Plantations & Hill Stations tour

You arrive in Delhi today where we meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. Depending on what time you arrive, we can arrange a short introductory tour of the city today or you can just settle into the hotel and relax after your journey.

After breakfast, we have arranged a full day tour of India's enigmatic capital city for you. Vibrant, bustling Old Delhi, with its labyrinth of medieval streets, important mosques and Moghul architecture is an invigorating mix of historical and cultural influences, and our tour includes visits to the imposing Red Fort, the mosque of Jama Masjid and the Raj Ghat cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi. We also have time for a short stroll through the bazaars of Chandni Chowk where rickshaws, hawkers, cows and crowds all compete for space in the narrow lanes lined with crumbling Haveli facades.

This afternoon our tour continues to the wide leafy avenues of New Delhi. Designed by the British architect Sir Edwin Luytens, it is full of imperial architecture, stately monuments and large open spaces, and stands in complete contrast to the hustle and bustle of the old city. Visit Humayun's Tomb, India Gate, Parliament House, Qutb Minar and the Lotus Temple before returning to your hotel to reflect on a fascinating day (Note – this day should not be a Monday as many of the sites are closed).

After breakfast, we transfer you to the airport for your flight to Bagdogra in the West Bengal hills. On arrival, you are met by our representative and transferred to the hill station of Kalimpong 80km away (approx 3 hours). Nestled in the foothills of the Himalaya above the Teesta River and within sight of Khanchendzonga the third highest mountain in the world at 8598 metres, the town is often overlooked by visitors due to the close proximity of Darjeeling. However, with its Buddhist temples surrounded by dense forests, streams and beautiful green hills it provides a wonderful setting in which to relax and unwind after the hustle and bustle of Delhi.

This morning you visit Durpin Dara Hill, high above Kalimpong for a spectacular view along the Eastern Himalayan mountain range including the peak of Mount Khanchendzonga. Yet more spectacular views of snow peaks can be enjoyed at Deolo View Point. Kalimpong is a major flower exporter and produces much of India’s gladioli and orchid varieties and there is the opportunity to visit a flower nursery here before visiting the ancient Thongsa Gompa (Bhutan Monastery). Surrounded by 219 small prayer wheels, the old monastery was founded in 1692 before being rebuilt in the 19th century after the Gurkhas rampaged across Sikkim. Visitors are allowed to attend the prayer services by Buddhist monks and there are a number of colourful frescoes on the walls to admire. The afternoon is free for you to explore Kalimpong’s downtown market.

After breakfast we depart for Gangtok, the capital and largest town in Sikkim, stopping en route to visit the Rumtek Monastery. Spiritually the monastery has huge significance as the seat of Buddhism's Kagyu (Black Hat) sect. The main monastery building was constructed between 1961 and 1966 and the giant throne inside awaits the crowning of current Kagyu spiritual leader, the 17th Karmapa. The young lama fled from Tibet in 2000 but currently remains in Dharamsala as Indian authorities are believed to have prevented him from officially taking his seat at Rumtek for fear of upsetting the Chinese. At the back of the monastery a set of stairs lead up to the Golden Stupa which holds the ashes of the 16th Karmapa in a jewel-studded reliquary which pilgrims pay their respects.

In the afternoon we visit the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology which was established in 1958 to promote research into Tibetan culture and Mahayana Buddhism. Housed in a building built in traditional Tibetan style, the institute contains one of the largest collections of Buddhist books and manuscripts in the world together with statues, thangkas and sacred objects. Nearby is the Do-Drul Chorten, a large white pagoda surrounded by dormitories accommodating novice monks.

If there is time, we will also visit the Flower Exhibition Centre, a modestly sized tropical greenhouse full of exotic plants and is worth a visit, particularly in March when the orchids are in bloom.

Today we travel along the former Silk Route to visit Tsomgo Lake (pronounced Changu), a scenic glacial lake surrounded by beautiful scenery. The lake is considered holy by the Sikkimese and is fed from meltwater from the surrounding mountains which taper down to its shores and often reflected in the still waters. Lamas used to study the colour of the lake water to forecast the future and it is said that if the waters had a dark tinge, it foreshadowed a year of trouble and unrest in Sikkim.

