Duration
8 days / 7 nights
Price Per Person
Interests
Post-Covid Wellness
Destinations
India

This luxury eight-day itinerary begins in Calcutta, the former colonial capital of India, where you’ll enjoy exclusive access to several key sites, such as Tollygunge Club and the Calcutta Polo Club. You’ll spend a few nights in the charming hill town of Darjeeling, hopping aboard the remarkable UNESCO-listed Toy Train and wandering the legendary tea fields. You’ll also spend time in the remote state of Sikkim, where you’ll have the chance to dine with royalty. You’ll also experience an unforgettable private helicopter tour of the world’s third-highest peak.

This itinerary is an example. It’s designed to inspire you and provide you with thoughtfully curated ideas. You can choose to do this exact itinerary or completely personalize it. All trips are 100% bespoke.

Highlights

  • Club Access: An exclusive visit to Calcutta’s original polo club to take in a thrilling game of the “sport of kings.”
  • Toy Train: Ride aboard the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway AKA the Toy Train which made its maiden trip in 1880.
  • Tea Country: Home of the famous eponymous Darjeeling tea, enjoy this celebrated drink freshly and expertly brewed at a tea estate.

Day-by-Day

Day 1

Calcutta

After checking into your luxury Calcutta hotel, you’ll begin your Northeast India adventure with a trip to the historic “Tolly” or Tollygunge Club. The Tolly is an exclusive country club founded in 1895 that offers golf, tennis, equestrian sports and more, with a grand colonial clubhouse dating back more than 230 years. This is an excellent launch point for the afternoon’s Colonial Calcutta guided tour, where you’ll see beautiful old vestiges of Indian colonial history, including the General Post Office, the National Library of India, and the Victoria Memorial, where it may be possible to access areas normally closed to the public. 

Hotel Options
Why We Love This Hotel

Thai Food: One of the best Thai restaurants in the country.

Architecture: 125 year old historic property.

Location: Prime spot in the main shopping area and within walking distance to many attractions.

See Hotel
The Oberoi Grand Preferred Hotel

Day 2

Calcutta

After a leisurely morning at your hotel, you’ll be chauffeur-driven to the Calcutta Polo Club, established in 1862. Considered the birthplace of modern polo, you’ll enjoy a sumptuous meal while watching a polo match; the Maharaja of Burdwan and his wife - friends of Remote Lands - will be your dining companions if they’re available. Next, visit Mother House, the headquarters of Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity order and her final resting place. In the evening, return to your hotel and enjoy world-class dining by some of the best chefs in Calcutta.

Calcutta
Calcutta

Day 3

Darjeeling

Today you will fly to the hill town of Darjeeling, where emerald-colored tea plantations lay against a backdrop of Himalayan peaks. Here you’ll visit the UNESCO-listed Toy Train - the narrow-gauge Darjeeling Himalayan Railway that zig-zags down the mountains from Darjeeling at 7,400 feet. You’ll also take the breathtaking walk across a suspension bridge to Manjitar Village, where you can enjoy a hot local brew in a village tea house. Next, visit Hayden Hall, a non-profit initiative that provides vocational training, health care, education and lunches to impoverished women and their children. 

Hotel Options
About

A combination of tea plantation, homestay and luxury resort, Glenburn Tea Estate is a truly unforgettable place to stay. Set amidst lush green tea gardens above the Rungeet and Rung Dung rivers, Glenburn consists of two luxury bungalows, Burra and Water Lily, both of which are over 100 years old and have been lovingly maintained.

This accommodation has been personally vetted by the Remote Lands team and is the best available in the area. More information on this property is available on the “Hotels” tab at the top of the page.

Day 4

Darjeeling

Today you’ll visit the 1875 Tibetan Buddhist Ghoom Monastery. The monastery features a 15-foot high statue of the Maitreya Buddha, rare Tibetan Buddhist literature, fluttering prayer flags and colorful traditional architecture. You’ll also be treated to a tour of Glenburn Tea Estate, enjoying the fresh mountain air as you pass through rows of tea bushels. After touring the factory, you’ll have assistance from the manager to create your own personalized blend of tea. Spend the night in your luxury colonial bungalow here on the estate.

