About This Tour
Overview
This comprehensive 14-day expedition unites the towering summits of the Eastern Himalayas with the rich colonial heritage, UNESCO mangrove wilderness, and spiritual heart of Bengal. Arrive in Delhi, then fly to Bagdogra and ascend the verdant Teesta gorge to Gangtok (1,750 m) - Sikkim's serene capital of fluttering prayer flags and endemic orchids. Discover the sacred halls of Rumtek Monastery, the world Dharma Chakra Centre and seat of the Gyalwa Karmapa, alongside the Do Drul Chorten, shamanic Banjhakri Falls, and the precious manuscripts of the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology. Travel south via the Buddha Park of Ravangla - with its 130-foot consecrated statue - to mountain-perched Pelling (2,000 m), where 26 km of mountain sky separates you from the stupendous snows of Kanchenjunga. Walk through pine forests to the 17th-century Sangachoeling Monastery, admire the 135-ft Chenrezig statue, and step onto India's first glass skywalk suspended over misty gorges.
Wind down into Darjeeling (2,134 m), the beloved "Queen of the Hills". Rise in the pre-dawn darkness for the legendary Tiger Hill sunrise over Kanchenjunga and Mount Everest, ride the historic 1881 UNESCO toy train to Ghoom Monastery, and tour the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Tibetan Self-Help Centre, and emerald tea estates. Fly southward to Kolkata to discover Howrah Bridge, the bustling flower market, Botanical Gardens' giant banyan, the white marble grandeur of the Victoria Memorial, and Mother Teresa's mission.
From the City of Joy, venture deep into the Sunderbans National Park, the world's largest mangrove delta and UNESCO World Heritage tiger reserve. Board a private safari vessel cruising deep creeks and mudflats, ascending watchtowers at Sajnekhali, Sudhanyakhali, and Dobanki (with its elevated canopy walk) in search of the elusive Royal Bengal tiger, estuarine crocodiles, and rare kingfishers. Conclude your voyage in Bengal's cultural heartland: the spiritual epicenter of Mayapur, home to Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's birthplace and the monumental Temple of the Vedic Planetarium (TOVP), and Shantiniketan, Rabindranath Tagore's UNESCO World Heritage university sanctuary where art, nature, and philosophy blend beneath ancient shade trees, before returning to Kolkata for departure.
Duration
13 Nights / 14 Days
Tour Type
Himalayan Culture · UNESCO Wildlife Safari · Spiritual & Art Heritage · Private
Region
Sikkim · Darjeeling · Kolkata · Sunderbans · Mayapur · Shantiniketan
Internal Flights
Delhi-Bagdogra · Bagdogra-Kolkata
Key Highlights
Rumtek · Tiger Hill · Sunderbans Mangroves · TOVP Mayapur · Visva-Bharati
Languages
English, Hindi, Bengali, Nepali, Sikkimese
Top Experiences
Highlights
Gangtok & Rumtek
The seat of the Gyalwa Karmapa, the jewel-studded Golden Stupa of the 16th Karmapa, Do Drul Chorten, Banjhakri's shamanic falls and rare Tibetan manuscripts
Buddha Park Ravangla
The 130-foot Tathagata Tsal statue consecrated by the 14th Dalai Lama in 2013, set within the centuries-old Rabong Gompa complex on the Himalayan Buddhist Circuit
Pelling & Skywalk
The 135-ft Chenrezig statue of compassion, India's first glass skywalk suspended at 7,200 ft, and 26 km of open air facing Mount Kanchenjunga
Tiger Hill & Toy Train
Golden dawn over Kanchenjunga and Everest from Tiger Hill, followed by the 1881 Darjeeling Himalayan Railway UNESCO toy train ride to Ghoom Monastery
Queen of the Hills
Darjeeling's emerald tea gardens, the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute where Tenzing trained, the Tibetan Self-Help Centre, and the Japanese Peace Pagoda
Kolkata Colonial Heritage
Howrah Bridge over the Hooghly, the bustling daily flower market, Victoria Memorial's white marble, the 1814 Indian Museum, and Mother Teresa's mission
Sunderbans Tiger Reserve
UNESCO mangrove safari by motorized boat through tidal creeks, Dobanki's elevated canopy walk, Sudhanyakhali watchtower, and Royal Bengal tiger territory
Mayapur Vedic Planetarium
World headquarters of Gaudiya Vaishnavism, the monumental Temple of the Vedic Planetarium (TOVP), Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir, and sunset Ganga aarti
Tagore's Shantiniketan
