The Himalayan Kingdom

Day 1: Arrive Delhi.

Arrive Delhi by night, reception by our representative at airport, transfer to hotel. Night in hotel. Or if arrival is late night or early morning, in this case transfer to domestic airport to board the domestic flight to Bagdogara. .

Day 2: Delhi to Bagdogara by flight,

Drive to Kalimpong 79 Kms Transfer to domestic airport, flight to Bagdogra and transfer to Kalimpong, 2.30 hours’ drive through picturesque landscape and welcoming flow of Testa river night in hotel. if time permit visit Durphin Gompa located on the top of hill, evening explore the town. Night in hotel.

Day 3: Excursion to Padung.

Early morning leave to Padung, visit the monastery of late Shabdrung Rimpoche, PEDONG GOMPA: or Sanchen Dorji Gompa is located in Pedong, 18 kilometres from Kalimpong. The community of the area is called the Bhutia. The Gompa is believed to be more than 100 years old and follows the Drukpa Kagyud sect of Buddhism. Afternoon visit the French missionary Church, visit the village of Sakyong to get the glimpse of the lifestyle of Bhutia community. Explore the town. Night in hotel. If time allows visit Thongsa Cholling or Bhutan Monastery which was founded in 1692 AD and is the oldest in the area, also one can visit Kalimpong art & craft centre. .

Day 4: Kalimpong to Gangtok, 125 kms. (1547 mtrs )

Scenic drive through villages, Road descends deep to the beneath and uphill drive again up to the valley floor, afternoon reach to the capital of sikkim, check in to hotel and afternoon visit Lioyd Botanical Garden which consists of a wide range of flora, evening explore the town. Night in hotel.

Day 5: Visit Gangtok,

Visit of this very lively city which hosts several important sites. Rumtek monastery (Dharma Chakra Centre) 24 kms away from the Gangtok is the seat of the Kagyu order of black hats, one of the 4 majors Tibetan Budhist sects. After lunch visit Enchey Monastery of Nyngmapa order of Vajrayana Buddhism, the Institute of Tibetology which houses one of the most important Buddhist libraries in the world and the Chorten of Do-drul. Night in the hotel.

Day 6 / 7: Gangtok to Dzongu: 70 kms via Kabi- Phodang - Labrang, Mangan, o/n Lepcha Village home Stay .

Leave to North Sikkim where you will live with The Lepchas tribe, in appearance, have slightly accentuated Mongoloid features, are fair and boast, docile and peace loving, the original inhabitants of Sikkim have now become a minority and have a reservation earmarked for them in the Dzongu region of North Sikkim. Their language known as Rong. They live by trade or on agriculture. Lepcha believers in the bone faith or mune faith. They worshipped spirits of mountains, rivers and forests which was natural for a tribe that co-existed so harmoniously with the rich natural surroundings. The Lepcha house or 'li' are usually made of woody stems of bamboo. they are excellent weavers and make fine tribal cloth and also adept in bamboo and cane weaving. Night in Lepcha home stay

Day 8: Dzongu to Lachen (2750 mtrs.) 3 hours’ drive.

One of the most beautiful valleys of North Sikkim. Road passes through several Bhutia villages, Tista River meandering deep in the valley. Take diversion from Yumthang the junction of two valleys and rivers Lachen and Lachung named after Tista River and valley. Reach in Lachen, Visit Lachen monastery is located on a top of the village command a panoramic view of the surrounding hills and country side. short visit around to explore the hamlet. Night in hotel.

Day 9: Lachen- Thagu- Ruin of meditation cave3h drive-2 h of trek

In the morning leave with packed lunch, 3 hours’ drive in scenic valley till Just before Thangu village, leave the vehicle on road side, take a short beautiful trek of 2 hours to the cave ( is in ruin), where Alexandra David Neel a French explorer did meditation to learn the spirituality. Enjoy the breath-taking view of the surrounding Himalaya rich in flora, take same way to get back to road side. if time allows take a short visit to Thangu village with its small Gompa on a top of the village. To accede beyond is forbidden and required special permit till the limit. Evening back to Lachen, night in hotel.

Day 10: Back to Gangtok

same way back to hotel.

Day 11: Gangtok to Pemayangtse. 160 kms, (2137 mtrs )

Pemayangtse monastery is one of the oldest monasteries in the state, originally. Established by Lhatsun Chempo , one of the reverend Lamas to have performed the consecration ceremony of the first Chogyal ( religious Monarch ) of Sikkim . This ancient monastery belongs to the Nyingmapa sect of Tibetan Buddhism and has been considered as one of the premier monasteries in the state, having been entrusted with the task to perform all religious functions of the erstwhile Monarch. Originally, it was established as a high class monastery for « pur monks » (Ta- Sang) . Inside the monastery there are a wooden structure depicting the Maha Guru’s heavenly palace (Sang-tok-Palri ) which is considered a masterpiece created by late Dungzin Rimpoche . Sangacholing Monastery, It is situated at the ridge above pelling and Pemayangtse monastery , It is built in 1697 A.D. and considered to be one of the oldest monasteries in the state, It take 40 minutes to reach there by foot through steep hilly slope which leads through dense forest.

Day 12: Pemayangtse to Darjeeling via Khechupelri Lake and Tashiding Monastery, 2150 mtrs , 95 Kms.

Leave to Darjeeing, en route visit Khechupelri Lake which is considered sacred lakes by Buddhist and Hindus communities. Scenic road goes through several villages, magnificent view of the paddy fields. As per the season one can witness habitants harvesting black cardamom which is one of the major economical resource of the Sikkimise Tashiding Monastery, This monastery is constructed on top of a heart shaped hill with back drop of the sacred mountain Ka,g-Chen-Dzonga. Evening reach at Darjeeling, take chance to ride of about an hour on the "Toy Train". Now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Himalayan Railway was built by the British in 1881. Or Tibetan Handicraft at center of Tibetan refugees. A small town also known as the tea capital city. The walk in this old English style city is very pleasant and exotic. Night in hotel.

Day 13: Darjeeling and the tea gardens.

Visit the Yogachöling Gompa, the Tenzing Norgay mountain Institute and zoological park. Tibetan Handicraft center at Tibetan refugee’s camp. Walk in the tea terraces "tea garden". Is to appreciate the beauty of lush green tea slope. Evening stroll in the old English style city is very pleasant and exotic. Night in hotel

Day 14: Darjeeling to Bagdogara, flight to Delhi, 96 Kms.

Departure to Bagdogra and flight to Delhi, assistance upon arrival at Delhi, as per the international flight schedule, If time allows, take a visit in Delhi or Room for wash and change before heading to airport for your onward flight