Darjeeling, Sikkim and Bhutan by Road

Overland drive from India’s tea gardens into Bhutan | 16 days

This overland journey leaves Delhi for the green terraces of Darjeeling’s tea gardens, where the Himalayas rise up in the distance. From here the road leads to Sikkim, a previously independent kingdom, which was only opened to foreigners in the early 1980s. The former kingdom contains a cultural mix of Tibetan, Mongolian, Nepalese and Indian people, superb landscapes with lush vegetation and up to 600 species of orchids in the lowland areas. As one of the least visited of all the Himalayan Kingdoms, Sikkim remains pristine in its environment and still retains an air of mystery. Visit a number of ancient monasteries before driving via Kalimpong to Bhutan’s southern border crossing at Phuntsholing and heading north to Thimphu, capital of Bhutan, where the imposing facade of Thimphu Dzong towers above the valley.

Day 1: Fly to Delhi

Day 2: Tour India’s capital city

Day 3: Train to Bagdogra

Day 4: Drive to Darjeeling, one of India’s foremost hill stations

Day 5: Travel back in time at Darjeeling’s gracious historic hotels

Day 6: Cross into Sikkim to arrive at Pemayangtse

Day 7: Drive to Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim

Day 8: Day in Gangtok

Day 9: Drive to Kalimpong

Day 10: Cross the border into Bhutan to arrive at Puntsholing

Day 11: Continue along winding and climbing roads to Thimphu, Bhutan’s capital

Day 12: Visit Thimphu’s National Library

Day 13: Drive to Paro

Day 14: Climb the steep hill to see the Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest) Monastery clinging to the cliff above the Paro valley

Day 15: Fly to Delhi

Day 16: Fly to London

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Trip Report relating to Bhutan

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