Exotic East India Tour

Day 1 - Welcome to Kolkata! An Active India Holiday representative will greet you at the arrivals hall at the airport. As you drive to the hotel in comfort, enjoy the sights along the way while our representative briefs you about the experience that awaits you. At the hotel, check in and freshen up as you get ready for the exciting days ahead. The rest of the day is free to visit the erstwhile capital city of India, with interesting colonial architecture and fascinating street life, hectic and yet brimming with life and creativity. You may choose to take a leisurely walk in the evening to explore Kolkata’s nearby market area. Overnight stay in Kolkata.

Overnight - Hotel

Day 2 - Today we explore the city with a full day sightseeing tour of Kolkata. We begin our tour with a visit to the flower market near the famous Howrah bridge, Next we proceed towards the imposing Victoria Memorial, opened by the Prince of Wales in 1921, this vision in marble is often called the ”Taj” of the British Raj. It houses a number of rare and one-of-a-kind antiquities. Then we visit the stately Indian Museum, founded in 1814 it is the oldest and largest in India. Our next stop is St Paul’s Cathedral followed by the extraordinary Marble Palace which houses paintings by Rubens, Titian and Reynolds. In the evening visit the Kali temple and attend the prayer ceremony. Return to the hotel in the evening and overnight stay in Kolkata.

Overnight - Hotel

Day 3 - After breakfast we head to the Kolkata airport for our flight to Bagdogra. As we fly over the Himalayas, if the weather is clear we can see the 8000-meter peaks of Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Everest, and Kanchenjunga. Upon arrival at Bagdogra, we take driver over winding roads to reach Darjeeling, on the Himalayan foothills. Along the way we pass forested hills, small villages, and tea plantations. En route we visit the Sonada Monastery and tea garden. Darjeeling was one of the most popular hill stations to escape the heat of the lowlands under the British colonial rule in India. Even now, there is a strong sense of colonial flare. We arrive in Darjeeling and check-in at the hotel. In the evening, we enjoy leisurely walks through the town’s quaint streets, watching the laidback life of the locals.

Overnight - Hotel

Day 4 - Our sightseeing starts early in the morning at 4:00 am. We drive to the Tiger Hill Sunrise Point from where we get a panoramic view of Himalayan Ranges such as Kanchenjunga and the mighty Mount Everest. Just before the sun rises, the horizon changes hues and the Himalayan ranges turns golden. It is truly a breathtaking sight. On our return, we visit the Ghoom Monastery that boasts of a large gilded statue of the Maitreya Buddha, followed by our visit to the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute and Tibetan Refugee Self-Help Centre (closed on Sunday). Established in 1959, this refugee centre includes a Tibetan Buddhist temple and workshops where Tibetan craftsmen make traditional items like carpet, woollen boots, wood carving and leather goods. Drive back to the hotel. Overnight stay in Darjeeling.

Overnight - Hotel

Day 5 - Today we have an early breakfast. Then we get a transfer to the railway station to board the toy train leaving from Darjeeling at 07:40 am and returning at 09:25 am. This two-hour round journey from Darjeeling to Ghoom and back, covers a distance of 14 km and offers stunning views. Upon return, we visit the Darjeeling Peace Pagoda, one of the Peace Pagodas designed to provide a focus for people of all races and creeds to help unite them in their search for world peace. Like the majority of the other Peace Pagodas, it was built under the supervision of Nichidatsu Fujii (1885–1985), a Japanese Buddhist monk and founder of the Nipponzan-Myhji Buddhist Order. In the evening, we visit Observatory Hill which is located at the Mall area and is encircled at its bottom by the Mall Road. It takes around 15 minutes to walk upward to the top. While the hike may be exhausting, the rewarding view is spectacular. The rest of the evening is free to wander around the market. Return to the hotel for an overnights stay.

Overnight - Hotel

Day 6 - We leave for Pelling, another serene mountain village, which lies close to Mount Kanchenjunga. Located at an elevation of 1,900 metres, Pelling offers the best view of Kanchenjunga without leaving the comfort of the hotel. En-route we visit Pemayangste Monastery, one of the oldest monasteries of Sikkim. One of the most striking Gompas, put up by Lama Lhatsun Chempo mainly for ‘ta-sang’ lamas (the purest of monks), the Pemayangste Monastery boasts of several ancient Buddhist antique idols, scriptures and sculptures. The monastery's main attraction is a seven-tiered painted wooden building depicting Guru Rimpoche's Heavenly Palace, Santoplari. The structure took around five years to finish single handed by Late Dungzin Rimpoche. It offers a spectacular panoramic view of the Himalayan ranges, as well as the surrounding hills and countryside. Upon arrival in Pelling we check-in at hotel.

