Itinerary
- Day 1
Kolkata
Your Alkof Holidays representative will be waiting at Kolkata airport to drive you to your hotel. Once you're settled in, the rest of the day is open for you to unwind and adjust to the city at your own speed.
- Start point
- Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU), Jessore Rd, Dum Dum, West Bengal 700052, India (Pickup from the Main Entrance of Kolkata Airport, India)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel The Lindsay or similar - Kolkata)
- Day 2
Kolkata
After breakfast, you'll check out the Victoria Memorial and Science City around Kolkata. The Metro Rail gets you around efficiently, and you'll stop by Belur Math and Mother Teresa's Home if you want some spiritual reflection. By evening, head to Vidyasagar Setu for some city views, then wander through Chinatown and pick through a local market to catch the real atmosphere of the place.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel The Lindsay or similar - Kolkata)
Included Activities
- Visit Victoria Memorial
- Explore Science City
- Travel by Metro Rail
- Visit Belur Math
- Visit Mother Teresa's Home
- Cross Vidyasagar Setu
- Explore Chinatown
- Visit local market
Landmarks Victoria Memorial Science City Belur Math Mother Teresa's Home Vidyasagar Setu Chinatown 
- Day 3
Kolkata to Darjeeling
You'll catch a morning flight from Kolkata to Bagdogra, and your Alkof Holidays rep will meet you there to transfer you to Darjeeling. After checking into your hotel, you have the rest of the day to settle in and let your body adjust to the altitude and new surroundings.
- Accommodation
- Resort (Central Gleneagles Heritage Resort or similar - Darjeeling)
- Day 4
Darjeeling
Set out early before breakfast to reach Tiger Hills at 8,364 feet and catch the sunrise over Kanchenjunga Peak (if the weather cooperates). On the return journey, you'll visit Ghoom Monastery and Batasia Loop. After breakfast, spend the entire day exploring Darjeeling including the Japanese Temple, Peace Pagoda, Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Tenzing & Gombu Rock, Tibetan Refugee Self Help Center, and a local tea estate.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Resort (Central Gleneagles Heritage Resort or similar - Darjeeling)
Included Activities
- Visit Tiger Hills for sunrise over Kanchenjunga Peak
- Visit Ghoom Monastery
- Visit Batasia Loop
- Visit Japanese Temple
- Visit Peace Pagoda
- Visit Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park
- Visit Himalayan Mountaineering Institute
- Visit Tenzing & Gombu Rock
- Visit Tibetan Refugee Self Help Center
- Visit Tea Estate
Landmarks Tiger Hills Kanchenjunga Peak Ghoom Monastery Batasia Loop Japanese Temple Peace Pagoda Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park Himalayan Mountaineering Institute Tenzing & Gombu Rock Tibetan Refugee Self Help Center - Day 5
Darjeeling to Kalimpong
After breakfast, you're heading to Kalimpong and checking in. Start with Durpin Hill to see the Zong Dog Palri Fo-Brang Monastery, which belongs to the Dalai Lama's Buddhist sect. From there, you'll visit Jelapla View Point, Pine View Point, Chitra Bhanu, Kalim Temple, and Dr Graham's Homes Complex. Save Delo Hill (5,556 feet) for last since it's the highest point in Kalimpong and gives you views of the whole town, Mt. Kanchenjunga, nearby villages, and the Relli Valley and Teesta River.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Resort (Summit Barsana Resort & Spa or similar - Kalimpong)
Included Activities
- Visit Durpin Hill
- Explore Zong Dog Palri Fo-Brang Monastery
- Visit Jelapla View Point
- Visit Pine View Point
- Visit Chitra Bhanu
- Visit Kalim Temple
- Visit Dr Graham's Homes Complex
- Visit Delo Hill
Landmarks Durpin Hill Zong Dog Palri Fo-Brang Monastery Jelapla View Point Pine View Point Chitra Bhanu Kalim Temple Dr Graham's Homes Complex Delo Hill - Day 6
Kalimpong to Gangtok
After breakfast, you're traveling to Gangtok to check into your hotel. Spend some time resting at the hotel, then head to Tashi View Point for sweeping views of Kanchenjunga snow peaks (assuming clear skies). Later, drive to Rumtek Monastery about 23 km from Gangtok, one of Sikkim's largest and most significant monasteries sitting on a hilltop. The rest of your day is free to do what you'd like.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Saramsa Resort or similar - Gangtok)
Included Activities
- Visit Tashi View Point
- Visit Rumtek Monastery
Landmarks Tashi View Point Kanchenjunga Rumtek Monastery 
- Day 7
Gangtok
You have a full day to explore Gangtok's cultural side after breakfast. Begin at Hanuman Tok, a temple complex high up in Gangtok that's dedicated to Lord Hanuman and maintained by the Indian army. Then check out Ganesh Tok, the Directorate of Handicrafts & Handloom, Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, Do Drul Chorten Monastery, and Banjhakri Falls and Energy Park. You'll head back to your hotel in the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Saramsa Resort or similar - Gangtok)
