Travelpack

Kolkata • Darjeeling • Mirik • Pelling • Gangtok • Kalimpong

Discover the magic of India’s East with a journey that blends culture, history, and Himalayan beauty. Start in vibrant Kolkata before retreating to the lush tea gardens and mountain vistas of Darjeeling. Explore the serene towns of Pelling, Gangtok, and Kalimpong, each offering unique charm and breathtaking views. With handpicked luxury stays and every detail taken care of, this private tour is your story of comfort, style, and discovery.

Day 1: Eastern Triangle Kolkata, Darjeeling & Sikkim
Arrive at Kolkata's International Airport later this morning. Welcome to India!!!
Meet and Greet upon arrival at the airport as soon as you come out of the Main hall after clearing all formalities of customs & Immigration. Later, transfer to your hotel for check-in. Standard check-in time is 14:00 hrs. The rest of the day is at Leisure. Overnight at the hotel. Kolkata, the cultural capital of India, is a vibrant city known for its colonial architecture, artistic heritage, and intellectual spirit. Situated on the banks of the Hooghly River, it blends old-world charm with modern dynamism. Famous for landmarks like the Victoria Memorial, Howrah Bridge, and bustling markets, Kolkata is also celebrated for its literature, festivals, and rich culinary delights.

Day 2: Kolkata
After breakfast, start your day with a full day of sightseeing with your Local guide. Dalhousie Square (Covers Raj Bhawan, St. John's Church, Town Hall, Writers Building, GPO & other colonial buildings) The area around the Dalhousie Square provides one of the most interesting walks through the eighteenth and nineteenth century history and architecture of Kolkata. It was here that the British first built a mud fort around 1700 and started their trading warehouses. Later, when the East India Company took over the administration of the region after 1757, their courts of justice and seat of governance, and the churches for Sunday service were set up here..
Flower Market. It can also be termed as Heritage Market. Beneath the east end of Howrah Bridge, Mullick Ghat Kolkata Flower Market is eastern India's largest flower market with hundreds of stalls and people sitting on the ground. Around 2,000 flower growers from the surrounding areas come to sell their flowers and garlands, and during the wedding and festive season, probably double that number. One can spend hours watching the hustle and the beautiful colours from the bridge. Howrah Bridge is popularly known as Rabindra Setu. Howrah Bridge in Kolkata spans over river Hooghly and is considered to be a marvellous engineering work by the British. The Howrah Bridge is enumerated amongst the busiest cantilever bridges in the World. It took nearly 7 long years to construct the Howrah Bridge. The cantilever bridge of Howrah was completed in 1943. The Howrah Bridge in Kolkata was opened to traffic and the public in the same year. The total expenditure of making the bridge was nearly 2,500,000. Victoria Memorial - (closed on Mondays and National Holidays) This is one of India's most beautiful monuments, built between 1906 and 1921 on the lines of white marble. The memorial was the inspiration of Lord Curzon, who, in 1901, felt that his lately departed Queen Empress required a suitable monument to her memory. It houses paintings, manuscripts, and other objects of historic value in its Museum and Art Gallery. St. Paul's Cathedral. The Cathedral measures 71m in length and 24m in width, the spire rising 60m high. The interior has exquisite scriptural scenes. Above these are the two Florentine frescos. In the centre of the eastern sector is the magnificent altar piece. The massive gold-gilt plate presented by Queen Victoria to Bishop Wilson and the western windows are of special interest. Indian Museum - (Closed on Monday & National Holidays) One of the oldest museums in Asia, the Indian Museum was founded in 1814. One needs an entire day, or more, to fully enjoy the fossils, coins, stones, Gandhara art, meteors, and much more that go to make up this museum. There is a 4,000-year-old mummy here as well. Also on display is an urn said to contain the Buddha's ashes. Post visit, return to the hotel for rest and relaxation. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 3: Kolkata New Jalpaiguri (Vaned Bharat Train: 0555 1325 Hrs.) New Jalpaiguri Darjeeling (Drive: 75 Kms 3.5 Hrs. approx.)
Early morning transfer to Howrah Train Station to board the Vande Bharat Train for New Jalpaiguri. Meet upon arrival at New Jalpaiguri Station and transfer by road to Darjeeling. Upon arrival, check into your Hotel and rest the afternoon at Leisure. Overnight at the Hotel. Darjeeling, often called the Queen of the Hills, is a charming hill station in West Bengal, nestled in the lap of the Himalayas. Famous for its world-renowned tea, breathtaking views of snow-clad Kanchenjunga, and the UNESCO-listed Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (Toy Train), the town exudes old-world colonial charm. With its monasteries, vibrant markets, and lush tea gardens, Darjeeling offers a perfect blend of natural beauty and cultural richness.