UNESCO World Heritage open-air university Visva-Bharati, Upasana Griha Belgian glass prayer hall, Rabindra Bhavana museum, and rural Bengal Baul music
Visual Journey
Himalayas, Mangroves & Bengal Culture
What's Covered
Includes / Excludes
✓ Included
- 13 nights accommodation (Delhi, Gangtok, Pelling, Darjeeling, Kolkata, Sunderbans & Mayapur)
- All meals (breakfast, lunch & dinner) included during the Sunderbans eco-lodge stay
- Internal flights: Delhi-Bagdogra & Bagdogra-Kolkata in economy with checked baggage
- Exclusive motorized boat safari in Sunderbans with government-licensed naturalist guide
- Private climate-controlled vehicle for all intercity surface transfers & sightseeing
- English-speaking local guides in Gangtok, Pelling, Darjeeling, Kolkata & Shantiniketan
- All monument, monastery, museum & national park entry permits pre-arranged
- Tiger Hill sunrise excursion + UNESCO toy train ride to Ghoom (subject to railway schedule)
- Sikkim Inner Line Permit (ILP) and Sunderbans Tiger Reserve permits assistance
✕ Excluded
- International airfare & visa fees
- Lunch & dinner (unless specified in the itinerary)
- Camera / video fees at monuments & monasteries
- Toy train seats (subject to availability at the time of booking)
- Tips, porterage, personal expenses & travel insurance
- Anything not explicitly mentioned in the inclusions
Day01
Arrive Delhi - Abroad by International Flight
Transfer · Leisure · Overnight Delhi
✦ Arrival Day
- Arrive at Delhi on an international flight - meeting and assistance on arrival
- Private transfer to the hotel (check-in time 1500 hrs on this day)
- Rest of the day at leisure to recover from the journey
- Overnight at the hotel in Delhi
Day02
Delhi - Bagdogra (by air) - Gangtok
✈ Flight · 125 km drive / 05 Hrs · Overnight Gangtok
✈ Flight + Scenic Drive
- In-time transfer to the airport to connect the flight for Bagdogra
- Meeting and assistance on arrival at Bagdogra Airport
- Straight drive to Gangtok (125 km / 5 hrs) - check-in at the hotel on arrival
- Gangtok - at 1,750 m, the state capital since the mid-19th century, surrounded by monasteries and orchids, a resting ground for travellers to North Sikkim
- Overnight at the hotel in Gangtok
Day03
Gangtok Sightseeing - Monasteries & Orchids
Rumtek · Do Drul Chorten · Banjhakri · Tibetology · Orchidarium
✦ Cultural Day
- Rumtek Monastery (24 km) - the world Dharma Chakra Centre and seat of the Gyalwa Karmapa, head of the Kagyupa order; see the jewel-studded Golden Stupa holding the remains of the 16th Karmapa and hear the legend of the Black Hat woven from ten thousand fairies' hairs
- Do Drul Chorten - built to commemorate the victory of good over evil, flanked by giant statues of Lord Buddha and Guru Padmasambhava
- Banjhakri Waterfall & Energy Park - statues documenting the Ban Jhakri, the traditional shamanic healer of the falls
- Namgyal Institute of Tibetology (1958) - one of the world's largest collections of rare books and manuscripts on Mahayana Buddhism
- Orchidarium - climate-controlled wonderland of live orchids including Sikkim's state flower Dendrobium nobile
- Overnight at the hotel in Gangtok
Day04
Gangtok - Pelling via Buddha Park Ravangla
120 km / 05 Hrs · 130-ft Buddha · Overnight Pelling
✦ Scenic Drive
- After breakfast, drive to Pelling (120 km / 5 hrs) via the Buddha Park of Ravangla (Tathagata Tsal)
- Marvel at the 130-foot statue of the Buddha, consecrated by the 14th Dalai Lama on 25 March 2013 - a stop on the Himalayan Buddhist Circuit, built within the Rabong Gompa complex
- Nearby Ralang Monastery is a key monastery of Tibetan Buddhism
- Pelling - a serene mountain village at 2,000 m in West Sikkim, roughly 26 km as the crow flies from Mount Kanchenjunga
- Overnight at the hotel in Pelling
Day05
Pelling - Darjeeling
70 km / 03 Hrs · Sangachoeling · Chenrezig · Skywalk
✦ Monasteries & Skywalk
- Sangachoeling Monastery - founded in the 17th century by Lama Gyalwa Lhatsun Chempo; a 40-minute forest walk up a steep ridge rewards you with ancient wall paintings, clay structures and scriptures, plus sweeping snow-clad views
- Chenrezig Statue - at 135 feet, among the world's tallest statues of Buddha, consecrated by the Dalai Lama and symbolising compassion
- Glass Skywalk - India's first, suspended at 7,200 ft overlooking Kanchenjunga and the Teesta and Rangit rivers; not for the fainthearted!
