Motorcycle Safari (B)

Route: Kolkatta (Calcutta) - Siliguri - Phuentsholing - Thimphu - Punakha - Trongsa - Paro - Jaldapara - Kalimpong - Gangtok - Rumtek - Pemayangtse - Darjeeling - Kurseong - Basanti - Kolkatta
Grade: Moderate

Best Season: April - May / Sep - Oct

Day 01

Arrive Kolkata Ex international flight at late evening hours & drive to Railway Station to board the Darjeeling Mail at 1915 hrs Ex Sealdah, for a overnight journey to New Jalpaiguri arriving there by 0810 hours.

Day 02

Met on arrival at the Station and drive to Siliguri for breakfast and to relax. Later in the day ride to Phuentsholing - 150 km - through Tea estates. Situated directly at the base of the Himalayan foothills, Phuentsholing is a fascinating mixture of Indian and Bhutanese, a perfect example of mingling of people and their culture. We stay at border town.

Day 03

Ride to Thimphu, 179 km. The capital of Bhutan, and the centre of government, religion and commerce, Thimphu is a unique city, with an unusual mixture of modern development alongside ancient tradition. Overnight at hotel.

Day 04

Half day sight seeing of Thimphu and then ride to Punakha - 75 km. Today’s ride is in an alpine valley along serpentine roads. The area is sparsely populated and there is very little traffic on the roads, but one has to be cautious on the bends.

Day 05 : (Punakha - Trongsa – Punakha, 270 km).

A Day ride to Trongsa (7,600 feet) visiting en route magnificent dzongs and spectacular scenery.

Day 06 : (Punakha - Thimphu – Paro, 140 Km).

This beautiful valley which encapsulates within itself rich culture, scenic beauty and hundreds of myths and legends, is home to many of Bhutan's oldest temples and monasteries, the country's only airport and the National Museum. There are splendid view of the distant Himalayas at Dochula pass ( alt. 3,088 m ) on Thimphu - Punakha road.

Day 07 : (Paro - Phuentsholing – Jaldaprara, 198 km).

After Phuentsholing, we are on to the National highway & ride north west to reach Jaldapara Wild life sanctuary. If time permits, visit the Jaldapara National Park for game viewing. Over night Forest lodge.

Day 08 : Jaldapara - Kalimpong - Gangtok (240 km,07 hours drive).

Morning visit the Jaldapara National Park for game viewing. Then ride on to Kalimpong, initially in the foothills and then uphill and downhill on serpentine roads.

Day 09

Gangtok is tucked away in the clouds, on a ridge 5,000 ft above sea level. Day return excursion to Changhu Lake. The lake is open for visitors in season and is worth the ride to get a view of Gangtok town. Overnight at hotel.

Day 10

Ride to Rumtek in the afternoon. Visit the Rumtek Dharma Chakra . Ride on to Pemayangtse visiting Tanshiding monastery en route. Overnight at hotel.

Day 11 : (Pemayangtse - Darjeeling – Kurseong, 150 km, 06 hours drive).

We will ride to Kurseong via the tea region of Darjeeling (we have all heard of Darjeeling Tea!). Nestled in the grandeur and beauty of towering satellite of snow-capped Kanchenjunga mountains, is Kurseong, a little town with a past of elegance; sophisticated and beautiful.

Day 12

 We will ride into Darjeeling in the morning for a day of sightseeing. Explore the town of Darjeeling with visit to the Kaunchunga view point and Tiger Hill. Then ride down hill 120 km to Siliguri arriving by later part of the evening to board the train at 2000 hours and arrive Kolkatta at 0845 hours, next day. Over night train.

Day 13

Arrive Kolkatta in the morning and check into hotel - day at leisure for sightseeing.

Day 14

Drive from Kolkata to Basanti - 100 kms / 3 hours. Basanti to Sajnekhali - by boat Overnight at Sajnekhali tourist lodge.

Day 15

Fall back late evening and same evening or day 16 early morning hours board the flight to home.