Day 4: Darjeeling
Early morning visit Tiger Hill during Sunrise with your Local guide and then back to the Hotel for Breakfast. Tiger Hill is 13 km from Darjeeling, and one can seea beautiful sunrise and the Himalayan Range like Kanchenjunga, Mount Everest, etc. One can see the horizon changing colors just before sunrise, and then the entire Himalayan range turns golden. It is truly a majestic sight. Breakfast at the hotel and go for an enjoyable toy train ride up to Ghoom, then visit Ghoom Monastery. Toy Train The spectacular landscape unfolds as the 2-foot gauge Darjeeling Himalayan railway, opened in 1881, labors at about 10 mph, criss-crossing the road. It has tiny 4-wheel locomotives (some over 100 years old) like living legends. One can experience the sound, smell, and romance of a bygone era. DHR is a work of genius and a technological achievement of 1881. It has social and cultural importance.
It is beautiful and has outstanding universal appeal. Based on its unique features, it is considered to be of lasting significance to mankind. Ghoom Monastery. This is the oldest Monastery in the area, which was built in 1875, and one can see the image of Buddha 15ft high on the way back from Tiger Hill. Afternoon proceed fora city tour of Darjeeling, visit the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park (Closed on Thursdays). The Himalayan Mountaineering Institute was started in Darjeeling when Tenzing Norgay climbed Everest to give training to learn Mountaineering and other adventure sports related to mountaineering and in that Institute one can see equipment etc. used by Mr. Tenzing Norgay and Everest Museum having complete details on Everest attached to institute one can visit Himalayan Zoological Park where one can see Himalayan animals like Snow Leopard, Tibetan Wolf, Tibetan Yak, Himalayan Black Bear and several varieties of birds. Tibetan Self-Help Centre or Refugee Centre: (Closed on Sundays) This institute is run by Tibetan Refugees to preserve their handicrafts, and one can see the making of Tibetan Carpets, Leather work, Paintings, and Wooden work, etc. Post visit return to the Hotel for rest and relaxation. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 5: Darjeeling
Breakfast at the hotel. Post breakfast, drive to Siliguri, en route visit Mirik lake and Sourenee tea estate (approx. 3 Hrs./ 65 Kms). Mirik Lake is a newly started hill station in West Bengal and is situated 48 km west of Darjeeling near the Nepal border with a facility of boating at Mirik Lake, which is 1.25 km long; it is a semi-artificial lake. The drive from Darjeeling to Mirik is via natural forest & tea garden. The main tourist area, Krishna-Nagar, is south of the lake. A 10-minute walk takes you to Bokar Gompa, home to Mahayana monks. One can catch the sunrise and sunset from Rameetay Dara. The Sourenee Tea Estate is located in the Mirik Valley of Darjeeling in West Bengal, India. This over a hundred-year-old estate is spread across an overall area of 137 hectares at altitudes ranging between 2,500 ft to 5,000 ft. The estate has 99.5 hectares under tea plantation and produces approximately 65,000 kgs of top quality flavoury Orthodox 'Darjeeling ' tea, the finest in the world, awarded with its own Geographic Indication. Teas grown on the misty heights of Darjeeling, popularly known as the Champagne of Tea, are famous world over for their exquisite taste. The premium Darjeeling teas are mild in character and have distinctive natural fruity flavors. The different steps in Tea manufacture can be seen in the factory of Sourenee Tea Estate. Enjoy your Lunch at the Resort, followed by a small Tea Tasting Session. Later, drive back to the Darjeeling hotel for rest and relaxation.
Overnight in Darjeeling.

