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Northeast India & Darjeeling by Rail
13 days, Calcutta to Delhi
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Anybody can view the sights of India by foot or bus – but you’re not just anybody. Instead, get off the beaten path and see India in a very untypical way – by train. Over two weeks, you’ll head north into Sikkim and Darjeeling via vans and local trains (including the famous toy trains in Darjeeling), giving you an up close and personal experience with authentic India. There’ll be plenty of palaces and forts to spot both on the train and off, and you’ll still get all the social elements of travelling with a group. Add in local meals and a large helping of culture, and this is a trip that’ll stay with you for a long time.
Is this tour for me?
Travel Style: Rail
Get closer to the big cities, isolated communities, and stunning landscapes of the world's greatest destinations via train-based adventures on iconic rail routes.
Service Level: Standard
Comfortable tourist-class accommodations with character; mix of public and private transport.
Physical Rating: 3 - Average
Some tours may include light hiking, biking, rafting, or kayaking in addition to walking.
Trip Type: Small Group
Small group experience; Max 15, avg 12
Age requirement: 12+
All travellers under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
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Trip Code: AHDR
See how your trip uplifts communities
In a number of impactful ways, your adventure directly benefits the local people and places we visit.
100
Ripple Score
Want to create ripples that change lives? The higher the Ripple Score percentage, the more money stays in the local communities you visit.
Ripple Score for this trip: 100
More from Northeast India & Darjeeling by Rail
Itinerary
Day 1Calcutta
Arrive at any time.
Day 2Calcutta/Jalpāiguri
Visit the Victoria Memorial, and take a ferry on the Ganges. In the evening, board an overnight New Jalpaiguri Kamrup Express train to New Jalpaiguri.
Day 3Jalpāiguri/Kalimpong
Arrive at New Jalpaiguri and continue by van to Kalimpong. Explore MacFarlane Memorial Church and visit a cactus nursery and the Lepcha Museum.
Day 4Kalimpong/Gangtok
Continue by private van to Gangtok and take an orientation tour of the town.
Day 5Gangtok
Enjoy a day trip to Rumtek Monastery.
Day 6Gangtok/Darjeeling
Head to Darjeeling by private van and take an orientation tour of the town.
Day 7Darjeeling
Watch the sunrise at Tiger Hill, visit a tea estate and explore the Mahakal Temple. After, visit the Peace Pagoda. Enjoy a cooking demonstration at a local, family-run restaurant.
Day 8Darjeeling/Mughal Sarāi
In the morning take the World Heritage Himalayan Toy Train ride. Then drive to Siliguri to catch an overnight sleeper train to Mughal Sarai.
Day 9Mughal Sarāi/Varanasi
Arrive to Mughal Sarai in the morning and continue by van to Varanasi. Enjoy an evening visit to the ghats.
Day 10Varanasi
Take a sunrise boat trip on the Ganges. Enjoy a free afternoon to explore Sarnath and the city of Varanasi.
Day 11Varanasi/Lucknow
Take a morning Varanasi-Lucknow Intercity train. In the afternoon, visit the Bara Imambara.
Day 12Lucknow/Delhi
Spend most of the day exploring Lucknow. In the afternoon, board the Swarna Shatabdi Express train to Delhi, with dinner provided on board. Enjoy the night in the bustle of Delhi.
Meals included:
DinnerDay 13Delhi
Depart at any time.
What's Included
- Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
- Kolkata city tour
- MacFarlane Memorial Church visit (Kalimpong)
- Deolo Hill visit (Kalimpong)
- Local lunch with cooking demonstration
- Gangtok orientation tour
- Rumtek Monastery day trip
- Darjeeling orientation tour
- Tiger Hill sunrise visit
- Tea estate visit
- Mahakal Temple visit
- Peace Pagoda visit
- Toy train to Kurseong
- Evening ghats visit (Varanasi)
- Sunrise boat trip on the Ganges
- Sarnath visit
- Lucknow orientation tour
- Bara Imambara visit
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
Accommodations
Hotels/guesthouses (10 nts), sleeper train (2 nts).
Meals
1 dinner
Allow USD300-390 for meals not included.
Transportation
Train (seats), train (beds), toy train, private van, walking
Staff & experts
Chief Experience Officer (CEO) throughout, local guides.
Departures
There are no departure dates currently available for the rest of this season. Some tours only run during parts of the year.
Please Contact Us to inquire about dates for next season, or to discuss other tour options.