- Later drive to Darjeeling (70 km / 3 hrs) - the "Queen of the Hills" at 2,134 m, 'Dorje Ling', the place of the Thunderbolt
- Evening stroll around the local market
- Overnight at the hotel in Darjeeling
Day06
Darjeeling - Tiger Hill, Toy Train & City Tour
Sunrise · DHR to Ghoom · HMI · Tibetan Centre · Peace Pagoda
✦ Full Day
- Early morning visit to Tiger Hill (13 km) for sunrise - watch Kanchenjunga, Everest and the whole Himalayan range turn golden
- Breakfast, then enjoy the toy train ride up to Ghoom on the 1881 Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (subject to operation & seat availability) and visit Ghoom Monastery (1875) with its 15-ft Maitreya Buddha
- Himalayan Mountaineering Institute & Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park (closed Thursdays) - Tenzing Norgay's Everest equipment, the Everest Museum, snow leopard, Tibetan wolf and yak
- Tibetan Self-Help Centre (closed Sundays) - carpets, leatherwork, paintings and woodwork made by Tibetan refugees
- Japanese Temple (1972) and the Peace Pagoda (inaugurated 1992, 28.5 m tall) with its four avatars of Buddha
- Overnight at the hotel in Darjeeling
Day07
Darjeeling - Bagdogra - Kolkata (by air)
80 km / 03 Hrs · ✈ Flight · Evening at Leisure
✈ Flight Day
- In-time transfer from Darjeeling to Bagdogra Airport (80 km / 3 hrs)
- Connect the flight for Kolkata - meeting and assistance on arrival
- Transfer to the hotel; rest of the day at leisure
- Overnight at the hotel in Kolkata
Day08
Kolkata Sightseeing - the City of Joy
Howrah · Flower Market · Botanical Gardens · Victoria Memorial
✦ City Tour
- Howrah Bridge spanning the Hooghly, then the daily flower market alive with the colours of the common man
- Drive past Dalhousie Square - Writers Building, Raj Bhavan, General Post Office, High Court, Town Hall and St John's Church
- Botanical Gardens (273 acres) - home to the giant banyan with the world's second-largest canopy
- Victoria Memorial - white marble from Rajasthan, inaugurated 1921, with Victoria memorabilia and Raj-era history
- Indian Museum (founded 1814) - meteorites, man-eating crocodiles and superb Gandharan Buddhist art
- Mother Teresa's Home & Sishu Bhawan - the orphanage for homeless children (closed Thursdays; Victoria Memorial & Indian Museum closed Mondays)
- Overnight at the hotel in Kolkata
Day09
Kolkata - Godkhali - Sunderbans National Park
110 km drive / 03 Hrs · Boat Safari · Sajnekhali Watchtower · Overnight Sunderbans
✦ Mangrove Expedition
- Early morning departure from Kolkata heading southeast through rural Bengal hamlets and paddy fields to Godkhali Jetty (110 km / 3 hrs), the gateway to the Sunderbans delta
- Board your private motorized safari boat; cruise down the meandering channels where the rivers Hogol, Gomor, and Durgaduani meet, sipping fresh coconut water on deck
- Enter the world's largest estuarine mangrove delta and UNESCO World Heritage Site; arrive on Dayapur/Pakhiralay island and check in at your riverside luxury eco-resort
- Fresh traditional Bengali lunch prepared with local river fish, vegetables, and aromatic Gobindobhog rice
- Afternoon boat excursion to the Sajnekhali Watchtower & Mangrove Interpretation Centre - visit the freshwater pond, crocodile breeding enclosure, and the forest shrine of Bono Bibi
- Evening tea followed by an enchanting live performance of Bono Bibi Pala, the centuries-old folk theatre narrating the forest goddess who protects honey-gatherers from Dokkhin Rai, the tiger demon
- Overnight at the eco-resort in Sunderbans (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included)
Day10
Sunderbans National Park - Mangrove Safari & Watchtowers
Full-Day Boat Safari · Dobanki Canopy Walk · Sudhanyakhali Corridor
✦ Full Day Safari
- Early morning tea on deck as your safari boat glides into the misty core area of the Sunderbans Tiger Reserve
- Navigate the labyrinthine tidal creeks of Pirkhali, Gazikhali, and Panchamukhani - the dramatic meeting point of five mighty rivers
- Watch the exposed mudflats for mudskippers, fiddler crabs, monitor lizards, chital (spotted deer), and basking estuarine saltwater crocodiles
- Visit Sudhanyakhali Watchtower, overlooking a sweet-water drinking pond that offers the reserve's highest probability of spotting the majestic Royal Bengal Tiger
