Duration: 15 Days/14 Nightsdar
This program is designed for you to visit two countries, Bhutan and India. This tour can be done vice versa, i.e arriving in Paro and moving to India.

Day 1

Arrive in Delhi / Kolkata, you will be received by our office representatives and transferred to hotel. Over night hotel in Delhi/Kolkata.

Day 2

Bagdrogra to Darjeeling – 85 km, 4 to 5 hours drive.

  • Domestic flight from Delhi/Kolkata to Bagdrogra Air port, where you will be received by our office representatives.
  • Drive to Darjeeling through the famous Darjeeling tea garden and passing  many settlements.
  • Overnight hotel in Darjeeling.

Day 3 

Darjeeling, Day Excursion.

  • After breakfast in hotel, drive southwards to the Tiger Hill to watch the sunrise out of the Mt. Kanchengjunga (8585m) and other Himalayas Mountain ranges.
  • Drive back to Darjeeling, visiting Yegacholing Monastery on the way. This is one of the oldest monasteries in Darjeeling.
  • Visit the great Mountaineer’s museum of the Himalaya Mountaineering Institute (HMI), where one can see the clothing of Sherpa Tenzin Norgay, used during his Everest expedition in 1953.
  • Visits will be made to the Zoological Park and Tibetan Refugee School.
  • Over night at hotel in Darjeeling.

Day 4

Darjeeling to Pedling, 95 km, 5 hours drive.

  • You will take an interesting drive through the narrow tea gardens Pedling, which lies on the hilltop overlooking the whole valley of Yoksum (old capital of Sikkim).
  • Walk around the quaint Pedling town. If time permits we will visit the nearby Sangacholing Monastery above the town.
  • Over night hotel in Pedling.

Day 5

Pedling to Gangtok

  • Visit the Pema Yangtshe Monastery founded by Lama Lhatsun Chempo in 1705. It was later rebuilt during the reign of third Chogyel Chakdor Namgay, Jigme Pawa.
  • Visit the Rabtentshe Palace, second capital of Sikkim. It was established by second Chogyel of Sikkim in the late 17th century.
  • Take a trip to Kechopari Lake located on the way to Yaksum. Kechopari, which means ‘wishing lake’, located in a dense forest. You will discover that we cannot see any leaf floating on the lake – because any fallen leaf would have been lifted immediately by the birds.
  • Over night at hotel in Gangtok.

Day 6

Gangtok

  • Drive towards Gangtok, capital city of Sikkim at height of 5400ft
  • Visit Rumtek Monastery which is 22kms from Gangtok. It is the main seat of the Gyalwa Karmapa, who founded Karma Kagyued. The old site was built in 1717 but was rebuilt in 1960s by the 16th Gyalwa Karmape.
  • Visit the Research Institute of Tibetology. This institute was founded in 1957 by the Dalai Lama and is a premier institute in the world that conducts research in the language and culture of Tibet.
  • Visit the Enchey Monastery, the oldest monastery in the Gangtok region. It was founded by Lama Drubthob Karpo in 1700.
  • Visit the Doel Drul Chorten, founded in 1945 by the great Buddhist Master Dodup Rimpoche. This is the largest monastery in Gangtok with around 500 monks from all over Himalayas region studying Buddhist Philosophy here.
  • Over night at hotel in Gangtok.

Day 7

Gangtok to Kalingpong, 76 km 3 hours drive

  • Visit Zangthopelri Monastery, Deola Hill, Durpin Hill
  • Walk around the small Kalingpong Town.
  • Over night at hotel in Kalingpong.

Day 8

Kalimpong to Phuntsholing (Bhutan) – 180km, 6.5 hours drive.

  • Drive through the tropical forest where you will see many Assamese Mucked Monkeys along the road.
  • After 60kms you will reach the meeting point of the Himalaya Mountains ranges and the great Indian plain. Driving through the plain you will see some small markets and rice fields.
  • Upon arrival in Phuntsholing you will be warmly welcome by our representatives from Bhutan.
  • Over night at hotel in Phuentsholing(Southern Bhutan)

Day 9

Phuentsholing to Thimphu, 179 km 6 to 7 hours drive.

