... but the world is your oyster...
... but the world is your oyster...
... but the world is your oyster...




NORTH EAST INDIA - DARJEELING & SIKKIM
Day 1 Kolkata
Arrive Kolkata by flight
Perhaps no other city overwhelms a visitor as Kolkata does - crowded, alive, vibrant, a city with a rich intellectual and cultural heritage. Kolkata owes its origin to the British merchant Job Charnock. During the British Raj, Kolkata was known as the Jewel of the East, and was the capital of the country until 1911. Today it is still the most important city in the East, the nerve center of trade and industry, a city bustling with a population of around 15 million.
Upon arrival you are met and escorted to your hotel
12 Noon Check in at the hotel
Rest of the day at leisure for independent activities
Overnight: Hotel
Day 2 Kolkata
Breakfast at hotel
Morning Today the tour of this sprawling city begins with the
Howrah Bridge; this bridge is built on river Hooghly and connects the city of Kolkata with the industrial town of Howrah. After which you are taken to the daily flower market to see the normal life of the common man with the different colors of flower. We now drive pass the Dalhousie Square where we see the Writers Building (State Secretariat), Raj Bhawan (Governor House), General Post Office Building, Kolkata High Court, Kolkata Town Hall and the St.John's Cathedral. We than move to the Mother Teresa House, in 1952 Mother Teresa and her Missionaries of Charity began the work. Apart from paying our tributes on the tomb of Mother, we also visit the photo gallery on the works of Mother Teresa.
Lunch at a local restaurant on direct payment
Afternoon Visit the Victoria Memorial - It is a massive domed building of white marble from Rajasthan. It was inaugurated in 1921 by the Prince of Wales (later, briefly, Edward VIII). It houses a collection of Victoria memorabilia and also history related objects and documents on Bengal.
Continue on to one of the largest and most impressive museums in India, the Indian Museum, founded in 1814 on the basis of the collection of the Asiatic Society. Its widely varied exhibits include such oddities as a roomful of meteorites and a number of (stuffed) man-eating crocodiles.
Overnight: Hotel
Day 3 Kolkata
Breakfast at hotel
Morning Transfer to airport. We take a flight to Bagdogra,
10:35 hrs Depart Kolkata by 9W 7081
11:40 hrs Arrive Bagdogra and drive to Darjeeling (93 kms approx. 3 hrs.)
Lunch will be provide at a Restaurant near airport
Darjeeling Nestled in the green Himalayan foothills. During the British Raj, Darjeeling's temperate climate led to its development as a hill station for the British to escape from Kolkata's heat.
Enroute comfort stop at Kurseong for refreshments.
This lovely town is circled by snow-tipped peaks and terraced tea plantations and still boasts many grandiose Victorian buildings. Darjeeling is known for its tea industry and some of its plantations date back to the mid 19th century.
Dinner & Overnight: Hotel
Day 4 Darjeeling
E. morning Rise early for a spectacular pre-dawn trip to Tiger Hills (8364 Ft / 2550 Mts at around 4 AM)
It is the highest point in the area. Here, you'll watch a glowing sunrise over Kanchenjunga, the world's third highest mountain, and the neighbouring East Himalayas, maybe even catching views of mighty Everest if the weather is clear. Afterwards, travel to Ghoom Monastery, a lavish mountain monastery housing rare Buddhist manuscripts and a priceless Maitreya Buddha.
Return to the hotel for Breakfast
Morning Visit a local tea plantation.
(On Monday at Tea Gardens, there is no processing & during winter at tea gardens there is no plucking or processing).
Afternoon Later, take an trip on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway's legendary 'Toy Train' - a UNESCO World Heritage site - a quaint steam locomotive.
Toy Train operation will be subject weather conditions
Lunch at Local Restaurant
Dinner & Overnight: Hotel
Day 5 Darjeeling
Breakfast at hotel
Morning Drive through stunning mountains to Pelling (110 kms / 5 hrs approx), a remote hill station in India's Buddhist Sikkim province. Set beneath mighty, snow-tipped Kanchenjunga, the town stands 6,840 feet above sea level and commands heart-stopping views over the peaks and glaciers of the Himalayan Singalila range.
After checking in at your hotel, day is at leisure.
Lunch at Hotel
Dinner & Overnight: Hotel
Day 6 Pelling
Breakfast at hotel
Morning Walk to Sangacholing Monastery
Lunch at Hotel
L. Afternoon Pay a visit to the marvellous 18th century Pemayangste Monastery, located just outside Pelling. Set high on a hill, this old-world monastery is decorated with traditional frescoes, antique carvings and multicoloured prayer flags
Also visit Rabtense Ruins.