Included Activities
- Visit Hanuman Tok
- Visit Ganesh Tok
- Visit Directorate of Handicrafts & Handloom
- Visit Namgyal Institute of Tibetology
- Visit Do Drul Chorten Monastery
- Visit Banjhakri Falls and Energy Park
Landmarks Hanuman Tok Ganesh Tok Directorate of Handicrafts & Handloom Namgyal Institute of Tibetology Do Drul Chorten Monastery Banjhakri Falls and Energy Park - Day 8
Gangtok to Phuentsholing
After breakfast, you're heading to Phuentsholing at the Bhutan border. Check in at your hotel once you arrive. The rest of the day is yours to relax or explore on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Park Hotel or similar - Phuentsholing)
- Day 9
Phuentsholing to Thimphu
Following breakfast, you'll travel to Thimphu and check into your hotel. You'll have most of the day to rest and relax, then in the evening take a casual walk around Thimphu's main street and market area to get a sense of how the city feels.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Gakyil Thimphu or similar - Thimphu)
Included Activities
- Exploratory walk around Thimphu main street and market area
- Day 10
Thimphu
After breakfast, you're exploring Thimphu's cultural and spiritual highlights. Start at Pangri Zampa Monastery for an astrology session, then move through the National Library with its Buddhist manuscripts, the Institute for Zorig Chusum (a painting school), and the Textile Museum. Simply Bhutan is a living museum showing off Bhutanese heritage, and you'll also see Changangkha Lhakhang, a fortress-like temple on a ridge. Next, drive to Buddha Point (Kuensel Phodrang), Bhutan's largest Buddha statue, where you can pay your respects and walk around to take in the valley views. If there's time left, the King's Memorial Chorten is worth a stop since locals continuously circumambulate it spinning prayer wheels.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Gakyil Thimphu or similar - Thimphu)
Included Activities
- Visit Pangri Zampa Monastery for astrology session
- Visit National Library
- Visit Institute for Zorig Chusum
- Visit Textile Museum
- Visit Simply Bhutan
- Visit Changangkha Lhakhang
- Visit Buddha Point (Kuensel Phodrang)
- Visit King's Memorial Chorten
Landmarks Pangri Zampa Monastery National Library Institute for Zorig Chusum Textile Museum Simply Bhutan Changangkha Lhakhang Buddha Point (Kuensel Phodrang) King's Memorial Chorten - Day 11
Thimphu to Punakha
After breakfast, you're heading to Punakha with a stop at Dochula Pass at 3,100 meters for photos. The pass has 108 Druk Wangyel Chortens built by the Queen Mother in 2003 and offers views of Bhutan's highest mountains on clear days. Once in Punakha, check into your hotel and later visit the Punakha Dzong, one of Bhutan's most beautiful fortresses with exceptional examples of Bhutanese art and crafts. You'll trek to Chimi Lhakhang, a temple sitting on a hillock known as the fertility temple, and walk through the nearby village to experience local life.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Kingaling or similar - Punakha)
Included Activities
- Stop at Dochula Pass
- Visit Punakha Dzong
- Trek to Chimi Lhakhang
- Walk through village near temple
Landmarks Dochula Pass 108 Druk Wangyel Chortens Punakha Dzong Chimi Lhakhang 
- Day 12
Punakha to Paro
After breakfast, you're traveling to Paro with a stop at Wangdue Phodrang to visit the fortress Wangdue Dzong and walk through the local market. Continue on to Paro and check in at your hotel. You have the rest of the day to relax.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Resort (Mandala Resort or similar - Paro)
Included Activities
- Visit Wangdue Dzong
- Explore local market
Landmarks Wangdue Dzong 
- Day 13
Paro
After a good breakfast, you're taking on a 2-hour hike to Taktsang Monastery, also called Tiger's Nest, the day's main event. This temple grips a sacred cliff high above the Paro Valley, with legend saying Guru Rinpoche flew here on a tigress' back to subdue a demon and meditated for three months. The main building was restored after a fire in 1998. In the afternoon, visit Ta Dzong, a former watchtower now housing the National Museum where Bhutan's history is on display. Next is Rinpung Dzong, a fortress showcasing Bhutanese architecture, then Kichu Lhakhang, one of Bhutan's oldest temples. Finish at the ruins of Drukgyal Dzong, a historical military outpost, before heading back to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Resort (Mandala Resort or similar - Paro)
Included Activities
- Hike to Taktsang Monastery
- Visit Ta Dzong (National Museum)
- Visit Rinpung Dzong
- Visit Kichu Lhakhang
- Visit Drukgyal Dzong ruins
Landmarks Taktsang Monastery Paro Valley Ta Dzong Rinpung Dzong Kichu Lhakhang Drukgyal Dzong - Day 14
Paro
Your Alkof Holidays representative will transfer you to Paro airport in the morning based on your flight schedule. You'll board your flight heading home or onward to your next destination.
- End point
- Paro, Bhutan (Drop-off at the Main Entrance of Paro International Airport, Bhutan)