  •  Complete entry formalities and drive on to Thimphu.
  • Visit Kharpandi Gonpa in Phuntsholing, enroute.
  • Witness the road widening project that is going between Phuntsholing abd Thimphu – but be prepared for a slightly bumpy drive.
  • On the way we will come across the beautiful waterfall and Chukha – Tala Hydro power dam along the Wangchu River. Hydro power brings 54 % of Bhutan’s revenue.
  •  Over night at hotel in Thimphu.

Day 10

Thimphu

  • Visit the Memorial Chorten of the Third King Jigme Dorji Wangchuc, Father of Modern Bhutan. The Chorten was built in 1974 by Her Royal Grand Mother Ashi Phuntsho Choden Wangchuck. Today it is a popular worship place in Thimphu city. You will see many elderly men and women circling the chorten and chanting prayers.
  • Visit Zorigchusum (meaning 13 arts and crafts) which is popularly known as the painting school. Students in this school learn traditional arts and crafts like painting, sculpture, wood carving, weaving and embroidery.
  • Visit the Changangkha Temple (built in the 15th century by famous Lama Nyima). Inside the temple is the statue of the “God of Compassion” made out of platinum. You may witness a newborn baby blessed in this temple.
    Over night at hotel in Thimphu.

Day 11

Thimphu to Punakha

  • Drive to Punakha, old capital of Bhutan at 1300m altitude (about 3-hour drive from Thimphu). Punakha is a fertile valley and farmers here grow two types of crops in a year. You will get to see the panoramic view of Eastern Himalayas Mountains ranges if the day is clear.
  • Visit Punakha Dzong which played an important role in the olden days. It was Bhutan’s second monastic school after Cheri Monastery. The first king was crowned inside this Dzong in 1907. It is the residence of the Centre Monk Body and Chief Abbot in winter.
  • Hike to Chimi Lhakhang through a nice walk along the rice field and through farm houses. The temple was built by Lama Nawang Chogyel in 1499 and is today a popular temple where barren women come to pray for a child. The temple is popularly known as the Fertility Temple.
  • Over night at hotel in Punakha.

Day 12

Punakha

  • Go on a day excursion to the Phobjikha Valley. The drive from Punakha will take you through different vegetation zones. Possibly spot Gray Langures, Mucked Monkey and other animals along the way.
  • Visit Gangtay Gonpa, the only Nyingmapa Monastic school in western Bhutan. The temple is 457 years old and was founded by the first reincarnation of Terton Pemalingpa. It was rebuilt by his successive reincarnation Teazin Lakpay Dendup in 1613. Today it is the site of Pedling (Teaching of Terton Pemalingpa).
  • Visit the Black Necked Cranes Information Centre and enjoy a good view of the whole crane habitat.
  • Over night at hotel in Punakha.

Day 13

Punakha to Paro

  • Drive from Punakha to Paro.
  • Visit Ta Dzong (watch tower) which was built in 1649 by Paro Governor Tenzin Drugda to protect the fortress below. The Ta Dzong was almost destroyed in 1965 but was restored by the third king Jigme Dorji Wangchuck into the National Museum of Bhutan in 1968. It is a 7-storey building in the shape of a couch and has walls of 2.5m thickness.
  • Visit Paro Dzong which was built in 1646 by Zhabdrung Rimpoche. It was built to protect Paro Valley from frequent Tibetan invasions. Today this Dzong serves as the administrative office of Paro district and houses 110 monks.
  • – Over night hotel in Paro.

Day 14

Paro – Excursion Taktshang (Tiger’s Lair)

  • Hike to the Tiger’s Nest/Lair Monastery, one of the holiest monastery in the Buddhist World.
  • Over night at hotel in Paro.

Day 15

  • Depart from Paro airport. Our representative will escort you.