Dinner & Overnight: Hotel
Day 7 Pelling
Breakfast at hotel
Morning More delights that are scenic await today as you travel through phenomenal mountainscapes to Gangtok (127kms/6hrs approx), the capital of Sikkim. En route, pass through cardamom, ginger plantation and paddy fields - all under the constant gaze of the Himalayas.
Packed Lunch will be provided
Arrive Gangtok, proceed to hotel
Dinner & Overnight: Hotel
Day 8 Gangtok
Breakfast at hotel
Morning Today, admire its many delights, including the beautiful Rumtek Monastery with its intricately painted exterior and priceless Buddhist manuscripts. Explore the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology (Closed on Sunday) with its rare statues and embroidered scrolls, charting the intertwined Buddhist cultures and histories of Sikkim and Tibet, before viewing the Do-Drul Chorten, an imposing stupa ringed by prayer wheels.
Note: Passport is required for entry into the Rumtek Monastery.
Visit the Orchid farm at Cymbidium Hills and Saramsa gardens. The sanctuary, with its 454 species of Orchid collection, is a boon for the nature lovers.
Lunch at Saramsa Gardens
L. Afternoon Enchey Monastery & Cottage Industry (Both Closed on Sunday)
Dinner & Overnight: Hotel
Day 9 Gangtok
Breakfast at hotel
Morning Say goodbye to Gangtok as you travel through the hills to Kalimpong (83kms/3hrs approx), a bazaar town set on the hillside overlooking the Teesta River.
A Comfort stop at Martam Village
On arrival, check in at your hotel
Lunch at The Hotel
L. Afternoon City tour of Kalimpong - Visit Zang Dog Palri Fo Brang Monastery, a flower & cactus nursery before visiting Dr Graham's School, founded in 1900 to support and educate the children of local tea workers by Rev. Dr. John Anderson Graham, a Church of Scotland missionary. Visit Tharpa Choling Monastery & Thongsa Gumpa.
Dinner & Overnight: Hotel
Day 10 Kalimpong
Breakfast at hotel
Morning Transfer to the Darjeeling (75kms/3 ½ 2hrs)
Arrive and proceed to Glenburn Teas Estate
Lunch at the hotel
Rest of the day at leisure
Dinner & Overnight: Glenburn Hotel
Day 11 Darjeeling
Breakfast at hotel
Full day At leisure or enjoy activities arranged by the hotel:
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Personal tours of the tea estate & factory, and a tea tasting session
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Nature and Bird walk throughs private forest areas, along river fronts, followed by picnic lunches
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Day trips to Darjeeling Town and Kalimpong (Car & driver only) expert guide costs on request.
Lunch and dinner at hotel
Overnight: Glenburn Hotel
Day 12 Darjeeling
Breakfast at hotel
Full day At leisure or enjoy activities arranged by the hotel
Lunch and dinner at hotel
Overnight: Glenburn Hotel
Day 13 Darjeeling
Breakfast at hotel
Morning Transfer to the Bagdogra (124 km/04 hrs approx)
Arrive Bagdogra. Transfer to airport
12:30 Hrs: Depart by flight 6E 434 to Kolkata
Kolkata 13:35 Hrs: Arrive Kolkata.
Transfer to hotel
Rest of day at leisure
Lunch & Dinner on Own
Overnight: Hotel
Day 14 Kolkata
Breakfast at hotel
Morning Transfer to Kolkata international airport to board flight for onward destination
Price per person sharing: 1920 GBP (subject to change and availability)
INCLUSIONS:
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13 night’s accommodation on twin sharing in Standard category of room at all places.
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Meal Plan- Bed & Buffet breakfast at Kolkata & full board basis i.e Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner in Darjeeling , Pelling , Gangtok, Kalimpong.
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All transfers & sightseeing/excursions by air-conditioned vehicle Large car ( Toyota Innova)
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Toy train ride in Darjeeling
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Local English speaking guide at all places
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Services of an English speaking TBi representative in each city
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All taxes as on date. All future levies will be charged extra.
EXCLUSIONS:
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Domestic airfare for sector Kolkata –Bagdogra - Kolkata
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Any expenditure of personal nature such as telephone calls, laundry, mini bar or drinks during meals, tips to driver, guide, helper, etc.
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Any other meal/ details not mentioned in the itinerary.
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Airport departure tax / airport development fee usually included in the international air ticket.
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Visa charges to India.