You will be met & assisted on arrival at Kolkata Airport and transferred to your pre-booked hotel.

The city of joy, as Kolkata is fondly called, holds culture and tradition close to its heart. While it would give any Indian metropolis a run for its money with its grand structures, bustling markets, vibrant culinary scene, exquisite crafts and cultural sites, its historical legacy reigns supreme. Once the capital of British-India, Kolkata’s colonial charm blends with its modern culture.

From slow-moving trams (the oldest in Asia) meandering around the city, racing iconic black and yellow cabs, women dressed in handwoven cotton sarees, antique tea and coffee houses, legendary football clubs and old markets spilling over with products, the bustling metropolis has the laid-back soul of a quaint town.

To get a taste of the times gone by, enjoy the tour that take you through history, spirituality and colonial treks of the city. Gaze in awe at the sprawling Victoria Memorial, a pristine white beauty, as it sits proudly amidst neatly manicured lawns or take a tour of the ancestral home of poet and Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, there are many interesting titbits to mine from the heritage gold of Kolkata.

You can also try culinary trails that will introduce you to some of the most unique dishes you will ever sample. From sweet and spongy rosogolla (a cottage cheese dessert), spicy and sweet water-filled puchka (a savoury) and the delicious daab chingri (prawns cooked in green coconut) to ilish paturi (a type of steamed fish) and kosha mangsho (dry mutton curry), there’s a lot to savour from the Bengali cuisine in the city.

Rest of the at leisure to relax or explore the city on your own.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

Post breakfast, proceed for sightseeing tour of Kolkata.

Starting off at Dalhousie Square, visit Raj Bhavan, the High Court, the GPO, the Town Hall, the Writer’s Building, and other important colonial buildings including the Victoria Memorial.

Also see another side of the city, with visits to the Jain Temple, Kali Temple, Howrah Bridge, Marble Palace, the Indian Museum, and St. Paul’s Cathedral Church.

Post sightseeing, return to hotel.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

Post breakfast, check out and transfer to Kolkata airport for flight to Bagdogara.

Meet & assist on arrival in Bagdogara and transfer to Darjeeling.

Sprawled over a steep mountain ridge and dotted with unending stretches of emerald green tea plantations, the quaint hill station of Darjeeling, is a popular hill station. Glorious sunrises and sunsets over Majestic Kanchenjunga or Khangchendzonga, is one of the beautiful attraction here. Darjeeling boasts remnants of colonial-era architecture that exude a charm of their own. One of the best ways to explore the city is by riding in the 140-year-old Darjeeling Himalayan Railway that meanders through some of the most awe-inspiring landscapes in and around the hill station.

You can visit local bustling bazaars of the city which are famous for handcrafted products to Tibetan souvenirs, there’s a lot on offer.

On arrival, check-into the hotel.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

Early morning, at 4am drive to Tiger Hill, famous for its magnificent view of Kanchenjunga, Mt. Everest & other Eastern Himalayan peaks especially at the time of sunrise.

On your way back to hotel, visit Ghoom Monastery and Batasia Loop.

After breakfast, enjoy Joy Ride on World Heritage Toy Train of Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR), now a part of UNESCO World Heritage.

Afterwards, visit the Mountaineering Institute, created by the late Tenzing Norgay, the Sherpa who conquered Mt Everest with Sir Edmund Hillary. A display of equipment used on the climb is one of the highlights. Visit the Tibet Handicraft Centre & the beautiful tea gardens.

In the evening visit the Observatory Hill known locally as Makal-Babu-Ko-Thaan. According to legend, a Red Hat Buddhist Monastery called Dorje Ling, or ‘place of the Thunderbolt’, stood at this very spot. The Nepalese destroyed it in the 19th century, now the Shivas & Buddhists share the temple that stands here.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

Post breakfast, checkout and drive to Pelling.

Offering jaw-dropping views of the Himalayas and the snow-capped Kanchenjunga (Khangchendzonga), the third-largest peak in the world, Pelling, in Sikkim, is a gorgeous destination. With charming houses perched atop a wooded ridge, this hill town is framed by spectacular natural forests, making it a natural paradise. Sitting at a height of 2,150 m, Pelling is a base for several trekking routes.

The cosy tourist town is also home to many prominent Buddhist monasteries and according to Buddhist texts, the word ‘Pelling’ refers to the religious body formed by Pema Linga, the discoverer of ancient Tibetan texts. A major attraction here is the Khangchendzonga Festival that is held annually and sees activities like kayaking, promotional trekking, traditional sports and birdwatching and white-water rafting on the Rangit (Rangeet) river. The festival also witnesses a flower exhibition, which is a colourful affair and hosts various stalls of costumes, ethnic food and traditional crafts.

On arrival, check-into the hotel.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

Post breakfast, proceed for sightseeing tour of Pelling. Visit Khechipalri Lake, Rambi Falls, Kanchenjunga Falls, Pemayangste Monastery and Rabtense Ruins.