- Continue downstream to Dobanki Watchtower and experience the renowned Canopy Walk - an elevated 496-meter caged walkway suspended 20 feet above the tidal forest floor
- Superb birdwatching opportunities: spot the rare masked finfoot, black-capped kingfisher, mangrove pitta, white-bellied sea eagle, and peregrine falcon
- Return to the resort at sunset; evening discussion on tiger conservation and mangrove ecology with your naturalist
- Overnight at the eco-resort in Sunderbans (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included)
Day11
Sunderbans - Godkhali - Kolkata
Morning Creek Cruise · Godkhali · 110 km Drive · Overnight Kolkata
✦ Scenic Return
- Gentle early morning boat cruise through the peripheral canals of Pakhiralay village, observing rural island life, country rowboats, and morning fishermen casting nets
- Leisurely breakfast on board while cruising back through the mangrove channels to Godkhali Jetty
- Disembark and rejoin your private climate-controlled vehicle for the scenic drive back to Kolkata (110 km / 3 hrs)
- Check-in at your hotel in Kolkata; afternoon and evening at leisure
- Optional evening stroll along colonial Park Street, browse heritage shops on Chowringhee, or savor famous Kolkata sweets such as kanchagolla and baked sandesh
- Overnight at the hotel in Kolkata
Day12
Kolkata - Mayapur - Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir & Vedic Planetarium
130 km / 04 Hrs · World Vaishnava Capital · TOVP · Sandhya Aarti
✦ Spiritual Odyssey
- After breakfast, drive northward through the verdant Bengal countryside along the Gangetic plains to Mayapur (130 km / 4 hrs) in Nadia district
- Situated at the holy confluence of the Bhagirathi and Jalangi rivers, Mayapur is the spiritual world headquarters of Gaudiya Vaishnavism and the birthplace of 15th-century saint Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
- Check in at the deluxe guest house / resort on arrival and begin your exploration of the Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir complex
- Marvel at the awe-inspiring Temple of the Vedic Planetarium (TOVP) - one of the world's most monumental religious structures, crowned with a 380-foot dome and an immense cosmic chandelier depicting the universal creation according to the Srimad Bhagavatam
- Visit Yogapith, the revered birthplace of Sri Chaitanya beneath a sacred neem tree, and the ornate Srila Prabhupada Pushpa Samadhi Mandir
- At dusk, witness the transcendent Sandhya Aarti, where thousands of devotees gather with cymbals, conch shells, and mridanga drums in an exhilarating kirtan celebration
- Overnight at the hotel / guest house in Mayapur
Day13
Mayapur - Shantiniketan - Kolkata
80 km / 02.5 Hrs · Tagore's UNESCO Visva-Bharati · Drive to Kolkata (165 km)
✦ UNESCO Heritage Day
- Early morning darshan and breakfast, then drive westward to Shantiniketan (80 km / 2.5 hrs) in Birbhum district, founded by Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore and inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Guided walk through the historic Visva-Bharati University campus, renowned for its open-air schooling system under ancient mango and banyan groves, where education harmonizes with nature
- Visit the radiant Upasana Griha (Prayer Hall), built in 1863 with white marble and kaleidoscope Belgian stained-glass windows
- Explore the Uttarayan Complex, encompassing the five architectural residences where Tagore lived and wrote: Udayan, Konarka, Shyamali, Punashcha, and Udichi
- Tour Rabindra Bhavana Museum, housing Tagore's original manuscripts, paintings, letters, and his Nobel Prize citation
- Walk past the open-air sculptures of Ramkinkar Baij and the murals of Nandalal Bose at Kala Bhavana (Institute of Fine Arts)
- Visit Amar Kutir, the heritage craft cooperative celebrating Bengal's Kantha embroidery, leather goods, and dokra brass craft; listen to the mystical songs of local Baul folk minstrels
- Late afternoon drive back to Kolkata (165 km / 4 hrs) via the Durgapur Expressway; check-in at your hotel for your final evening
- Overnight at the hotel in Kolkata
Day14
Depart Kolkata - Onward Flight
Airport Transfer · Farewell to Eastern India
✦ Departure
- Breakfast at the hotel; enjoy morning at leisure or an early walk along Princep Ghat overlooking the Hooghly
- In-time private transfer from your hotel to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU)
