Nature Is Calling: India To Bhutan

Itinerary

• Day 1 - Arrival at Siliguri

  You will be arriving directly at the stay in Siliguri, marking the beginning of this fabulous tour.

  If time allows, you will get to pay a visit to the North Bengal Science Centre.

  Overnight at Siliguri

• Day 2 - Siliguri to Mirik to Darjeeling

  On this day, you will be going to Darjeeling from Siliguri.

  After breakfast, you will start the drive and stop at the village of Mirik. The scenic drive will take you to Beautiful Tea Gardens, Sumendu Lake, Orange Orchards, Cardamom Plantation and a pleasant climate.

  Take a small halt at Semana and enjoy the view of the Mountain Kanchenjunga. You can also enjoy boating in the lake here if you wish.

  Visit the famous Pashupatinath Market before arriving into the rolling tea plantations of Darjeeling.

  Overnight at Darjeeling

• Day 3 - Darjeeling Day Tour

  The day will start a little early, around 4 AM, as you drive up the Tiger Hill to catch the majestic sunrise and its effect on the Kanchenjunga Range.

  After this, head towards the Ghoom Monastery, Batasia Loop, and War Memorial.

  A little while after, you will catch the famous toy train to get back to Darjeeling.

  After breakfast and freshening up, start the tour of other local sights of Darjeeling. Visit Tenzing Rock, Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Padmaja Naidu Zoological Park, Ropeway, Gorkha handicraft, Tibetans Refugee center, Tea garden Japanese Peace Pagoda, Natural History Museum, and Ava Art Gallery, depending on the conditions of the road.

  In the evening, set out to explore the area and markets around.

  Overnight at Darjeeling.

• Day 4 - Darjeeling to Phuentsholing

  After breakfast this morning, it will be time to cross the border and go to the other side of this beauty.

  Drive downhill into Southern Bhutan, flanked by tea gardens and crossing multiple small towns and villages on the way.

  After the hills have been left behind, you would have entered a region of vast plains called Duars (Literally, Doors). All through the plains, you can look at the people picking leaves.

  En route, pay a visit to the Karbandi Monastery before arriving into Phuentsholing.

  Overnight at homestay Phuentsholing.

• Day 5 - Phuentsholing to Punakha

  After breakfast, you will be leaving for Punakha this day. Throughout the way, enjoy the scenic vista of the landscape that this place has to offer, including numerous waterfalls and photo ops.

  As you cross Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan, the road starts climbing up to the Dochula Pass (3,050m), before descending again. From the Pass, you will be able to see the highest mountains of Bhutan, that is the Jomolhari and Gangar Pensum.

  Also at the pass itself are 108 small stupas that are together called the Victory Stupas which were built to honor the Bhutanese Soldiers who had died in the battle of 2003.

  After crossing over, the weather changes as Punakha is lower than Thimphu.

  Overnight at Punakha.

• Day 6 - Day out in Punakha

  After breakfast this morning, you will start on the way to the famous Punakha Dzong, which finds its scenic location right at the confluence of Phu Chhu (male) and Mo Chhu (female) rivers.

  Also visit the beautiful agricultural town of Ritsha, which is a modern rice-growing region of Bhutan.

  You can take the rest of the day to explore on your own. It is recommended that you take up rafting here as the rapids that you can find here are of grades 3 and 4.

  Overnight at Punakha

• Day 7 - Punakha to Paro

  After breakfast, the trip starts from Punakha and takes you to Paro, 4 hours away.

  On the way, you will be stopping to visit the famous Chimi Lhakhang. The road to the temple passes through the village of Sopskha, which is a lesser known attraction with houses adorned with paintings and drawings of Male Genitalia, associated with the legend of the temple.

  As you pass Thimphu on the way, stop by the Bhutan Post Office, where you can get your own personal and valid postage stamp made. You can also send picture postcards from here to anywhere in the world with your stamp affixed.

  upon reaching Paro, you will stay overnight at the accommodation.

• Day 8 - Chele La Pass and Haa Valley Excursion

  After an early breakfast, you will also be going for a full day excursion of the Haa Valley with the road passing through the Chele La Pass.

  You will be driving through the Blue Pine and Rhododendron forests, until you reach the Chele La Pass, from where one can get a breathtaking view of the Mt. Jomolhari and Mt. Jichu Drake.

  The Haa Valley is an untouched heaven of a place and is a great destination for all the hikers and lovers of nature.

  Visit the Haa Dzong, Lhakhang Karpo, Lhakhang Nagpo, and the Wangchulo Dzong, before returning to Paro.

  Overnight at Paro.

• Day 9 - Paro Taktsang

  After breakfast this, you will be going to see what will become the highlight of your trip; the Paro Taktsang. Popularly known as the Tiger's Nest, this place is one of the most legendary feature in all of Bhutan.

  Built into the side of a cliff at the height of about 10,000ft above sea level, you will be taking a short hike to reach this beautiful 8th-century Monastery. From you can get a distant view of the Mt. Chomolhari.

  Overnight in Paro.

• Day 10 - Departure

  Check out from the hotel and head back to home with beautiful memories.