Himalayan Kingdoms

Day 1: Arrive Kolkata
Arrival in Kolkata Upon arrival meet and assistance of representative and transferred hotel. Over night at hotel.

Day 2: Kolkata
The city of Calcutta, now called Kolkata, was established by the British in 1690 and was the capital of British India until 1911. It is the proud intellectual capital of India with a rich contemporary cultural life. The city retains some of India’s most striking colonial buildings and is also home to the country’s first underground railway. As part of our exploration of the city we visit the Jain Temple, the Kali Temple and the white marble Victoria Memorial. We drive past the Howrah Bridge, the Dalhousie Square, Fort Williams, the secretariat building and Old Court House Street. We also visit the flower market and Pauli artisan district where idols are made for Hindu festivals.
Day 3: Kolkata to Sunder bans Wildlife Sanctuary
Today we drive and cruise to the home of one of the largest Royal Bengal Tiger populations on the planet, Sunderbans National Park. During our journey south we will witness the stark difference in lifestyles of the farmers and fisherman to those who live in Kolkata. Upon arrival at our embarkation point we board our boat and cruise down river to the World Heritage listed narrow waterways and mangroves of the world’s largest delta, the Ganges Delta. Once at our camp, we have lunch before cruising to our first lookout tower to try and see the elusive Bengal Tiger. Tonight around a camp fire, enjoy a performance of drama, music and dance performed by the locals about the legends and life in the Sunderbans.

Day 4: Sunderbans Wildlife Sanctuary to Kolkata
This morning we enjoy a cooked breakfast onboard our boat as we cruise through the unfenced areas of the wetlands spotting the local wildlife such as tiger, spotted deer, water monitor and numerous bird species. After lunch we retrace our steps and return to Kolkata.

Day 5: Kolkata to Darjeeling via Bagdogra
Fly to Bagdogra and then travel up through hills and tea plantations to Darjeeling. Darjeeling is perched amongst the clouds at 2134m. It retains its old colonial charm and lies in the heart of rolling hills of premium tea plantations. The name is derived from “Dorje Ling’ meaning ‘the place of the Dorje’ - the Mystic.

Day 6: Darjeeling - Ghoom
Rise early for our jeep ride to Tiger Hill, hoping for a clear sunrise over the world’s third highest peak, Mt Kanchenjunga (8585m). Visit one of Ghooms oldest monasteries before returning to our hotel for breakfast. Later we head to the train station to board the famous World Heritage steam powered, narrow gauge ‘Toy Train’ and enjoy a ride through the hills of Ghoom. In the afternoon we visit a tea plantation and the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute.

Day 7: Darjeeling to Pelling
We head north and cross into the state of Sikkim and drive to Pelling a town famed for views of Mt Kanchenjunga and its proximity to a number of significant old Tibetan monasteries. We visit some of these located close by, such as Tashiding and Pemayangtse Monastery, perched at an altitude of 2084m.

Day 8: Pelling
Today we visit Khecheopalri Lake and Kanchenjunga Falls. Khecheopalri Lake is considered to be one of the most sacred lakes of Sikkim by both Buddhists and Hindus.

Day 9: Pelling to Gangtok
After breakfast we drive to Gangtok (1677m). Perched atop a ridge of the Himalayas, Gangtok is the capital of Sikkim state. This is a bustling and developed town, serving as a perfect base for exploring the pristine beauty, magical legend and dramatic landscape of Sikkim.

Day 10: Gangtok
Today we visit Enchey Monastery, Tashiling (Secretariat Building), Tsuk-La-Khang (Royal Chapel) and Namgyal Institute of Tibetology.

Day 11: Gangtok to Kalimpong
Leaving Sikkim we drive to Kalimpong, visiting Rumtek Monastery en-route to see its monastic paintings and carvings. Kalimpong (1250m) is a small but rapidly expanding market town sitting in the rolling "foothills of Deolo and Durbindra", two Himalayan peaks. Kalimpong once belonged to the Chogyals of Sikkim until the beginning of the 18th Century when it was taken from them by the Bhutanese. In the 19th Century it passed into the hands of the British and thus became part of West Bengal.

Day 12: Kalimpong
Today is a day at leisure to explore this quaint town.

Day 13: Kalimpong to Jaldhapara
We venture to the rarely visited Jaldhapara Wildlife Sanctuary. This afternoon we enjoy a jeep safari in the park which covers 114 sq km of lush grasslands and forest. Accommodation tonight is basic. Day 14: Jaldhapara to Kolkata
After breakfast we enjoy a safari on an elephant whilst looking for the rare one horned Rhinoceros (subject to elephant availability). (Passengers undertaking the 25 Day West Bengal and Sikkim Himalayan Kingdom tour extending to Bhutan, continue today to Phuentsholing to join other passengers doing the Bhutan only tour) After our ride we head back west to Bagdogra airport for our flight for Kolkata. Upon arrival we check into our hotel. After lunch we visit Bidhan and Hogg Markets for that last round of shopping.

Day 15: Depart Kolkata
Enjoy a full day at leisure. After dinner we transfer to the airport to board our onward flight.