DAY 1: ARRIVE KOLKATA

Arrival at Kolkata airport, you will be received by an Oceantics Holidays representative and escorted to the hotel.

Kolkata -Kolkata is situated on the East bank of the Hooghly River. Kolkata is seen as the land of various scholars. It was the capital of British India before Delhi expected this position. People in Kolkata were politically very aware and followed communism. From a small fisherman’s village Kolkata developed to become one of the major cities in the World. The city stands for originality and ardor with all the modern facilities available. Though Kolkata has altered itself to the modern trends and techniques of the world but it hasn’t cast off the laid back lifestyle and the calm of it’s hey days. It is a city that has an everlasting beauty and also a city that induces extreme emotions. Kolkata besides being an extremely populous city, it is also the city where Mother Teresa worked tirelessly for the poor and the homeless and the city where Rabindranath Tagore wrote his famous books.

Overnight stay in Kolkata.

DAY 2: DAY IN KOLKATA

After breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel for sightseeing tour of Kolkata city.

Tour includes visits to the following places of interest:

Victoria Memorial - A fine example of British architecture, this building was constructed in memory of Queen Victoria. And in 1921 Victoria Memorial was inaugurated by Prince of Wales.

Birla Planetarium – Birla Planetarium is the oldest planetarium in India, with its neoclassical design, which resembles Roman architecture.

St Paul's Cathedral -St. Paul’s Cathedral is one of the most prominent Western-style constructions in Kolkata. The construction of this building took eight years to complete. In 1847, the gates to this church were open for the British public in Kolkata. After the Canterbury Cathedral’s bell tower, the tower of St. Paul’s Cathedral was molded. St. Paul’s Cathedral and the rest of the buildings were mainly designed and planned by a military engineer, William Nairn Forbes. With the neo-gothic style of construction, the cathedral was constructed with beautifully tinted glass windows.

Indian Museum -In 1878, the Indian Museum was established in Kolkata. The Indian Museum is considered as the largest museum in the country and one of the best in Asia. The construction of this museum was done in the Italian architectural style.

After that visit the local markets in Kolkata where you can shop for Bengali Sarees, Murshidabad silks, handicrafts etc.

Overnight stay in Kolkata.            

DAY 3: FLY KOLKATA – BAGDOGRA AND DRIVE DARJEELING (90 KMS / 3 HRS)

After breakfast at the hotel, check out and transfer to the airport to board flight for Bagdogra.

Our representative will meet you at Bagdogra Airport and he will drive you to Darjeeling, the next stop on your tour. On arrival check in to the hotel.

Darjeeling -Darjeeling is a very beautiful hill resort and a charming place. Darjeeling is often referred to as the ‘Queen of the hills’. It lies on the brink at the height of 2134m with a panoramic view on the mighty Kanchenjunga Cluster. Darjeeling attracts many visitors to enjoy the cool and the healthy climate of the mountains. The colonial British administration set up a ‘Hill Sanitarium’ to escape from the heat, humidity and stress of the North Indian plains. Darjeeling and tea goes hand in hand. The Darjeeling tea is very famous for its aroma and the rarity of taste. It is also known as the “Champagne of the East”.

Enjoy a visit to tea plantation and factory to earn about the process of production and processing.

Overnight stay in Darjeeling.

DAY 4: DAY IN DARJEELING

Very early this morning, you will be picked up from your hotel and will be taken for an excursion to the Tiger Hill and Ghoom Monastery.

Excursion to Tiger Hill and Ghoom Monastery : To view the sunrise over the world’s third highest peak – Kanchenjunga (28156 ft.). And then to the Ghoom Monastery to see one of the largest statues of the Maitreya Buddha.

Return hotel for a relaxing breakfast. Later, sightseeing tour of Darjeeling. Tour includes visits to the following places of interest:

Himalayan Zoological Park –The Himalayan Zoological Park is the home to India’s only Siberian Tiger. This park also has some rare species such as the Red Panda and it is renowned for successfully breeding in Snow Leopards.

