Saturday 7th February Assemble at London Gatwick Airport for check-in at 1700h for the flight to Kolkata (Calcutta) departing at 2010h
Sunday 8th February Arrive Kolkata at 0700h Meet your tour guide on arrival and transfer to the hotel. The rest of the day will be available to rest and relax after the flight. Overnight: KOLKATA
Monday 9th February Early this morning visit the flower market just next to Howrah bridge. It is one of the largest flower markets of Asia selling many different varieties of flowers. The visit will be followed by boat ride on Hooghley river.
Later there will be some sightseeing of Kolkata, a city of marked contrasts. The sightseeing tour of the city includes a visit to the Victoria Memorial, Calcutta's most imposing and monumental marble edifice opened by the Prince of Wales in 1921 and often called the "Taj" of the British Raj, St. Paul's Cathedral and the Indian Museum, the largest in India, with one of the best collections of Indian art. Overnight: KOLKATA
Tuesday 10th February This morning there will be an early transfer to the airport to board the flight for Paro departing at 0820h. Your guide will meet you on arrival at Paro to escort you to the coach for the transfer to the hotel. After check-in there will be an afternoon visit to Ta Dzong National Museum and the Rinpung Dzong fortress. Overnight: PARO
Wednesday 11th February Depart after breakfast for an excursion to Taktsang Monastery. This approximately a 5 hour walk. After a pause and rest for lunch there will be an afternoon visit to the fortress of Drukgyel Dzong and the Buddhist temple of Kyichu Lhakhang. Overnight: PARO
Thursday 12th February Depart this morning with a drive to Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan, famous for its untouched natural beauty set in the glorious landscape of the Thimpu Valley and surrounding hills. Check in on arrival at the hotel.
There will be afternoon visits to the National Library, the Arts & Crafts School, and the Textile & Folk Heritage Museum. Overnight: THIMPU
Friday 13th February This morning there will be a visit the fortress of Tashichhodzong, the National Memorial ‘Chorten’ or ‘shrine’ and the 15th century temple of Changangkha Lhakhang.
After lunch, drive to Punakha, making a stop en route at Dochula pass, 3080 meters high, to witness some of the most enchanting views of Bhutan. Check in to the hotel on arrival. Overnight: PUNAKHA
Saturday 14th February This morning proceed to Bumthang, en route visiting Wangduephodrang, the last town before central Bhutan. The higher reaches of the Wangdue valley has rich pasturelands for grazing cattle. The haunting sound of the wind produced by the deep gorge of the river provides an ideal backdrop for the beautiful scenery on view. This district is famous for fine bamboo work, stone carvings and slate. The imposing ‘Dzong’ or ‘fortress’, is the most notable feature. From here, drive further to Bumthang visiting Chendbji Chorten and Trongsa Dzong en route. Overnight: BUMTHANG
Sunday 15th February The whole of today will be devoted to exploring the beautiful Bumthang valley visiting Jakar Dzong, and the ancient temples of Jambay Lhakhang, Kurje Lhakhang and Tamshing Lhakhang. dating from the from 16th & 17th centuries, with some later restoration. Overnight: BUMTHANG
Monday 16th February Depart in the morning for the drive to Mongar via the Thrumshingla pass, at 4000 metres the highest drivable mountain pass in the kingdom,. Descend to Sengor, with spectacular views of cascading waterfalls on the way. Stop at the bridge over the Kurichu River. Ascend again through pine forests, maize fields, and eastern hamlets to Mongar. On arrival check in at the hotel. In the evening there will be a visit to Mongar town and the local market. Overnight: MONGAR
Tuesday 17th February Today visit Mongar Dzong and then drive on to Trashigang, passing through fern-filled forests and the Kori la pass (2,450 m). The road then descends rapidly through cornfields and banana groves following the Gamri River to Dametsi, a temple perched on top of a steep hill from where the famous Naga Chham masked dances with drums originate. Visit Trashigang Dzong, a fortress/monastry, part of which is occupied by the Drupka monastic community. Check in afterwards at the hotel in Trashigang. Overnight : TRASHIGANG
Wednesday 18th February Depart this morning with sightseeing en route for Samdrup Jongkhar, which is the border town of Bhutan for entering India. Overnight: SAMDRUP JONGKHAR
Thursday 19th February This morning drive across the Indo-Bhutan border to Kaziranga which lies in the Assam state of India. On arrival check in at hotel. Overnight: KAZIRANGA
Friday 20th February Kaziranga is a remarkable success story for its conservation of the One-Horned India Rhinoceros and other animals of North-East India. It is not only the homeland of the Great Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros, but also provides shelter for a variety of wildlife. It is one of the most significant sites of biological biodiversity in the world. The values and standards of Kaziranga National Park caused it be nominated a World Heritage Site in 1985. The park comprises 430 km² with an additional area of 429 km² situated in the two districts of Assam, namely Golaghat and Nagaon. In addition to the one-horned rhinos, the other major wild attractions include a large population of Indian Elephants, Indian Bison, Swamp Deer or Barasingha, Hog Deer, Sloth Bears, Tigers, Leopard Cats, Jungle Cats, Otters, Hog Badgers, Capped Langurs, Hoolock Gibbons, Wild Boar, Jackal, Wild Buffalo, Pythons, Monitor Lizards, etc. Kaziranga National Park is also a birding paradise; the grasslands are raptor country, making many safaris a remarkable experience. There will be an early morning elephant ride and late afternoon Jeep Safari in the park. Overnight: KASIRANGA
Saturday 21st February Today there will be early morning and late afternoon Jeep Safaris in the park. Overnight stay : KAZIRANGA
Monday 22nd February Take a morning drive to Balipara, on arrival check in at hotel. The remainder of the day is at leiasure. Overnight: BALIPARA
Tuesday 23rd February This morning visit the Nameri National Park for bird watching. The park is also a haven for a number of rare animals, such as Tiger, Black Bear, Leopard, wild dog and civet cat.
In the Afternoon visit the Balipara Tea Estates. Overnight: BALIPARA
Wednesday 24th February This morning drive to Guwahati airport to board the flight for Kolkata.
Arrive at Kolkata and transfer to the hotel. Overnight: KOLKATA
Thursday 25th February
Transfer in the morning to the international airport to board the return flight. Arrive London Gatwick in the late afternoon.
End of tour Tour Cost | Price per person | Twin/Double | £3,995.00 | Single Supplement | £695.00 |
- All domestic flights
- 17 nights’ hotel accommodation (4/5 star where available.)
- Meals full board except in Kolkata where it is half board.
- Private AC mini-coach in Kolkata, AC jeeps in Assam, non AC jeeps in Bhutan
- All sightseeing and admissions as indicated on itinerary
- Services of English-speaking accompanying guide in Bhutan, local English speaking guide in Kolkata, naturalist in Assam
- Accompanying STITA escort
- Porterage of 1 piece of luggage per person
How to Book To make a booking, please call us on 01242 515 712 or click on our Booking Details. |
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