The journey to the lake also passes the Kyongnosla Waterfall which has a clutch of shops and teahouses where you can stop and warm yourself with a piping hot cup of chai.

After breakfast we depart for Pelling (approx 5 hours) on a scenic journey past hills, waterfalls, rivers and steep valleys set against a backdrop of Himalayan peaks. Upon arrival in the afternoon, you can choose to relax and admire the sight of the mighty Khangchendzonga or, if you prefer, join an excursion to a number of interesting sights around Pelling.

Rabdentse was the former royal capital of Sikkim before it was destroyed by repeated Nepalese and Burmese invasions throughout the 19th century. As a result, only the ruins of the palace's north and south wings can be seen together with a number of well preserved chortens where members of the royal family would offer incense to the deities. The Pemayangtse Gompa was a former royal monastery and translates as 'Perfect Sublime Lotus'. Founded in 1705, it is one of Sikkim’s oldest and most significant gompas and is magnificently situated on a hilltop overlooking the ruins of Rabdentse. The gompa's atmospheric compound is ringed by gardens and its colourful prayer hall is beautifully proportioned with doors and windows painted with Tibetan motifs. We also visit Sangachoeling Gompa, the second oldest gompa in Sikkim. Occupying a commanding site on a ridge above Pelling with spectacular views of the surrounding mountains, the gompa was built in 1697. Surrounded by a courtyard of stupas, prayer wheels and colourful prayer flags, the main hall also contains some beautiful murals and sculptures.

Leaving Pelling for the exclusive Glenburn Tea Estate (approx 4 hours) near Darjeeling, we pass through valleys carpeted with lush verdant tea plantations and make plenty of stops along the way to admire the spectacular scenery. On arrival at Glenburn, the rest of the day is free for you to relax, perhaps with a cup of tea, and take in the setting of this idyllic colonial plantation house, or you may instead prefer to stretch your legs after the journey with a walk around the estate. Originally established in 1860 and home to generations of tea planters, Glenburn remains a working tea estate today and the main bungalow is a wonderfully peaceful, comfortable place to stay and the faded charm of the colonial period still hangs in the air. The sweeping verandah, crackling fire of the drawing room and the ceremony of a candle lit dinner in the grand dining room provide a focus for the renowned Glenburn hospitality and ensure an unforgettable holiday experience for you.

The next three days are free for you to simply relax or enjoy some of the various activities on offer at Glenburn including a tour of the tea factory to learn about the process of making fine Darjeeling tea before a chance to refine your taste with a tasting session. The estate also has a camp where you can enjoy a refreshing dip in the River Rungeet before enjoying a barbeque lunch and a walk across the Manjitar Suspension Bridge into the old royal kingdom of Sikkim. There are also a number of nature and bird walks for you to enjoy in the hills, forests and rivers surrounding the estate.

A chauffeur driven air conditioned car is at your disposal during your stay at Glenburn and the famous hill station of Darjeeling just over an hour's drive away. Spread over a mountain range and surrounded by a carpet of tea plantations overlooked by Himalayan peaks, Darjeeling is the premier attraction in West Bengal with a number of colonial buildings, temples and gardens to distract you from the magnificent view of Khanchendzonga. Take a ride of the famous Darjeeling Hill Railway (a UNESCO World Heritage site) before shopping for local crafts and handicrafts in the steep narrow streets of the town. Visit the Palace of a local Maharaja before enjoying the views of the surrounding hillsides from Darjeeling's main square, the Chowrasta, where the bandstand evokes memories of British colonial history.

Drive out to the Lebong Cantonment to see the highest race course in the world before visiting the renowned Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, the Tibetan self-help centre, the Lloyds Botanical Gardens and the Ghoom Monastery.

Free day to enjoy relaxing at Glenburn Tea Estate or exploring the local area.

Free day to enjoy relaxing at Glenburn Tea Estate or exploring the local area.

After breakfast we transfer you to the airport at Bagdogra for your flight to Delhi where the rest of the day is free for you to relax or perhaps do so last minute shopping for presents.

Your time is free today until we transfer you to the airport for departure.