Bhutan Festival & Sikkim Tour

Sikkim Darjeeling Tour with Festival in Bhutan

Bhutan Festival & Sikkim Tour View all trip photos
Bhutan Festival & Sikkim Tour
Bhutan Festival & Sikkim Tour
Bhutan Festival & Sikkim Tour

Bhutan Festival and Sikkim tour is a journey of Geographical and cultural contrasts, as you travel from a rich mixture of ecosystems ranging from sub-tropical to the high mountain ranges, and across unique culture and traditions. Join us on this life-changing journey that begins in the Indian state of Sikkim, where you’ll explore mountain monasteries, sip tea beneath the Himalayan peaks at the Raj-era hill hotel in Darjeeling, then cross the vast plains of Dooars to the magical Kingdom of Bhutan.

Amid verdant valleys dotted with historic fortresses and shrines, delve into Bhutan’s rich culture, discovering how happiness is woven into the fabric of everyday life. As you travel into the heart of the Kingdom’s Bumthang district, meet with monks, nuns, farmers, children, and artisans. Explore villages, historic monuments, and sacred sights. On this trip, we also join in the celebration of one or more than one Tsechu, an extremely colorful local festival where the local community comes together to witness religious mask dances, receive blessings and socialize.

Wind Horse has been operating this tour for the last 10 years with a small modification each year. In the past, we used to start the tour in Bhutan, but this year, we are starting the tour from Sikkim. We have also have added a flight from Bumthang to Paro, to cope with changing road conditions.

Outline Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Delhi

Day 2 & 3: Gangtok, Sikkim

Day 4 & 5: In Darjeeling

Day 6: Phuentsholing, Bhutan

Day 7 & 8: Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan

Day 9 & 10: In Punakha  /Wangdue valley

Day 11: Gangtey, Phobjikha valley

Day 12 & 13: In Bumthang

Day 14, 15 & 16: In Paro valley and hike to Taktsang

Day 17: Departure

Duration
17 days
Trip type
Culture Tours
Grading
Easy
Accommodation
3-4 star hotels, boutique lodges and best available lodges
Meals
All meals (except in Delhi, where only breakfast is included)
Group size
Max. 9
Activity
Culture Tours

Detailed Iitinerary

Meet and transfer to the hotel in Aero city. Free to pursue your own interests.

Meals Dinner Activity 2 Hrs drive from Airport to Hotel Altitude 225m

Meet the group during breakfast. Transfer to the airport in time for the morning flight to Bagdogra airport, near Siliguri. Meet our local guide and drive to Gangtok, where you spend two nights.  Visit monasteries, viewpoints, Flower Exhibits, the local market, and other attractions (some places will be covered on foot). Overnights in a hotel.

Meals Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner Altitude 1,650m

Explore the queen of the hills, spread over the ridges, surrounded by emerald-green tea plantations and towered over by majestic Khangchendzonga. Spend two nights in a comfortable Raj-era hotel.

Meals Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner Altitude 2,045m

En-route to Phuentsholing, we have an opportunity to meet the natives of Dooars working in Tea Estates. Immigration formalities and enter the Bhutanese frontier town.

Meals Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner Altitude 293m

Journey up the hills, through changing vegetation, past villages and waterfalls to the bucolic capital of Bhutan.

Meals Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner Altitude 2,307m

Cross the spectacular Dochula pass with the panorama of Bhutanese peaks and descend into a semi-tropical valley, covered by terraced rice-fields.

Meals Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner Altitude 1,200m

Climb up to the alpine setting of Phobjikha valley (2900m), the highest night halt on your journey. For some departures, we visit Gangtey and stay in Trongsa.

Sleep 3 star hotel Meals Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner Altitude 2900m

Visit Trongsa Dzong, perhaps the most spectacularly sited Dzong (fortress cum monastery) in Bhutan. Then cross into Bumthang, the spiritual and cultural heartland of the Kingdom. Spend two nights in the valley of buckwheat fields, apple orchards, and chalet-like houses, surrounded by pine-forested hills.

Sleep 3 star hotel Meals Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner Altitude 3,650m

This 20-min scenic flight whisks you to Paro, avoiding the long winding road back. You have one and a half-day to explore serene Paro valley and a day dedicated to hiking to the iconic Taktsang (tigers nest) monastery.

Meals Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner Altitude 1,000m

Transfer to the airport in time for your departure flight. You could return to Delhi or go to Kathmandu, Kolkata, Bangkok, and some days even to Singapore.

Meals Breakfast

What the price covers

Included

  • All transfers
  • Sightseeing with entrance fees
  • English speaking local tour guides
  • Accommodations in listed hotels or similar (3 & 4 star type mix, with good location,  local character,  and good, if not best reviews)
  • All meals throughout the trip (except in Delhi, where only breakfast is included).
  • Bottled water in the vehicle (during the day)
  • Bhutan Visa and all required permits.
  • Bhutan’s daily tourists’ fees
  • Flight Delhi to Bagdogra
  • Flight Bumthang-Paro

Not included

  • Indian Visa.
  • Flight into Delhi
  • Flight out of Paro
  • Medical Insurance
  • Bar/Beverages, Laundry, Gifts, Gratuities and other personal expenses not listed in included section
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