Trips

Kolkata

Border Information: If you are joining in Kolkata, you will most likely enter India at Kolkata Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (IATA code: CCU). Please note that you must have a Double-Entry India visa for this trip if leaving in Kathmandu, and a Multi-Entry India visa if continuing beyond Kathmandu - see details below. There will be an important group meeting at the joining hotel at 10:00am. Please look out for a note from your tour leader at the hotel reception when you arrive for more details about this meeting. The afternoon is free to explore Kolkata. Please note that many of the options listed below will only be possible for those with extra time in Kolkata before the start of your trip with us - please contact the Sales team if you would like to book pre-tour accommodation with us to have extra time exploring Kolkata. We will meet in the evening to board an overnight sleeper train from Kolkata to Siliguri - accommodation will be aboard the train tonight, where there are bunk beds with sheets provided. Hotel for the night: Niharika Hotel Niharika Hotel 5 A.J.C. Bose Road Near Minto Park Kolkata India Tel - +91 33 4060 1122 Activity Approximate Cost Discover the world's largest tree (The Great Banyan Tree) at the A. J. C. Bose Botanic Gardens, the place where tea was first cultivated in India INR 200 Freely explore the streets of the BBD Bagh, the heart of Kolkata and one of the best areas of British colonial architecture in the world Free Visit the Eden Gardens, the most famous and iconic cricket stadium in India Free See the famous Howrah Bridge over the Hooghly River, thought to be the busiest bridge in the world with 150,000 pedestrians and 100,000 vehicles crossing every day Free Discover the incredible array of art and historical artefacts on display at the Indian Museum in Kolkata, the largest and oldest museum in India INR 200 Head out on a fantastic photographic tour of Kolkata, exploring the hidden gems, back streets, and photogenic spots of the city with a superb local guide INR 2000 Explore the vast fields and parks of the Maidan (the 'lungs of Kolkata') and observe daily life away from the chaos of the city Free Visit and support the Usthi Foundation's school and farm for impoverished children in Kolkata, and see the amazing work they do (if available) USD 10 See the huge white marble Victoria Memorial, built in the early 20th century by the British Viceroy of India and a grandiose reminder of Kolkata's colonial past INR 200 Visit the Mother Teresa of Calcutta Centre, a museum illustrating the life and work of the famous and controversial missionary Free  Experience a local overnight train from Kolkata to Siliguri Included in Kitty  About Kolkata: Kolkata was originally a British settlement, built by the East India Company in the 17th Century during their trading and colonising expansion along the boast of Bengal - it also became the capital of the British colonial government until 1911 when this was moved to Delhi. The city is now India's third largest, and is regarded by many as the country's intellectual and cultural capital. At first you are assaulted by the noise and chaos of this bustling metropolis, but take the time to explore and you'll discover some impressive colonial architecture, some of the best restaurants in India and a thriving arts scene. Bengali theatre, dance, poetry, art, music and film are all showcased here, and there's usually plenty to choose from on at the city's many venues. An interesting relic of the colonial era is the Victoria Memorial - a beautiful domed white marble edifice set in tranquil gardens, the monument was built to commemorate Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee. Kolkata is also home to the Sister's of Charity Motherhouse, the mission where Mother Teresa did much of her work. Finally, if all the hustle and bustle is getting too much for you, you can explore the vast green fields of the Maidan or take refuge in the beautiful botanic gardens along the banks of the Hooghly River. 

Darjeeling

We will arrive into Siliguri at around 9:00am this morning, meeting our jeeps and drivers at the station for our onward journey through the narrow winding roads to Darjeeling. The town of Darjeeling is really more a collection of villages situated on a high ridge, linked by a series of steps and winding lanes and surrounded by rice and tea terraces. Jeeps are used in this region rather than our overland truck as they are perfect for the narrow, steep and winding roads of the area. We will continue with the jeeps until the trip returns to Siliguri. Estimated Drive Time (in jeeps) - 3-4 hours (please note that all drive times given here are the approximate number of hours that the truck will be in motion only, and does not include any time taken for coffee or lunch stops, border crossings, photo stops, activities en route, comfort breaks, shopping stops, toilet stops, etc. The times given are approximate estimates only and whilst given with the best of intentions, the drive times are heavily dependent on traffic, road conditions, weather, police roadblocks, and many other factors - flexibility is essential on any overland trip!). In Darjeeling we will stay in a local hotel. About Darjeeling: Situated on a high ridge and surrounded by terraces of rice, tea, quinine and fruit trees, Darjeeling is a collection of villages linked by steps and lanes so steep that they appear to almost be built on top of each other. The views are fantastic from here, looking down over the rivers below with Mount Kanchenjunga in the background (the world's third highest mountain, and the highest in India) - and on a very clear day even Mount Everest can be seen in the far distance. For the very best view, take a pre-dawn excursion to Tiger Hill, where on a clear day you can see the magnificent sunrise over the Himalayas, which is definitely worth the early start. The cool climate and slow pace of life here are an abrupt contrast to the rest of India. It's a pleasant place to explore, with monasteries and tea plantations to visit and Tibetan craft shops and markets to browse through.

