to maintain the unique character of Bengali buildings and neighbourhoods and visit the historic Botanical Gardens, see the splendid Giant Water Lily pads and the 250-year-old banyan tree. On Day 3, head out early to the vast Flower Market below the Howrah Bridge to be dazzled by the colours and scents – a photographer’s must-see! Catch a local ferry to Kumartuli neighbourhood where workshops in this labyrinth of lanes create the statues of India’s gods and goddesses for festivities across the country.
East India, Sikkim and Bhutan Discovery - 1
DAY
04-05
Hill station of the Himalayas
Darjeeling
,
India
Fly from Kolkata to Bagdogra where you will meet your host for the drive up to Darjeeling. Enjoy the splendid views of the Himalayas as you approach the city, spread in lines over the steep mountain ridge with the majestic Khagchendzonga peak (the third highest mountain in the world!) towering above. Admire the British colonial-era architecture, take a ride on the 140-year-old railway, and visit the Ghoom Monastery. Stop for tea at one of the area’s many plantations.
East India, Sikkim and Bhutan Discovery - 2
DAY
06-08
The Royal Kingdom
Gangtok
,
India
Wind your way along hilly roads into the former kingdom of Sikkim. Look for glimpses of the third highest mountain in the world, snow-capped Khangchendzonga, partly shrouded in mist. Visit some of the amazing hilltop monasteries, spin the prayer wheels at the Do Drul Chorten and admire the Buddhist artefacts at the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology. Take a day trip to gorgeous Tsomgo Lake in East Sikkim, a glacial laked surrounded by rugged mountains. Savour the local cuisine, a blend of Tibetan, Nepalese, and native Sikkimese food – there are lots of cafés and restaurants to enjoy.
East India, Sikkim and Bhutan Discovery - 3
DAY
09
A secret hill hideout
Kalimpong
,
India
Cross back into West Bengal to the secret hill hideout of Kalimpong and stay at one of the old luxury hotels, former homes of British traders. Check out the weekly market (Wednesday or Saturday) and visit one of the many lush flower gardens. Birders will want to visit the Neora Valley National Park.
East India, Sikkim and Bhutan Discovery - 4
DAY
10
Drive through forests and tea plantations
Phuntsholing
,
Bhutan
A super-scenic road trip takes you through lush forests and emerald-green tea plantations to the border with Bhutan at Phuntsholing. Experience the frontier feeling of the town with its rich mix of ethnic groups.
East India, Sikkim and Bhutan Discovery - 5
DAY
11-12
Bhutan’s Cultural Heart
Thimphu
,
Bhutan
Another spectacular drive today across the Gangetic Plains, passing through the deep gorges of the Wang Chhu River and into Bhutan’s pine forests. Offer a prayer at Kuenselphodrang (Buddha Point) when you arrive this evening, then delve into the city in detail. Admire ancient manuscripts in the National Library and vibrant textiles at the Royal Academy. Visit the magnificent medieval fortress-monastery of Tashichho Dzong; the vast building was constructed entirely by hand and without a single nail. Enjoy a cup of tea with the monks at Dechen Phodrung Monastery.
East India, Sikkim and Bhutan Discovery - 6
DAY
13-14
Sacred Fortresses
Punakha
,
Bhutan
Drive the super-scenic Dochu-La pass at 3088 metres stopping frequently to take in the views of the Himalayas with the fluttering prayer flags in the foreground and admire the many stupas lining the route. Visit the magnificent Punakha Dzong, at the confluence of the Mo and Po (‘female’ and ‘male’) Rivers. This huge fortress is one of the most important (and most beautiful) in the country and holds some of the country’s most sacred relics. Walk through rice fields to Chimi Lhakhang temple, the fertility temple constructed by the ‘Divine Madman’, an eccentric yogi and saint who blessed the grounds. Hike to Khamsum Yuley Monastery to see the elaborate stupa built to ward off evil spirits
East India, Sikkim and Bhutan Discovery - 7
DAY
15-16
The Tiger’s Nest
Paro
,
Bhutan
Head back to Paro today. Visit the Paro Ta Dzong, a mid-17th century circular fortress that protected the area from Tibetan and Indian invasions and the Rinpung Dzong, Fortress of a Mountain of Jewels, one of the finest examples of Bhutanese architecture, now the seat of the administration and an institute for monks. Take the two- to three-hour walk to the magical Taktsang Monastery, the Tiger’s Nest, the most spectacular monastery in Bhutan.
East India, Sikkim and Bhutan Discovery - 8
DAY
17
International departure
Departure
,
Bhutan
Drive to the airport to connect your light back home.
East India, Sikkim and Bhutan Discovery - 9

