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Thursday 29 January: London to Calcutta
We meet at London’s Heathrow Airport Terminal 3 at 06:55 for our 09:55 BA147 flight to…
Included: flight, meals on flight. Not included: travel to Heathrow, other meals
Friday 30 January: Calcutta
…Calcutta, arriving in the early morning. We’ll be met at the airport and taken to our hotel. The morning is free for you relax and recover from the flight. In the afternoon we’ll take a river cruise on the famous Hooghly which runs through Calcutta. On our drive back to the hotel we’ll visit Kumartali to see the fascinating “idol-makers” – a kind of inner city village where artists make the most amazing clay models for the various Hindu festivals. In the evening we’ll have dinner at
Bar B-Q restaurant on Park Street in the city.
Included: Flight, meals on flight, transfer, breakfast, boat trip, dinner and accommodation. Not included: Local transport, incidentals.
Saturday 31 January: Calcutta
This morning we’ll take a private chartered tram from the Central Terminus to Shyambazaar - this has proved an immensely popular part of previous tours – we are actually part of the local bazaars without all the push and shove of walking through them. Don’t forget to look up as well, many of Calcutta’s old buildings still survive, if you look carefully through their modern coating of advertisements. Following the tram ride we’ll take a coach tour, including the famous Writer’s Building, Black Hole and Victoria Memorial to give you a flavour of this bustling city. We’ll visit the home of the Executive Director of the Crafts Council of Bengal for dinner in her garden at Lake Place – and a chance to meet some of the local artisans.
Included: breakfast, tram charter, dinner, accommodation. Not included: Local transport, incidentals.
Sunday 1 February: Calcutta to Siliguri
After a relaxed breakfast we transfer to Calcutta airport for our flight to Bagdogra. We’ll be met at the airport and transferred to our hotel in Siliguri where there will be time to freshen up before our scheduled activities: the first is a fun sari tying demonstration where you’ll see just how it’s done (and maybe try it yourself) as well as seeing some of the beautiful fabrics for which India’s so famous. Then we’ll have a demonstration of Indian cooking after which you’ll enjoy a delicious dinner. We’ll stay at the Cindrella Hotel, the best in Siliguri – the food is pure vegetarian, and delicious! Included: Breakfast, flight, meals on flight, transfer, dinner and accommodation. Not included: Local transport, other meal, incidentals.
Monday 2 February: Siliguri to Darjeeling
In the morning after breakfast, we’ll go by coach up the hill towards Darjeeling to Kurseong to meet our special charter steam train. Our little train is called the “Toy Train” by the locals and is a piece of living history – it’s a wonderful way to travel up the hill as the track winds its way through the forests, crossing the road 270 times on the way! We arrive in Darjeeling in the late afternoon and are transferred to our heritage hotel, the Windamere (or the Elgin).
Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, train travel, coach transfers, and accommodation. Not included: other meals, incidentals
Tuesday 3 February: Darjeeling
The morning is free to explore this interesting hill station. You’ll see fabulous pashminas, fabrics, embroidered items, Tibetan arts and crafts in the bazaar and shops. In the afternoon we’ll visit a tea estate where you’ll have a chance to see how tea is processed, try your hand at tea tasting and enjoy a “high tea” in the estate bungalow.
Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, Tea Estate visit, accommodation. Not included: other meals, incidentals.
Wednesday 4 February: Darjeeling
After breakfast we’ll take a walk through the village down to the Tibetan Refugee Self Help Centre (those who prefer can take a taxi). In this fascinating village you’ll see how Tibetan rugs are manufactured – from the wool processing (all by hand) to spinning, dyeing and weaving. We’ll also visit the famous Bhutia Basti monastery with its interesting Buddhist architecture.
Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, coach transfer, accommodation. Not included: local transport, other meals, incidentals.
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