Key Features
• Enjoy contrasting landscapes; from Gangeatic Plains to the Himalaya
• Discover little-visited Bangladesh & spend time in an Indian hill station
• Visit the amazing Buddhist monasteries of Sikkim & Bhutan
Included
19nts hotels; 19 breakfasts, 5 lunches & 4 dinners included.
Transport
Bus/Boat/Flight.
Group Size
Approx. 12 to 16.
Tour Staff
Explore Tour Leader and local interpreter/guides plus drivers.
Bangladesh & the Ganges Delta
Our journey begins in the vibrant and bustling city of Dhaka. After crossing the mighty River Pemba (Ganges), we discover ancient buildings and relics that define this remarkable country and its colourful past. We visit the Buddhist ruins at Paharpur, the wonderful terracotta Kantanagar Hindu temple and hope to gain an understanding of the daily lives of the people in this little-visited, friendly country.
Darjeeling & Sikkim
Crossing into India, our journey takes us towards the imposing mountain peaks, and on to the delightful hill station of Darjeeling (2430m). A drive over winding roads takes us to Sikkim, and the Pemayangtse Monastery, an important monastery for the Red Hat sect of Buddhism. We continue to Gangtok, the capital of this former kingdom. On the way we discover a land of hidden valleys and small villages: rice paddies are contrasted with thick forest, surrounded by high snow-capped peaks which are synonymous with this region.
Land of the Dragon
Continuing overland we stay in Kalimpong, before continuing to Bhutan. Bhutan only opened up in the 1970s, and has tightly controlled the number of visitors, allowing a wonderful insight into a traditional way of life. After time in Thimphu, we journey east across the Dochu Pass (3050m), through rural Bhutan to Punakha. Here we see the impressive Punakha Dzong (fortress monastery), before driving to Paro, from where we wind through oak and pine forest up to the sacred remains of the Taktsang 'Tigers Lair' monastery. Finally, we fly to Calcutta where we've time for some sightseeing in this vibrant Bengali city.
Comment
We cover some remote areas of the Indian sub-continent that remain off the main tourist trail and hence infrastructure and facilities can be basic at times. You should be prepared for some long mountain journeys and occasionally, difficult road conditions.