|
Saturday 30 April: Gangtok – Pelling (120 kms)
Today we’ll drive from Gangtok to Pelling, visiting Rabdantsey Ruins and Pemayangtse Monastery en route. We’ll check in at the Elgin Mount Pandim hotel, the closest you can get to Mount Kanchenjunga by road.
Included: transfers, local sightseeing, accommodation, breakfast and dinner. Not included: other meals, incidentals.
Sunday 1 May: Pelling area sightseeing
A full day of sightseeing, covering Rimbi Falls, Khicheopalri Lake (with optional downhill trek), Kanchenjunga Water Falls and the Coronation Throne at Yuksom. In the afternoon we’ll have a visit to Phamrong Falls and Tashiding Monastery (access is via an uphill pathway). Included: local sightseeing, accommodation, breakfast and dinner. Not included: lunch, incidentals.
Monday 2 May: Pelling – Kalimpong
After a morning drive to Kalimpong, we’ll visit a local tribal village. The rest of the afternoon is free for local sightseeing. Our hotel is the Elgin Silver Oaks with great views of the mountains and a lovely Raj-era atmosphere.
Included: transfers, village visit, accommodation, breakfast and dinner. Not included: other meals, incidentals.
Tuesday 3 May: Kalimpong – Phuentsholing (190 kms) or Siliguri (77 kms)
Those travelling on to Bhutan will drive the 190kms to Phuentsholing. Phuentsholing is a thriving commercial centre on the northern edge of the Indian plains. We’ll have an evening visit to Zangtho Pelri Lhakhang. For those leaving the tour here, you’ll have a night at Cindrella Hotel and proceed to Bagdogra/Delhi for your return journey home.
Included: transfers, visa fees, Bhutan entry fees, accommodation, breakfast and dinner. Not included: other meals and incidentals.
Wednesday 4 May: Phuentsholing – Thimphu (176 kms)
This morning we’ll travel to Thimphu, the capital town of Bhutan. En route we’ll visit Kharbandi Goemba - a beautiful monastery and Simtkha Dzong - the oldest fortress of the Kingdom. Overnight at our hotel in Thimphu. Thimpu - is a small, charming capital city sandwiched in the heart of the Himalayas. It sits in its own valley fanning out from the river.
Included: accommodation, all meals, transfers, local sightseeing and entry fees. Not included: incidentals.
Thursday 5 May: Thimphu
A day sightseeing in Thimphu, including Trashichho Dzong - the “fortress of the glorious religion,” Memorial Chhorten - the stupa built in memory of Bhutan’s Third King, National Library, Art School, Traditional Medicine Institute, The Textile and Folk Heritage Museum and Government Handicrafts Emporium.
Included: accommodation, all meals, transfers, local sightseeing and entry fees. Not included: incidentals.
Friday 6 May: Thimphu – Punakha - Paro
This morning we journey through the Dochula Pass at 10, 500 ft with breathtaking views of the snow clad Himalayas. We then continue on to Paro, nestled in a beautiful valley with a rich culture and hundreds of myths and legends, visiting Ta Dzong, the national museum on the way.
Included: accommodation, all meals, transfers, local sightseeing and entry fees. Not included: incidentals.
Saturday 7 May: Haa Valley and Che-Le-La Pass
Our exploration continues with an excursion to Haa Valley (70km) with a stop for photography at Che-Le-La Pass (10,000ft) from where you can see the mountain ranges. As an alternative you may hike up to Takshang Monastery which clings to the hillside. This involves a 7 hour trek there and back, and is not for the faint-hearted, but the monastery may be photographed from a distance without the trek.
Included: accommodation, all meals, transfers, local sightseeing and entry fees. Not included: incidentals.
Sunday 8 May: Paro
Today we depart Paro and take the 310km road journey back to the Cindrella hotel in Siliguri via Chukha and Phuentsholing. There will be stops on the way, including afternoon tea at a tea estate between Phuentsholing and Siliguri.
Included: accommodation, all meals, road transport.
Monday 9 May: Paro Depart
We have a relaxed morning at the Cindrella. After lunch we’re taken to Bagdogra airport for the afternoon flight to Delhi, arriving at 16.50. We will arrange for some rooms to be available at a local hotel where you can freshen up. In the evening we’ll have a final dinner before travelling to the airport to check in to our BA flight BA142 departing at 02:15 to London, arriving at 06:45.
Included: breakfast, transfers, dinner flight and meals on flight. Not included: other meals, incidentals.
|