Darjeeling
Darjeeling

Day 5

Darjeeling

Gorgeous Kalimpong is on the itinerary today. A Himalayan hill station offering stunning mountain views, it’s home to a diverse array of ethnicities and is a center of Tibetan Buddhism in the region. You can visit the flower market, see examples of beautiful colonial architecture or perhaps visit Zang Dhok Palri Phodang monastery, with panoramic views from the top of Durpin Hill. Today you will also have the opportunity to trek before returning to Glenburn Tea Estate for the night.

Day 6

Gangtok

Today you will head to Gangtok (around 3 hours' drive away), the capital of Sikkim State in the Himalayas bordering Tibet, Bhutan and Nepal. Sikkim’s steep mountainsides provide the perfect environment for orchids to flourish, and you’ll visit a farm where more than 500 exotic species are grown. In the evening, enjoy traditional cuisine with some remaining members of the Sikkim royal family before bedding down in your Gangtok hotel for the night. 

Hotel Options
About

If our Preferred Hotel is unavailable, this accommodation is a reliable alternative and has been personally vetted by the Remote Lands team. More information on this property is available on the “Hotels” tab at the top of the page.

Gangtok
Gangtok

Day 7

Gangtok

For an unforgettable experience and superlative mountain views, you’ll be whisked into the skies in a thrilling Himalaya helicopter tour. This private flight will take you around the awe-inspiring Mount Kangchenjunga, the world’s third-highest peak at 28,169 feet.

Day 8

Departure

Today your trip concludes and you’ll fly back to Calcutta for your departing international flight.

Suggested Hotel For Days 1–2

The Oberoi Grand
Preferred Hotel

The Oberoi Grand

Affectionately called the “Grand Dame of Chowringhee,” the stately, neo-classical Oberoi Grand has stood for 125 years in the heart of Kolkata (Calcutta). With elegant decor evoking the city’s colonial past as the capital of the British Raj, all rooms and suites provide wired and wireless high-speed Internet, a 32-inch LDC television, satellite TV, DVD, Ayurvedic toiletries, and more. Dining options include gourmet Thai cuisine at Baan Thai, the all-day international buffet at La Terrasse, while fine wines, beer, spirits, and cigars are available at the Chowringhee Bar. The health center features state-of-the-art Life Fitness cardio machines and weight training equipment. The Oberoi Spa offers a variety of massage treatments, body wraps, Ayurvedic therapies, salon treatments, and personal yoga and meditation sessions. The Oberoi Grand is approximately a 50-minute drive from Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU).

See Hotel

Suggested Hotel For Days 3–5

Glenburn Tea Estate

Glenburn Tea Estate

A combination of tea plantation, homestay and luxury resort, Glenburn Tea Estate is a truly unforgettable place to stay. Set amidst lush green tea gardens above the Rungeet and Rung Dung rivers, Glenburn consists of two luxury bungalows, Burra and Water Lily, both of which are over 100 years old and have been lovingly maintained. Both bungalows have separate bedroom, sitting room and veranda superb views, and also have real fireplaces. Multi-course meals are served in a communal dining room, and the resort can also provide picnics out in the tea fields, with food served on quality china by porters smartly dressed in classic plantation-style clothing. The resort also has walking trails through the plantations, as well as a charming riverside lodge which can also accommodate overnight guests.

Suggested Hotels For Days 6–7

Elgin Mount Pandim Hotel
Preferred Hotel

Elgin Mount Pandim Hotel

Originally the home of the Sikkim royal family, the Elgin Mount Pandim enjoys a magnificent location, set amidst virgin forest and landscape gardens with splendid views of the Singalila mountain range. All of its 30 rooms are unique in design and colour scheme, but all come with internet, LCD TV and en-suite bathroom, as well as 24-hour room service. The hotel offers numerous activities including birdwatching (the area is rich in birdlife including several rare species) and mountain biking. The hotel also has a multi-cuisine dining room, bar and afternoon tea lounge.

See Hotel
Hotel Nor Khill Gangtok

Hotel Nor Khill Gangtok

Hotel Nor Khill Gangtok is a heritage property with Old-World charm. The 3-star hotel is located in the eastern Himalayas and offers views of the lush green hills and Kanchenjunga, the planet’s third highest peak, in the background. Each of the 32 rooms are decorated with traditional textiles and colorful accents, complete with period furniture. The rooms come with modern amenities including private bath and showers, satellite television and Internet connectivity.

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