- Connect your onward or international flight, filled with memories of golden Himalayan sunrises over Kanchenjunga, Darjeeling's historic toy train, Kolkata's colonial elegance, Sunderbans mangrove tigers, Mayapur's Vedic domes, and Tagore's Shantiniketan
- Tour concludes with assistance at Kolkata airport
Where You Stay
Hotels
Delhi - 5★ City Hotel
1 night on arrival
1 Night Total
Gangtok - 4★ Mountain Resort
2 nights in the Sikkim capital
2 Nights Total
Pelling - 4★ Kanchenjunga View Hotel
1 night facing the snows
1 Night Total
Darjeeling - 4★ Heritage Hotel
2 nights in the Queen of the Hills
2 Nights Total
Kolkata - 4★ City Hotel
4 nights by the Hooghly (D7-D8, D11, D13)
4 Nights Total
Sunderbans - Luxury Jungle Eco-Lodge
2 nights in the mangrove delta
2 Nights Total
Mayapur - Deluxe Guest House / Resort
1 night in the sacred Gaudiya hub
1 Night Total
We will arrange and confirm your hotel stays as per the trip and budget - hotel options are not fixed and can be customised to your preference. Contact us for details
Good to Know
FAQ
1
What is the best time for this 14-day grand Eastern India tour?
October through April is the ideal window. Autumn (October-November) and spring (March-April) offer crisp skies and spectacular Kanchenjunga panoramas in Sikkim and Darjeeling, pleasant sightseeing weather in Kolkata, and ideal dry-season boat safaris in Sunderbans. Winter (December-February) provides migrating birds in Sunderbans and cool, clear mountain mornings.
2
What permits are required for Sikkim and Sunderbans?
Foreign visitors require an Indian Tourist Visa (or e-Visa) along with an Inner Line Permit (ILP) for Sikkim. For Sunderbans Tiger Reserve, specialized forest entry permits and naturalist allocations are mandatory. All Sikkim and Sunderbans permits are fully processed and arranged in advance by Vedantaa Holidays upon receiving your passport and visa copies.
3
Is the Tiger Hill sunrise and Darjeeling Toy Train guaranteed?
The sunrise over Kanchenjunga depends on mountain weather; on clear mornings the entire 8,586 m massif turns radiant gold and crimson. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (Toy Train) operates subject to track conditions and ticket availability; if seats are sold out, we arrange the scenic Ghoom excursion by private vehicle so no sightseeing is missed.
4
What should I pack for both Himalayan heights and the mangrove delta?
This journey spans diverse microclimates: pack warm fleece/down layers, woollen cap, and gloves for early mornings in Tiger Hill and Pelling (temperatures 3°C to 12°C); and breathable earth-toned or khaki cotton clothing, sun hat, sunglasses, and mosquito repellent for the Sunderbans delta boat safari and Gangetic plains of Mayapur. Modest dress covering shoulders and knees is required at Buddhist monasteries and Hindu temples.
5
How safe is the Sunderbans boat safari and what are the chances of seeing a tiger?
Safaris are conducted entirely on licensed, motorized wooden safari boats equipped with life jackets, first-aid kits, GPS, and experienced local boatmen and government-certified naturalists. Watchtowers at Sajnekhali, Sudhanyakhali, and Dobanki feature elevated, caged walkways and perimeter chain-link fences. While the Sunderbans tiger is famously elusive and camouflage-adept in the dense mangrove pneumatophores, sightings at waterholes (especially Sudhanyakhali) and mudflats occur regularly during early morning cruises.
6
What are the highlights of visiting Mayapur and Shantiniketan?
Mayapur is the international spiritual headquarters of ISKCON, housing the monumental Temple of the Vedic Planetarium (TOVP) with its 380-ft dome and celestial chandelier, plus mesmerizing Sandhya Aarti kirtans. Shantiniketan is Rabindranath Tagore's UNESCO World Heritage rural university town, featuring open-air tree-shaded classes, the historic Uttarayan ashram complex, Upasana Griha stained-glass prayer hall, and vibrant Baul folk music traditions.
7
Can this 14-day tour be customized?
Absolutely. As a bespoke private tour, you can add days in Darjeeling tea estate bungalows, include North Sikkim (Lachung, Yumthang Valley, Gurudongmar Lake), extend your Sunderbans stay by a night, upgrade to 5-star heritage hotels in Kolkata (such as The Oberoi Grand), or modify the pacing to suit multi-generational family groups.
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