Adventure Tour In India, Bhutan And Bangladesh

We start our adventure in the vibrant Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+)

The city is the commercial hub of a still primarily rural country and growing at a tremendous rate as many Bangladeshis arrive in search of their fortune. In the morning we’ll go on a guided orientation tour to include some of the principal sights of the city including the Liberation War Museum, Lalbagh Fort and the Parliament building. The afternoon we will take a boat trip along the Buriganga river, joining a myriad of other crafts from cargo vessels to small canoes. The country’s rivers are its lifeblood, irrigating its fertile plains, providing transport connections and even a place to live for the Bhadja (river gypsies) who move as a clan in their houseboats from river to river. One of the best places from which to observe the life of this city is from the water. Following this, we will visit the Pink Palace – an old impressive building which has been turned into a museum. From here we will take a short tour of Old Dhaka with our local guide.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

This morning we leave the bustle of the city behind and head out to a more rural landscape across the massive Jamuna bridge. At 4.8 kms long, it crosses the Jamuna River and links Eastern and Northwestern parts of Bangladesh. Travelling on across the floodplain we stop at the charming little town of Puthia famous for its historic decorated Hindu temples and the imposing Zamindar’s Palace, a fine example of a Hindu Rajbari. These substantial country houses were built by the landowning Hindu elite during the Raj era and with their eclectic mix of architectural styles from Greek to Victorian, reflected the cosmopolitan ideas of their owners. We arrive this evening in Bogra.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

This morning we visit Paharpur to see the remains of Somapuri Vihara, Paharpur’s Buddhist monastery, and Bangladesh’s foremost archaeological site. Formerly the largest monastery south of the Himalaya, this temple complex dates from the 8th century AD and covers an area of 27 acres.   After this morning visit we return to Bogra for lunch and then head to the villages to Mahasthangarh, the site of the oldest city in Bangladesh dating back to the 3rd century BC. The fortified city’s heyday was under the Buddhists who were here until at least the 11th century AD, but the small on site museum also contains some Hindu artifacts. After touring the site we return to Bogra for a second night.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

This morning we leave Bogra and drive to Dinajpur and visit the Jamindar Palace. Here we make an excursion to one of the most spectacular monuments in Bangladesh, the Kantanagar temple. Built of brick and terracotta every inch of the temple surface is beautifully embellished with exquisitely sculptured terracotta plaques representing flora, fauna, geometric motifs, mythological scenes and an astonishing array of contemporary social scenes and favourite pastimes. After today's visits we will drive to Rangpur where we will stay this evening. Upon our arrival in Rangpur we will visit the Kali Temple and the Tajhat Palace, a historic palace that was once used a court building and is now a museum.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

Our long drive today takes us across the border into the Indian state of West Bengal. Towards the end of our journey we start our climb up to the hill station of Darjeeling. In the days of the Raj the Bengal government escaped from the Calcutta heat to take up its official summer residence here and today’s city dwellers still do likewise with Darjeeling being a popular holiday spot. At 2134m, the town is beautifully situated on a mountain ridge; the near vertical streets are crowded with a colourful mixture of Hindus and hill tribes – Lepchas, Bhutias and Tibetans among them. On a clear day the views over the mountains to the snowy Himalayan peaks are magnificent

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

Ghoom Gompa (monastery) is about 8km south and well worth a visit.The journey there is taken on the steam “toy train”. There will also be plenty of time to make short walks in the surrounding area or alternatively you could visit the DHR museum. There will be an option to walk back to Darjeeling along the scenic ridge track via Allobari village (weather permitting) approximately 2hrs walk.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

Tiger Hill is the highest viewpoint (2590m), some 8 miles from Darjeeling and weather permitting, we plan to make a dawn excursion here to contemplate the sunrise and the ravishing beauty of the world’s third highest mountain Kanchenjunga (8586m) and other eastern Himalayan peaks. If the morning is very clear it may be possible to see Mt Everest (8848m). There are many things to see in the town; the Himalayan Zoological Park which has had success at breeding snow leopard, Tibetan wolf and Red panda, the Mountaineering Institute with its Everest Museum or you may wish to visit the Tibetan Refugee centre where Tibetan craft work is on sale. This afternoon will be left free for you to explore Darjeeling and take some of the other smaller walks around town.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

Today we drive to Pelling (approximately 8 hours). This afternoon we cross into the former kingdom of Sikkim (annexed by India in 1975 to become the 22nd Indian state). There will be the opportunity to take an optional walk to the Sanga Choling monastery approximately one hour each way.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

