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Thursday 11 March
We meet at Heathrow’s Terminal 4 at 18:00 ready to catch Air India flight at 21:00 to Calcutta...
Included: Flight, meals on flight, accommodation. Not included: other meals, travel to Heathrow.
Friday 12 March
…arriving at 12:15. We are met and taken to our hotel. The rest of the afternoon is free.
Included: meals on flight, road transport, accommodation. Not included: other meals, local transport, incidentals.
Saturday 13 March
Our second day out exploring Calcutta. We take a specially chartered Calcutta Tram to BBD Bagh – an excellent way to see how Calcutta really works - with colourful bazaars and teeming streets - from the relative calm of the tram. We take a cruise on the River Hooghly (one of the mouths of the Ganges) to see temples, and much of the old British riverfront. Our coach then gives us a tour of the rest of the City with a visit to the flower market, the Kumartali idol-makers and the Maidan – and there may even be time for some shopping!
Included: breakfast, tram ride, boat cruise, coach tour, accommodation, transport to airport. Not included: other meals, local transport, admission charges
Sunday 14 March
Our bus takes us to Calcutta’s Sealdah station to catch the 09:00 NJP Express for the all-day ride to New Jalpaiguri at the foot of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. It’s a fascinating train journey with lots of opportunities to see the countryside passing by, or to chat to the other Indian passengers who are always keen to find out all about you! Arriving at New Jalpaiguri, we’re taken by coach to our hotel, the Cindrella, in Siliguri, at the foot of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway where we have dinner.
Included: breakfast, train travel, transfers, dinner, accommodation. Not included: other meals, incidentals.
Monday 15 March
The highlight of the tour! After breakfast, our charter train leaves for the journey up through the Siliguri bazaar and the forests to Tindharia, where we visit the DHR’s workshops, before returning to Siliguri and our hotel for dinner. There is ample opportunity for photography – we have a bus available on the parallel road for the photographers, and it’s possible to change between bus and train frequently..
Included: breakfast, steam charter, works visit, transfers, dinner, accommodation. Not included: other meals, incidentals.
Tuesday 16 March
Our second charter runs from Tindharia to Darjeeling, with a break at Kurseong for lunch. We should arrive in Darjeeling in time for afternoon tea at the Cedar Hotel, home for the next two days. We’re hoping for good weather – if there’s a good view of the mountains, we stop at the famous Batasia Loop to photograph the train with Kanchenjunga in the background. As usual, the bus will accompany the train for the photographers.
Included breakfast, afternoon tea, charter train, road transport, accommodation. Not included: other meals, local transport, incidentals.
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