09 Eastern India Himalayan Sojourn - Luxury travel, adventure travel, luxury tours, world travel, private escorted travel, luxury getaways, honeymoons, and safaris

Eastern India | Himalayan Sojourn

The incredible views over Darjeeling

The Himalayan state of Sikkim – a little known corner of India
Breath-taking mountain scenery
Hill station of Darjeeling, home to some of the world’s finest tea
Buddhist culture

8 days / 7 nights

Location	Nights
Kolkata	2
Darjeeling	2
Gangtok	2
Kalimpong	1

Day 01 Arrive Kolkata

A&K personal welcome and private transfer to the hotel.
The Oberoi Grand (Deluxe Room)

Day 02 Kolkata

An insight into the cultural capital of India on this morning’s private city tour. Visit the Victoria Memorial, the city’s finest and most prominent building, a legacy of the British Raj which today houses an impressive collection of art. Continue on to the home of Mother Theresa, one of the world’s greatest humanitarians and Nobel Peace Prize winner (B).
The Oberoi Grand (Deluxe Room)

Day 03 Kolkata-Darjeeling (2,134M)

A flight takes you to the cooler climes of the Himalayan mountain range and the quaint colonial hill station of Darjeeling, framed by an incredible backdrop of Himalayan peaks (B,D).
Mayfair Hotel (Heritage Room)

Day 04 Darjeeling – Ghoom – Darjeeling

An early start as you watch the sunrise over India’s highest peak, Khangchendzonga (formally Kanchenjunga) from Tiger Hill - if the skies are clear you may also see the other Himalayan peaks of Lotshe, Makalu and Everest. Visit the Ghoom Monastery before boarding the Toy Train for a spectacular 40 minute rail journey back to Darjeeling. Officially known as the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway the steam train made its first trip in 1881. This afternoon visit the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Zoological Park and the Tibetan Refugee Self-Help Centre with its school, workshops and handicrafts (B,L,D).
Mayfair Hotel (Heritage Room)

Day 05 Darjeeling – Gangtok (1,677M)

Travel to the modern capital of Sikkim, Gangtok, with its traditionally decorated government buildings and spectacular views of the entire Khangchendzonga range. Explore Enchey Gompa, overlooking Gangtok. Established in 1909, the monastery is renowned for its beautiful murals which cover the prayer hall (B,L,D).
Hotel Nor-Khill (Suite)

Day 06 Gangtok – Rumtek – Gangtok

Travel across the valley to Rumtek, where you visit the largest Gompa (Monastery) in the area and the official seat of the Gyalwa Karmapa, the head of the Kagyu order of Tibetan Buddhism. On your return, explore the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology. Built in traditional Tibetan style it houses an unique collection of Buddhist books and Tibetan cloth paintings (B,L,D).
Hotel Nor-Khill (Suite)

Day 07 Gangtok – Kalimpong (1,250M)

Descend into the foothills of the Bengali town of Kalimpong and visit the largest monastery in town, Zong Dog Palri Fro-Brang Gompa with its impressive paintings, Tharpa Choling Gompa and the markets (B,L,D).
The Himalayan Hotel (Standard Room)

Day 08 Kalimpong – Kolkata

Return to Bagdogra and fly back to Kolkata. On arrival transfer to The Oberoi Kolkata where day room use has been included for you to refresh before an onward flight later this evening (B).

Optional Extensions

From Kolkata you can fly to Paro, Bhutan to continue your tour of this fascinating mountainous region on A&K's Temple in the Sky private journey, or fly to Chennai and tour India’s tropical south on our Spices of the South itinerary.