Himalayan Kingdoms

Himalayan Kingdoms Himalayan Kingdoms Your Tour Dossier 24 days Fully Inclusive from the UK This document is designed to be read in conjunction with the other pre- The journey of a lifetime through Sikkim and Bhutan – departure information provided by Wendy Wu Tours including the tour encounter breathtaking landscapes, colourful heritage and itinerary as described in our brochure and/or website. It aims to provide dramatic, hillside monasteries. a straightforward description of the physical activities involved in sightseeing or travelling during the tour. Fully Inclusive price includes: If there are any particular challenges, from the length of time spent on • International flights and current taxes your feet, the length of drives and flights, to the standard of remote • Domestic transportation accommodation; they will be explained here. • Accommodation All meals (excluding drinks) included All passengers must read this document to ensure the itinerary is • Touring with guides and entrance fees suitable for their interests and physical capabilities. This is not your final • Visa fees for UK & EU passport holders itinerary and therefore does not mention all the sites visited. Book now on 0844 499 3899 visit www.wendywutours.co.uk or see your preferred travel agent. Welcome to Wendy Wu Tours India and Bhutan continue to amaze, fascinate and thrill our passengers, many of whom have travelled to one country in Asia with us, then another, year after year. We urge you to keep in mind all the rewards, as well as challenges of travelling in a country with a history, culture and attitude so unlike your own. A typical day’s sightseeing may include the bustle and noise of a city street, sights and smells of a local market and interacting with the locals. Travelling in India and Bhutan requires patience as potential delays are to be expected due to standards of service. There is a low level of English spoken throughout India and Bhutan, so your local guides or National Escort will be indispensable during your trip. Almost everything will be different to what you may be used to. We have found that our passengers who embark with a sense of humour and adventure, who accept that things do not always go to plan, are those who find their experience most rewarding. It is essential that all passengers recognise the demands of factors such as basic facilities and cultural differences they may encounter in some areas. Himalayan Kingdoms – Active Paced Tour Refers to programmes where long periods of sightseeing on foot, climbing of stairs and in/out of boats and physical involvement is necessary. These tours are generally longer in duration and could involve long days of driving or overnight train journeys. Some programmes may also include easy hiking or a home stay. These tours may travel to remote areas and areas of high altitude, reaching up to 5,000m. Accommodation on these tours may be in basic hotels or camps. These programmes require a good level of fitness and mobility. NB: Please note that times and distances listed in the tour dossier are approximate. Day 1: Fly to Kolkata Day 4: Kolkata to New Jalpaiguri Fly overnight to Kolkata Rise early for a morning tour to a local flower market, drive past Howrah Bridge, tour Dalhousie Square, the Day 2: Arrive Kolkata Secretariat Building and the Old Court House Street. Sightseeing today involves around 2-3 hours on foot. You will be met at the Kolkata International Airport in the Arrivals Hall tonight by your National Escort/Local Guide Later in the afternoon board your day train to New from Wendy Wu Tours. Together with any other group Jalpaiguri. The train will depart at 1415 from Howrah members who may be arriving at a similar time, you will Junction Railways Station in Kolkata and reach New transfer (45 minutes to 1 hour drive) to your hotel and Jalpaiguri Railway Station at 2210 (8hrs train journey). check-in. Upon arrival in New Jalpaiguri you will transfer to your Siliguri hotel for one night stay. Day 3: Kolkata N.B: As our train is a day train, our seats will be in an AC After having the morning at leisure, you will have a half Chair Car. More than likely you will not be able to day sightseeing tour around Kolkata, involving approx. 3 purchase any food or drink on the train, so if you need hours on foot. Sightseeing includes a visit to a Jain temple snacks make sure to pre-purchase them before boarding. – refer to Appropriate Dress below. The train carriages are shared, so at all times please be Visit the Kalighat Temple. Please note that many aware of your belongings. foreigners find the temple confronting as they still make Day 5: Siliguri to Darjeeling live animal sacrifices here (usually at midday) and can be crowded and pushy. To create the image of blood running Darjeeling altitude – 2,045m on the ground, for example, they grind hibiscus flowers with water to run deep red. Goats are ritually sacrificed Drive 90km (approx. 