Welcome to A Himalayan Odyssey ::General Tours

For those traveling on a tight time schedule, we can organize general sightseeing tours of Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Gangtok with visits to Tiger Hill, Tibetan Monasteries, flower nurseries, handicraft centers topped off with an exciting run on the River Teesta in rafts handled by experienced river runners.

These itineraries can include beach volleyball and a swim in the crystal clear waters in a backwater pool! Great for families traveling with small children. A walk through a tea garden is educative …..a practical learning experience from how the tea leaves are plucked to the final production of the world famous Darjeeling Tea.

For all our specialist tours we have a resource group of experts in their area of specialization. We organize evening lectures and presentations by these resource persons.

Write to us for our detailed itineraries. We plan your trip from pick up at Bagdogra airport to drop at Bagdogra airport. If you need any assistance for reception at airport in New Delhi or Calcutta on arrival and see off during departure, we can get our colleagues to help you out.

Darjeeling (approx. 2134mts): The Mighty Kanchenjunga, third highest mountain in the world, towers above this charming town like a gigantic ship floating upon a sea of clouds. In the distance, Mt. Everest retains its aloofness. The town itself is a typical Indian “hill station”, catering mainly to a large influx of plains people escaping the summer heat. There is “ The Mall”, of course, a promenade with ‘fashionable’ stores alongside the Kanchenjunga playing hide and seek in the skies above. The lower regions of the town are teeming with colorful tribesmen working or trading on seasonal basis. All around the town are picturesque tea plantations and a visit to them are a must. On the way you might encounter the famous “toy-train” puffing up the hills from Siliguri.

Kalimpong: Before the Chinese takeover of Tibet, Kalimpong was the center of India’s wool trade with that country, with Tibetan caravans wending their way down from the Tibetan plateau to trade wool for manufactured goods. Today Kalimpong is a holiday resort for its fabulous mountain views, bird watching, and walks in the hills. It has become a center for Orchid and Cactus nurseries, and exports these plants to different places all over the world. Here we visit several nurseries.

Gangtok (approx 1550 Mts.): The capital of Sikkim, occupies the west side of a long ridge flanking the Ranipul river. The scenery is spectacular and there are excellent views of the entire Kanchenjunga range from many points. Many people expect Sikkim to be a small version of Kathmandu.

Day 01	Arrive New Jalpaiguri/Bagdogra - Darjeeling : Met upon arrival anda drive to Darjeeling for three hours through tea gardens and pretty hillside towns. We will occasionally meet the famous Darjeeling toy train, huffing and puffing across our road. On arrival in Darjeeling transfer to the hotel.
Day 02	Darjeeling : Early morning visit Tiger Hill for fabulous sunrise views of Mt. Kanchenjunga, the third highest mountain in the world at 7409m. Mt. Everest and a host of other Himalayan giants are also seen on the horizon. On our drive back to the hotel we will stop at Ghoom, a Tibetan- Buddhist monastery. After breakfast we shall visit the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, the Tibetan Refugee Camp, the tea garden and the local market. Optional activities include a Joy ride on the toy train, or the rock garden. A walk on the Mall called Lover’s road is highly recommended.
Day 03	Darjeeling - Mirik - Darjeeling : Visit to the Mirik Lake is a three hour journey. Mirik Lake is a fabulous natural lake in great mountain surroundings. We can do boating there or go on small jungle hikes. On the way back we will stop at Pashupati which is the border for India & Nepal. We get all kinds of imported goods.
Day 04	Darjeeling – Kalimpong : Morning drive to Kalimpong. We drive via Mungpoo, well known for its unique Cinchona plantation where a factory produces Quinine, the medicine for malaria. This place became famous during the time of the British Raj. At that time there was a dense forest and it had become a paradise for botanical students. We will visit the plantation and also look for orchids on the way. After a picnic lunch we drive towards Kalimpong, crossing the Teesta river. We will pass through dense forest of Teak and Sal trees. Today Kalimpong is a holiday resort for its fabulous mountain views, bird watching, and walks in the hills. It has become a center for Orchid and Cactus nurseries, and exports these plants to different places all over the world. Here we visit several nurseries .
Day 05	Kalimpong - Gangtok : Today’s drive to Gangtok is trulya naturalist’s delight as you move upstream along the river Teesta. The hillside and mountain slopes of Sikkim are strewn with bright patches of myriad colors. The lower mountain slopes are abundant with lush green bamboo and ferns. The northern valleys are draped with wild cherry, oaks, chestnut, pines as well as magnolia varietis called Magnolia Campbeli and Michelia Doltscopa. The higher altitudes are abloom with 46 species of Rhododendron and of course, Sikkim’s 600 varieties of orchids are everywhere.
Day 06	Gangtok Rumtek Gangtok : Perched at a height of 1520mts lies Gangtok, quaint, colorful town. This small modernized town is the capital of Sikkim. Here you visit the famous monastery of Rumtek which is the head quarter of the Kagyu sect. Later, visit the institute of Tibetology, which has a small collection of almost 30,000 volumes on diverse subjects like as astrology, philosophy, magic and religion. After lunch visit the Orchid Sanctuary which has over 200 species of temperate and intermediate orchids on beautifully landscaped ground. Our next stop is the Epica gardens which has large collection of indigenous plants of Sikkim.
Day 07	Gangtok NJP/Bagdogra: Depart Gangtok for NJP/Bagdogra, which is appox 5 hours drive.