Day 01: Arrive Delhi and Fly to Kolkata (Calcutta).
You will be met at the airport. Later board flight for Kolkata. On arrival transfer to the Oberoi Grand hotel. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight in Kolkata.
Day 02: Kolkata Sightseeing . Evening Train to Siliguri.
The vibrant city of Kolkata is the capital of West Bengal. In 1772 it became the capital of British administration in India with Warren Hastings as the first Governor of Bengal. Some of modern Kolkata’s most impressive colonial buildings date from the years that followed. After visiting some of the most important places in the city you take the overnight train to Siliguri. Overnight on board the Train.
Day 03: Arrive Siliguri. Drive to Drajeeling.
The train arrives at New Jalpaiguri station at 08.15 and you drive to Darjeeling where you will be transferred to the Windamere Hotel. Overnight at the Windamere Hotel.
Day 04: Sightseeing in Darjeeling.
You can take an early morning walk to the Observatory Hill (locally known as ” Dara”). Here you will witness an amazing sight of Buddhists and Hindus offering prayers side by side. Buddhist prayer flags hang across trees as the Hindu temple bells ring. You will then visit the Everest Museum at the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute and perhaps pause at the zoo to look at the snow leopards and the charming red pandas. You then drive to the Tibetan Refugee Self-Help Centre where you can see carpet making and other handicrafts and visit the centre’s shop.
In the afternoon, train schedules permitting, you will take an excursion (joy ride!) on the ‘toy train’ to Ghoom. The train chugs its way out of Darjeeling, stopping on the way to take on water, and then stops for a further 10 minutes at the famous Batasia Loop for passengers to get down to take photos of the train and of the mountains. You return to Darjeeling town by the same train. Overnight at the Windamere Hotel.
Day 05: Drive to Dotrey. Trek to Tumbling (9,842ft).
Today you set off for a two day trek along the ridge south west of Darjeeling town. For this trek it is best to leave your main luggage at the hotel and to just take your requirements for one night away from Darjeeling in a small overnight bag which will go in the vehicle.
Drive to the village of Dotrey (2½ hrs) from where you begin a lovely walk through forests with glimpses of Kanchendzonga along the way. It’s a scenic and leisurely way to begin the trek. You trek along the ridge which forms the border between India and Nepal. The white posts you see mark the border. You spend the night in the delightful little village of Tumbling which offers panoramic views of the Kanchendzonga range from its view point. Overnight at the lodge in Tumbling.
Day 06: Trek to Gairibas (8,598ft). Drive to Darjeeling.
Today it is best to rise just before dawn to walk to the ridge top behind the village for sunrise over Kanchendzonga. Tea may be brought to you while you enjoy the views! The more energetic can walk along the track for a further 20 minutes for views of Makalu, Baruntse, Chamlang and Everest as well as eastwards towards the mountains of Bhutan! Return to the lodge for breakfast and to pack up. The trail today passes through evergreen forest and bamboo glades, across farmland and pastures and past small villages until you reach Gairibas – a very pleasant walk on an easy trail. Here you meet up with the vehicles and drive to Darjeeling. Overnight at the Windamere Hotel.
Day 07: Drive to Sombaria (3,700ft) via Tukvar Tea Gardens.
On the way to Sombaria you will stop at Tukvar Tea garden to visit the tea factory and walk around the tea gardens. The night is spent at Akash Ganga Guest House which is 3 km from Sombaria bazaar (market) and lies in the Daramdin Constituency of Sikkim. Daramdin in Lepcha is “Dalom” and means resting place. There is a lot of terraced farmland here and you could take a walk around the local market, village, visit its Sai Mandir (temple) close by or visit local homes. Overnight Akash Ganga Guest House.
Day 08: Drive to Hilley (9,000ft). Trek to Soreng (10,000ft). Drive to Rinchenpong (6,500ft).
