The Essential East Tour Package

Arrival, reception and welcome at Kolkata airport, followed by transfer to your hotel.

Morning is at leisure. In the afternoon, visit the key sights including the Victoria Memorial, St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Indian Museum.

Fly to Bagdogra in the morning and drive on to the gorgeous hill station of Darjeeling, ‘Queen of the Himalayas’, at an altitude of 7,000 ft. The bustling bazaar is well worth a visit in the evening.

Early morning excursion to Tiger Hill, followed by a Toy Train ride from Darjeeling station to Ghoom Monastery. Visit the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (founded by the late Tenzing Norgay) in the evening.

The day is at leisure. If you wish, you can visit the famous tea gardens where the renowned Darjeeling tea is grown.

Drive to the remote hamlet of Pelling. In the afternoon, visit the Pemayangtse Monastery.

Drive through picturesque valleys to Gangtok, the hillside capital of the small state of Sikkim.

Visit Rumtek Monastery in the morning. In the afternoon, explore the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, which houses nearly 30,000 volumes on astrology, mysticism, philosophy and more; then the Flower Exhibition Centre; the Buddhist monastery at the palace; and the Residency viewpoint, from where you will enjoy wonderful views of the mountains.

Depart by road for Kalimpong in the morning -- a charming hill station on the historic trade route to Tibet, Bhutan and Nepal. Visit the renowned 17th-century monasteries in the afternoon.

In the morning, transfer to Bagdogra airport for the flight to Kolkata. On arrival, transfer to the hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure. You may wish to visit the Missionaries of Charity, founded by Mother Teresa, later in the day.

Transfer to the airport in time for your departure flight.