What's Included:

·      All airport and hotel transfers

·      Accommodation based on double occupancy for 16 nights

·      Breakfastdaily

·      Lunch and dinner daily in Bhutan

·      Services of your driver/host

·      Transportation by comfortable air-conditioned private vehicle with unlimited mileage

·      Complimentary bottled water and snacks in the vehicle

·      Flight from Kolkata to Bagdogra

·      All activities with your private guide as listed:

o   Kolkata:Two full day tours

o   Darjeeling:Full day tour

o   Gangtok:Full day city tour

o   Gangtok:Excursion to Tsomgo Lake

o   Kalimpong: Half day tour

o   Thimphu: Full day tour

o   Punakha: Full day tour with walk/trek

o   Paro: Halfday tour

o   Paro: Full day tour

·      Entrance fees to sites mentioned in the itinerary

·      24/7Support Service

·      Trip kit with travel documents and itinerary information

·      All taxes and fees

What’s not included:

·      International flights

·      Visa fees

·      Travel insurance

·      Items of a personal nature: laundry, drinks, telephone calls, etc

·      Gratuities

·      Meals and services not listed

·      Video/Photography fees at monuments

·      Additional arrangements required due to emergency or other situation

+ SHOW DETAILED ITINERARY

Accommodation

Hotel Druk Thimphu

Hotel Druk Thimphu

A modern 35 room hotel set in the city centre. Newly refurbished rooms provide a sense of space afforded by intelligent design with an eye to detail, from leather-bordered taffeta curtains to decadent, all-marble bathrooms. Spa on site!

Dhensa Boutique Resort Punakha

Dhensa Boutique Resort Punakha

Located deep in the heart of the verdant and lush Punakha Valley, this 24-suite resort is surrounded by thick pine forests, overlooking the Punakha river and hundreds of paddy fields that stair-step down to the valley floor. A unique combination of contemporary design with traditional architecture focused on the beauty of simplicity. Great spa with an outdoor, woodfired bath.

Como Uma Paro

Como Uma Paro

An intimate 29-suite private villa resort perched on a Himalayan mountainside. Winding paths lead to the villas combining local artisanship (artisan-crafted woodwork and hand painted walls) with COMO’s contemporary style. Elegant interiors, superb cuisine at the fabulous Bukhari Restaurant, and a pampering spa too!

On The Ground

Sandeep Singh

Sandeep Singh

Dynamic travel designer who continually develops unique ways to educate and entertain each and every tour group. Adept at delivering exceptional customer service and turning each tour opportunity into an unforgettable experience. Personally, Sandeep is a fashionable trendy gentleman who’s impossible to miss with his colorful turbans. Commencing his career within hotels, Sandeep understands the importance in providing exemplary, consistent service.

Stories

Tales and travelogues from our guests and our team travelling the world, forming new bonds and giving back to the society.

Getting a closer look at a colourful country and its vibrant culture
A well-curated tour across India that combines the best of the North and the South - people, places and heritage.
Story by Wayne Radziminski
Exploring a country of warm people and welcoming smiles
India has something new to offer, no matter how many time you visit it
Story by Lynette Husum
Travelling back in time lost in the beauty of South-east Asia
Flitting across Vietnam and Cambodia, reminiscing the past and revelling in the present
Story by Wayne Radziminski
My new friend at the Pushkar Camel Fair, India
Pushkar Experience
Story by Ruth Brodie
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This trip has fixed departure dates. Above mentioned dates are tentative and subject to change.