Darjeeling and the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan

Meeting our Tour Manager and fellow travellers at London Heathrow, we board an overnight flight to the enchanting West Bengal province of India, via Dubai.

Bordering Bangladesh to the east, this historic region stretches from the Bay of Bengal, past cultural Kolkata, across the mighty Ganges and into the foothills of the incredible Himalayas. As we begin to look ahead to the adventures that await us, we can imagine aromatic tea plantations backdropped by incredible mountains and the many wonders of Bhutan - a small Himalayan kingdom shrouded in mystery and history.

Landing in Kolkata this morning, we are transferred by coach to our wonderful 5-Star hotel in the heart of this fascinating city. A landmark dating back to the British Raj, the 'Grand Dame of Chowringhee' has had a storied existence. Behind the colonnaded verandas and long, stucco portico, the oasis-like courtyard and grand ballroom have welcomed many elegant guests over the years.

There is breakfast on arrival, before a free afternoon to acclimatise or explore at leisure. From an important city of British India, Kolkata stagnated during the middle of the 20th century but is once again on the rise, nowadays regarded as the cultural and intellectual capital of India.

Our central hotel is well placed for exploration, with the numerous green domes of the 1830s Tipu Sultan Mosque and many bustling markets nearby. The central parklands reflect the colonial era and contain India's oldest cricket ground, Eden Gardens, where Sachin Tendulkar scored his 10,000th run in Test cricket.

Back at our wonderful hotel this evening, we have dinner together as we get to know our fellow travellers better.

We set out on a guided city tour of this historic city after breakfast at our hotel. Our first destination is the Mullick Ghat flower market, the largest of its type in India. Every morning, hundreds of vendors gather beside the banks of the Hooghly River to sell aromatic wreaths and colourful bouquets of seasonal flowers.

We continue to see Mother House, a convent and the final resting place of Mother Teresa. Born in modern-day North Macedonia, she dedicated most of her life to helping the poor and sick of Kolkata and was canonised as a saint after her death.

Our tour also takes in the beautiful white marble Victoria Memorial, the railway museum, the historic centre of colonial Kolkata, and the fascinating potter's colony, where artists sculpt colourful idols of Hindu deities.

Later, we board the circular railway to the memorial of James Prinsep, an English scholar who specialised in ancient Indian scripts and coins, before returning to our hotel for dinner.

There is a leisurely morning after breakfast to bask in our wonderful hotel before we visit a local barbecue restaurant for lunch.

This afternoon we transfer to historic Howrah Junction railway station. The oldest surviving station in India, trains have been departing from here since 1854. A palace of rail bedecked in pink and cream, Howrah is the busiest station in India, and it is from here that we begin our journey into the Himalayas.

From our seats in our AC Chair Class carriages on the Shatabdi Express, we travel the 350 miles to New Jalpaiguri in a little more than eight hours, enjoying a picnic dinner at our seats. Shortly after leaving the station at New Farakka Junction, we cross the sacred Ganges on its 1,500-mile journey from the western Himalayas before it empties into the Bay of Bengal in Bangladesh.

On arrival in New Jalpaiguri, we transfer the short distance to our hotel in Siliguri, where we stay for two nights.

After breakfast this morning, we begin an amazing journey into the Himalayas. A visit to Salugara Monastery near out hotel reveals a Buddhist shrine built by followers of the Dalai Lama, topped with a colourful 100ft stupa. Travelling by jeep, we wind our way past lush green countryside and tree-covered valleys boasting gorgeous views. On reaching Kurseong, we enjoy lunch at the colonial-style Cochrane Place Hotel before embarking on a highlight of our holiday.

Boarding the UNESCO-listed Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, affectionately known as the 'Toy Train', we climb almost 7,000 feet into the Himalayas on an enthralling journey. This steam-hauled, narrow-gauge train runs directly through the lively centre of Kurseong before continuing into the surrounding jungle-like forests of towering sal and oak trees.

We arrive at our 5-Star heritage hotel in Darjeeling late in the afternoon for three nights. Before dinner, you can step on to the terrace to bask in the panoramic views of pastel-painted houses stacked almost on top of each other and set against a backdrop of the mighty Himalayan mountains.

A very early start this morning takes us to Tiger Hill to witness a jaw-dropping sunrise as the snow-capped jagged peaks of the Himalayas are painted pink and golden as the last vestiges of darkness disappear. Taking centre stage is Kanchenjunga. At more than 28,000-feet tall, this is the third tallest mountain in the world, and the highest in India.

Returning to our hotel for breakfast, we then board the steam-hauled 'Toy Train' to Ghoom, the highest hill station in the area. Here, we tour Ghoom Monastery, which dates from the 1850s and is the oldest Tibetan Buddhist temple in the Darjeeling area. With its Tibetan characteristics and Himalayan setting, the monastery seems a world away from the West Bengal of Kolkata and Siliguri.

