RICHARD AND ROBERT TUCKER BENGAL & SIKKIM TOUR

ITINERARY :

Wednesday, October 10, 2012, Los Angeles:

Connecting flight for Richard from Fresno is with American Eagle flight # AA3057 departing at 12.35 PM and arriving in LAX, terminal 4 at 1.35 PM. Departure with Emirates Airlines flight # EK0216 departing from Tom Bradley International Terminal at 4.45 PM.

Thursday, October 11, 2012, Dubai:

Arrival at 7.35 PM in Terminal 3 in Dubai.

Friday, October 12, 2012, Dubai/Kolkata :

Departure from Terminal 3 in Dubai with flight # EK0570 at 2 AM and arrive in Netaji Subhash Bose International Airport in Kolkata at 8.15 AM. Our representative will welcome you in traditional Indian style with fresh flower garland at the airport and transfer you to Fortune Select Loudon Hotel (4-star hotel) at Park Street. Relax in the morning. In the afternoon visit Victoria Memorial Museum, opening hours: 10 AM to 5 PM. Overnight in Fortune Select Loudon Hotel, Address: 21B Dr. U.N. Brahmachari Street, Kolkata 700016, West Bengal, Telephone: 91-33-3988 4422, Email: loudon@fortunehotels.in.

Saturday, October 13, 2012, Kolkata:

After breakfast visit Jorasanko Rabindra Bari, the birthplace of Rabindranath Tagore. In the afternoon visit Indian Museum on Park Street, opening hours 10 AM to 5 PM (a short visit in Indian Museum). Arrange a visit to Nirmal Hridaya at Kalighat. Please take the clients to Emirates Airlines office at Trinity Tower, Ground Floor,83 Topsia Road (South), Kolkata, 700 046,West Benga; Telephone +91 334 009 9555; Fax +91 334 004 800 to collect vouchers for hotel and transfers to & from airport in Dubai. This is very urgent because they have a 9-hour stopover in Dubai. In the evening enjoy the sound and light show at Victoria Memorial in English language from 7.15 to 8 PM. Overnight in Fortune Select Loudon Hotel.

Sunday, October 14, 2012, Kolkata/Shantiniketan:

After breakfast drive 212 kilometers or 132 miles in about 3 hours to Shantiniketan. On arrival check-in Banshori Guest House in deluxe air-conditioned twin-bed room with attached bathroom. This is a well maintained and clean guest house which is nearest to Vishwa Bharati University campus. In the afternoon visit Tagore Ashram, Chattimala prayer place and Brahma Mandir. Overnight in Banshori Guest House, Address: Ratan Pali, Shantiniketan, District Birbhum, West Bengal 731204, Telephone: 91-34632 61565.

Monday, October 15, 2012, Shantiniketan:

After breakfast visit the Rabindra Bhaban Museum with a vast collection of original manuscripts, letters, documents, medals (including Nobel Prize medallion), plaques, certificates, paintings, photographs etc. Later visit the Uttarayan Complex with several buildings associated with Tagore's memory - Udayan, Konark, Shyamali (mud hut), Punascha and Udichi. The complex has well-laid out gardens. In the afternoon visit the Kala Bhaban, the art department of Vishwa Bharati University. There are some beautiful buildings with mural paintings and many sculptures by famous artists who studied in the university or taught there. This and other campus buildings can be visited only in afternoon from 2 to 4.30 PM. Overnight in Banshori Guest House.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012, Shantiniketan :

Day to relax. Walk in the area. There are handicraft shops that sell unique Shantiniketan artifacts like embossed and painted leather objects, white figures of Durga and Saraswati goddesses, wood carvings etc. Overnight in Banshori Guest House.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012, Shantiniketan:

Full day to relax in Shantiniketan. Overnight in Banshori Guest House.

Thursday, October 18, 2012, Shantiniketan:

Full day to relax in Shantiniketan. Overnight in Banshori Guest House

Friday, October 19, 2012, Shantiniketan / New Jalpaiguri / Darjeeling:

After breakfast transfer to Bolpur Railway Station to board the air-conditioned 2-Tier compartment of Kanchanjunga Express Train # 15657 at 9.25 AM. Please arrange lower berths for both Richard & Robert. Also please arrange window side seats for both of them because they want to view the landscape during the train journey to New Jalpaiguri. Arrive in New Jalpaiguri Railway Station at 6.30 PM. Our representative will receive you at the train station and transfer you to your hotel in Darjeeling - Dekeling Hotel on the Mall Road. The drive to hotel from airport is 69 kilometers or 43 miles and will take about 1.5 hours because of hilly landscape. Check-in to super deluxe twin bed room. Overnight in Dekeling Hotel, Address: 51 Gandhi Road, Darjeeling 734101, West Bengal, Telephone: 91-354-2254159/2253298, Cell # 91-09434462408 / 09679734048, Email: dekeling@sify.com and norbu@dekeling.com.

Saturday, October 20, 2012, Darjeeling:

Start the day at 4 AM with an early morning trip to Tiger Hill (7800 Ft) to view the awesome sunrise from behind the majestic Kunchenjunga range. On the way back visit the Ghoom Monastery & Batasia Loop. Back to the hotel for breakfast. In the afternoon proceed for a half day sightseeing of the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Zoo, Tenzing Rock, Labong Race Course, Tea Garden & Tibetan Refugees Self Help Centre. Back to the Hotel by evening. Take a walk to “Chowrasta” the centre point of the Mall area. Overnight in Dekeling Hotel.

