Duration: 12 Days / 11 Nights
Locations: Delhi - Bagdogra - Darjeeling - Gangtok - Kalimpong - Bagdogra - Delhi
| Tour Highlights | |
| Darjeeling | Tiger Hill, Ghoom, Chholing & Darli Monasteries, Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, Mountaineering Institute & Observatory Hill |
| Gangtok | Research Institute of Tibetology, Tsongmo Lake, Do Drul Chorten, Rumtek Monastery, Himalayan Zoological Park, Government Institute of Cottage Industries, Lal Bazaar |
| Kalimpong | Thongsa Gompa, Zong Dog Palri Fo-Brang Gompa, Tharpa Choeling Monastery, Dr Graham's Home |
Day 01: Arrive Delhi
Arrive by international flight. After a traditional 'Swagat' (Welcome), our representative assists you at the airport and transfers you to the hotel for check-in. Delhi is a bustling metropolis blending ancient and modern history, home to sites like Indraprastha (from the Mahabharata), Qutub Minar, Humayun's Tomb, and the Walled City of Shah Jahanabad. New Delhi, designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens in the 20th century, showcases the grand British administrative area.
Overnight Hotel - Delhi (B)
Day 02: Delhi - Bagdogra - Darjeeling (110 km / 3 hrs)
Flight to Bagdogra and drive to Darjeeling, the Queen of Hills. A charming Victorian town surrounded by emerald tea gardens flowing over layered slopes.
Overnight Hotel - Darjeeling (B,D)
Day 03: Darjeeling
Early morning visit to Tiger Hill for sunrise views of Kanchenjunga, Mt. Everest, and eastern Himalayan peaks. Explore Ghoom, a Tibetan village, and the Chholing & Darli Monasteries. Enjoy a ride on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (UNESCO World Heritage Site), visit the Mountaineering Institute established by Tenzing Norgay, Tibet Handicraft Centre, Tea Gardens, and Observatory Hill, shared by Shivas and Buddhists.
Overnight Hotel - Darjeeling (B,D)
Day 04: Darjeeling - Gangtok (95 km / 3 hrs)
Drive to Gangtok, perched on steep Himalayan slopes surrounded by rice terraces, flowing rivers, and snow-clad peaks. Gangtok became a Buddhist cultural center after the construction of Enchey Monastery in 1840.
Half-day tour includes the Research Institute of Tibetology, which houses over 30,000 rare books, manuscripts, thangkas, and Buddhist artifacts.
Overnight Hotel - Gangtok (B,D)
Day 05: Gangtok
Excursion to Tsongmo Lake, sacred to locals and a paradise for birdwatchers. Visit Do Drul Chorten Stupas and Rumtek Monastery, seat of the Kagyud sect. Explore Himalayan Zoological Park with Red Pandas, deer, and bears, Government Institute of Cottage Industries for traditional Sikkimese crafts, and Lal Bazaar, a colorful local market.
Overnight Hotel - Gangtok (B,D)
Day 06: Gangtok - Excursion Phodang (30 km each way)
Excursion to Phodang Monastery, rebuilt like Ralong and Rumtek, hosting annual religious dances on the 28th and 29th of the tenth lunar month.
Overnight Hotel - Gangtok (B,D)
Day 07: Gangtok - Rumtek (24 km / 1 hr)
Drive to Rumtek Monastery, also known as Dharmachakra Centre. Originally built in 1740, rebuilt in 1959 by the 16th Karmapa. Surrounded by streams, mountains, and a river, it is an auspicious and spiritual center.
Overnight Hotel - Rumtek (B,D)
Day 08: Rumtek - Kalimpong
Drive to Kalimpong, a charming town with snow-capped peaks, multiple Buddhist monasteries, and a rich cultural blend. Formerly under Bhutanese rule, annexed by the British in 1865. Flourished as a wool trade center.
Overnight Hotel - Kalimpong (B,D)
Day 09: Kalimpong
Visit Thongsa Gompa (Bhutanese Monastery, 1692), Zong Dog Palri Fo-Brang Gompa (Durpin Hill), Tharpa Choeling Monastery (Gelugpa sect, 1937), and Dr Graham's Home, a missionary school founded in 1900.
Overnight Hotel - Kalimpong (B,D)
Day 10: Kalimpong - Bagdogra - Delhi (75 km / 2 hrs)
Drive to Bagdogra for flight to Delhi. Assistance on arrival and transfer to hotel.
Overnight Hotel - Delhi (B)
Day 11: Delhi
Full-day tour of Old Delhi and New Delhi: Jama Masjid (1656 AD), Chandni Chowk, Red Fort (1648 AD), Raj Ghat (Mahatma Gandhi memorial), India Gate, President's House, Humayun's Tomb (1562 AD), and Qutub Minar (1206 AD, UNESCO World Heritage Site).
Overnight Hotel - Delhi (B)
Day 12: Delhi Departure
Transfer to the airport for your onward journey with fond memories of India.
Our tour concludes: We thank you for your patronage and look forward to serving you again in the near future.
