Duration: 04 Nights / 05 Days
Destinations Covered: Bagdogara - Darjeeling - Gangtok - Kalimpong - Bagdogara Departure
Day 01: Arrival at Bagdogara by Flight / Bagdogara – Darjeeling (110 km / 3 hrs)
Arrive at Bagdogara. After a traditional 'Swagat' (Welcome), Caper's representative will assist you at the airport and drive you to Darjeeling, the Queen of India's hill stations. This Victorian-era town, of old-world charm discovered by the British, is set amidst fragrant tea gardens that flow over layered slopes like emerald swells on a rough sea.
Overnight Hotel - Darjeeling (B, D)
Day 02: Darjeeling
Visit Tiger Hill early morning for spectacular sunrise views of Kanchenjunga, Mt. Everest, and other eastern Himalayan peaks. On the return, visit Ghoom, a foggy Tibetan village, where you can hear Buddhist monks blowing gyeling pipes at the nearby Yiga-Choling 'Yellow Hat' Monastery. Later, visit the Chholing & Darli Monasteries.
After some rest, enjoy a ride on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR), a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the Mountaineering Institute, founded by Tenzing Norgay, with displays of mountaineering equipment. Explore the Tibet Handicraft Centre and the tea gardens. In the evening, visit Observatory Hill (Makal-Babu-Ko-Thaan), shared by Shivas and Buddhists.
Overnight Hotel - Darjeeling (B, D)
Day 03: Darjeeling – Gangtok (95 km / 3 hrs)
Drive to Gangtok, a fairytale city perched on steep Himalayan slopes, surrounded by rice terraces, flowing rivers, and distant snow-capped peaks. Originally a small hamlet, Gangtok became a Buddhist cultural center after the construction of Enchey Monastery in 1840 and an important stopover between Tibet and British India. It is also a hub for Tibetan Buddhist learning, with numerous monasteries and educational centers.
Half-Day Tour:
Visit the Himalayan Zoological Park (Bulbuley) with semi-natural enclosures for Red Pandas, barking deer, and bears. Explore the Government Institute of Cottage Industries (GICI) for authentic Sikkimese crafts, hand-woven Tibetan carpets, and Choktse tables. Wander through Lal Bazaar to experience local culture and shop for handicrafts. Visit the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, which houses one of the world's largest collections of Tibetan books and rare Mahayana Buddhist manuscripts.
Overnight Hotel - Gangtok (B, D)
Day 04: Gangtok – Kalimpong
Drive to Kalimpong, set against snow-capped peaks. This town, mystical and enchanting, is home to a rare ethnic blend of hill communities and several Buddhist monasteries housing rare Tibetan scriptures. Formerly under Bhutanese rule for 155 years, it was annexed by the British in 1865 and became a center for the wool trade. Buddhism coexists with Hinduism and Christianity, with monasteries, churches, and temples sharing the town harmoniously.
Visit Thongsa Gompa (Bhutanese Monastery, 1692), Zong Dog Palri Fo-Brang Gompa on Durpin Hill (famous for Tibetan wall paintings), and Tharpa Choeling Monastery (Gelugpa sect, 1937). Next, visit Dr Graham's Home, a mission school founded in 1900 to educate children of tea garden workers and poor laborers. Also visit local nurseries.
Overnight Hotel - Kalimpong (B, D)
Day 05: Kalimpong – Bagdogara (75 km / 2 hrs) / Bagdogara – Kolkata by Flight
Drive to Bagdogara, following the scenic Teesta River, and fly to Kolkata. Upon arrival, transfer to your onward destination.
Our tour concludes: We thank you for your patronage and look forward to serving you again in the near future.
