Darjeeling & the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan

Your Indian and Bhutanese holiday begins at London Heathrow, where you meet the Tour Manager and group of fellow travellers, ready to board our flight to India. Our journey pauses overnight in Delhi, where we switch planes and continue onwards to the West Bengal province.

Bordering Bangladesh to the east, this historic region stretches from the Bay of Bengal, past Kolkata, across the mighty Ganges and into the foothills of the incredible Himalayan mountains. As we begin our journey, you can look forward to the adventures that await on our two-week holiday though these fascinating nations. Picture fragrant tea plantations backdropped by incredible mountains and the many wonders to come in Bhutan - a small Himalayan kingdom shrouded in history.

Landing in Kolkata this morning, we are transferred by coach to our five-star hotel in the heart of this state capital. There is breakfast on arrival, and then the remainder of the day is yours to relax at the hotel, acclimatise or explore at leisure. Once an important city of British India, Kolkata lost its prominence during the middle of the 20th century but is once again on the rise and is now regarded as India's cultural and intellectual capital.

Our central hotel is well placed for exploration, with numerous green spaces and attractions within reach, including the Victoria Memorial. Taking a car further out, you can see the domes of the 1830s Tipu Sultan Mosque and many bustling markets.

Back at our hotel this evening, we enjoy our first group meal together.

• Breakfast, Dinner

After breakfast at our hotel, we set out on a guided city tour of Kolkata, a city steeped in history. Our first stop is the Mullick Ghat flower market, the largest of its kind in India. Hundreds of vendors line the banks of the Hooghly River every morning to sell fragrant wreaths and bouquets of seasonal flowers.

We continue to see Mother House, a convent and the final resting place of Mother Teresa, followed by the white-marble Victoria Memorial. After some free time to have lunch, we continue to the railway museum before exploring the historic centre of the city and the nearby potter's colony, where artists sculpt colourful idols of Hindu deities.

Later, we board the Circular Railway for a scenic ride to the James Prinsep memorial. Dedicated to the English scholar of ancient Indian scripts and coins, this monument sits beside the peaceful Prinsep Ghat Garden. We return to our hotel this evening in time for dinner.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Enjoy a relaxed morning at the hotel or take the chance to explore more of Kolkata at your own pace, before regrouping at a local restaurant for lunch.

This afternoon, we transfer to the historic Howrah Junction, India's oldest and busiest railway station. In service since 1854, it's from here we begin our journey into the Himalayas. We travel in AC Executive Class aboard the Shatabdi Express for 350 miles to New Jalpaiguri. Watch the ever-changing landscapes unfold during the eight-hour journey, leaving the urban terrain of Kolkata behind and admiring increasingly beautiful scenes as we travel north into the Himalayan foothills. We enjoy a picnic-style dinner and, not long after departing New Farakka Junction, we cross the sacred Ganges River on its journey from the Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal in Bangladesh.

On arrival in New Jalpaiguri this evening, we transfer the short distance to our hotel in Siliguri, where we stay for one night.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning after breakfast, we begin our journey into the Himalayas. We first visit Salugara Monastery, home to a Buddhist shrine built by Dalai Lama's followers, crowned with a colourful 100-foot stupa. Continuing by jeep, we wind past lush green countryside and tree-covered valleys. On reaching Kurseong, we enjoy lunch at the colonial-style Cochrane Place Hotel before embarking on a highlight of the holiday.

Boarding the UNESCO-listed Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, affectionately known as the 'Toy Train', we climb almost 7,000 feet into the Himalayas. This steam-hauled, narrow-gauge train runs directly through the bustling centre of Kurseong before continuing into the surrounding jungle-like forests.

We arrive at our five-star heritage hotel in Darjeeling late in the afternoon, our base for the next three nights. Before dinner at the hotel, you can step on to the terrace to bask in panoramic views of the hillside town, where pastel-painted houses cling to the slopes, set against a backdrop of the Himalayan mountains.

