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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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Calcutta to Delhi
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There are no departure dates currently available for the rest of this season. Some tours only run during parts of the year.
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 explore Mother Teresa's House. Enjoy free time later and opt to explore the Indian Museum. In the evening, board an overnight New Jalpaiguri Kamrup Express train to New Jalpaiguri.
Day 3Jalpāiguri/Darjeeling
Arrive at New Jalpaiguri and continue onwards by van to Darjeeling. Take an orientation tour of the town before enjoying free time with the rest of the evening.
Day 4Darjeeling
Watch the sunrise at Tiger Hill, visit a tea estate and explore the Mahakal Temple. Later, travel the World Heritage-listed Darjeeling Himalayan Railway on a vintage steam engine train. Continue with a visit to the Peace Pagoda.
Day 5Darjeeling/Gangtok
Continue by private van to Gangtok and take an orientation tour of the town. Take in the stunning scenery of the Himalayas surrounding this quaint town.
Day 6Gangtok
Start the day with an orientation walk, then enjoy a free day to explore this scenic town.
Day 7Gangtok/Kalimpong
Continue by private vehicle to Kalimpong. Stop along the way at Rumtek Monastery. Embark on an orientation walk of the town of Kalimpong then enjoy the rest of the day to explore at leisure.
Day 8Kalimpong to New Jalpaiguri
Drive to New Jalpaiguri Station with a stop en route at Deolo Hills to take in views of the mountainous scenery. Catch the overnight train to Varanasi.
Day 9Mughal Sarāi/Varanasi
Arrive to Mughal Sarai in the morning and continue by van to Varanasi. Enjoy an evening visit to the ghats and watch the prayer sessions.
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. Opt to explore The Residency and be immersed in colonial era history. 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
- Victoria Memorial visit
- Visit Mother Teresa's House
- Tiger Hill sunrise visit
- Tea estate visit
- Mahakal Temple visit
- Peace Pagoda visit
- Toy train ride
- Local lunch
- Rumtek Monastery day trip
- Deolo Hill visit
- Evening ghats visit
- Sunrise boat trip on the Ganges
- Bara Imambara visit
- Orientation walks in Darjeeling, Gangtok, and Kalimpong
- 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
CEO (Chief Experience Officer) 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.