28 January to 13 February 2010

Prices

Fully inclusive price from London: £3,295 (based on two people sharing).

Ground only price: £2,795 (based on two people sharing).

Single supplement: £525.

Tour highlights

• city tours of Delhi and Calcutta
• visits to the iconic Taj Mahal and Red Fort in Agra
• amazing Amber Palace in Jaipur
• visits to villages to see demonstrations of various textile manufacturing techniques
• a cookery and sari tieing demonstration
• visit to the Delhi Mela - one of Asia’s largest craft fairs
• steam train to Darjeeling and visit to a tea garden

Thursday 28 January: London to Delhi

We meet at London’s Heathrow Airport at 17:45 for our 20:50 Jet flight 9W121 to…

Included: flight, meals on flight.  Not included: travel to Heathrow, other meals

Friday 29 January: Delhi

…Delhi, arriving at 10.40. We’ll be met at the airport and taken to our hotel to freshen up. In the afternoon we’ll take an afternoon tour of New Delhi’s many and interestng sights.

 Included: Flight, meals on flight, transfer to hotel, New Delhi tour (including entry fees), dinner and accommodation. Not included: other meals, incidentals.

Saturday 30 January: Delhi to Siliguri

After a relaxed breakfast we transfer to Delhi airport for our flight to Bagdogra. We’ll be met at the airport and transferred to our hotel in Siliguri where there will be time to freshen up before our scheduled activities: the first is a fun sari tying demonstration where you’ll see just how it’s done (and maybe try it yourself) as well as seeing some of the beautiful fabrics for which India’s so famous.  Then we’ll have a demonstration of Indian cooking after which you’ll enjoy a dinner. We’ll stay at the Cindrella Hotel where the food is pure vegetarian, and delicious!

Included: Breakfast, flight, meals on flight, transfer, dinner and accommodation.  Not included: Local transport, other  meal, incidentals.

Sunday 31 January: Siliguri to Darjeeling

In the morning after breakfast, we’ll go by coach up the hill towards Darjeeling to Kurseong to meet our special charter steam train. Our little train is called the “Toy Train” by the locals and is a piece of living history – it’s a wonderful way to travel up the hill as the track winds its way through the forests, crossing the road 270 times on the way! We arrive in Darjeeling in the late afternoon and are transferred to our heritage hotel, the Elgin.

Included: Breakfast,  dinner, train travel, coach transfers, and accommodation.  Not included: other meals, incidentals

Monday 1 February: Darjeeling

The morning is free to explore this interesting hill station. You’ll see fabulous pashminas, fabrics, embroidered items, Tibetan arts and crafts in the bazaar and shops. At midday we’ll visit a tea estate and you will have a chance to see how tea is processed and perhaps try your hand at tea tasting.

Included: Breakfast,  dinner, Tea Estate visit, accommodation. Not included: other meals, incidentals.

Tuesday 2 February: Darjeeling

After breakfast we’ll take a walk through the village down to the Tibetan Refugee Self Help Centre (those who prefer can take a taxi). In this fascinating village you’ll see how Tibetan rugs are manufactured – from the wool processing (all by hand) to spinning, dyeing and weaving. We’ll also visit the famous Bhutia Basti monastery with its interesting Buddhist architecture.

Included: Breakfast, dinner, coach transfer, accommodation. Not included: local transport, other meals, incidentals.

Wednesday 3 February: Darjeeling to Siliguri

The morning is free in Darjeeling – you may like to get up early (4:30am!) to see the sun rise over the Himalayas from Tiger Hill, or perhaps visit Darjeeling’s zoo, the Mountaineering Institute, visit the bazaar or just relax at the hotel. In the afternoon we’ll go by coach back down the hill to Siliguri where we’ll have dinner. On the way down we’ll stop at one of the villages to meet some of the women who are part of a small sewing co-operative an opportunity to gain a fascinating insight into Indian village life.

Included: Breakfast, dinner, coach transfer, accommodation. Not included: Local transport, Tiger Hill visit, other meals, incidentals.

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