Day 01: Bagdogra – Gangtok
Welcome on arrival at Bagdogra Airport and drive to Gangtok (114kms/4.5hrs). At an altitude of 5500ft Gangtok is the capital of the state of Sikkim, a beautiful and clean town promising of the best monasteries and landscapes. Evening free for individual activity and leisure, overnight at the hotel
Day 02: Gangtok
A full day sightseeing in and around this capital city of Sikkim, covering Chorten (Stupa), Institute of Tibetology (Closed on Sunday), Institute of Handicrafts and handlooms (Closed on Sunday), Flower Show, Tashi Viewpoint, Ganesh Tok, Hanuman Tok, Ban-Jhakri waterfalls & Ranka monastery. Evening free for individual activity and leisure. Overnight at Gangtok.
Day 03: Tsomgo and Gangtok
Morning start for a half-day trip to Tsomgo Lake (12400ft), which is only 32kms from Gangtok City, the Lake is almost 1Km long, oval in shape and 15 meters deep. The Lake is considered sacred by the local people. 18km further ahead visit the New Baba Harbhajan Singh Mandir. Evening free at Gangtok, to explore on local walks. Overnight at Gangtok.
Day 04: Lachung – a Himalayan village
Morning pickup from your hotel at Gangtok and transfer to Lachung (117Kms/6.5Hrs), en-route sightseeing at Singhik View point, Chumathang Valley, Twin Falls and Vima Falls. Evening free to explore the beautiful Himalayan village on your own. Overnight at Lachung.
Day 05: Lachen
After breakfast drive to Lachen (02 hours), arrive Lachen and check in at your hotel. Visit Lachen Monastery.
Day 06: Gurudongma
Visit to Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary & Gurudongma Lake, overnight at Lachen
Day 07: Darjeeling
After breakfast drive to Darjeeling (176 kms / 07 hours), arrive Darjeeling and check in at your hotel.
Day 08: Darjeeling
Enjoy World Heritage Darjeeling Hill Railway, visit to Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, visit to Tea Gardens
Day 09: Darjeeling – Phuentsholing (Indo-Bhutan border)
After early breakfast OR with packed breakfast drive to Phuntsolling (Bhutan Border) (5.5hrs). Overnight at Phuentsholing
Day 10: Phuentsholing – Thimphu
Drive (4 hrs) to Bhutan’s capital Thimphu.
Visit the Tachog Lakhang en-route to your hotel in Thimphu. Later in the day, visit Thimpu’s Weekend market, a colourful and interesting place where you will find many photographic opportunities.
As time permits, visit some of Thimphu’s many cultural sights: choose from the Textile Museum, the Institute of Traditional Medicine, Folk Heritage museum, the School of Fine Arts; the National library; the Post Office; and the National Memorial Chorten.On our way back to the hotel, stop by Changlimithang Stadium, the national archery ground to see the Bhutanese practicing their archery skills!
Day 11: Thimphu
Today, you’ll explore Thimphu’s cultural delights, starting with Cheri Goemba where there are great photography opportunities. Returning to Thimphu city, visit Motithang Takin Reserve to meet one of Bhutan’s most enigmatic mammals, the Takin. If the Rhododenrons are in bloom, you’ll visit to the Royal Botanical Park.
Later, you’ll visit the Trashi Chho Dzong, and Kuensal Phodrang for the giant Buddha statue.
Your guide will be able to tailor your day based on your interests, and plan visits to the museums and places of interest you may not have had time to visit the previous day.
Day 12: Punakha
An early morning drive (3hrs) east to the milder and warmer climate of Punakha climbs through apple orchards and forests of blue pine before entering pristine mixed forests. The pass at Dochu La (3,116m), is an awe-inspiring sight; with prayer flags strewn across its width. Sip warm tea until dawn breaks over the snow-capped Himalayan peaks.
Proceed down to the green terraced fields, famous for growing red rice around Punakha. A gentle walk to the temple of Chemmi Lhakhang; perhaps in time to hear the monks at prayer in this tranquil rural landscape. In the afternoon walk around Punakha Dzong (1637).This pristine environment is also a nature-lovers paradise where we may catch sight of the rare and endangered White-bellied Heron. Punakha Dzong is considered to be one of the most beautiful Dzongs in Bhutan. Inside the dzong is the Kuenrey, a beautiful temple housing the ‘hundred-pillar’ assembly hall with exceptional murals, enormous 18th century golden statues, and most surprising of all is the high ceiling, exquisitely painted with hundreds of dragons.
We have chosen the afternoon when the light is perfect to bring the richness of the paintings and a quieter time to enjoy the ambience of this remarkable dzong.
Overnight in Punakha
Day 13: Paro
After breakfast, drive to Paro (3.5 hrs) and check into your hotel. After lunch, visit the National Museum and the Rinpung Dzong. Walk around the city streets and markets.
Enjoy the evening at leisure in your hotel”
Day 14: Tiger’s Nest, Paro
Visit the Taktsang Monastery, Tiger’s Nest! This is probably the most iconic Bhutanese image. We will walk up the steep uphill walk through the shade of dappled woodlands for approximately 1½-2hrs to reach the cafeteria and have refreshments before continuing to the top. Should you not wish to continue to the top, you will be able to wait in this area. There are mules available if you wish to ride to the top, but you’ll have to walk down on foot.
A further half hour’s ascent above the tea house brings you to another viewpoint directly across from the monastery. The final section of the walk takes you from this viewpoint steeply down 100m/330ft into the gorge that separates you from the monastery and then climbs back up to reach the gate – Taktsang was designed to be isolated!
The monastery has four main temples and several buildings to house monks. Painted white with golden roofs, with interconnected steps carved into the rock and balconies with breath-taking views. The temples are extremely impressive with gold-plated domes, flickering light that dances off the golden images of Buddha, the paintings and sculptures of the Bhutanese saints. Perhaps the most impressive of all is the Hall of One Thousand Buddhas, carved into the rock with a large statue of a tiger, the respected symbol of Taktsang and the legend of that this location was chosen by the tigress that brought the Padma Sambhava to the country.
Returning to the tea-house, we will stop for lunch and enjoy the magnificent view of Taktsang before continuing down through the wooded hillside to our waiting vehicles and drive into Paro town where you will have some free time to wander around quaint shops that sell everything from groceries to textiles.
Day 15: Return
Transfer to Paro airport and board your flight to Delhi (1155-1345). Connect to your departure to UK