Today we visit Kecheopelri or the Wishing Lake, considered to be the holiest lake in Sikkim. It is a place of pilgrimage for Buddhists and Hindus alike.  We will have a picnic lunch at the lake and then return to Pelling. This afternoon we will visit Pemayangste Monastery. This great monastery is the second oldest and one of the 60 still active and has an exceptional collection of religious artworks. Established in the 8th century by the famous Indian teacher Padmasambhava, its members are devotees of a mystical type of Tantric Buddhism, characterised by the red caps they wear. Their religion is derived from Tibetan Lamaism, a curious mixture of Mahayana Buddhism, mythology and magic.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

On our 8 hour drive along the mountain roads today we pay a short visit to Rabdentse, the former capital of Sikkim in the 16th century before continuing on through semi tropical forests, cardamom plantations and small villages to Gangtok the present day capital of Sikkim, spectacularly set on a long ridge flanking the Ranipul river and offering many fine vantage points of the entire Kanchenjunga range. On arrival in Gangtok we visit the Drodul Chorten, built to commemorate the victory of good over evil. Surrounding the chorten are 108 prayer wheels. We also pay a visit to the Institute of Tibetology whose collection of rare books and manuscripts will interest students of Buddhism. Here there are numerous priceless religious paintings (thangkas), statues and other religious artwork.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

We drive today to the other side of the Ranipul valley to the Gompa at Rumtek. The headquarters of the Kagyupa sect of Tibetan Buddhism was built in the 1960s as a replica of the Tsurpu’s monastery in Tibet. The religious murals are still being added to today. We then continue to the little bazaar town of Kalimpong. The town was formerly an important trading post for wool merchants coming from Tibet and the local bazaar is still the place to meet people of a dozen different cultures and religions.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

Today we have a full days sightseeing where we visit the Durpin Danra monastery and view point, the local bazaar, flower nursery, and McFarland Church.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

Departing for the Bhutanese border town of Phuentsholing we drive (approximately 6 hours) through the vast tea estates of the Gangetic plains of Bengal. Approximately one quarter of India’s tea is grown in West Bengal state. On arrival there will be time for a wander in the town.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

We drive towards Thimpu along winding roads, passing paddy fields, apple orchards, pine forests and small hamlets, ‘protected’ by sculptures of the eight auspicious signs of the Tashi Tagye. The Bhutanese capital lies in a fertile valley formed by the Wang Chu River, and has expanded rapidly over the last couple of decades. On arrival in Thimpu we will have a sightseeing tour to see the Tashichho Dzong – the religious and political centre of Bhutan.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

On the road to Punakha we climb up through oak, pine and rhododendron forest to reach Dochu La Pass (3050m). If the weather permits, magnificent views pan out across the mountains towards Gangar Pensum. At 7541m, it is the tallest mountain in Bhutan. Dropping down into the valley, Punakha’s benign climate allows orange and banana groves to flourish within sight of the snow capped Himalayan Mountains. En route we make an excursion to the Wangdi Phodrang Dzong. Impressive in stature and reputation, the wood shingled roof and long thin balcony courtyards of Wangdi Phodrang Dzong shelter the province's monastic community.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

In the morning we pay a visit to Punakha Dzong built in 1637 on a sand bank at the confluence of the rivers Mochu and Phochu, this sacred dzong was the seat of the Bhutanese government until 1960 and is a fine example of Bhutanese monastic architecture with squat rectangular buildings made up of two or more tiered levels crowned by a tower and small golden spire above. Returning westwards we take an afternoon drive to Paro. (Approx. 5 hours.)

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning there is an opportunity to climb up to visit the Taktsang or ‘Tiger’s Nest’ Monastery. The monastery clings precariously to a cliff face, and local legend recounts that Guru Rinpoche, who founded the Drukpa Sect and brought Buddhism to Bhutan, flew here on the back of a tigress to start the first monastery. In the afternoon we’ll visit a local farm and have the chance to sample some yak butter tea and have a group talk with the farm host. Paro is also home to Kyichu, Bhutan’s oldest temple or ‘lhakhang’.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we fly the short distance to Kolkata. On arrival we hope to include a half day guided sightseeing tour of the city that will include some of the Victoria Memorial, Jain temple, Marble Palace and Kumari clay idol workshop. Please note: Our flight between Bhutan and India is with Druk Air. Druk Air sometimes changes their flight schedule at short notice - if this happens, then we will inform you of any itinerary change as soon as possible.

Overnight Comfortable Hotel (H++) Included meals: Breakfast

Included meals: Breakfast