Overnight - Hotel

Day 7 - After breakfast we head out to explore Pelling. We begin with a visit to the Khecheopalri Lake, considered to be one of the most sacred lakes of Sikkim, both by the Buddhists and the Hindus. The lake remains hidden in the rich forest cover and if local folklore is to be believed, birds do not let even a single leaf to float on the lake's surface. Next we drive to Dubdi Monastery, located on the top of a hill. The trail to Dubdi winds through thick forests high above the village, providing scenic views and stunning mountain vistas. For bird watchers, an early morning or late afternoon visit is particularly rewarding. Return to hotel for an overnight stay in Pelling.

Overnight - Hotel

Day 8 - Today we drive to Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim. Along the way we stop at the Tashiding Monastery, built on top of a heart-shaped hill with the sacred Mt. Kanchenjunga in the background. Tashiding is also recognized for the most sacred Chorten, Buddhist shrine, known as 'Thong-WaRang-Dol' which literally means 'saviours by mere sight'. After the visit, we resume our journey to Gangtok. Owing to its proximity to the Tibetan border, the Gangtok is immersed in Tibetan culture. Characterized by fluttering prayer flags, painted roofs, pagoda-styled residences and superb views of the whole Kanchenjunga Range, Gangtok is scenically stunning. It has a rich cultural past and friendly people. Upon arrival we check-in at the hotel.

Overnight - Hotel

Day 9 - In the morning we depart for Rumtek, about 24 kilometres from Gangtok. We visit the Rumtek Monastery, Sikkim's largest and most powerful monastery. The monastery is the official residence of the Karmapa Lama, Tibetan Buddhism's third highest monk. The lovely monastery houses a Golden Stupa with treasures from the 16th Karmapa, such as sculptures and paintings. The collection of murals, thangkas (painted or embroidered scrolls), and religious artefacts is outstanding. Upon return we visit the directorate of handicrafts and handloom. The Directorate was set up to promote traditional Sikkim’s art and handicrafts. In the evening we take a stroll on the famous Gangtok Mall Road, India's cleanest mall road. Overnight stay in Gangtok.

Overnight - Hotel

Day 10 - We take a trip to Lake Tsomgo today. We arrive at the holy Tsomgo Lake, the "spring of water," after a two-hour journey from the Tibetan border on the route to the Nathula Pass. During the winding drive, we pass through several vegetation zones ranging from lush green to barren alpine. Buddhist monks are said to have interpreted the future here based on the colour of the river in ancient times. Once we reach the glacier lake, we can try a yak ride around the shoreline (not included, but may be paid for on the spot) or climb a neighbouring mountain ridge up to nearly 4,000 metres (45 - 60 minutes each way). In the evening we drive back to Gangtok.

Overnight - Hotel

Day 11 - Post breakfast we drive to Kalimpong, a remote hill station nestled in the beautiful rolling foothills and deep valleys. Upon arrival we check-in at the hotel. Later in the afternoon we drive to Tharpa Choling Gompa, a part of the Yellow Hat (Gelugpa) school of Tibetan Buddhism, which was formed in Tibet in the 14th century and to which the Dalai Lama belongs. Lower down the hill lies the Thongsa Gompa of the Bhutanese Monastery, the oldest monastery of the area built in 1692. The original structure was destroyed during inter-clan warfare before to the arrival of the British. Our tour concludes with a visit to the Macforlane Memorial Church - the imposing Gothic edifice built on a hill is visible from many parts of Kalimpong town. The foundation stone was laid on 24th February 1890. Return to your hotel for overnight stay.

Overnight - Hotel

Day 12 - Our Exotic East India Tour comes to an end and it’s time to pack our bags and head back with the memories of a lifetime. We check out from the hotel and get a transfer to the Bagdogra airport from where we board the flight back to Kolkata. Tour concludes.

Tour Ends