Duration: 10 Days / 9 Nights
Destinations Covered: Bagdogara - Darjeeling - Gangtok - Kalimpong - Bagdogara
| 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 that successfully combines ancient and modern elements. Its strategic location made it a prime choice for successive dynasties. Mythological cities such as Indraprastha from the Hindu epic Mahabharata (founded around 5000 BC) are believed to have existed here. Monuments were built over centuries by rulers including Qutub-ud-din Aibek, Alauddin Khilji, the Tughlaqs, Humayun, and Shah Jahan, who built the Walled City of Shah Jahanabad.
In the first half of the 20th century, much of New Delhi was planned by Sir Edwin Lutyens, who designed a grand central administrative area as a testament to British rule. The contrast between the walled city and New Delhi also reflects the differences in lifestyles.
Overnight Hotel – Delhi (B)
Day 02: Delhi – Bagdogara (By Flight) / Bagdogara – Darjeeling (110 km / 3 hrs)
Fly to Bagdogara and drive to Darjeeling, the Queen of India's hill stations. Set amidst fragrant tea gardens, the Victorian-era town exudes old-world charm. The lush slopes resemble emerald waves cascading over the hills.
Overnight Hotel – Darjeeling (B, D)
Day 03: Darjeeling
Visit Tiger Hill early morning for sunrise views of Kanchenjunga, Mt. Everest, and the eastern Himalayan peaks. On the return, explore Ghoom, a foggy Tibetan village known for Buddhist monks blowing gyeling pipes at the Yiga-Choling 'Yellow Hat' Monastery. Visit the Chholing & Darli Monasteries.
Later, enjoy a ride on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR), a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the Mountaineering Institute, established by Tenzing Norgay, and the Tibet Handicraft Centre. Explore tea gardens and the Observatory Hill (Makal-Babu-Ko-Thaan), shared by Shivas and Buddhists.
Overnight Hotel – Darjeeling (B, L, D)
Day 04: Darjeeling - Gangtok (95 km / 3 hrs)
Drive to Gangtok, perched on steep Himalayan slopes with lush rice terraces, rivers, and distant snow-capped peaks. Originally a small hamlet, it became a Buddhist cultural center after the construction of Enchey Monastery in 1840 and a key stopover between Tibet and British India.
Half-Day Tour: Visit the Research Institute of Tibetology, home to 30,000 books, rare manuscripts, thangkas, and Buddhist artifacts.
Overnight Hotel - Gangtok (B, L, D)
Day 05: Gangtok
Excursion to Tsongmo Lake, sacred to locals and ideal for birdwatching. Visit Do Drul Chorten stupas and Rumtek Monastery, the main monastery of the Kagyud (Black Hat) sect, built in 1959 as a replica of Tsurphu Monastery. Explore Himalayan Zoological Park, the Government Institute of Cottage Industries (GICI), and Lal Bazaar for local crafts and cultural experiences.
Overnight Hotel – Gangtok (B, L, D)
Day 06: Gangtok - Excursion Phodang (30 km each way)
Excursion to Phodang Monastery, rebuilt and hosting annual Puja with traditional religious dances on the 28th & 29th days of the tenth lunar month.
Overnight Hotel – Gangtok (B, L, D)
Day 07: Gangtok - Rumtek (24 km / 1 hr)
Drive to Rumtek Monastery (Dharmachakra Centre), originally built in 1740, rebuilt in 1959 by the 16th Karmapa. Surrounded by streams, mountains, and a river, it is considered highly auspicious.
Overnight Hotel - Rumtek (B, L, D)
Day 08: Rumtek - Kalimpong
Drive to Kalimpong, a town with snow-capped peaks, rich cultural diversity, and several Buddhist monasteries housing rare scriptures. Formerly under Bhutanese rule, annexed by the British in 1865, it flourished as a wool trade hub.
Overnight Hotel - Kalimpong (B, L, D)
Day 09: Kalimpong
Visit Thongsa Gompa (Bhutanese Monastery, 1692), Zong Dog Palri Fo-Brang Gompa (famous for Tibetan wall paintings), Tharpa Choeling Monastery (Gelugpa sect, 1937), and Dr Graham's Home, a missionary school founded in 1900. Also visit local nurseries.
Overnight Hotel - Kalimpong (B, L, D)
Day 10: Kalimpong – Bagdogara / Bagdogara – Delhi (By Flight)
Drive to Bagdogara, following the scenic Teesta River, and fly to Delhi. Upon arrival, transfer to the international airport for your onward journey.
Tour concludes: We thank you for your patronage and ensure a punctual transfer for your onward travel.