Day 6: Darjeeling Pelling (Drive: 70 Kms / 3 Hrs. approx.)
Breakfast at the hotel. Post breakfast, check out from the Hotel and then drive to Pelling by the shorter route. Upon arrival, check into your Hotel and have some rest and relaxation. Pelling is a small town that is situated in the state of Sikkim in the West Sikkim region. The town is a laid-back place, and it attracts travellers from different parts of the country. Pelling is located near the foothills of Kanchenjunga, and one can witness an outstanding view of the mountain from here. There are numerous scenic spots that one can visit in the area. The main attractions in the place are the monasteries that dot the countryside. After Lunch, proceed for a half-day city tour of Pelling, visiting Pemayangtse Monastery first.. Pemayangtse Monastery 2.5 Kms. from Pelling and standing at 2085m. The Perfect Sublime Lotus, perched on a wooded hilltop, commands the most sublime view of the Khangchendzong. Built during the late 17th century, it is one of the oldest and most important monasteries of the Nyingma order of Buddhism in Sikkim. To the present day, it is only the monks of this monastery who enjoy the title of Tasang or pure monks. The importance of this monastery grew with time and reached its peak when only monks from this monastery could anoint the reigning sovereign of the land with holy water. Pemayangtse monastery follows the Mindroling tradition, besides holding the lineage of Lhatsun Chenpo. Mindroling monastery was founded by Minling Terchen Gyurme Dorje, whose famous daughter Jetsun Migyur Paldon lived near Pemayangtse and taught there during her exile. Her stone throne is still to be seen in this monastery, which has 108 monks. The main attraction of the monastery is the wooden replica of Zangdog Palri, the celestial abode of Guru Padmasambhava, built by Serdup Lhundrup Dorje Rinpoche in 1971. The annual chaam (monk dance) is held here on the 28th and 29th day of the 12th month of the Tibetan lunar calendar. Later visit Rabdentse ruins, Sikkim's second capital. The ruins of Rabdantse are worth exploring. The winding track through the forest brings you to a small set of ruins of the early town and eventually to the ruins of the palace with a Chorten (stupa) nearby. Post visit, return to the hotel for an overnight stay. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 7: Pelling -Gangtok (Drive: 107 Kms / 4 Hrs. approx.)
Breakfast at the Hotel. Later, check out of the Hotel and then drive to Gangtok. Upon arrival, check into your Hotel. The rest of the evening is at Leisure. Overnight at the Hotel. Gangto, at an altitude of 1750m, became the state capital in the mid-19th century and has undergone rapid development since then. The downtown area is dominated by huge government buildings decorated with traditional Buddhist symbols. Gangtok is also a resting ground for people traveling to North Sikkim. Surrounded by Monasteries and Orchids, Gangtok is truly a traveller's delight.

Day 8: Gangtok
After Breakfast, enjoy city Sightseeing of Gangtok with your guide, visiting Rumtek Monastery, Do Drul Chorten, Tibetology (Closed on Saturday/Sunday & Govt. Holidays), Enchey Monastery & Cottage Industry (Closed on Saturday/Sunday & Govt. Holidays). Rumtek Monastery, 24 Kms. from Gangtok, is the awe-inspiring Rumtek Monastery, the world Dharma chakra Centre and the seat of His Holiness, the Gyalwa Karmapa, who is the head of the Kagyupa order of Tibetan Buddhism. Behind the main monastery is the lavishly decorated Karmae Nalanda Institute of Buddhist Studies, which attracts students from the world over. Opposite the entrance to the Institute is a small hall featuring a beautiful jewel-studded Chorten, the Golden Stupa, which contains the ashes and remains of His Holiness the XVI Gyalwa Karmapa. According to legend, it is believed that after years of meditation, the first Karmapa was said to have been visited by ten thousand fairies who came to congratulate him, each of whom offered a strand of her hair as a gift. These were said to have been woven into a black hat, which was passed down and is still at the Rumtek Monastery today. It is said that unless held on to by the wearer (who, of course, cannot be anyone else but the Karmapa) or kept in a box, the hat would fly away.
The Do Drul Chorten, built to commemorate the victory of good over evil, and the Jhang Chub Chorten, built in memory of Thrukshik Rinpoche, an ardent devotee, a great spiritualist and interpreter of Buddhism. Near the Chorten are housed two giant statues of Lord Buddha and Guru Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rimpoche, the patron saint of Sikkim. Namgyal Institute of Tibetology - Amidst a serene surrounding of oak, birch, and ash lies the unique organization established in 1958. Built in traditional style, the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology promotes research in Mahayana Buddhism and the language and tradition of Tibet. It has one of the world's largest collections of rare books and manuscripts on Mahayana Buddhism.
The Institute also has retail outlets where related books and commercially produced religious art and craft of Tibet can be bought. The Enchey Monastery - Perched on a ridge above Gangtok, the Enchey Monastery is nestled within lush woods with a spectacular view of Gangtok town. Built in 1910 on the site of the hermitage of the great tantric saint, Lama DrutobKarpo, who was renowned for his powers of levitation, this monastery houses the monks of the Nyingmapa Order of Tibetan Buddhism. Directorate of Handloom and Handicrafts -This Directorate was set up to promote traditional Sikkimese art and handicrafts. Exquisitely carved wooden friezes, intricate bamboo work, along with beautiful hand-woven carpets and handlooms, are on exhibit here. Visitors can not only purchase these items here but also see the artisans at work. Among others, a favourite item here is the choktse, a wooden table with carved panels that can be folded into a portable pack. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 9: Gangtok
Breakfast at the hotel.
Rest day is at Leisure.
Explore the Gangtok city and visit the Market as well with your Guide.
Overnight at the hotel.

