TITC LONDON

Day 01 - Flight

Fly to Delhi
Days 2, 3 & 4 - Kolkata

Arrive into Kolkata, stay at the Fairlawn Hotel (or The Grand); visit the sights including Daniels' collection of Indian paintings at the Victoria Memorial, Kumartully or the Potter's Lane where durga idols are made, enjoy a coffee at the Coffee House on College Street; visit Tagore's home at Jorasanko; enjoy traditional food in a thali at Aaheli, take a boat on the Hooghly from Belur Math to Dakhineshwar, join a local family for a cooking session, visit Trincas for some golden oldies....
Day 5 - Kalimpong

A short flight to Bagdogra, drive to Kalimpong; stay at the Silveroaks Hotel. Visit the orchid nurseries, Tharpa Choling Monastery, the Arts and Crafts Centre.
Day 6 & 7 - Gangtok

Drive to Gangtok; stay at Denzong Regency or Norkhill; visit the Enchey Monastery, the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology and Lal Bazaar; option to visit the beautiful Chomgo Lake, at 12000 ft, an hour's drive away.
Day 8 - Yuksum

Visit the Rumtek Monastery and drive on to Yuksum, stay at Tashi Gang Hotel; at leisure.
Day 9 - Pelling

Visit the Dubdi Monastery early in the morning, perched on a hill. Later visit Tashiding, where the first Chogyal of Sikkim was crowned; also visit the Khechupelri Lake and the famous Pemayangtse Monastery; there is the option of walking another hour to the Rabdentse Palace ruins; stay the night at Mt Pandim (or Chumbi Mountain Retreat) in Pelling. There is a fair amount of walking involved today; you have the option of skipping some sights and walking less.
Days 10, 11 & 12 - Darjeeling

Drive to Darjeeling for three nights at the colonial Windamere Hotel. Witness the spectacular sunrise from Tiger Hill, visit Ghoom Monastery and the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute; take the toy train to Ghoom or Kurseong; sip your Darjeeling tea at Glenary's, a short walk from your hotel. There is the option to visit a tea factory and learn the difference between first and second flush.
Day 13 - Kolkata

Fly back from Bagdogra to Kolkata for a night at an airport hotel.
Day 14 - return

Transfer to the airport for your return flight.

Extensions
Glenburn Extension: You could stay a few nights at the colonial Glenburn Estate, in the midst of a tea garden, with spectacular views and the river running nearby.

Kaziranga Extension: Fly Bagdogra to Guwahati, stay a night at a family bungalow. Drive to Kaziranga next day for three nights at Diphlu River Lodge, enjoy game drives and elephant safaris before flying home via Kolkata.

Sandakphu Trek: Enjoy some walking in the mountains for 4 to 6 days through rhododendrons and silver fir trees with Kanchenjunga, Kabru, Jano and Pandim in the background.

Best Months: Oct, Nov, Feb, Mar, Apr
Avoidable period: June to Aug, mid-Dec to mid-Jan.

Indicated Price: From £2495
(On twin-share excluding international flights)