Day 1 – To Kolkata: Fly overnight from London
to Kolkata, via Dubai, with Emirates. (N)
Day 2 – Kolkata: Morning arrival and transfer
to the Taj Bengal / Oberoi Grand for a stay of
2 nights. This afternoon, visit the Marble Palace
and the South Park Cemetery. (B)
Day 3 – Kolkata: Morning visit to the flower
market followed by a cruise on the Hooghly
river. Remainder of the day is at leisure. (B)
Day 4 – To Pelling: Fly to Bagdogra and drive
to Pelling. Stay for 2 nights at the Elgin Mount
Pandim. (B, L, D)
Day 5 – Pelling: Morning tour of the
Pemayangtse monastery, one of the oldest
monasteries in Sikkim and home to exquisite
wall paintings and ancient religious idols.
Afternoon visit to Rabdentse, the second
capital of the ancient kingdom of Sikkim that
was reduced to ruins by the invading Nepalese
army in the 19th century. (B, L, D)
Day 6 – To Rinchenpong: Morning drive to
the village of Rinchenpong in West Sikkim.
Set at an altitude of 1,700 metres (5,500ft),
Rinchenpong, a small, untouched Himalayan Village more popularly known as Silent valley,
is an ideal base for those who like short hill
treks. Stay 3 nights at the simple, yet charming,
Yangsum Heritage Farm House. (B, L, D)
Day 7 – Rinchenpong: Trekking through
lush valleys, terraced hills, tiny hamlets and
the local bazaar takes you to the Resum
monastery. Originally built nearly 200 years
ago by the local Lepcha tribe, it has a stunning
view of the mountains. Walking time is
approximately one and a half hours. (B, L, D)
Day 8 – Rinchenpong: Morning, trek through
the jungle to the popular Heritage House
of Rinchenpong. The stone and wood
construction, once used to host the British
governor, reveals multi-cultural influences,
including wall paintings and wood carvings of
the traditional Tibetan school. Continue your
trek through the main bazaar to the Gey-
Sanga-Yangtze Gumpha, one of the oldest
monasteries of Sikkim. (B, L, D)
Day 9 – To Darjeeling: Morning drive to
the Glenburn Tea Estate, a fifth-generation
working estate. You will stay in the boutique
hotel, set among 647 hectares of tea gardens,
for 3 nights. (B, L, D)
Days 10 – Darjeeling: Full-day guided walking
tour of the estate with a picnic lunch on the
banks of the Rungeet river. (B, L, D)
Day 11 – Darjeeling: At leisure to relax or take
an optional full-day tour of Darjeeling. (B, L, D)
Day 12 – To Kolkata: Drive to Bagdogra and
fly to Kolkata. Overnight at the Hyatt Regency
(or similar). (B)
Day 13 – To London: Fly to London, via Dubai,
with Emirates. (B)
Meal Basis: (B) = Breakfast, (L) = Lunch, (D) = Dinner, (N) = No Meals