Darjeeling

Today is a free day in Darjeeling to relax, enjoy the surrounding area and take part in some optional activities. Activity  Approximate Cost Take a scenic ride on the famous Darjeeling Himalayan Railway up to Ghoom, the highest train station in India INR 470 Visit the Tibetan Refugee Self Help Centre near Darjeeling, a home, hospital, and craft centre for Tibetans who have fled persecution and taken sanctuary in India Free

Phuntsholing

Border Information: Exit India at Jaigaon, enter Bhutan at Phuntsholing. This morning we will drive in locally-chartered jeeps from Darjeeling to the Bhutanese border at Phuntsholing, where our local Bhutanese guide will be waiting to receive us at the border gate. Your tour leader will collect all the group's passports to get the visa process underway in order to save time in the morning. In Phuntsholing we will stay in a local hotel. Estimated Drive Time - 5-6 hours (in jeeps and locally charted bus).

Thimphu

This morning we will finalise our visas and then start our journey into Bhutan with a drive in a locally-chartered bus from the warmer climes of Phuntsholing up to the capital of Thimphu, nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas. We will have time in the evening to take a stroll around Thimphu and start to take in the atmosphere and culture of this beautiful country and its gentle way of life. In Thimphu we will stay in a local hotel. Estimated Drive Time - 6-8 hours (in locally-chartered bus) About Thimphu: Thimphu is Bhutan's atmospheric and serene capital, wonderfully located in a lush valley surrounded by towering mountains. One of the world's smallest capitals, it was only a loose collection of separate villages as recently as 1960, when it was decided by the King Jigme Darje Wangchuk to move the political base there from the ancient capital Punakha - its diminutive size gives it a unique charm and atmosphere, and it claims to be the only capital in the world that does not have traffic lights! There are several highlights for visitors to this unique city - the stunning Changangkha Temple looms above the city and is traditionally a place where new parents come to recieve the names for their new-borns from the deity Tamdrin; the Memorial Chorten in the city centre, built to commemorate king Jigme Wangchuk, is the most recognisable religious building in the country, and the spectacular bronze Buddha Dordenma statue in the hills near Thimphu is one of the most beautiful and ornate Buddha statues in the world. The nearby Moitithang Takin Preserve is a wonderful natural conservation area for the rare takin mammal, endemic to this region of Bhutan.

Thimphu

Today we will have a day in Thimphu for sightseeing. We will have an included city tour from our local guides, including the Changangkha Temple, Memorial Chorten and the Takin Reserve, and there will also be plenty of time for free exploration and visiting the Thimphu markets.

Punakha

In the morning we will drive to the old capital Punakha, via the Dochu La Pass at 3050m, where we will stop for a hot drink and to enjoy spectacular panoramic views of the Eastern Himalaya ranges. We will notice the change of climate and vegetation as we approach the low-lying Punakha at 1250m altitude. This afternoon we will visit the imposing Punakha Dzong (Palace of Great Happiness). Built in 1637 CE, it is strategically placed at the confluence of two rivers, the Po Chu and the Mo Chu. After this, we will take a pleasant walk for an hour or so across the terraced fields to Chimi Lhakhang (Temple of Fertility) built in the 15th century by the ‘Divine Madman’ (Lama Drukpa Kuenley). In Punakha we will stay in a local farmhouse, where we will experience a genuine slice of Bhutanese life and hospitality. The facilities here will be rather basic, but the accommodation is exactly how a typical Bhutanse family live, and the food is in no way adapted for tourists. Estimated Drive Time - 3-4 hours (in locally-chartered bus). About Punakha: Punakha is the old historical capital of Bhutan and was the site of the coronation of the first king of unified independent Bhutan in 1907, Ugyen Wangchuk. It sits in a warm valley famous in Bhutan for its white and red rice cultivation. Punakha is the site of the historic Punakha Dzong - known as the "Palace of Great Happiness", the fortress was built in 1637 CE, making it the country's second oldest and second largest dzong. Jacaranda trees grow around the dzong, blooming with mauve flowers in the spring, and there is a unique reconstructed cantilever bridge to enter the buiding.

