Day One – Sunday 3rd March/13th October
13:40 – depart London Heathrow on Emirates EK002 for Dubai
Day Two – Monday 4th October/14th October
00:40 – arrive Dubai
02:00 – depart Dubai on Emirates EK570 for Kolkata
07:40 – arrive Kolkata and meet your local, English-speaking Tour Manager
08:40-10:30 - transfer to your hotel, The Oberoi Grand 5* Hotel where you will have breakfast and check in

Kolkata is famous for its people, culture, food, music, literature, and the movies. Known as the City of Joy and the intellectual capital of India, it was established by the British in 1690 and remained their capital until 1911. Many colonial features remain today, including trams, India’s first underground railway and plenty of Victorian architecture. Kolkata is also associated with most of India’s Noble Prize winners such as Rabindranath Tagore and Mother Teresa.
12:30-13:30 - lunch at the hotel
15:30-18:30 - Hoogly River cruise down to the Howrah Bridge, the unique cantilever Bridge across the river Ganga that joins the two metropolises of Kolkata and Howrah. You will also sail past the Howrah Railway Station, one of the busiest in the world, and various heritage sites on the banks of the great river, including the historical point of arrival of Job Charnock, the House of Dolls, the Nimtolla Ghat, the oldest Gun and Shell Factory in India, and numerous temples and bathing ghats.
Dinner at the hotel

Day Three – Tuesday 5th March/15th October
Breakfast at the hotel
08:30-12:30 - morning visit to The Mother’s House - Missionaries of Charity, established by the Blessed Mother Teresa, followed by a visit to St Paul's Cathedral, noted for its Gothic architecture and reputed to be the largest church in Kolkata and the first Anglican cathedral in Asia. The tour will end with a visit to the iconic Victoria Memorial.
Lunch at a local restaurant or hotel
Afternoon at leisure or choose from two optional experiences. Please note, these require pre-booking and carry an extra charge.
Option 1 – Adda with a poet, writer, and publisher
Option 2 – Local market, Cooking Demonstration and Bengali meal
Dinner at the hotel

Day Four – Wednesday 6th March/16th October
Breakfast at the hotel
09:30-12:30 - you will drive past Dalhousie Square with its important colonial buildings before visiting the 130-year-old Mullick Ghat Flower Market, the largest flower market in Kolkata, and one of the biggest in Asia. You will then enjoy an exclusive sightseeing tram ride around the city, ending at the gate of the Gariahat tram depot.
12:30 - 13:30 - lunch at a local restaurant
Afternoon at leisure or choose from two optional experiences. Please note, these require pre-booking and carry an extra charge.
Option 1 – discover the Temples of Kolkata
Option 2 – Kolkata Food Walk with Tasting
Dinner at the hotel

Day Five – Thursday 7th March/17th October
Breakfast at the hotel, check out and transfer by private coach for Kolkata airport and your internal flight to Bagdogra
12:40 - depart Kolkata by Indigo flight 6E751
13:45 - arrive Bagdogra
A local, English-speaking Tour Manager will meet you at baggage collection and you will all drive to Gangtok, stopping for lunch at the Lemon Tree Hotel on the outskirts of Siliguri.
Early evening – arrive at Gangtok and check into Elgin Nor-Khill hotel.

At an altitude of 1570m, the beautiful hill town of Gangtok became the capital of north-eastern state of Sikkim state in the mid-19th century and has undergone rapid development since then. It is known for its scenic beauty and striking views of Mount Kanchenjunga, the third highest peak in the world. Rich in thick green forests, Sikkim abounds in birds and butterflies, varieties of orchids, rhododendrons and wildflowers and magnificent views of the Himalayas. The existence of the peaceful Chortens or Stupas, old monasteries, and the unspoilt natural beauty of Gangtok offers you a truly unique travelling experience.
Dinner at the hotel

Day Six – Friday 8th March/18th October
Breakfast at the hotel
08:30-11:00 - visit to Rumtek, the largest and wealthiest of Sikkim’s monasteries, followed by an Introduction to Buddhism and Meditation Workshop with a qualified instructor or Lama at Bamboo Retreat’s traditional prayer room.
Lunch
14:30 - return to Gangtok for an afternoon at leisure or choose from two optional experiences. Please note, these require pre-booking and carry an extra charge.
Option 1 - visit Ray Mindu Village, known for its traditional food and handicraft centre
Option 2 - visit Namgyal Institute of Tibetology & Directorate of Handloom and Handicrafts
Dinner at the hotel