Back in Darjeeling, we discover the final resting place of Tenzing Norgay at the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute. The Nepalese mountaineer and sherpa guide is famed as one of the first two people to reach the summit of Mount Everest which he achieved with Edmund Hillary in 1953.

Dinner this evening is back at our Darjeeling hotel.

We meet the son of a Gurkha veteran after breakfast to learn about his father's time in the British Army during World War Two. We discover how this respected unit built up its reputation as well as viewing the curved khukuri knife, items of uniform and medals.

Surrounded by tea plantations, Darjeeling has become synonymous with this popular drink, and we are soon immersed in this aromatic and floral world. Visiting the Golden Tips stall at the local market, we hear about how tea bushes are grown and picked before we're treated to a tasting of iconic Darjeeling, which can come in both green and black varieties and is known for its floral aroma and fruity apricot flavour.

The rest of the afternoon is free to explore independently. As well as boasting many reminders of its colonial past, such as the clock tower, post office and Turnbull High School, this atmospheric hill station also provides many wonderful views of the surrounding hills, blanketed with rich forest. Regrouping at our hotel this evening, we sit down for dinner together.

Leaving mountainous Darjeeling after breakfast this morning, we begin our coach journey to the former closed country of Bhutan.

Winding down the hills from Darjeeling, the dense vegetation arches over twisting roads lined with small temples and fruit stalls. Look out for waterfalls and confident monkeys enroute and as we cross the Coronation Bridge over the Teesta River as it flows towards the Brahmaputra. As we approach Chalsa, where we stop for lunch, the scenery is dominated by tea plantations before we enter Jaldapara National Park, home to rhinos, peacocks, elephants, leopards.

In Jaigaon, we cross into Bhutan under an ornately decorated gate of typical Bhutanese architecture. Perched high in the Himalayas between India and Tibet, the largely undiscovered kingdom of Bhutan was closed off to most visitors until 2018. Known locally as 'Druk Yul', which translates as 'Land of the Thunder Dragon', Buddhist Bhutan is renowned for its incredible scenery and diverse wildlife.

Our hotel is in the border town of Phuentsholing and, after checking in, we have dinner in the hotel's restaurant this evening.

Saying farewell to the laid-back atmosphere of Phuentsholing after breakfast, we can sit back and enjoy one of the world's most spectacular drives as we travel deep into Bhutan's Himalayas on our way to Paro.

Clinging to the mountainside, the winding road constantly reveals breathtaking vistas. Even if the clouds roll in, the otherworldly atmosphere of thick vegetation, towering mountains and rugged valleys repeatedly impresses. Exquisite beauty and rich flora abound as we climb ever higher. Enroute, we stop for lunch before continuing to Paro.

After checking into our tranquil hotel, we set out on a guided tour of historic Paro, home to many ancient sacred sites, including the oldest Buddhist temple in the country. We then visit a nearby farmhouse for a traditional Bhutanese dinner. Rice is a staple of all meals here, with other popular local ingredients such as cheese and chillies taking centre stage. Lastly, we stop at the Namgay Artisanal Brewery for a guided tour and beer-tasting session - a perfect, refreshing end to our day.

Looking like something straight out of a fantasy novel, the staggering Tiger's Nest Monastery clings to a cliff edge halfway up a mountain above the Paro Valley. Built in the 17th century, this iconic Bhutanese location is named after the second Buddha, Padmasambhava, who arrived here on the back of a flying tiger.

Leaving our hotel after breakfast, we are transferred to the start of the trail for a trek up to the Tiger's Nest viewpoint on the opposite side of the valley. From this position, we can admire this sacred and spectacular monastery and its red, gold and white pagoda in all its glory.

On the walk back down, we stop at the Taktshang Cafeteria for lunch before taking an excursion to the 7th-century Kyichu Lhakhang near Paro. According to myth, one of Bhutan's oldest and most beautiful temples was constructed on the left foot of a giant demoness who was preventing the spread of Buddhism. Dinner this evening is back at our peaceful hotel.

After breakfast in our hotel, we travel the short distance to the town of Paro, where we visit the National Museum of Bhutan to learn about the nation's culture through more than 3,000 exhibits of Bhutanese art covering more than 1,500 years of rich heritage. Set in a six-storey watchtower dating from the 17th century, this used to form part of the fortress we visit next.

The 15th-century Rinpung Dzong complex looks out over the valley and a river, over which lies a traditional covered bridge. With 14 shrines and chapels, this dzong is a shining example of Bhutanese architecture with intricately carved wooden ornamentations, majestic white buttressed walls and fantastic views across the local area.