Bumthang

Today we drive to Trongsa, the gateway to central Bhutan at 2180m. Set amidst spectacular scenery, Trongsa Dzong, the ancestral home of Bhutan’s royal family, commands the eye from miles away. We can also visit Ta Dzong - the newly opened museum in the watchtower is dedicated to the Wangchuk dynasty, tells the stories of the Dzong and the valley, and features personal belongings of the kings and queens of Bhutan. We then continue through some of Bhutan’s most beautiful landscapes to Bumthang, an area of high valleys at 2580-3100m. In Bumthang we will stay again in a local farmhouse with basic facilities. Estimated Drive Time - 6-7 hours (in locally-chartered bus). About Bumthang: The Bumthang region of eastern Bhutan is a lush, tree-covered valley, famous for its brightly-coloured woolen handicrafts called yethra. The culture of eastern Bhutan is quite distinctive, and contains its own set of languages and cultures. The town of Bumthang is dominated by the colossal Jakar Dzong that sits on a ridge overlooking the valley - with a circumference of 1,500 metres, Jakar is thought to be the largest in Bhutan. The name Jakar means "white bird", which refers to the myth that a roosting white bird signaled the location to found the monastery back in 1549 CE.

Bumthang

We will spend today sightseeing in Bumthang, the spiritual heartland of Bhutan, with its many legendary monasteries, temples and palaces. Bumthang is the collective name for an area of 4 valleys - Chokhor, Tang, Ura and Chhume. Our guide will take us on a fascinating walking and/or driving tour of a variety of sacred sites including Jamba Lhakhang, Kurjey Lhakhang and Tamshing Lhakhang. We can also visit Bhutan’s largest Dzong, Jakar, with its picturesque location overlooking the Chokhor valley.

Gangtey

Today we drive to Gangtey at 2900m. On arrival we can enjoy the views of the immense and remote Phobjikha valley and the black mountain ranges. We will visit Gangtey Gompa (one of Bhutan’s oldest monasteries which has recently been extensively renovated) and explore the valley where the villagers continue to live a traditional Bhutanese rural lifestyle. This is the site where black-necked cranes visit in their hundreds in November each year after spending the summer in Tibet. In Gangtey we will stay in a local hotel. Estimated Drive Time - 5-6 hours (in locally-chartered bus). About Gangtey: Gangtey is a stunning area of Bhutan surrounded by the Black Mountain range and the glacial Phobjika Valley. The Gangtey Monastery is an important centre for the Nyingma branch of Buddhism, the oldest form of Tibetan Buddhism based on the very first translations of Buddha's teachings from Sanskrit into Old Tibetan in the 8th Century CE - interestingly, written Tibetan was created specifically for this purpose! The monastery is also the site of a remarkable migration of black-necked cranes, which arrive from Tibet to roost during October before returning in early spring - on their arrival and return they are commonly observed to circle the monastery three times. Their arrival is marked with a special festival at the monastery.

Gangtey

Today we will head out for a day walk in the valley known as the Shasila Trail. The trail is used by the people of Sha Ngawang and Chitokha to migrate between their summer and winter homes in Gangtey. It was also an important trail used by the Gangtey Truelku and his followers in the past while migrating between his winter residence in Sha Chitokha and Gangtey Gompa. The walk takes approximately 6 hours for casual trekkers to reach Kheylaykha from Phobjikha. This trail is especially recommended for bird lovers. Our transport will meet us at the road and take us back to Gangtey for the night.

Paro

This morning we will take a trek up to the hill-top village of Rinchengang and learn about its interesting history. After this we will continue our drive to Paro, where we will have an included visit to the impressive Paro Dzong, one of the finest examples of Bhutanese architecture. In Paro we will stay in a local hotel. Estimated Drive Time - 4-5 hours (in locally-chartered bus). About Paro: Paro is a small town in the west of Bhutan, set in a stunning valley surrounding the ancient Rinpung Dzong - this fortress and monastery was built in the 17th Century as a defence against Tibetan invaders. Paro is most famous as the gateway to Bhutan's most iconic structure - the phenomenal Taktshang Monastery, commonly known as the Tiger's Nest Monastery, lies 10 kms from Paro clinging to the face of a sheer 1,000mhigh cliff. The trek up to the monastery from Paro is a beautiful 2 hour walk through forests along paths lined with colourful Buddhist flags, and coming around the final corner to get face-to-face with the monastery is an unforgettable and breathtaking moment! The monastery is highly sacred to the Bhutanese, as they believe that the founder of Bhutanese Buddhism, Guru Rinpoche, flew here on the back of a tigress before meditating there for over 3 years, which gives the Taktshang its wonderful nickname! The monastery was founded here in 1692 CE. Paro is also home to Bhutan's only international airport - the approach path to land or depart from Paro Airport snakes through several mountainous valleys and is known as one of the most spectacular and challenging airports in the world, so much that only a handful of pilots are currently certified to land at it!