Tour also includes the visit to the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, the Gumbu Rock Site and the Tibetan Refugee self-help center as well as the neighboring tea gardens.

Overnight stay in Darjeeling.

DAY 5: DRIVE TO PEMAYANGSTE, A SMALL HAMLET IN SIKKIM (110 KMS/5.5 HRS)

After Breakfast drive to Pemayangste, a small hamlet in Sikkim.

Visit the beautiful Pemayangste monastery, one of the oldest monasteries in Sikkim.

Overnight stay.

DAY 6: DRIVE TO GANGTOK (125 KMS / 5.5 HRS)

After breakfast, check out from the hotel and drive to Gangtok, the next destination of your tour.

 Gangtok - Gangtok is the gateway to Sikkim; it is the last Shangri-La. Gangtok occupies an ascending hill and the Himalayas serve as scenery to the town. With a backdrop of the Himalayas, Sikkim offers a beautiful panoramic view, vibrant way of life, Buddhist sacred places, adventure and water sports, all close to the capital. Gangtok has beautiful flora and fauna, which includes hundreds of different varieties of butterflies. Many efforts are on to expand tourism to other areas. The availability of accommodation in Darjeeling has rapidly increased. Apart from the government accommodation in various places, Darjeeling is swarming up with varieties of hotels and lodges. Delimited by Tibet, Bhutan, West Bengal and Nepal, Sikkim was a realm and appeared as the 22nd Indian state in the 1970s. Gangtok is expanding to the status of a city.

On your arrival, check-in at the Hotel.

Overnight stay in Gangtok.

DAY 7: DAY IN GANGTOK

After breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel for sightseeing tour of Gangtok. Tour includes visits to the following places of interest:

The place where the former Chogyal or ruler of Sikkim would pray,Tsuk la Khang or the Royal Chapel, the Institute of Tibetology which sponsors research into Tibetology, the Memorial Chorten whose gold peak is observable from all the parts of Gangtok, the Orchid sanctuary where one can see many of the 454 species of Orchids found in Sikkim. Proceed to the place where one can buy traditional Sikkimese crafts, the Institute of cottage industries. The last stop on your tour is the 200-year-old Enchey monastery.

Visit the Rumtek monastery. You can enjoy spectacular view of the snow covered Mt. Kanchenjunga.

The rest of the day is free for you. You can either relax and enjoy the hotel facilities or explore the surroundings.

Overnight stay in Gangtok.

DAY 8: DRIVE GANGTOK - KALIMPONG (90 KMS / 3 HRS)

After breakfast, check out from the hotel and you will start your drive to Kalimpong, the next destination on your tour.

Kalimpong -Kalimpong is an isolated hill station set in the foothills of the gorgeous Himalayas. It is located at a moderate altitude of 1250m creating a triangle with its more eminent neighbors Darjeeling and Gangtok. Kalimpong is an excellent spot to tour in West Bengal.It is very famous for its Orchids and other flowers that grow in abundance. It is also known for its Handicrafts and monasteries. Kalimpong has a subtle climate that ranges from 16 to 27 degrees in summer and 2 to 15 in winter. The perfect time to visit Kalimpong is from March to June and September to November. It was a part of Sikkim before coming under the control of Bhutan in 1706.

On arrival in Gangtok, check in to the hotel.

 After that,sightseeing tour of Kalimpong.

The tour begins with a visit to the Zong Do Palri Fo Brang Monastery, blessed by the Dalai Lama, the Thongsa Gompa, the oldest monastery in Kalimpong, the Sericulture Institute where one can in fact see the weaving of silk and also the flower nurseries where cut flowers are shipped throughout the world. The rest of the day at leisure, you can explore the surroundings or relax at the hotel and enjoy the facilities.

Overnight stay in Kalimpong.

DAY 9: DRIVE KALIMPONG - BAGDOGRA (80 KMS / 2 HRS) AND FLY TO KOLKATA

After breakfast at the hotel, you will drive to Bagdogra airport to board flight for Kolkata.

On arrival in Kolkata, transfer to International airport to catch your flight back home.