Explore India & Bhutan

Duration: 15 Days/14 Nights

Price: USD 3790

This program is designed for you to visit two countries on the same trip. Arrive in Delhi / Kolkata. You will be received by our office representatives and transferred to a hotel.

Spend a night at a hotel in Delhi/Kolkata.

Bagdrogra to Darjeeling – 85 km, 4 to 5 hours drive

1. Domestic flight from Delhi/Kolkata to Bagdrogra Airport. Here you will be received by our office representatives and transfered to Darjeeling. Drive through the famous Darjeeling tea garden and pass by many settlements.
2. Overnight hotel in Darjeeling.

Darjeeling, Day Excursion

1. Breakfast at the hotel.
2. Drive southwards to the Tiger Hill to sunrise out of the Mt. Kanchengjunga (8585m) and other Himalayas Mountain ranges.
3. Drive back to Darjeeling and visit Yegacholing Monastery on the way, which is one of the oldest monasteries in Darjeeling.
4. Visit the great Mountaineer’s museum of the Himalaya Mountaineering Institute (HMI), where one can see the clothing of Sherpa Tenzin Norgay, which was used during his Everest expedition in 1953.
5. Also visit the Zoological Park and Tibetan Refugee School.
6. Spend the night at the hotel in

Darjeeling to Pedling, 95 km, 5 hours drive.

1. Take an interesting drive through the narrow tea garden road toPedling, which lies on the hilltop overlooking the whole valley of Yoksum (old capital of Sikkim).
2. Walk around the Pedling town if time permits and also visit nearby Sangacholing Monastery above the town.
3. Spend the night at a hotel in Pedling.

Pedling to Gangtok

1. Visit the Pema Yangtshe Monastery founded by Lama Lhatsun Chempo in 1705. It was later rebuilt during the reign of third Chogyel Chakdor Namgay, Jigme Pawa.
2. Visit the Rabtentshe Palace, the second capital of Sikkim. It was established by second Chogyel of Sikkim in the late 17^th
3. Take a trip to Kechopari Lake located on the way to Yaksum. Kechopari, which means ‘wishing lake’, is located in a dense forest. You will discover that we cannot see any leaf floating on the lake – because any fallen leaf would have been lifted immediately by the birds.
4. Spend the night in Gangtok .

Gangtok

1. Drive towards Gangtok, the capital city of Sikkim at the height of 5,400ft
2. Visit Rumtek Monaster, about 22km from Gangtok. It is the main seat of the Gyalwa Karmapa, who founded Karma Kagyued. The old site was built in 1717 but was rebuilt in 1960s by 16^th His Holiness Gyalwa Karmapa.
3. Visit the Research Institute of Tibetology, founded in 1957 by the His Holiness the Dhli Lama and is a premier institute in the world that conducts research in the language and Tibetan culture.
4. Visit the Enchey Monastery, the oldest monastery in the Gangtok region. It was founded by Lama Drubthob Karpo in 1700.
5. Visit the Doel Drul Chorten, founded in 1945 by great Buddhist Master Dodup Rimpoche. It is the largest monastery in Gangtok with around 500 monks from all over Himalayas region studying Buddhist Philosophy.
6. Spend the night at the hotel in Gangtok.

Gangtok to Kalingpong, 76 km 3 hours’ drive

1. Visit Zangthopelri Monastery, Deola Hill, Durpin Hill
2. Walk around the small Kalingpong Town
3. Spend the night at Kalimpong.

Kalimpong to Phuntsholing (Bhutan) – 180km, 6.5 hours’ drive

1. Drive through the tropical forest and on the way you will see many Assamese Mucked Monkeys.
2. After 60km you will reach the meeting point of the Himalayan Mountains ranges and the great Indian plain. Driving through the plain, you will see some small markets and rice fields.
3. Upon arrival in Phuntsholing, you will be warmly received by our representatives from Bhutan.
4. Spend the night at Phuentsholing (Southern Bhutan)

Phuntsholing to Thimphu, 179 km 6 to 7 hours’ drive

1. Upon complete entry formalities, drive to Thimphu.
2. Visit Kharpandi Gonpa in Phuntsholing
3. Witness the road widening project that is going between Phuntsholing and Thimphu – but be prepared for a slightly bumpy drive.
4. On the way, you will see beautiful waterfall and Chukha andTala Hydro power dams along the Wangchu River. Hydro power brings about 54 % of the revenues to the country.
5. Spend the night in the capital city of Bhutan.

Thimphu

1. Visit the Memorial Chorten of Third Jing Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. The Chorten was built in 1974 by the late Royal Grand Mother Ashi Phuntsho Choden. Today it is popular worship place in Thimphu. You will see many elderly men and women circling the chorten and chanting mantara.
2. Visit Zorichusum Institute which is popularly known as the painting school. Students in this school learn traditional arts and crafts like painting, sculpture, wood carving, weaving and embroidery.
3. Visit the Changangkha Temple (built in the 15th century by famous Lama Nima). Inside the temple is “God of Compassion” made out of platinum. You may witness blessing of a newborn baby in this temple.
4. Spend the night in Thimphu.

Thimphu to Punakha

1. Drive to Punakha, the old capital of Bhutan at 1,300m altitude (about 3-hour drive from Thimphu). You will get to see the panoramic view of Eastern Himalayas Mountains ranges if the day is clear.
2. Visit the Punakha Dzong which played an important role in the olden days. It was Bhutan’s second monastery school after the Cheri Monastery. The first king was crowned inside this Dzong in 1907.
3. Hike to Chimi Lhakhang through a nice walk along the rice field and through farm houses. The temple was built by Lama Nawang Chogyel in 1499 and is today a popular temple where barren women come to pray for children. The temple is popularly known as the Fertility Temple.
4. Spend the night in Punakha.

Punakha

1. Go on a day excursion to the Phobjikha Valley. The drive from Punakha will take you through different vegetation zones. It is possible to spot Gray Langurs, Mucked Monkey and other animals along the way.
2. Visit Gangtay Gonpa, the only Ningma Monastery School in western Bhutan. The temple is 457 years old and was founded by first reincarnation of Terton Pemalingpa. It was rebuilt by his successive reincarnation Tenzin Lakpay Dendup in 1613.
3. Visit the Cranes Information Center and enjoy a good view of the whole black-necked crane habitat.
4. Spend the night in Punakha.

Punakha to Paro

1. Drive from Punakha to Paro.
2. Visit Ta Dzong (watch tower), which was built in 1649 by Paro Governor Tenzin Drugda to protect the fortress below. The Ta Dzong was almost destroyed in 1965 but was restored by the Third King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck into the National Museum of Bhutan in 1968.
3. Visit Paro Dzong which was built in 1646 by Zhabdrung Rimpoche to protect Paro Valley from frequent Tibetan invasions. Today the Dzong serves as the administrative office of Paro district and houses 110 monks.
4. Spend the night in Paro.

Paro

1. Hike to the Tiger Nest Monastery, the holiest monastery in the Buddhist World.
2. Spend the night in Paro.
3. Next day, depart from Paro International Airport after breakfast in the hotel.