Day 10: Gangtok Kalimpong (Drive: 73 Kms / 3 Hrs.approx)
Leisurely Breakfast at the hotel.
Later, check out from the Hotel and drive to Kalimpong. Upon arrival, check into your Hotel with some rest and relaxation.
Enjoy your Lunch at the Hotel on direct payment. Post Lunch, proceed to visit Kalimpong, including the visit to Flower Nurseries. The climate of Kalimpong is ideal for the cultivation of flowers and plants. Kalimpong is famous for its nurseries, which export exotic flowers like Amaryllis lilies, Anthuriums, Roses, Gerberas, Dahlias, Gladiolias, as well as Orchids and Cacti. Zang Dog Palri Fo-Brang Monastery. This is a fairly new monastery located in Durpin Dara; from here, one can get an exclusive panoramic view of the town and surroundings. The prayer room inside the monastery is adorned with wall paintings, and there is a rare three-dimensional mandala upstairs. Tharpa Choling Monastery at Tirpai hill on the route to Dr. Graham's Home belongs to the Yellow Hat sect of Lamas, to which the present Dalai Lama belongs. Thongsa Gompa - this monastery is of Bhutanese origin and was built around 1692. It is the oldest in Kalimpong. The original structure was destroyed in the inter-clan wars before the British arrived. Later return to the Hotel for rest and relaxation. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 11: Kalimpong Bagdogra (Drive: 78 Kms / 3 Hrs approx. Bagdogra Kolkata (Fly by: 6E 292 1445/1555 Hrs.)
After breakfast, check out from your end and then transfer to Bagdogra airport to board the flight for Kolkata. Meet upon arrival at Kolkata airport and then transfer to the Hotel for check-in. The rest of the evening is at Leisure or free for shopping for last-minute. Overnight at the Hotel.

Day 12: Depart Kolkata
In time, transfer to the Kolkata airport to board the flight for the onward destination.

What is included in the offer:
• International & domestic flights with 20kgs baggage
• All transfers, sightseeing & Excursions mentioned in the itinerary
• 2 nights stay at The Astor Kolkata in a Deluxe Room with bed & breakfast
• 3 nights stay at The Elgin, Heritage Resort & Spa, Darjeeling in a Deluxe Room on half board
• 1 night stay at The Elgin Mount Pandim, Heritage Resort & Spa, Pelling in a Deluxe Room on half board
• 3 nights stay at The Elgin Nor-Khill, Heritage Resort & Spa, Gangtok in a Deluxe Room on half board
• 1 night stay at The Elgin Silver Oaks, Heritage Resort & Spa, Kalimpong in a Deluxe Room on half board
• 1 night stay at The Astor Kolkata in a Deluxe Room with bed & breakfast
• Train tickets for Howrah (Kolkata) to New Jalpaiguri by Vande Bharata Train in Executive Class Chair car (Top class on this Train)
• Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Train tickets from Darjeeling to Ghoom (Steam Locomotive)

Prices & Departures:
Deposit £450pp
• a59268/21 Heathrow or Birmingham from £2718pp
• a65007/12 Manchester or Edinburgh from £2859pp
• a65034 Newcastle from £3199pp
• a65049 Dublin from £3219pp

Terms & Conditions:
Based on 2 adults sharing

Meal Plans