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Nepal • Tibet • Bhutan • Sikkim
DAY 1
- Departure
Depart your hometown for New York or Chicago where you will board your Air India
flight in the evening for Delhi. If departing from Los Angeles or San
Francisco, you will depart early in the morning aboard Singapore Airlines for
Singapore and change planes for Delhi.
If you are prefer to travel from any
other city or any other airline, we will provide arrangements according to
your requirements.
DAY 2
- Delhi
Arrive Delhi airport. A representative from Exotic Journeys will meet you outside the Immigration & Custom / Baggage claim area and escort you to your hotel. Balance of the day at leisure.
DAY 3
- Kathmandu - Nepal
After a leisurely
morning in Delhi, you will fly to Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal at an
altitude of 4,500 feet in a fertile valley in the Himalayas.
DAY 4
- Kathmandu
City tour visiting
Hanuman Dhoka the historic seat of royalty with old temples and palaces that
epitomize cultural and religious life of the people, Temple of Living Goddess
and Pashupathinath - the pagoda style temple with gilded roof and silver
doors.
DAY 5
- Lhasa - Tibet
The morning flight
over the panoramic Himalayan peaks will take you to Lhasa, Tibet. At an
altitude of 11,830 feet, Lhasa is the major attraction. Besides Potala
Palace, there are several famous monasteries.
DAY 6
- Lhasa
Visit Jokhang
Monastery, which is the spiritual center of Tibet. Its oldest part dates back
to 7th century AD. Sera Monastery was founded in 1419 and became famous for
its Tantric teachings.
DAY 7
- Lhasa
Potala Palace is an
architectural wonder. It was built between 1645 and 1693 with more than 1,000
rooms of living quarters, magnificent golden tombs, chapels, shrines, halls
and thousands of gilded statues of Buddha. You will also visit Norbulingkha,
summer palace of 13th and 14th Dalai Lamas with its walled garden, throne
hall, audience hall. The Drepung Monastery, founded in 1416, once had 10,000
monks and 700 subsidiary monasteries.
DAY 8
- Lhasa
Visit Bakor and local colorful bazaars.
DAY 9
- Kathmandu
Fly to Kathmandu in
the morning.
DAY 10 - Kathmandu
Visit Patan and
Bhadgaon in the afternoon.
DAY 11 - Paro - Bhutan
Fly to Paro, Bhutan.
The beautiful terraced valley has many old temples. Drive through the valley
and visit the Taktsang Monastery.
DAY 12 - Paro
Visit Drukgyal Dzong
and Kyichu Lhakang – the national museum.
DAY 13 - Punakha
Excursion to Punakha,
the former capital of Bhutan. Visit Punakha Dzong, an architectural
masterpiece.
DAY 14 - Thimphu
Visit King Wangchuk’s
memorial, Taschichho Dzong and handicraft center.
DAY 15 - Phuntsoling - Sikkim
Drive to
Phuntsoling. Stay overnight. Next day after breakfast, drive to Kalimpong, Sikkim. Stay overnight at Kalimpong hotel.
Sikkim has drifted through time and the life here is still quiet and
undisturbed. In a sense this is a vertical country with villages tucked on
the slopes of high ridges.
Overnight at Druk Hotel
DAY 16 - Kalimpong
Kalimpong is a medley
of diverse mountain people – Nepalese, Tibetans, Bhutanese and Lepchas.
Sightseeing tour includes Tharpa Choling, Buddhist Monastery, Lepcha Museum
and Durpin Dara.
Overnight at Silver Oaks Hotel
DAY 17 - Gangtok
Today you will visit
the sacred Rumtek and Enchey Monasteries, Cottage Industry and city tour.
Overnight at Norkhil / Tashi Delek Hotel
DAY 18 - Gangtok
Vist Do Drul Chorten, institute of Tibetology, flower show, deer park.
Overnight at Norkhil / Tashi Delek Hotel
DAY 19 - Pelling
Arrive at Pelling. Overnight at Hotel Mount Pandim.
DAY 20 - Pelling
Day excursion to Kecheopalri Lake and the Sanga Choling monastery, Rambi and Kanchenjunga falls
DAY 21 - Darjeeling
Morning visit to Pemayangste monastry and Rabtense ruins.
Drive to Darjeeling - a sparkling hill resort perched at an altitude of 7,400 feet. The town is a
maze of steps, terraces and exotic little bazaars, lovely villas, gardens and
waterfalls. Overnight at Windamere / New Elgin Hotel
DAY 22 - Darjeeling
For a spectacular
view of sunrise behind the Mount Everest and Kanchenjunga, visit Tiger Hills
followed by visit to Ghoom Monastery. After breakfast enjoy heritage train ride from Darjeeling to Ghoom and back. Afternoon visit to Himalayan mountaineering institute, Zoological park and Tibetan refugee center.
Overnight at Windamere / New Elgin Hotel
DAY 23 - Delhi
Drive from Darjeeling to Bagdogra in time to flight to Delhi. Balance
of the day at leisure.
Overnight at Taj Mahal / The Oberoi
DAY 24 - Homebound
Depart for New York, Newark, Washington, DC or Chicago in the morning. Arrive in the afternoon.
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Itineraries are designed with current flight schedules and remain subject to adjustment / change. |
