Our Himalayan Kingdoms tours encompasses West Bengal, the remote regions of Sikkim in India’s north east and the reclusive ‘Land of the Thunder Dragon’, Bhutan. Both Sikkim and in particular Bhutan are still relatively unspoilt by tourism. These journeys take you to a region of high altitude to look over unrivalled scenery of the Himalayan Mountains and valleys. In this timeless landscape, we will visit monasteries (in Tibetan: Gompas) operating as they have for centuries as well as National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries especially known for their Tigers and the rare one horned Rhinoceros. Both the West Bengal and Sikkim tour and the Bhutan tour can be undertaken separately or as one combined 25 Day tour.

TOUR ITINERARY

Day 1: Arrive Kolkata
Arrival in Kolkata Upon arrival meet & assistance by our representative and transfer to hotel .over night stay at hotel.

Day 2: Kolkata
After breakfast city tour of 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 Sunderbans 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 Phuentsoling
After breakfast we enjoy a safari on an elephant whilst looking for the rare one horned Rhinoceros (subject to elephant availability).  We then drive to Phuentsholing, the gateway to Bhutan for overland travellers. Here we meet our Bhutanese National Escort. The town is a fascinating mixture of Bhutanese and Indian cultures. We visit Zangtho Pelri, a small temple built in the centre of town.

Day 15: Phuentsholing to Thimphu
This morning drive to Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan via a visit to the Kharbandi Gompa.

Day 16: Thimphu
We see Trashichho Dzong, the beautiful mediaeval fortress/monastery which houses Government’s offices and the King’s throne room, visit the National Library, the nearby Institute for Zorig Chusum (Painting School) and view the National Institute of Traditional Medicine. After lunch we visit the National Memorial Chorten, the state-run Handicrafts Emporium, the Folk Heritage and the National Textile Museum. We also drive out of town to an enclosure which is part of Thimphu Zoo to see the unique Bhutanese Takin.

Day 17: Thimphu to Punakha
Today we leave Thimphu Valley and drive up to Dochu-la Pass (3140m), stopping enroute to view Simtokha Dzong, the oldest fortress of the Kingdom. At Dochu-la Pass, if the skies are clear, we can view the ranged Himalayan peaks in the distance, one of which is Gangkar Puensum, Bhutan’s largest peak at 7497m. Later we visit Punakha’s 17th Century Dzong and the newly built Khamsum Yulley Namgyel Chorten.

Day 18: Punakha to Bumthang (Jakar)
After breakfast we drive to Bumthang via Trongsa, the ancestral abode of Bhutan’s Royal family. On this drive we cross Pele-la Pass (3420m), the traditional boundary between East and West Bhutan and Yotong-la pass (3425m). We stop en-route at the Nepalese style Chendbji Chorten. The scenery on this drive is ever changing and we will be able to appreciate the subtle differences between the customs and architectural design of the buildings between East and West Bhutan.

Day 19: Bumthang (Jakar) to Trongsa
Whilst in Bumthang we visit Kurje Lhakhang, where the saint Padmasambhava subdued a local demon, the Jambey Lhakhang, the Tamshing Lhakhang, which has some of the oldest wall paintings in Bhutan, and Jakar’s Dzong; the administrative centre of the region. This afternoon we drive back to Trongsa which forms the central hub of the nation and is historically the place from where attempts at unifying the country were launched. Upon arrival we visit Trongsa’s Dzong, which like other Dzongs in the Kingdom, dominates the surrounding valley.

Day 20: Trongsa to Punakha via Gangtey
Not long after passing back through Pele-la Pass we leave the National Highway and drive into Gangtey valley. A few kilometres beyond the Gangtey Gonpa on the valley floor lies the village of Phobjikha. This is the winter home of the black necked cranes that migrate from the arid plains in the north to pass winter in the milder climate. Later we continue to Punakha / Wangduephodrang for an overnight stay.

Day 21: Punakha to Paro
After breakfast we drive to Paro. Upon arrival we visit Ta Dzong, an old watchtower inaugurated as Bhutan’s National Museum in 1968. Afterwards, we walk down a hillside trail to visit Rinpung Dzong, Paro’s remarkable fortification.

Day 22: Paro
We drive to the start point for our hike to Taktsang Gonpa, which is perched on the side of a cliff 900m above the Paro Valley floor. It is said that Guru Rinpoche arrived on the back of a tigress and meditated at this place, hence why the monastery is also called ‘Tiger’s Nest’. The moderate hike takes all morning meaning we have lunch at the cafeteria, which is run by monks and located halfway up the trail overlooking Tigers Nest. Whilst returning to Paro this afternoon we visit Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest and most sacred temples of the Kingdom.

Day 23: Paro to Kolkata
This morning we have an early transfer to the airport for our flight to Kolkata. Upon arrival we are transferred to our hotel. The remainder of the day is at your leisure.

Day 24: Depart Kolkata
Today is at leisure to shop at Bidhan and New/Hogg markets. After dinner and a late checkout we transfer to the airport to board our onward flight.