Later in the afternoon, return to hotel. 

Overnight stay at the hotel.

Post early breakfast, checkout and drive to Gangtok.

Perched on steeply-tiered hills in the eastern Himalayas, the picturesque city of Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim, is set against the backdrop of the majestic Mt Kanchenjunga (Khangchendzonga).

Gangtok is also a popular Buddhist pilgrimage site and the largest city in the state, Sikkim. It rose to prominence after the Enchey Monastery was established in 1840. In 1894, the ruling Sikkimese Chogyal declared Gangtok the capital of the region. It grew to be a major stopover on the trade route between Lhasa in Tibet by the early 20th century. Apart from being a centre for Tibetan Buddhism, Gangtok is a go-to destination for mountain and wildlife lovers. Magnificent views of various monasteries, Mt Kanchenjunga, Siniolchu, Chumbi Valley and the Chinese border will leave you spellbound. Uniqueness, vibrancy, colours, clouds and warm people all come together to make Gangtok irresistible. The city is also a prime destination for shopping-lovers.

On arrival, check-into the hotel.

Later in the afternoon, visit Research Institute of Tibetology, an organization dedicated to furthering Tibetan studies, Buddhist philosophy & region. It attracts scholars from all over the world. It houses a rare collection of 30,000 books, Tantric documents, rare manuscripts written in gold on the bark of a poisonous tree, antique thanks & 200 icons, all prized objects of art for the Buddhism.

Evening at leisure to relax.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

Post breakfast, take an excursion tour to Tsongo Lake, considered extremely sacred by the local people. The place is a paradise for bird lovers, with a large number of Blue Whistling Thrush, Redstarts & Fork tails around. It hosts a number of migratory birds, prominent among which is the Brahminy ducks.

The word Tsongo in Bhutia language means source of the Lake.

Afterwards, visit Do Drul Chorten, which was built to commemorate the victory of good over evil.

Next, visit Rumtek Monastery, where meandering roads through emerald green rice terraces, lays Rumtek, the main monastery of Kagyud or ‘Black Hat’ sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Built in 1959 by His Holiness the 16th Reincarnated Gyalwa Karmapa, it is a replica of Tsurphu Monastery from the Kham region of Tibet.

Later, visit Himalayan Zoological Park also known as Bulbuley. It has paved cement path that passes by fenced open air enclosure housing the Red Pandas, barking deer & bears in a semi natural habitat. Next Government Institute of Cottage Industries (GICI), which produces crafts in authentic Sikkimese designs. Hand woven Tibetan carpets sprout dragons in natural dyes, Sikkimese-style tables called Choktse are expertly carved & coloured in red & gold. Also explore Lal bazaar, melody of colour. Various ethnic groups from different villages gather to haggle, bargain, and gossip about their wares.

Later in the afternoon, return to hotel.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

Post breakfast, checkout and drive to Kalimpong.

Spread along a saddle-shaped ridge, overlooking the meandering River Teesta, the hill station of Kalimpong, is a popular destination. Surrounded by snow-capped Himalayas and crowned by the summit of Kanchenjunga (Khangchendzonga), the third highest-peak in the world, it invites travellers for its picturesque landscapes and colonial charm.

Kalimpong is noted for its Buddhist monasteries, Tibetan handicrafts and churches. Legend has it that when the local Lepcha tribesmen were not busy with agricultural commitments, they indulged in field sports. Hence, the name Kalimpong, which means the ridge where we play. The city was once the centre of trans-Himalayan trade between India and Tibet with merchants ferrying goods through Jelep la Pass on the Sikkim-Tibet, border. The city is also known for its educational institutions, most of which were established during the British era.

Afternoon at leisure to relax.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

Post breakfast, proceed to visit Thongsa Gompa also known as the Bhutanese Monastery. It is the oldest monastery in Kalimpong and was founded in the year 1692. Though the old structure was destroyed by the Gorkhas, it was rebuilt on the same site.

Next, visit the Zong Dog Palri Fo-Brang Gompa, which is on the Durpin hill & is famous for the Tibetan wall paintings. It also has a religious debating society along with a school of Tibetan medicine.

Later, visit Tharpa Choeling Monastery, founded in 1937, belongs to the Gelugpa (yellow hat) sect of Tibetan monastery. This Monastery houses many old scriptures and literary works.

Next Dr Graham’s Home, mission school was founded by Scottish missionary Dr. John Anderson Graham in 1900. The purpose of the school was to educate children of the tea garden workers & poor labourers and also visit few nurseries around town.

Afternoon at leisure to relax.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

Post breakfast, checkout and transfer to Bagdogara airport for flight to Delhi.

Meet and assist on arrival in Delhi and transfer to International Airport for flight to onward destination.