Best Tours of India

Sikkim & Bhutan Tour

Duration:12 Nights/13 Days
Places to See: Delhi - Jalpaiguri - Darjeeling - Pemayangtze - Gangtok - Kalimpong - Phuntsoling - Thimpu - Paro - Delhi

Day 01 Depart Delhi
Leave Delhi for New Jalpaiguri by Rajdhani Express at 1715 hrs. (This train operates on Wednesdays, Thursdays & Mondays only)

Overnight enroute ON BOARD TRAIN

Day 02 Arrive New Jalpaiguri - Darjeeling
Arrive New Jalpaiguri railway station at 1410 hrs

Meeting and assistance on arrival at New Jalpaiguri railway station and transfer to Darjeeling

Darjeeling (about 100 kms from New Jalpaiguri) is at an elevation of 7000ft above the sea. The drive to Darjeeling is through interesting mountain country of brilliant red rhododendrons, charming white magnolias and majestic pines. The mountain slopes gently flow down in waves of green tea-bushes. The train of the Himalayan Railways carrying people can be seen chugging along the road side. En route stop at Kerseong to get your first taste of Darjeeling Tea, often referred to as the “Champagne of Teas”.

Arrive Darjeeling and check -in to the hotel

Rest of the day at leisure to relax and get acclimatized to the altitude.

Overnight in Darjeeling

Day 03 Darjeeling
Morning : Travel to the Ghoom Railway Station by toy train (the departure on this day will be coordinated according to the train timings, which can be very erratic. Please note, this journey is subject to the operation of the train)

The train journey is very fascinating (and extremely cold) as its winds its way through the mountain side offering spectacular views. The train, built by the English over 100 years ago, negotiates the mountains using special traction. The most exciting part of this trip is while traversing the Batasia Loop when the front engine almost touches the tail !

On arrival, visit the Ghoom Monastery, 8 kms from Darjeeling. Built in 1875 in the Tibetan style, it enshrines a 5 metre high statue of the Maitreya Buddha (The Coming Buddha).

Return to Darjeeling by coach.

Afternoon : City tour of Darjeeling visiting the Lloyd Botanical Gardens; the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological park which has high altitude animals, the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, where mountaineers are imparted training. Tea Estates can be seen all around. Also visit the Tibetan self-help Centre. ( The Mountaineering Institute is closed on Thursdays).

Overnight in Darjeeling

Day 04 Darjeeling
Early morning : Visit Tiger Hill (2673 m). On a clear morning, one can have a panoramic view of the entire Himalayan range and see the fascinating spectacle of sunrise over the Himalayas. With some luck, it is possible to see Khachenjunga (8585 m) and Mt Everest (8878 m).

Return to Darjeeling and the hotel.

Rest of the day free to discover the town and market areas on foot.

Overnight in Darjeeling

Day 05 Darjeeling / Pemayangtze
Leave Darjeeling for Pemayangtze (75 kms.), driving through interesting mountain roads.

On arrival, check in to the hotel.

Afternoon : Visit the mountain town of Pemayangtze and the Pemayangtse Monastery, located at a height of 2085 metres, with its antique idols.See the nearby ruins of Rabdentse, Sikkim’s second capital. Also see the Sanga-Choling Monastry, the oldest in Sikkim, said to have been built around 1697.

Overnight in Pemayangtze

Day 06 Pemayangtze / Gangtok
Leave Pemayangtze for Gangtok (177 kms), winding your way through the mountains and passing by steep canyons. The drive is very picturesque.

Arrive Gangtok at check-in to the hotel

Gangtok (124 kms from Bagdogra) is the capital of the State of Sikkim. The city lies on a ridge overlooking the Ranipool river. The simple, ever-smiling hill people, colourful lamas, exotic monasteries and prayer flags fluttering in the wind combined with the scenic beauty of the Himalayan terrain provides a fascinating sight.

Afternoon: Visit the Enchey Monastery built by the 8th Namgyal of Sikkim in 1840 and which belongs to the Nyingmapa Sect of Mahayana Buddhism. The monastery has been renovated in recent times. The Do Drul Chorten, considered to be one of the most important chortens of Sikkim, was built in 1945 and has 108 Mani Lhyakor (Prayer Wheels) around it, besides two huge statues of Guru Padma Sambhava. The Deer Park has an image of the Buddha in preaching posture like the one at Sarnath near Benaras. (Visit to this Monastery is granted by special permission). Also visit the Research Institute of Tibetology, which has a large collection of icons, tankhas (tapestries) and rare books.