Leaving Paro, we drive along the Dochula Pass, enjoying lunch at a restaurant on this snow-covered route through the Himalayas. Travelling along this amazing road home to 108 memorial chortens or stupas, we arrive at our 4-Star hotel in the lush Punakha Valley. There is the opportunity to create a spiritual mandala symbol from colourful rice before dinner in the hotel restaurant.

Getting to know the beautiful Punakha Valley after breakfast, our first stop is Chimi Lhakhang, a temple and monastery dedicated to tantric fertility rites. Resting atop a hill overlooking a river, this charming temple is crowned by a golden spire. Later, we continue to Punakha Dzong, or the Palace of Great Happiness. Containing saintly relics, this is Bhutan's second oldest and second largest fortified monastery.

After lunch, we arrive in the capital, Thimphu, taking an exploratory walk of the city centre before making our way to the mighty, 17th-century Tashichho Dzong - a striking fortress monastery and seat of Bhutan's government since the 1960s. We also visit a local craft bazaar set in a line of bamboo huts stretching along the main street. Here you can buy a collection of local handicrafts and souvenirs embodying traditional Bhutanese arts and crafts. We enjoy time to browse the different wares, including prayer beads, brass Buddhas, wooden bowls, and an assortment of textiles and paintings.

After checking in to our striking magenta-hued hotel in the centre of Thimphu, we settle down for dinner together.

Picturesque Thimphu takes our full attention today as we explore the many attractions of Bhutan's main city after breakfast.

From the spectacular stupa of the Memorial Chorten, we journey up to the gigantic Buddha Dordenma statue. Gilded in gold and standing to a height of nearly 180 feet, this magnificent statue looks out over Thimphu and its verdant valleys. The national animal of Bhutan is the takin, a muscular ungulate often called the 'antelope goat'. We get the chance to view these mysterious Himalayan mammals at the Royal Takin Preserve before a traditional lunch at the Simply Bhutan living heritage museum.

Afterwards, we meet local students learning different forms of traditional Bhutanese art at the National Institute for Zorig Chusum. A unique experience follows at the Zilukha Nunnery as we join the nuns for an intimate tea-offering ceremony. This evening, we attend a cultural performance at our hotel before dinner.

Bhutan has impressed with its fantastic spirituality and gorgeous Himalayan scenery. After breakfast this morning, we say a fond farewell to this charming mountain kingdom as we head to Paro airport for a flight back to Kolkata.

After checking into our hotel, we embark on an optional cruise along the Hooghly River, enroute driving past the historic Dalhousie Square, now known as BBD Bagh. A tributary of the mighty Ganges, the Hooghly is sacred in Hinduism and its importance encouraged the British to build a trading outpost on its banks in 1690. This small port transformed into modern Kolkata and its river offers views of Bengal's rich history and culture, as well as glimpses of daily life along its shoreline.

If you'd prefer, there is the opportunity to unwind at our 5-Star hotel or explore independently, before we gather for our final dinner together this evening.

A free morning and afternoon follows breakfast at our historic hotel. You could explore the historic centre of colonial Kolkata around the former Dalhousie Square.

The white-domed neoclassical General Post Office was built in the 1860s on the site of Old Fort William and is still in operation to this day. Boasting a striking red-and-cream frontage, the 18th-century Writers' Building was designed by the British East India Company and formerly housed the colonial trading company's clerks. Further south, past the 174ft tall spire of St John's Church, is Kolkata's Town Hall. With gleaming white columns, this important landmark was built in the Roman Doric style in 1813 and hosted many social gatherings during the days of the British Raj.

Leaving our hotel in the early evening, we transfer to Kolkata airport to begin our journey back to the UK, via Dubai.

Our fantastic discovery of historic Kolkata, verdant Darjeeling and the mysterious kingdom of Bhutan concludes as we land at London Heathrow this morning.

Saying farewell to our Tour Manager and fellow travellers, we can begin to look back on the unforgettable experiences we have shared together. After exploring colonial Kolkata and the impact of Mother Teresa on this vibrant Bengali city, we crossed the Ganges by modern rail on our way to the Himalayan foothill. Our journey into the mountains was completed by the charming 'Toy Train' on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway before we embraced the tea culture of Darjeeling and wondrous views of the world's third highest mountain, Kanchenjunga.

In Bhutan, we uncovered spectacular scenery and iconic Buddhist temples dappled across verdant valleys and clinging to cliffs. The capital, Thimphu, showcased the culture of this landlocked Himalayan nation through folk dances and majestic statues - and we also saw the revered and elusive national animal, the amazing takin.

This incredible journey may have come to and end, but the memories made along the way will remain for ever.