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Tuesday, 9 February
Meet at Heathrow Terminal 3 at 1745 to check in for Jet Airways flight 9W121 at 20.50 to…
Included: flight, meals on flight. Not included: travel to Heathrow.
Wednesday, 10 February
…Delhi, arriving at 10.40. After checking into our hotel we visit the National Railway Museum followed by a coach tour of the main city sights. There are numerous options for dinner tonight, including the famous Chor Bizarre restaurant.
Included: visit to railway museum, accommodatio, city tour. Not included: other meals, incidentals.
Thursday, 11 February
After breakfast, our coach takes us to the domestic terminal for the direct Jet Airways flight to Bagdogra, due in at 12.15. From there we are taken by coach to our hotel, the Cindrella, in Siliguri, at the foot of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. There’s time in the afternoon to visit the DHR locomotive depot to become acquainted with the world-famous ‘B’ class engines synonymous with the Darjeeling line. Tonight we have dinner at the hotel.
Included: breakfast, coach transfers, flight to Bagdogra, visit to DHR depot, dinner. Not included: other meals, incidentals.
Friday 12 February
Our first day at the Cindrella and the chance to get a feel for the area. There’s the colourful bazaar, take a visit to the wildlife reserve or reconnoitre the Darjeeling line and visit the DHR’s locomotive shed at Siliguri - and the steam shuttle trains between Siliguri and Sukna. In the evening we take our famed dining charter train up from Siliguri to Rangtong – enjoy a good three course dinner whilst the ‘B’ class blasts its way up through the forest, then back to the Cindrella by bus.
Included: breakfast, coach transfers, charter train, dinner and accommodation. Not included: local transport, other meals, admission charges, incidentals.
Saturday 13 February
We expect a Safari Special today, hopefully steam-hauled, from Siliguri Junction to Tindharia which we will chase by bus for photography. With advance notice, there is the option to ride it instead. As an alternative, it’s possible to visit the hill station of Mirik, or maybe a Buddhist monastery.
Included: breakfast, bus for train chasing and transfers, hill station or monastery, dinner, accommodation. Not included: other local transport, other meals, incidentals.
Sunday, 14 February
Today we visit the Gorumara National Park, and experience a very unusual form of transport. Hand-pulled trolleys have been intoduced to take visitors into the park along a section of abandoned railway track that runs through the park. You’ll be pleased to know that the trolley will take you back again, and extended journeys into the park are available for those that wish to do so.
Included: breakfast, transport to/from Gorumara, hand trolley ride. Not included: extended park visit, other meals, incidentals.
Monday, 15 February
Our first full charter train! We travel up from Siliguri through the forest into the foothills as far as Tindharia where we will visit the DHR’s workshops – this is where the little B class steam locomotives (and all the rest of the DHR’s stock) are maintained - before returning to Siliguri and our hotel for dinner. There will be ample opportunity for photography – we have a bus available on the parallel road for the photographers, and it’s possible to change between bus and train frequently.
Included: breakfast, photography bus, charter train, workshops visit, dinner, accommodation. Not included: other meals, incidentals.
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