A varied journey through India’s north – “Tea in Darjeeling” and “Pure fascination” in the kingdoms of Sikkim and Bhutan
Experience the Himalayas with their mighty peaks and the unique landscape with tea gardens and terraced rice fields in Darjeeling as well as Buddhist monasteries and sacred lakes in Sikkim. The ascent to the sacred Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest) monastery in Bhutan at an altitude of 3,100 m will certainly remain unforgettable. This monastery clinging to a vertical rock face is the impressive highlight and expression of the Buddhist way of life.
This tour is different, especially fascinating!
Which highlights of this very special tour should we highlight?
You will experience one highlight after another during this 23-day round trip through Darjeeling, Sikkim and Bhutan. This tour is different, special and fascinating. In addition to the special enjoyment of this spectacular landscape – always surrounded by the mountain giants of the Himalayas – we at Terralaya Travels attach particular importance to ensuring that you understand the different culture with its different people.
Meeting people in Asia is our top priority!
Our local guides, with their knowledge and patience, ensure encounters with people, guide you through the initially confusing diversity and otherness of a culture strongly influenced by Buddhism and thus build bridges between people and worlds.
This varied tour through the Kingdom of Sikkim and Bhutan is now available to book.
Darjeeling – Up into the mountains
From Delhi, you fly along the Himalayas and over the green tea plantations to Bagdogra. If the weather is fine, you can already see the majestic peaks of the 8,000-metre peaks of Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Everest and Kangchendzönga. In Darjeeling – at an altitude of 2,100 m – the whole attitude to life and flair is much quieter and more relaxed than in lively and colorful Delhi, the first overnight stop after your flight.
Darjeeling has been one of the most popular “hill stations” for escaping the heat of the plains since the time of the British colonial power.
the heat of the lowlands.
The famous “Toy Train” was already used to transport the “English” to the cool mountains, where they enjoyed their “team time”. You can do the same as the colonial masters, because you too can enjoy the special pleasure of a ride on the “Toy Train”, this 120-year-old narrow-gauge railroad. The steam locomotive puffs its way through the narrow valleys and up the serpentines into the mountains. During your “4 o’clock tea”, find out what makes a good Darjeeling tea and how much manual work is still required to get it steaming in your teacup.
Sikkim – hikes against a fantastic mountain backdrop and encounters with Tibetan Buddhism
In the former kingdom of Sikkim – located between Bhutan and Nepal – encounters with people and Buddhism in the monasteries are an essential part of the tour. The people here are still untouched by mass tourism and a stay with a host family will give you a good insight into the everyday life of the locals. On daily optional hikes (approx. 2 – 4 hours), for example, you will experience the rural and natural way of life of the small Himalayan farmers in their traditional, old Lepcha houses. On all hikes, the picturesque mountain massifs will always catch your eye.
Everything is dominated by the white summit of Kangchendzönga (8,586 m), the third highest mountain in the world.
This sight alone will remain unforgettable for you forever. But you will experience much, much more on this tour. You will visit remote temples and monasteries and see the monks praying in their wine-red robes in the temples during their evening ceremony. The views of the surrounding valleys from the temple sites will always put you in a wonderfully meditative mood. You go on wonderful hikes past small villages, terraced fields and forests with cardamom plantations.
Unforgettable impressions of a special kind: The Kingdom of Bhutan
One of the highlights of this tour is the stay in Bhutan. The kingdom in the middle of the Himalayas is one of the most mysterious places and is still difficult for individual tourists to reach. However, the good organization and planning of an experienced tour operator such as Terralaya Travels enables you to travel through this country and get to know many remote monasteries.
Typical of Bhutan are the dzongs, mystical mountain monasteries that seem to literally cling to the mountain slopes and rocks.
You will visit imposing dzongs, ancient monasteries and small villages. Landscapes and religion have a unique connection here – everything is magical and spiritual.
Most beautiful dzong, school and family life
You visit the Punakha Dzong, architecturally probably the most beautiful dzong in the whole of Bhutan. Built in 1638, it was the second dzong in Bhutan. Punakha was the capital and administrative center of Bhutan until 60 years ago, when the capital was moved to Thimphu.
After a short hike, you will cross the longest suspension bridge in Bhutan and visit a village school in the village on the other side. During lunch with a local family, you will learn all about family life in the countryside.
The Tiger’s Nest, spectacular and unique, Bhutan
On the penultimate day of your tour, you set off for one of the holiest monasteries in Bhutan, the famous Tiger’s Nest in the Paro Valley. This monastery clings spectacularly to a steep rock face, hundreds of meters above the valley floor. It owes its name to the visit of Guru Padmasambhava, the greatest tantric master in the history of Tibetan Buddhism. He landed here in the 8th century on his flight from Tibet on the back of a tigress.
You will visit more imposing dzongs, ancient monasteries and small villages. Landscapes and religion have a unique connection to each other – everything is magical and spiritual.
Bei Fragen melden Sie sich gerne bei uns. Die Reise ist ab sofort buchbar und verfügt nur über ein begrenztes Kontingent.
These are just some of the highlights of this very special tour. You can read all about what there is to see and experience on the Terralaya.com website or directly in the detailed travel description.
This tour is organized by Terralaya Travels, a very experienced tour operator in India, led by Helen Kämpf, a Swiss national. Helen Kämpf lived in North East India for many years and is therefore familiar with the culture. Her many years of good contacts with the locals help her to plan and organize the tour. Every tour is therefore perfectly prepared and organized for you and you get a deep insight into the culture and life. Terralaya Travels will of course take care of all entry formalities. The tour is conducted in English by experienced local tour guides.
