Mystic Realms of India & Bhutan

Day 1 - UK - In flight

Our nationwide shared chauffeur service will collect you from home for your overnight flight to Kolkata.

Day 2 - Kolkata

Arrive in Kolkata in the morning, and check into your hotel for a two-night stay. The rest of the day is at leisure to relax after the long flight or to explore Kolkata independently. Set along the eastern bank of the Hooghly River, this 350-year-old city has a mix of faded colonial architecture and sacred Hindu temples, crowded bazaars and serene gardens.

Day 3 - Kolkata

A guided tour of Kolkata reveals some of the city’s key sights, including the flower market, Queen Victoria monument and Mother House – Mother Teresa's house. Later, enjoy a rickshaw ride to local markets and a river cruise.

Day 4 - Darjeeling

Take a short flight (around an hour) north to Bagdogra. From here, it is about a three-hour drive (with a stop for lunch on the way) to reach Darjeeling, the heart of India’s tea country where you stay for the next three nights

Day 5 - Darjeeling

Begin the day with an early visit to Tiger Hill for the chance to see the sun rise over the Himalayan peaks. Later, visit the Himalayan Zoological Park and Mountaineering Institute, followed by the Tibetan Refugee Self-Help Centre, known for its traditional handicrafts. In the afternoon, take a scenic walk to the viewpoint at Observatory Hill before continuing on to Bhutia Busty Monastery for further insight into the region’s heritage.

Day 6 - Ghoom - Darjeeling

Nearly four miles from Darjeeling lies the hill town of Ghoom. Take the UNESCO-protected narrow-gauge ‘toy train’, still pulled by its original steam engine. Its cobalt-blue carriages make the journey up through the hills to Ghoom, the highest station on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. Peaceful Buddhist monasteries dot the mountainsides, including Yiga Choeling Tibetan Monastery (Ghoom Monastery), the largest in the area. It houses a gold-painted Buddha statue decorated with precious stones and a collection of rare Buddhist manuscripts. The remainder of the day is at leisure in Darjeeling, with time in the local market to sample regional street food.

Day 7 - Phuentsholing

This day involves a long journey of approximately six hours across the border into Bhutan. This small, remote kingdom opened to foreign visitors only 50 years ago and continues to limit visitor numbers to support sustainable tourism. Bhutan is known for strong cultural traditions and spiritual heritage, and for prioritising Gross National Happiness, which focuses on the wellbeing of its people. Stay one night in Phuentsholing.

Day 8 - Phuentsholing to Thimphu

After a scenic drive of around four hours, the afternoon is spent exploring Bhutan’s capital, Thimphu. Visits include the Textile Museum for insight into Bhutanese weaving traditions and Zilukha Nunnery, set on the slopes just outside the city. The evening includes a tour of the Tashichho Dzong complex. Stay three nights located in the heart of city.

Day 9 - Thimphu

Enjoy a full day of sightseeing around Thimphu today, starting at the Memorial Chorten, a place of daily worship for many Thimphu locals. From here, head up into the mountains to the Buddha Dordenma statue, one of the largest Buddha statues in the world. The morning finishes at the Royal Takin Preserve, a wildlife reserve dedicated to the takin, Bhutan’s national animal. After a lunch, meet and chat with local students at the National Institute for Zorig Chusum. Return to the Zilukha Nunnery to join the nuns for an intimate tea-offering ceremony. In the evening, enjoy a cultural dance performance.

Day 10 - Tango Monastery and Pangri Zampa

Today includes hiking to two historic monasteries. First is Tango Goemba, which sits in the hills above the Thimphu Chhu River. The walk up to the monastery will take around an hour, on a trail through shady rhododendron forests. The second is Pangri Zampa. The monastic school here teaches students about Lamaism and astrology based on the Buddhist philosophy.

Day 11 - Thimphu to Punakha

Follow winding roads through thickly forested hills to Punakha, Bhutan’s former capital. The first stop will be Chimi Lhakhang, a temple and monastery sitting on a hilltop overlooking paddy fields and the waters of the Puna Tsang Chu River. The temple is dedicated to fertility rites – pilgrims seeking a blessing are struck lightly on the head with a silver-handled wooden phallus to bestow luck. Later continue to Punakha Dzong, or the Palace of Great Happiness. It’s Bhutan’s second oldest and second-largest fortified monastery, and considered the most beautiful, with whitewashed walls, a brass roof, ornate windows and gardens of jacaranda trees which turn lilac in springtime.

Day 12 - Punakha to Paro

Nestled in a Himalayan valley is the historic town of Paro. Visit the National Museum of Bhutan, housed in a six-storey watchtower, then explore the 15th-century Rinpung Dzong fortress. In the evening, enjoy a lesson in archery (the national sport) at a local farmhouse, before sitting down to a traditional dinner, followed by a stop at a brewery for a guided tour and beer-tasting session. The next two nights will be spent in Paro.

Day 13 - Tiger's Nest Monastery

Clinging to a cliff edge above the forested Paro Valley, the 17th-century Tiger’s Nest Monastery is one of the country’s most recognisable landmarks. The hike to the Tiger’s Nest viewpoint on the opposite side of the valley offers extensive views of the sacred site, named after Padmasambhava (the second Buddha), who is said to have arrived here on the back of a flying tiger. The hike to the viewpoint takes around three hours round trip. Continuing to the monastery itself extends the total hiking time to approximately five to six hours which is optional. The route is steep and challenging, particularly due to the altitude, but is considered highly rewarding. A café is situated at the viewpoint for those who prefer to wait or begin the descent early. In the afternoon, continue to the 7th-century Kyichu Lhakhang, one of Bhutan’s oldest temples.

Day 14 - Paro - Kolkata

Take a morning flight back to Kolkata with an afternoon at leisure.

Day 15 - Kolkata - UK

Transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK. Upon arrival, your vehicle will be waiting for the journey home.