Day Seven – Saturday 9th March/19th October
Breakfast at the hotel
08:00 - 11:30 - excursion to Lake Tsomgo, part of the Sacred Himalayan Landscape. (Please Note: As this lake is located in a restricted area, all nationals must obtain special permits. Your guide will arrange these; however you will need to carry a photocopy of your passport, Indian visa, and a passport size photograph.)
11:30 – 13:00 – return to Gangtok
13:00 - 14:45 - lunch at a local Gangtok restaurant, followed by a visit to a flower show at the White Hall complex.
Rest of the day at leisure or choose from two optional experiences. Please note, these require pre-booking and carry an extra charge.
Option 1 - visit to Do-Drul Chorten stupa and Tashi Viewpoint
Option 2 - visit to Tsuk-La-Khang and Enchey Monastery
Dinner at the hotel

Day Eight, Sunday 10th March/20th October
08:00 - 12:30 - breakfast at the hotel, check out and drive to Darjeeling where you will check into the heritage Mayfair Hotel.
Darjeeling has been a popular hill station since the British established it in the mid-1800s. With its idyllic setting, exhilarating climate and stunning views of the Kanchenjunga peak. This is the land of the world heritage Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, Buddhist monasteries, tea plantations, bargain-hunting, and trekking.
12:30 - 13:30 - lunch at a local restaurant
Early afternoon at leisure or choose from am optional experiences. Please note, these require pre-booking and carry an extra charge.
Option 1: meeting with with Mr. Hemant Kr. Pradhan, President of Gorkha Sainik Smriti Chinha Samity and Life Member of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage(INTACH), Darjeeling Chapter Chairman, Gorkha War Museum Trust, Darjeeling.
16:00-17:30 British-style afternoon tea at Windermere Hotel & Sustainability talk with Sunirmal Chakraborty, The Windermere Hotel is Darjeeling’s only truly authentic colonial property of the British Raj era. Sunirmal Chakraborty is the former Senior Master of St. Pauls School and former Principal La Martiniere Kolkata.
Dinner at the hotel

Day Nine, Monday 11th March/21st October
04:00-07:00 - dawn excursion to Tiger Hill (2590m) to see the sunrise and its reflection on Kanchenjunga, India’s highest peak. (Weather permitting).
07:00-07:30 - breakfast back at the hotel,
09:00-12:00 - Toy Train ride from Darjeeling to Ghoom (India’s Highest railway station) where you will visit Ghoom monastery with its 15ft high gilded statue of the Maitreya Buddha.
12:00 - 13:00 - lunch at a local restaurant
13:00 - 16:30 - sightseeing tour including the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute where you can see equipment used by Mr. Tenzing Norgay during his summit, and the Everest Museum which has complete details on Everest. You will then visit Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park to see the Himalayan animals such as Red Panda, Snow Leopard, Tibetan Wolf, Tibetan Yak, Himalayan Black Bear, as well as several varieties of birds. The tour ends with a visit to the Tibetan Self Help Centre or Refugee Centre, a rehabilitation centre for the Tibetan refugees established in 1959 after they followed Dalai Lama and escaped from Tibet. The institute is run by Tibetan Refugees to preserve their handicraft. The production of Tibetan handicraft is the centre's main activity along with leather work, paintings and wooden work, etc.
Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel

Day 10 – Thursday 12th March/22nd October
Breakfast at the hotel
10:00-11:00 - tea tasting at a local tea shop
After the tea tasting, you can choose from two optional experiences. Please note, these require pre-booking and carry an extra charge
Option 1: Heritage walk of Darjeeling with an expert photographer
Option 2: Visit to the Tomb of Alexander Cosma De Karos at Old Cemetery.
Lunch at a local restaurant
Remainder of the day will be free at leisure.
Dinner at the hotel
Day 11 – Wednesday 13th March/23rd October

Early breakfast at the hotel
07:30 - 09:00 - excursion to the Singalila National Park area where you will explore this hilly area in an Old Model Private Number Land Rover (1953-54 model).
12:00 - 12:30 - Lunch at a local lodge/homestay in Tumling, entry point for the national park, followed by some free time to explore at your leisure.
13:30 - 15:30 - return to Manebhanjan by Land Rover
15:30 - 17:00 - return to Darjeeling
Dinner at the hotel

Day 12 – Thursday 14th March/24th October
Breakfast at the hotel and check out
08:30 - 12:00 - transfer to Bagdora airport for internal flight to Kolkata
14:20 - depart Bogdora by Indigo flight 6E 292
15:25 - arrive Kolkata where you will meet your local, English-speaking Tour Guide at baggage collection and transfer to your hotel, The Oberoi Grand Hotel 5*
17:10 - 19:00 - check in and enjoy some free time
Dinner at the hotel
Day 13 – Friday 15th March/ 25th October
Breakfast at the hotel
A day at leisure to enjoy the hotel facilities, relax by the swimming pool or pamper yourself in The Oberoi Spa.
Dinner at the hotel
Day 14 – Saturday 16th March/26th October
04:30 - check-out and travel to Kolkata airport to board flight for London / onwards destination.
08:55 – depart Kolkata by Emirates EK571
12:50 - arrive: Dubai
16:05 – depart Dubai by Emirates EK005
20:00 – arrive London Heathrow
/Tour Ends/