Private journey · East India
East India: Darjeeling, Sikkim and the Rhinos of Kaziranga
Kolkata’s colonial grandeur, the tea gardens of Darjeeling, Sikkim’s monasteries, and the one-horned rhinos of Kaziranga.
- Duration
- 11 nights · 12 days
- Route
- Kolkata · Darjeeling · Gangtok · Kaziranga
- Best months
- November to April
- Hotels
- Heritage hotels, tea estate stays and jungle lodges
- Pricing
- Tailored to your choices
Why this journey
Why this East India tour
This East India tour runs from Kolkata into the hills in twelve days, with tea estates in Darjeeling and monasteries around Gangtok in Sikkim. It ends in Assam, among the one-horned rhinos of Kaziranga. Like every East India tour we plan, it can be shaped around your dates, pace and interests. For background, see our guide to travelling in India.
01
The one-horned rhino
Kaziranga, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to most of the world’s greater one-horned rhinos.
02
Tea and the mountains
Darjeeling’s estates, the toy train and sunrise over Kanchenjunga from Tiger Hill.
03
Kolkata
The old capital of British India, with its grand avenues, flower market and the clay-image makers of Kumartuli.
The route
Your route
You fly from Kolkata to Bagdogra and drive up to Darjeeling and Gangtok, then fly to Guwahati and drive to Kaziranga. A private guide travels with you in each region.
Day by day
Your East India tour, day by day
Day 1 Arrive in Kolkata
You are met at the airport and driven to your hotel to rest.
Overnight: The Oberoi Grand, Kolkata
Day 2 Kolkata
The flower market at dawn, the Victoria Memorial, the clay-image makers of Kumartuli and an evening by the Hooghly river.
Overnight: The Oberoi Grand, Kolkata
Day 3 Kolkata to Darjeeling
Fly to Bagdogra and drive up through the tea gardens to Darjeeling.
Overnight: Taj Chia Kutir, Darjeeling
Day 4 Darjeeling
Sunrise over Kanchenjunga from Tiger Hill, then a ride on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Overnight: Taj Chia Kutir, Darjeeling
Day 5 Darjeeling’s tea estates
A morning on a tea estate with a tasting, and a free afternoon in the town.
Overnight: Taj Chia Kutir, Darjeeling
Day 6 Darjeeling to Gangtok
A winding drive into Sikkim, along the Teesta river to Gangtok.
Overnight: Taj Guras Kutir, Gangtok
Day 7 Gangtok
Rumtek, the great monastery of the Karma Kagyu lineage, and the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology.
Overnight: Taj Guras Kutir, Gangtok
Day 8 Gangtok to Guwahati
Drive down to Bagdogra and fly to Guwahati, on the Brahmaputra.
Overnight: Vivanta Guwahati, Guwahati
Day 9 Guwahati to Kaziranga
Kamakhya temple in the morning, then the drive east to Kaziranga.
Overnight: Diphlu River Lodge, Kaziranga
Day 10 Kaziranga
Jeep safaris in the central and western ranges, the best for rhino, wild buffalo and swamp deer.
Overnight: Diphlu River Lodge, Kaziranga
Day 11 Kaziranga
A safari in the eastern range for birdlife, then a walk through a tea garden.
Overnight: Diphlu River Lodge, Kaziranga
Day 12 Depart
Drive to Jorhat or Guwahati for your flight onward.
Where you’ll stay
Hotels on this East India tour
These are the hotels we usually suggest for this route. We confirm each one with you, and can suggest alternatives at a similar level if you prefer.
The Oberoi Grand
Kolkata · 2 nights
Taj Chia Kutir
Darjeeling · 3 nights
Taj Guras Kutir
Gangtok · 2 nights
Vivanta Guwahati
Guwahati · 1 night
Diphlu River Lodge
Kaziranga · 3 nights
Make it yours
Shape it around you
This East India tour is a starting point. These are some of the changes our travellers most often ask for.
Questions
Questions about this East India tour
When is Kaziranga open?
Kaziranga is open from 1 November to 30 April and closes during the monsoon, when the Brahmaputra floods the grasslands.
Do we need a permit for Sikkim?
Foreign nationals need a permit to enter Sikkim. We arrange it in advance.
Do you offer elephant rides in Kaziranga?
We use jeep safaris only, with an experienced naturalist.
How long are the drives?
The mountain roads are slow: Bagdogra to Darjeeling and Darjeeling to Gangtok take around three to four hours each. Guwahati to Kaziranga takes around five hours.
East India
Enquire about this East India tour
Tell us when you would like to travel and who is coming. We will reply personally to arrange a call at a time that suits you.
Prefer to write directly? contact@alluring.travel · WhatsApp +91 92119 13735