Please Note - For departure 10th February we will stay at the Elgin Hotel Darjeeling in Darjeeling.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

An optional excursion in the early morning hours takes those who wish to Tiger Hill, where, weather permitting, we witness sunrise over the jagged peaks of the Himalayas. As the sun comes up, the mountains are painted pink and golden, with Kanchenjunga - the world's third tallest mountain and India's highest - taking centre stage.

After returning to our hotel for breakfast, we board the steam-hauled 'Toy Train' to Ghoom, the highest hill station in the area. Here, we tour Ghoom Monastery, the oldest Tibetan Buddhist temple in Darjeeling, dating from the 1850s. With its Tibetan characteristics and Himalayan backdrop, the monastery seems a world away from the bustle of Kolkata and Siliguri.

A coach transfer takes us back to Darjeeling, where there is free time for lunch before we discover the final resting place of Tenzing Norgay at the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute and take a short walking tour to St Andrews Church. This evening, dinner is served at our Darjeeling hotel.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Our day begins with breakfast at the hotel, followed by a meeting with the son of a Gurkha veteran. He shares stories about his father's time in the British Army during World War Two, sharing insights into the proud history and personal artefacts with us.

Surrounded by tea plantations, Darjeeling has become synonymous with this popular drink, and we are soon immersed in this aromatic and floral world. Visiting the Golden Tips stall at the local market, we are treated to a tasting of Darjeeling, which comes in green and black varieties and is known for its floral aroma and fruity apricot flavour. After our tea-tasting, we take a heritage walk through the city to see landmarks such as the clock tower and Darjeeling's head post office.

The rest of the afternoon is free to explore independently. As well as boasting many reminders of its colonial past, this atmospheric hill station is also wonderfully scenic. We return to the hotel this evening for dinner.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Leaving mountainous Darjeeling after breakfast this morning, we begin our coach journey towards Bhutan - once a closed kingdom and now one of the world's most intriguing destinations.

Winding down the hills from Darjeeling, we travel past dense vegetation and along roads dotted with temples and fruit stalls. Along the way, we pass waterfalls and cross the Coronation Bridge over the Teesta River. The landscape changes as we approach Chalsa, where we stop for lunch at a local restaurant, surrounded by sweeping tea plantations.

In Jaigaon, we cross into Bhutan under an ornately decorated gate of typical Bhutanese architecture. Perched high in the Himalayas between India and Tibet, the remote kingdom of Bhutan was closed off to most visitors until 2018, yet it is now renowned for its incredible scenery and diverse wildlife. Our hotel is in the border town of Phuentsholing, and after checking in, we have dinner in the hotel's restaurant this evening.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Saying farewell to the laid-back atmosphere of Phuentsholing after breakfast, we begin one of the world's most scenic drives, heading deep into Bhutan's Himalayas on our way to Paro.

Clinging to the mountainside, the winding road constantly reveals breathtaking vistas of dense forests, towering mountains and rugged valleys. Enroute, we stop for lunch before continuing to Paro.

After checking in to our hotel, we set out on a guided tour of historic Paro, home to many ancient sacred sites, including the oldest Buddhist temple in the country. The excursion concludes with a guided tour of a local microbrewery, the Namgay Artisanal Brewery, which includes a beer-tasting session, before we return to our hotel in time for dinner this evening.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Looking like something out of a fantasy novel, Tiger's Nest Monastery clings to a cliffside high above the Paro Valley. This iconic Bhutanese site was built in the 17th century and is named after the second Buddha, Padmasambhava, who is said to have arrived here on the back of a flying tiger.

Leaving our hotel after breakfast, we transfer to the start of the trail where we begin a scenic trek up to the Tiger's Nest viewpoint on the opposite side of the valley. From here, we can admire this sacred monastery and its red, gold and white pagoda in all its glory. On the walk back down, we stop for lunch before taking an excursion to the 7th-century Kyichu Lhakhang near Paro, one of Bhutan's oldest and most beautiful temples.

We continue back to our hotel this evening, arriving ahead of dinner.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast at our hotel, we visit the National Museum of Bhutan in Paro. Housed in a 17th-century watchtower, this museum showcases over 3,000 exhibits of Bhutanese art and artefacts, offering insight into more than 1,500 years of the country's rich cultural heritage.