Today you drive to Hilley and trek through forests of silver fir, hemlocks, magnolia and rhododendrons. As you approach Barsey, the rhododendrons reign supreme. The branches of the trees all along the route entwine to form a leafy canopy. Bright sunlight filters through a fretwork of rich green foliage lighting up flowers in splashes of colour. The mountain views are hidden due to the dense rhododendron forests, however as you near Barsey the vegetation clears and you get a dramatic view of Kanchendzonga. From here you continue to Soreng (a total 4½ hours walking), where the vehicles will meet you for your drive to Rinchenpong. Overnight at a local lodge.
Day 09: Morning around Rinchenpong Gompa (5,576ft) – Drive to Pelling (6,840ft)
This morning you can visit the Rinchenpong monastery, a Lepcha heritage home and perhaps take a walk around the village. The Lepchas, original inhabitants of Sikkim, live around Ringchenpong. There is also an old Lepcha house that has been kept as a museum for people to see this dying tribe’s architecture and culture. After lunch you will drive to Pelling where you can watch the sunset from the veranda of your cottage. Overnight at the Norbu Ghang Resort.
Day 10: Visit Pemayangtse Monastery (6,840ft) & Rabdentse Ruins. Trek to Sangachoeling Monastery (5,900ft). Return to Pelling.
In the morning you can choose to drive or you can walk up to Pemayangtse Monastery (2 km) and visit the 2nd oldest monastery of Sikkim. Most famous here is the “Sangthok Palri”, a masterpiece in carved and painted wood, depicting the various levels of earth and heaven on the way to Nirvana. This was the vision of one master, created over a period of 7 years.
You return to the hotel for lunch. Later you will drive the short way down the hill from Pelling town and walk through forest to visit Rabdantse, the old capital of Sikkim (approximately 1 km each way on a good paved path). Here you can see the ruins of the old royal palace and ancient chortens and foundations belonging to the old ceremonial buildings of the capital. The 360° views from the ruins are quite exceptional. You can see across the valley to the township of Rabangla, the mountains to the north and the monastery of Pemayangste on a nearby hilltop just above.
Later in the day you can walk for about an hour up through forest and visit the monastery of Sangachoeling, one of the oldest in Sikkim. On your return to Pelling you could explore Pelling town. Overnight at the Norbu Ghang Resort Hotel.
Day 11: Drive to Gangtok (1,547m).
Drive to Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim. Although not far on the map this entails a steep descent to the river and then the climb to Gangtok and will take several hours. Overnight at Netuk House Hotel. You will receive a very warm welcome at this charming hotel, decorated in local Sikkimese style.
Day 12: Morning Sightseeing in Gangtok. Drive to Martam VIillage Resort.
In the morning you will do some sightseeing in Gangtok. You can visit the Research Institute of Tibetology, a world renowned institute and one of few of its kind with a well-stocked library of rare books and documents on Buddhism. The institute also has an interesting museum. Adjacent to the Institute is the Phurba Chorten – a huge Stupa surrounded by 113 prayer wheels. You also visit the Orchid sanctuary close by which has more than 600 varieties of orchids.
Day 13: Visit Rumtek Monastery (1,550m). Village Walk.
In the morning you drive to Rumtek (5 kms) and visit the monastery (have your passport ready with you for this!). Built in the 1960s by his holiness Gyalwa Kammpa, the Rumtek monastery is an architectural beauty. This monastery is also the largest in Sikkim with very interesting paintings, statues and stupas containing ashes of the 16th Karmapa. The Nalanda Institute for Higher Buddhist Studies is also in the monastery complex.
From here you will be taken on a village walk with a local guide who will take you to village farm houses and explain the lifestyle. This is a good area for birdwatchers as the area around Martam has about 53 varieties of birds. Overnight at the Martam Village Resort.
Day 14: Drive to Bagdogra. Fly back to Delhi and Depart.
You drive from Martam to Bagdogra for your flight to Delhi. Arrive Delhi in the evening. Transfer to a hotel close to the Airport where a room is held for the group to wash and change. Later transfer back to the Airport to board flight for onward destination.
Date and price to suit individual arrangements based on 2 people sharing. Breakfast included. Private air-conditioned car and driver with English speaking guides for sightseeing.
