Darjeeling, Sikkim & Bhutan

DAY 01 ARRIVE KOLKOTA
Arrive in Kolkota late evening on this day. You are met and assisted upon arrival in Kolkota and transferred to your hotel.

DAY 02 KOLKOTA – BAGDOGRA - DARJEELING
Post breakfast transfer to airport to catch your flight to Bagdogra. You are met and assisted upon arrival in Bagdogra and transferred to your hotel for checking-in in Darjeeling. Rest of the day is at your leisure.

DAY 03 IN DARJEELING
After an early breakfast, proceed for the sightseeing tour of Darjeeling. Visit to Tiger Hill to see sun rise over Mount Everest. Also visit Ghoom Monastery built in 1934 by Yellow Sect. It is the repository for valuable Tibetan texts. Drive through Observatory Hill and one can view of Kanchenjunga and Himalayas. On the way visit the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute which is said to be the paradise for trekkers. You can also go for short or long treks, depending on your stamina and enthusiasm. Afternoon visit Darjeeling Zoo which houses tigers, bears, wolves and the rare snow leopards and the Botanical Gardens with its collection of alpine plants, orchids and ferns.

DAY 04 50 Miles, 02 hrs DARJEELING - GANGTOK
After breakfast start your drive to Gangtok. Upon arrival check in the hotel.

DAY 05 IN GANGTOK
Post breakfast proceed for tour of Gangtok. Visit the huge white Do-Drul Chorten with its golden spire is a landmark of Gangtok. Built in 1945, it is surrounded by 108 prayer wheels and houses several rare religious texts. Nearby are two gompas (Tibetan Buddhist temples) housing huge statues of Guru Padmasambhava. About three km from the town, set on a prominent ridge, is the Enchey Monastery, the seat of the Nyingma order. Also visit the Rumtek Monastery. The ancient monastery was built in 1717 but didn’t survive for long. It was built again by Gyalwa Karmapa in the 190 and followed the designs of the monastery in Tibet from adhere the Karmapa had come.

DAY 06 GANGTOK - KALIMPONG
After an early breakfast, drive to Kalimpong. Upon arrival check in the hotel. Set in the foothills of the Himalayas is the small albeit charming bazaar town of Kalimpong. For the nature lover, Kalimpong offers opportunities to raft down the raging rapids of the Teesta River or to trek into the surrounding mountains. There are flowers everywhere and in every colour: a feast for the eyes! Visit the monasteries, churches and orchid nurseries or tour the private library for the study of Tibetan and Himalayan language and culture. Afternoon proceed for tour of Kalimpong visiting he Tharpa Choeling Gompa, established in 1922 band is a 40-minute walk uphill from the town. Lower down is the Tongsa Gompa, the oldest Bhutanese monastery founded in 1692. South of the town, 5 km away is Zong Dog Palri Fo-Brang Gompa consecrated by the Dalai Lama. Later drive to Durbin Dara - the road is a gently winding uphill road through Rinkinpong Road, guaranteed to remind you of the colonial days as you pass by old English cottages with gardens. The views are even better from Deolo Hill in the north south side of town. Right below is Dr. Graham’s Home a school established in 1900 to educate children of tea garden workers. It has an old chapel with magnificient stained glass windows.

DAY 07 KALIMPONG - PHUNTSHOLING
Post breakfast drive to Phuntsoling on the Indo – Bhutanese border. This provides for an ideal stop over during the long transit from Kalimpong to Thimpu on the Indian side.

DAY 08 PHUNTSHOLING - THIMPU
Post breakfast depart for Thimpu (Bhutan). Upon arrival check in into your hotel. The rest of the day is at your leisure. DAY 09 IN THIMPU Post breakfast, leave for a sightseeing tour of Thimpu visiting the Memorial Chorten (a huge stupa) built in memory of the third King of Bhutan who reigned the Kingdom from 1952-1972. Also Visit the Painting School where traditional art is still kept alive through instructions in the art of painting Thangkas (sacred Buddhist scrolls). In the afternoon, visit Simtokha Dzong. This is one of the oldest fortresses in Bhutan, which was built in 629 A.D by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. Later visit visit Pangri Zampa Monastery, which is situated just beyond Dechencholing. This Lhakhang was the residence of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal when he arrived in Bhutan in 1616 A.D. The Monastery was built during the first quarter of the 16th century by Ngawang Chogyel, the great-great- grandfather of the Shabdrung and the 14th hierarchy of the Drukpas

DAY 10 THIMPU - PUNAKHA
Post breakfast drive to Punakha. Upon arrival check-in at the hotel. Later visit Chimmi Lhakhang situated on a hillock in the center of the valley, built by Lama Drukpa Kunley. He subdued the demon ness of the Dochula with his 'Magic Thunderbolt of Wisdom'. A wooden effigy of the lama's thunderbolt is preserved in the Lhakhang, and the childless women go to the temple to receive a Wang (blessing) from the saint. It is a 20m walk across the field from the road at Sopsokha to the temple. There is a statue of the lama and his dog, as well as that of the Shabdrung, Sakyamuni and Chenrezig. The small chorten on the alter is said to have been crafted by Drukpa Kunley himself.

DAY 11 PUNAKHA - PARO
Post breakfast drive to Paro. Upon arrival check-in at the hotel. In the afternoon, visit the valley of Paro which contains a wealth of attractions and requires a few days to be properly explored. Paro Dzong is symbolic as the religious and secular center of all affairs of the valley. Above the dzong is the old watchtower which is now home to Bhutan`s National Museum. It is said that Paro was the first stop for Guru Rimpoche on his crusade from Tibet to Bhutan (over one thousand years ago). He is believed to have meditated at Taktsang Monastery, now a hollowed shrine for Bhutanese pilgrims. The other important places to visit are Kyichu Lhakhang and Drugyal dzong. Later in the evening visit few handicrafts, souvenir shops in Paro.

DAY 12 IN PARO
After an early breakfast, drive up to Satsam Chorten (10kms) for a short trek to Taktsang Monastery. The name Taktsang means "Tiger's Nest." The monastery is perched on a rocky ledge with a sheer drop of nearly 800m. and overlooks the Paro valley and the river. It is said that in the second half of the 8th century, Guru Padma Sambhava known as the second Buddha in Bhutan, meditated at the spot where the monastery is situated having alighted there on the back of a flying tigress.

DAY 13 PARO - KOLKOTA
Today morning check-out and transfer to the airport to catch flight to Kolkota. You are met and assisted upon arrival in Kolkota and transferred to your hotel for checking-in. The day is at your leisure.

DAY 14 DEPART KOLKOTA
Early morning check-out and transfer to the international airport for flight to your onward destination.

End of our services……………

Inclusions

Accommodation on bed & breakfast basis on twin sharing basis as mentioned in the itinerary
Meeting and Assistance on arrival/departure at Airports/Hotel.
Surface travel & sightseeing / excursions as per program by Air-conditioned car Porterage at Airport/Hotel.
Services of English speaking local guides at the monuments
Entrance fees at the monuments for single visit only as per the above program
Government services tax

Any services or meal other than the ones mentioned above.
Visa charges, airfare / airport taxes, table drinks, telephone calls, tips, camera fees, laundry etc or any other items of personal nature.
Any other expense/changes due to unforeseen circumstances while in Country
Any other thing not mentioned in program or `cost includes’.