Overnight in Gangtok

Day07 Gangtok
Morning : Excursion to the Rumtek Monastery - 24 kms from Gangtok, noted for its carved and painted woodwork, magnificent murals, icons and rare manuscripts. A special hall holds the remains of the late Karmapa - Gyalwa Karmapa. Participate in the prayers in the monastery, if in progress.

The rest of the afternoon free to discover the town on your own.

Overnight in Gangtok

Day 08 Gangtok \ Kalimpong
Leave Gangtok for Kalimpong (108 kms). On arrival, check in to the hotel.

Kalimpong is at an altitude of 1250 mts. It is a quiet resort town 50 km from Darjeeling, and has a population of about 5000. Visit the Tibetan Monastery which date back to 1836, the Blind school and the Durpin Dara Hill from where you have a panoramic view of the Himalayas.

Overnight in Kalimpong

Day 09 Kalimpong / Phuntsoling
Leave Kalimpong for Jaigaon ( 175 kms/ 6 hrs) - the last Indian town on the border with Bhutan, through carpets of tea estates. Cross over the border on foot, complete the necessary passport formalities and then walk into the Druk hotel in Phuntsoling.

Phuntsoling is the Gateway to Bhutan from India and is the commercial and industrial centre of Bhutan. This Mountain Kingdom is well known for its stamps and Phuntsoling is the Philatelic Centre of Bhutan.

Afternoon : Visit this interesting little town and the famous Karbandi Monastery.

Overnight in Phuntsoling

Day 10 Phuntsoling / Thimpu
The drive from Phuntsoling to Thimpu ( 176 kms/6 hours) is through breathtakingly beautiful mountain country; scenery that is only conceivable in a 'Shangri-La'.

Thimpu, the capital of Bhutan since 1960, lies at an elevation of over 7600 feet in a fertile valley transversed by the Thimpu Chhu river. The slopes vie with each other stocked from brick and tea to horseshoes and cooling oil to cloth fabrics. And wooden houses stand side by side with concrete buildings, all painted and constructed in traditional Bhutanese architectural styles.

Arrive Thimpu and check-into the hotel

Afternoon : Visit the Taschichhodzong, the main secretariat building, which houses all the Ministries, the National Assembly Hall, the office of the King and the Throne room. It is also the summer residence of the monk body and the religious chief, the “Je Khempo”. Visit the Handicrafts Emporium which displays a wide assortment of beautifully hand-woven carpets and indigenous crafts.

Overnight in Thimpu

Day 11 Thimpu / Paro
Morning drive to Paro (65 kms / 2 hours), enroute visiting the Simtokha Dzong which stands on a lofty ridge and is the first fortress built by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in the year 1627. This old Dzong now houses the Dzongkha language and Religious University.

Paro, “the beautiful valley”, lies nestled in the Kingdom of Bhutan. To the north, Mount Chomolhari (“Mountain of the Goddess”), reigns in its white glory. The glacier waters from its “five sister” peaks, plunge torrentially through deep gorges, finally converging to form the Paro Chu river that nourish the lush rice fields and apple and peach orchards of the Paro Valley.

On arrival, check into the hotel.

Afternoon : Visit the Rimpung Dzong, literally meaning ‘Heap of jewels’. This is situated across the river on the knoll that rises from the river, commanding a view of the Paro Valley. Today it houses the Paro Monastic Body. Behind Rimpung Dzong, high on the hillside, is the majestic castle-shaped Ta-Dzong. This one-time lookout and stronghold also played an active part in the defence of the Rimpung Dzong during invasions. It has been the National Museum since 1967. The Drukgyel Dzong - the burned out shell of the fortress of victorious Bhutan is 18 kms away from Paro. Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the kingdom’s oldest and most sacred temples and Dungtse Lhakhang are also centres of attraction

Overnight in Paro

Day 12 Paro
Morning : Proceed on an excursion to the Taktsang monastery, literally meaning “Tiger’s Nest”, built around the cave in which the Guru Rimpoche - and later his follower Dubthok Singye – meditated. The monastery clings, in a seemingly impossible manner, to a cliff of rock, all of 3,000 ft above the valley floor. A visit to this monastery is a challenge and a pilgrimage; exhausting, thrilling and profoundly mystical.

(A terrible fire at the Taktsang Monastry a few years ago had caused much damage to the interiors, which has now been re-constructed. From the Takatsang Cafetaria, atop the mountain, one can see the Monastry).

Rest of the free to explore the town on your own.

Overnight in Paro

Day13 Paro/Delhi
Morning transfer to the airport to board flight to Delhi

Leave Paro for Delhi by KB-113 (0730/0920 hrs)