Highlights: Kolkatas - Darjeeling - Sunderbans - Kolkata

Highlights:
Kolkata & its British heritage
Darjeeling (Queen of the hill stations)
Train journey on the famous toy train
Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
Sunderbans National Park & its Royal Bengal Tigers

A visit to Darjeeling is incomplete without a ride in the toy train of Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. The miniature train, given Heritage status by UNESCO. Nestled among the rolling mountains with the glistening Mt. Kanchenjunga towering over the azure sky, Darjeeling fondly called "Queen of the Hill", provides a perfect gateway for those seeking to be in harmony with nature. Sunderbans: The Sundari Experience Best season: November to mid March Where the land meets the sea at the southern tip of West Bengal lies the Indian Sunderbans, a stretch of impenetrable mangrove forest of great size and bio-diversity. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Sunderbans is a vast area covering 4264 square km in India alone. The Indian Sunderbans forms the largest Tiger Reserve and National Park in India. A paradise for birdwatchers, the list includes such rarities as the Masked Finfoot, Mangrove Pitta and the Mangrove Whistler. The Sunderbans are a part of the world's largest delta formed by the mighty rivers Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna. Situated on the lower end of the Gangetic West Bengal, it is also the world's largest estuarine forest. The Sunderbans is criss-crossed by hundreds of creeks and tributaries. It is one of the most attractive and alluring places remaining on earth, a truly undiscovered paradise. Fascinating life forms await you in this largest estuarine delta in the world. In April and May, the flaming red leaves of the genwa edge the emerald islands. The crab-like red flowers of the kankara and the yellow blooms of khalsi add to the dazzling display. As you penetrate into the forests of Sunderbans, this fairyland unfolds its mysterious beauty.

Hotel featured:
Kolkata - Lalit
Darjeeling - May Fair

Itinerary:

Day 1: London Heathrow to Dubai by flight Emirates

Day 2: Dubai to Kolkata by flight Emirates
Arrive Kolkata airport Upon arrival at Kolkata you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Afternoon you will enjoy city tour including visit to the Fort William, Victoria memorial, the Indian museum. St. Paul'scathedral, Birla Planetarium and the Botanical gardens

Day 3: Kolkata to Bagdogra by flight Jet Airways
Bagdogra to Darjeeling by surface
Transfer from hotel to Kolkata airport to board flight for Bagdogra Arrive Bagdogra airport Assistance on arrival at Bagdogra Airport drive to Darjeeling. Standing high in the Himalayas at an altitude of 2134m, a "Dorje Ling", or place of the Thunderbolt, offers breathtaking views of snow-capped mountain peaks, with the Kanchendzonga rising higher than all the others. Often referred to as the “Queen of the Hills”, it remains just as alluring with its tiny waterfalls, little villages and a narrow gauge railway track. Surrounded by World Famous Tea Gardens and snow capped mountains, Darjeeling remains one of the most exotic destinations. Graeme Westlake in his book "An introduction to hill stations on India" refers to Darjeeling as having "A view Scarcely Unrivalled on Earth".

Day 4: Darjeeling
Early morning visit Tiger Hill and Ghoom Monastery. Tiger Hill :- It is 13 kms from Darjeeling and one can see beautiful sunrise and Himalayan Range like Kanchandzonga , Mount Everest etc. One can see the horizon changing colors just before sunrise and then the entire Himalayan range turn golden. It is truly a majestic sight. Ghoom Monastery:- This is oldest Monastery in the area which was built in 1875 and one can see the image of Mythey Buddha 15ft. height on the way back from Tiger Hill Breakfast and proceed for Toy Train ride.
Toy Train The spectacular landscape unfolds as the 2-foot gauge Darjeeling Himalayan railway, opened in 1881, labours at about 10 mph criss-crossing the road. It has tiny 4-wheel locomotives (some over 100 years old) like living legends. One can experience the sound, smell and romance of a bygone era. DHR is a work of genius and technological achievement of 1881. It has social and cultural importance. It is beautiful and has outstanding universal appeal. Based on its unique features, it is considered to be of lasting significance to mankind.

Day 5: Darjeeling
Morning breakfast and proceed for City tour: Himalayan Mountaineering Institute/Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park:- The Himalayan Mountaineering Institute was started in Darjeeling when Tenzing Norgay climbed Everest to give training to learn Mountaineering and other adventure sports related to mountaineering and in that Institute one can see equipment etc.used by Mr. Tenzing Norgay and Everest Museum having complete details on Everest attached to institute one can visit Himalayan Zoological Park where one can see Himalayan animals like Snow Leopard, Tibetan Wolf, Tibetan Yak, Himalayan Black Bear and several varieties of birds. Tibetan Self- Helf Centre Or Refugee Centre:- This institute is run by Tibetan Refugees to preserve their handicrafts and one can see making of Tibetan Carpets, Leather work, Paintings and Wooden work etc. Afternoon walk to Observatory Hill and Bhutia Basti

Day 6: Darjeeling to Bagdogra by surface
Bagdogra to Kolkata by flight Jet Airways
Transfer from hotel to Bagdogra airport in time to boar your flight for Kolkata Arrive Kolkata airport Upon arrival at Kolkata airport you will be met and transferred to your hotel Rest of the day at leisure

Day 7: Kolkata (Calcutta)- Sunderbans National Park
Meals : lunch, dinner and tea service
In the morning you are met and transferred by a comfortable vehicle to the jetty at Sonakhali. The 2 hour drive takes through the lush-green rural Bengal landscape, dotted with its picturesque villages and quaint markets. Our personal boat, the M.B. Sundari awaits you here. You cruise down the rivers Hogol, Gomor, Durgaduani, Bidya and the Gumdi. As you sip tea or coffee, our resident naturalist explains the many mysteries of the Sunderbans. On this stretch alone you can see six different types of Kingfishers! A couple of pleasant hours later you arrive at the Sunderbans Jungle Camp on the Island of Bali. Here a sumptuous lunch awaits you and after a short rest in the well-appointed cottages we take you down to Sajnekhali, to see the Mangrove Interpretation Center and return via the Sudhyanakhali watchtower. You can either dine aboard the boat or at the resort.

Day 8: Sunderbans National Park
Meals : breakfast, lunch, dinner and tea service
This day we take you on a full day cruise. We leave just after breakfast and head towards the canopied walk at Dobanki. We then proceed to the furthest point-Netidhopani, where you can see age-old excavations and view game from the watchtower. If you are lucky you can spot the famous swimming tigers of Sunderbans. We keep a sharp watch for basking Estuarine Crocodiles and the elusive Irrawady Dolphins. Lunch is on board and we return late in the evening after watching the spectacular sunset. In the evening the local village troupe enacts the opera based on the popular myth of the Goddess Bonobibi.

Day 9: Sunderbans National Park - (Calcutta ) Kolkata
Meals : breakfast, lunch and tea service
We take you on a tour of the island village of Bali, where you can watch local residents conducting their everyday chores- fishing, weaving and boat-making. A short cruise in country boats along the narrow canals completes the Sunderbans experience. After lunch we transfer you back to Kolkata.

Day 10: Kolkata to Dubai by flight Emirates
Dubai to London Heathrow by flight Emirates
Transfer from hotel to Kolkata airport in time to board flight for London Heathrow via Dubai