We continue to the nearby Rinpung Dzong, a 15th-century fortress overlooking the valley and its traditional covered bridge. With 14 shrines and chapels, it's a beautiful example of Bhutanese architecture with intricately carved wooden ornamentations, white buttressed walls and views across the local area.

Leaving Paro, we drive along the Dochula Pass, enjoying lunch at a local restaurant on this snow-covered route through the Himalayas, home to 108 memorial chortens or stupas. We arrive at our hotel in the lush Punakha Valley this afternoon and have an opportunity to create a spiritual mandala symbol from coloured rice before dinner in the hotel restaurant.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Getting to know the beautiful Punakha Valley after breakfast, our first stop is Chimi Lhakhang, famously known as the temple of fertility. Topped with a golden spire, the temple overlooks the river and surrounding countryside.

Next, we continue to Punakha Dzong, or the 'Palace of Great Happiness', Bhutan's second-oldest and second-largest fortified monastery. We break for lunch at a local farmhouse before arriving to Bhutan's capital, Thimphu.

An exploratory walk through the city reveals the 17th-century Tashichho Dzong, a striking fortress monastery and seat of Bhutan's government since the 1960s. We also visit a local craft bazaar, where bamboo huts stretch along the main street. Here, you can browse local goods, from prayer beads and brass Buddhas to handwoven textiles and traditional paintings. Later, we check in to our centrally located hotel and enjoy dinner together this evening.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Thimphu takes our full attention today as we explore the highlights of Bhutan's capital after breakfast. From the Memorial Chorten, we journey up to the towering Buddha Dordenma statue. Gilded in gold and standing at nearly 180 feet high, this magnificent statue looks out over Thimphu and its verdant valleys.

Next, we visit the Royal Takin Preserve to see Bhutan's national animal - the takin, a muscular ungulate often called the 'antelope goat' - before enjoying a traditional lunch at the Simply Bhutan living heritage museum.

This afternoon, we meet local students at the National Insititute for Zorig Chusum, where young artists learn different forms of traditional Bhutanese art. A unique experience follows at the Zilukha Nunnery, where we join the nuns for an intimate tea-offering ceremony. There is free time to continue exploring afterwards, before we return to our hotel and attend a cultural performance before dinner.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Saying farewell to Bhutan's spirituality and Himalayan beauty after breakfast this morning, we head to Paro airport for a flight back to Kolkata.

After checking in to our hotel, the rest of the day is free for you to explore at leisure, perhaps unwinding at our five-star hotel or taking in the sights at your own pace. You might choose to join an optional cruise along the Hooghly River (payable locally), passing the historic Dalhousie Square, now known as BBD Bagh. A tributary of the Ganges and sacred in Hinduism, the Hooghly was central to the founding of Kolkata as a British trading post in 1690. Today, the river offers views of Bengal's rich history and culture as well as glimpses of daily life along its banks.

This evening, we regroup at the hotel for our final dinner together of our holiday.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Soak up the history and atmosphere of Kolkata during a free morning and afternoon in the city. After breakfast at our historic hotel, you are free to explore the historic centre of Kolkata at leisure, including the former Dalhousie Square.

The white-domed General Post Office, built in the 1860s on the site of Old Fort William, remains in operation to this day. Nearby, the Writer's Building, with its striking red-and-cream façade, was once home to clerks of the British East India Company. A short walk leads to St John's Church, with its 174-foot spire and Kolkata's elegant Town Hall, built in 1813 in the Roman Doric style. These landmarks offer a glimpse into the bygone era, when Kolkata was the capital of British India.

A coach collects us from our hotel early this evening and transfers us to Kolkata airport, where we begin our journey back to the United Kingdom via Delhi.

• Breakfast

Our discovery of Kolkata, Darjeeling and the little-explored kingdom of Bhutan draws to a close this morning. We have experienced many sides of these nations while exploring colonial architecture, crossing the Ganges by modern rail, travelling into the mountains of Darjeeling aboard the 'Toy Train', and uncovering the spectacular little-seen scenery and iconic Buddhist temples of Bhutan.

Your adventure concludes this morning as our plane arrives back at London Heathrow, and you are free to make your way home.