Sunday, October 21, 2012,, Darjeeling / Mirik / Darjeeling:

After breakfast drive about 37 kilometers or 23 miles to Mirik hill station in the suburbs of Darjeeling. Mirik is located at an altitude of 6000 feet. The drive will take about 1.5 hours. The area is famous for its cultivation of squash vegetable. It is surrounded by tea plantations producing the world famous tea. The lake offers a pleasant boat ride with views of snowcapped mountain peaks. Enjoy the full day at Mirik and return to hotel by early evening. Overnight in Dekeling Hotel.

Monday, October 22, 2012, Darjeeling :

Visit your childhood school: Mount Hermon School on Chota Kag Jhora, Darjeeling, West Bengal 73410, Phone: 0354-2256965. Please try to contact the school in advance once again to make an appointment for the clients. Earlier the school was not reachable, may be because of summer vacations. Overnight in Dekeling Hotel.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012, Darjeeling / Gangtok:

After breakfast drive 98 kilometers or 61 miles to Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim state in about 2.5 hours. On arrival check-in your room. In the afternoon sightseeing trip to The Handicraft & Handloom Showroom, which promotes traditional arts & crafts, a veritable storehouse of exquisite carpets, blankets, shawls in “Lepcha “ weaves ; The Flower Show which contains over 200 species of orchids set amidst a beautiful landscape; Nam Nang VP/Ropeway ; Do-Drul Chorten (Buddhist Stupa) which is one of the most important stupas of Sikkim, built by the head of the Nyingma order - Trullshi Rimpoche in 1945. It contains rare details of Dorji Phupa, Holy Books, Mantras and is encircled by 108 prayer wheels. Overnight in Suhim Portico Hotel, Address: Helipad Road, Near District Administrative Centre, Upper Sichey, Gangtok 737101 Sikkim. Telephone : +91 03592 284095 and 284234 Mobile : + 91-8016686411, Email: suhim.sikkim@gmail.com.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012, Gangtok :

After breakfast visit the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology built in 1958 in traditional style, a renowned worldwide centre for the study of the Mahayana Buddhist philosophy & religion, a treasure house of rare “Thankas”, statues, over 200 Buddhist icons and prized objects of art & finally Rumtek Monastery, 24 kms from Gangtok was built in 1960 by His Holiness the late 16th Gyalwa Karmapa & this is a replica of the original Kagyurpa Monastery in Tibet, a must see for every visitor, the seat of the “Kagyu Order” . Behind the Monastery is the lavishly decorated Karmae Nalanda Institute of Buddhist Studies which attracts students from the world over. Here one can find the most unique religious scriptures & art objects of the world .In the afternoon relax in your hotel. Overnight in Suhim Portico Hotel.

Thursday, October 25, 2012, Gangtok:

Full day to relax and explore Gangtok. Overnight in Suhim Portico Hotel.

Friday, October 26, 2012, Gangtok / Bagdogra / Kolkata:

After breakfast around 7.40 AM transfer from Gangtok to Bagdogra Airport (distance 125 kilometers or 78 miles in about 5 hours) to board the Jet Airways 9W2481 departing at 1.40 PM and arriving in Kolkata at 2.25 PM. Transfer to Swissotel Kolkata (3 kilometers from airport) for farewell dinner/snacks, because it is too early for dinner, at Swiss Cafe (2 vegetarian or 2 non-vegetarian starters with tea or coffee available in this restaurant) and further to international terminal in Kolkata to board the Emirates Airlines flight # EK0573 departing at 8.30 PM.

Saturday, October 27, 2012, Dubai/Los Angeles:

Arrive in Terminal 3 in Dubai at 12.05 AM. 9 hours stopover in Dubai. Airport transfers and hotel to be provided by Emirates Airlines on presentation of voucher issued by Emirates Airlines, Kolkata office. Change plane and board the Emirates Flight # EK0217 at 2.30 AM and arrive in Tom Bradley International Terminal in Los Angeles at 7.45 AM. (For Richard connecting flight to Fresno is American Eagle AA3020 departing at 11.10 AM and arriving in Fresno Yosemite Airport at 12.05 PM).

Included in the price:

• • 14 Overnights in the above mentioned hotels in twin bed room with breakfast
• • Full board in Darjeeling and Gangtok.
• • Traditional Indian welcome with garland at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Airport in Kolkata
• • Airport and train transfers as per itinerary
• • Transport in Kolkata & Shantiniketan by Toyota Innova and in Darjeeling & Gangtok with Toyota Qualis. Car or similar 4-wheel drive vehicle with driver on disposal basis.
• • Assistance to go to Emirates Airlines Office in Kolkata to collect Dubai Airport transfers and Hotel vouchers.
• • Bottled water in car, daily 4 bottles
• • Entrances to monuments, museums etc.
• • Sound & Light Show in Victorica Memorial in English language.
• • English speaking guide in Kolkata, 3 days in Shantiniketan, 3 days in Darjeeling and 2 days in Gangtok.
• • 2 lower berths in air-conditioned 2-tier Kanchanjunga Express Train. Assistance with placing the baggage in the train coach near to your seats. (Please make sure that during the day both brothers have window side seats because they are taking this day time journey to see the landscape during the train ride)
• • Cost of boat ride in Mirik near Darjeeling.
• • 2 seats in Jet Airways flight from Bagdogra to Kolkata.
• • Transfer from domestic hotel for farewell dinner (choice of vegetarian / non-vegetarian snacks with tea and coffee at SwissCafe at Swissotel Kolkata Hotel) and later to international airport in Kolkata.

Not included in the price:

• • Camera fees in monuments and museums etc.
• • Tips to drivers and guides, we suggest the tip of US$ 3 per day each to driver and to guide.
• • Any personal expenses like laundry, phone call, internet fee or room service in hotels.