3-4 hours) to Darjeeling. Upon each day to honour the goddess Kali, known for her arrival, check into your hotel and enjoy the rest of the destructiveness. afternoon at your leisure. NB: There is an obligatory donation of at least INR 50 NB: Electricity shortages are common in Darjeeling. (GBP 50p) each person at the temple. This is not included in your tour cost. Book now on 0844 499 3899 visit www.wendywutours.co.uk or see your preferred travel agent. Day 6: Darjeeling Days 11-12: Gangtok to Kalimpong Ghoom altitude – 2,258m Kalimpong – 1,250m Rise before dawn to catch a jeep or sumo bus to Tiger Hill, Check-out from the hotel and drive approx. 1.5 hours 15km outside of town. Sightseeing here involves walking (25km) to Rumtek Monastery for easy sightseeing. from wherever the vehicle parks to the top of the lookout. Continue driving 3 hours (80km) to Kalimpong. The next After viewing the sunrise from the lookout, there is easy day is at your leisure. sightseeing at a monastery near Ghoom before returning to the hotel. After breakfast, the group coach will take Day 13: Kalimpong to Gorumara Wildlife Sanctuary you to Darjeeling station to enjoy a ride on the ‘Toy Train’ Gorumara – 1,625m around the hillside (approx. 1 hour). Drive approx. 4 hours (97km) to the Gorumara Wildlife Drive back to the hotel in the group coach for lunch, or Sanctuary and check into the hotel. The afternoon you may have the option to catch the train back to sanctuary programme includes a jeep safari for approx. 2 Darjeeling as well. Visit the Himalayan Mountaineering hours. Institute spending 1-2 hours at the site. You will visit a tea plantation today where there will be walking over uneven Day 14: Gorumara Wildlife Sanctuary to Phuentsholing surfaces. Phuentsholing altitude – 300m Day 7: Darjeeling to Pelling Drive approx. 2.5 hours (84km) to Phuentsholing, the Pelling altitude – 2,150m gateway to Bhutan for overland travellers. Here meet our Bhutanese National Escort/Local Guide. Visit Zangtho Drive approx. 6-7 hours (136km) to Pelling, visiting Pelri, a small temple built in the centre of town – refer to Tashiding and Pemayangtse Monasteries en route. Appropriate Dress below. Sightseeing is easy here, with few steps – refer to Appropriate Dress below. Check into the hotel for the Day 15: Phuentsholing to Thimphu monastery visits. Thimphu altitude – 2,248m to 2,648m Day 8: Pelling-Khecheopalri Lake Drive approx. 6-7 hours (180km) to Thimphu, the capital Pelling altitude – 2,150m of Bhutan, via the Kharbandi Gompa (a Tibetan Buddhist monastery). The main highway is undergoing widening; Drive approx. 1.5 hours (18km) to Kanchenjunga Falls therefore ongoing construction may be present. then Khecheopalri Lake; the road is uneven and unsealed. Sightseeing here is leisurely. Return to Pelling for lunch. Day 16: Thimphu The rest of the afternoon is at your leisure. Today you will travel in jeep or sumo bus for your sightseeing. Thimphu altitude – 2,248m to 2,648m Day 9: Pelling to Gangtok Today is easy sightseeing in and around Thimphu. Lunch will be served at the hotel. See Tashichho Dzong the Gangtok altitude – 1,677m medieval fortress/monastery; visit the National Library, the nearby Institute for Zorig Chusum (Painting School) Drive approx. 6-7 hours (130km) to Gangtok visiting and view the National Institute of Traditional Medicine. Tashiding Monastery en route. On arrival, check into the After lunch visit the National Memorial Chorten, the hotel. state-run Handicrafts Emporium, the Folk Heritage Day 10: Gangtok Museum and the National Textile Museum. Also drive out of town to an enclosure which is part of Thimphu Zoo to Gangtok altitude – 1,677m see the unique Bhutanese Takin. This morning there is easy sightseeing within Gangtok, Day 17: Thimphu to Punakha which includes visiting Enchey Monastery – refer to Appropriate Dress below. Visit Sikkim Research Institute Punakha altitude – 1300m of Technology, Do Drul Chorten and Tibetan pagoda Drive approx. 3-4 hours (75km) to Punakha via Dochu-la before you return the hotel. (Pass) (3,140m). Arrive in Punakha and check into the hotel. Depending on your group booking, overnight Book now on 0844 499 3899 visit www.wendywutours.co.uk or see your preferred travel agent. accommodation may be booked in Wangdue Phodrang – winter home of the black necked cranes. After a picnic 30 minutes from Punakha. Later visit Punakha’s 17th lunch in the valley, drive to Punakha for an overnight stay. Century Dzong located 30 minutes from Punakha which Refer to Road Conditions below. will be easy sightseeing. – refer to Appropriate Dress below.

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