from $8,975* per person | 18 Days | April, September |
Comfort accommodations | Exertion level: 3 | |
Operator: Travcoa | 24 people max |
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India & the Himalayas, Bhutan, Asia
New Delhi, India
Arrive in New Delhi
in the evening on Day 2. Afternoon sightseeing will include the
highlights of Old Dehli: the magnificent Red Fort; Raj Ghat, memorial to
Mahatma Gandhi; and Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India. Then
stroll through Chandni Chowk to savor the ambience of an oriental
bazaar.
Taj Mahal Hotel, New Delhi
Darjeeling
Fly from Delhi to Bagdogra
and continue by road to Darjeeling and see the Himalayan Institute of
Mountaineering, Zoological Gardens, Tibetan Refugee Center and the Zoo.
Visit a tea estate to see how tea is grown and produced, and enjoy a
private tasting of the estate’s finest teas. One evening you will be a
guest at a native cultural dance and music program. The next day, take
an early morning excursion to Tiger Hill to witness the sunrise over the
Himalayas, a once- in-a-lifetime experience, and the Ghoom Buddhist
Monastery.
Mayfair Hotel or New Elgin Hotel, Darjeeling
Gangtok, Sikkim
The drive from
Darjeeling to Gangtok is exhilarating, through green forests and
picturesque landscapes, through the Tea Gardens, along the Teesta River.
Perched at a height of 5,500 feet, Gangtok contains approximately 200
monasteries — oases of serenity and repositories of centuries-old
wisdom. Gangtok is home to many different cultures and friendly people,
as well as a myriad species of plants, flowers, birds and animals. Take
in the unique atmosphere of this capital city or visit the Royal Chapel,
The Deer Park. You will also visit the Rumtek Monastery, the Institute
of Tibetology, the Enchley Monastery, Handicraft Center and a local
bazaar.
Mayfair Hotel or Nor-Khill Hotel, Gangtok
Kalimpong
Nestled in the West Bengal
Himalayas at 4,100 feet, Kalimpong features scenic views of mighty
mountain peaks, lovely historic houses, two monasteries and two storied
entwining rivers, the Rangeet and the Teesta. After lunch visit the
Gandhi Ashram School where you will listen to the children playing
music. Enjoy a sightseeing tour of Kalimpong town, including Zang Do
Phelri Phobrang Monastery and the Lepcha Museum. The Lepchas are the
indigenous people of the area, now a minority. The museum showcases the
Lepcha culture and displays their musical instruments, manuscripts,
tools and other artifacts of the culture of this vanishing tribe. In the
afternoon you can stroll around a local bazaar for some shopping and
people watching, then end the day with a visit to Zang Do Phelri
Phobrang Monastery to witness monks praying.
Silver Oaks Hotel, Kalimpong
Thimphu, Bhutan
Thimphu is a
small, charming capital city in the heart of the Himalayas. Visit the
memorial to the late King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk, a traditional Bhutanese
stupa, also known as a chorten. The Memorial Chorten is an impressive
monument with golden spires, tinkling bells, and an endless procession
of elderly people circling around it paying homage. Drive past the
Tashichhodzong, a Buddhist monastery called the “Fortress of the
Glorious Religion,” first constructed in 1641. Enjoy a special visit to
the Institute for Zorig Chusum, which teaches 13 traditional Bhutanese
arts and crafts, and observe the students practicing their crafts. Then
visit the Textile & Folk Heritage Museum, a fascinating testimony of
Bhutan’s living traditions. One evening, you will witness a special
performance of Bhutanese folk music and dancing.
Taj Tashi, Thimphu
Punakha
Drive through the
10,500-foot-high Dochu La Pass which reveals a dramatic view of the
mountain ranges in the distance. In Punakha you’ll visit Punakha Dzong,
built in 1637 as the religious and administrative center of the region,
and Khamsum Yulley Narngyal Chorten, a newly built stupa. Then see the
Punakha Dzong, one of the most historic dzongs in the country, located
in the confluence of two rivers. Stroll around the town’s main street,
shops and local markets. Visit Gangtey, one of the most beautiful spots
in Bhutan.
Puna Tshangchu Cottage, Punakha
Paro
Paro lies in a beautiful
valley with a rich culture, scenic beauty and hundreds of myths and
legends. It is home to Bhutan’s oldest temples and monasteries, as well
as the National Museum. Here you will see Rinpung Dzong, “The Fortress
of the Heap of Jewels” built in 1646 on a hill above the town, and Ta
Dzong, the watchtower built to overlook it. Ta Dzong now holds a
fascinating collection of art, relics, paintings, coins, handicrafts and
a small natural history collection. Enjoy a morning excursion to
Taksang Monastery, perched on the side of a high cliff. Taksang is the
most famous monastery of Bhutan and the most sacred; the Bhutanese
pilgrimage here once during their lifetime.
Zhiwa Ling Hotel, Paro
Calcutta, India
Calcutta is one
of the largest cities in the world and is the capital city of the
Indian state of West Bengal. The former capital of British India, the
port of Calcutta today forms the commercial and industrial hub of
eastern India. Visit Mother Teresa’s Ashram and the Jain Temple. Take a
walking tour of British-built Calcutta, then later visit Birla Temple.
On Day 17 enjoy an early morning visit to the Flower market. Then
continue to take in the sites of Calcutta, driving past the Victoria
Memorial, opened in 1921 as a museum dedicated to the men who played a
prominent part in the history of India. After lunch, visit Dakshinesewar
and its famous Kali temple, and then Belur Math. Sprawling over several
acres of land on the western banks of the river Hooghly (Ganga), Belur
Math is a place of pilgrimage for people from all over the world of
different religious faiths.
Taj Bengal, Calcutta
Calcutta & Depart for Home
You will be transferred to the airport for your return flight home.
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