Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
India – Delhi – Dudhwa – Lucknow – Kolkata – Darjeeling
100% customisable for you
Your escape to eastern India kicks off today. Head to the airport, whizz through security and slip away to the lounge for some peace and quiet. Flights to Delhi often connect through the Middle East and take around 11 hours, so you’ll have plenty of time to sit back, throw on a film and unwind.
You’ll touch down in Delhi the following morning, where you’ll be met and whisked away to your centrally located hotel.
It would be a shame to simply breeze through India’s capital, so for the rest of the day, you’ll have a private driver at your disposal – time to discover the beating heart of this colossal country.
While it’s impossible to see everything in one day, there are a few highlights you won’t want to miss. In Old Delhi, these include the Red Fort, the Jama Masjid Mosque and the Chandi Chowk bazaar, while in New Delhi, the big hitters are the Parliament Building, the India Gate and Humayun’s Tomb (which inspired the Taj Mahal).
For dinner tonight, bypass the back-and-forth by contacting your Concierge for some stellar restaurant recommendations. Nalli nihari (slow-cooked mutton), anyone?
After a hearty breakfast this morning, you’ll be driven to the airport for the domestic flight to Lucknow, which takes just over an hour.
When you land, a private driver will be waiting to take you to Dudhwa National Park, a vast protected area in northern Uttar Pradesh. After around five hours in the car, you'll arrive at your lodge, where you can spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing and enjoying the views – the perfect setting for a sundowner, if you ask us.
Covering nearly 200 square miles of protected land, Dudhwa National Park is a lush paradise of grasslands, swamps and forests. Across its landscapes, visitors can hope to see tigers, elephants, bears and over 400 species of birds.
Don your explorers’ hats and spend the next few days delving into Dudhwa on a series of game drives through the park, keeping your eyes peeled and cameras poised as you track the park’s wonderful wildlife residents.
For a change of scene, you’ll also explore Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary. Spread across 80 square miles, Kishanpur is home to tigers, chital, hog deer, wild boars, otters and many (many) more. In the open meadows and around the streams, migratory birds such as falcons, drongos, owls, egrets and peacocks can also be spotted.
When you’re not playing I-spy with India’s incredible animals, indulge in a peaceful snooze, crack open a good book or go on a serene walk with your guide.
Make the most of your final morning in Dudwha with a stroll around the lodge and a tasty breakfast under the sun. Later, grab your bags for the five-hour private transfer back to Lucknow – throw on our destination-specific playlist to make the time fly by.
Offering a different pace of life from other well-trodden Indian cities, Lucknow is known across the country for its superb cuisine and buzzing streets. This is the sort of place where some local knowledge goes a long way, so after checking into your hotel, ask your trusty Concierge to point you in the direction of one of the best dinner spots in the city.
Spend today discovering Lucknow on a private guided tour of the city. Commonly associated with the leisurely pursuits, etiquette, architecture and food of Nawabi culture, Lucknow has perfectly preserved its age-old charm, making it a delight to discover.
Start with a visit to La Martiniere College, founded in the 19th century, then head to the Dilkusha Palace and Gardens, which originally served as a hunting lodge for the noblemen of Awadh.
Keen for more fabulous flora? Set your sights on Nawab Saadat Ali Khan’s mausoleum, where you can wander through the gorgeous grounds. If you’d prefer to delve into the city’s political prowess, visit Asafi Imambara, a state building which houses the largest vaulted room in the world – now that’s a niche claim to fame. Finally, for those seeking spirituality, a tour of the Husainabad Imambara Muslim congregation hall is a must.
We hope you’ve worked up an appetite, because this evening, you'll be introduced to the city’s culinary scene on a private tour of local Awadhi cuisine. Let the food comas commence...
The adventure continues today as you leave Lucknow behind and head towards Kolkata, just a one-hour-and-45-minute domestic flight away.
When you land, you’ll be met by a private driver and whisked away to a centrally located hotel, your base for the next three nights.
You’ll have another private driver at your disposal for the rest of your time in Kolkata, so if you’re still raring to go, delve into the city’s buzzy brilliance on an introductory outing. If you’re all tuckered out from your travels, don’t worry: there’ll be plenty of opportunities to explore tomorrow.
This morning, you’ll be picked up by your guide and taken on a private tour of Kolkata’s gardens, discovering its colonial past as you go.
Start your day at the BBD Bagh (A.K.A. Benoy-Badal-Dinesh Bagh), which went by another alias – Dalhousie Square – when it held the seat of British power in the colonial era.
Then, after 45 minutes on the road, you’ll reach the AJC Bose Indian Botanic Garden, where a 200-year-old banyan tree lives. Nearby, you’ll also be able to visit the Kalighat Kali Temple, a photogenic gem if ever there was one.
This afternoon, head to the Victoria Memorial. Built in honour of Queen Victoria, it’s now a museum dedicated to documenting the British occupation of Kolkata through paintings and photographs.
Finally, end your exploration with a visit to St Paul’s Cathedral – not to be confused with its English namesake – followed by a scenic stroll along the banks of the Hooghly River on Babu Ghat.
Fancy a fragrant foray? Having fuelled up on a hearty breakfast this morning, step out for a private tour of the Mullick Ghat flower market, located near the Howrah Bridge and the Ganges River.
One of the oldest flower markets in the city – and one of the biggest in Asia – Mullick Ghat sells flowers by the thousands, with most being destined for temples or religious ceremonies. Soak up the scents as you stroll by rows of roses, jasmine, carnations and many other fresh flowers.
Once you’ve awakened your senses, the rest of the day is yours to spend as you please. You could head out on a jaunt with your private driver, visit a local food market for another culinary adventure or simply kick back and enjoy some downtime in your hotel.
Bid Kolkata a fond farewell this morning as you prepare to hop on the hour-long domestic flight to Bagdogra. Once there, you’ll embark on a three-hour private transfer into the rolling hills of Darjeeling, breaking up the journey with some momos (steamed dumplings) and a refreshing cup of tea.
When you arrive, unpack, unwind and uncover the splendour of your surroundings. To make this easier, a private driver and private guide will be available throughout your time in Darjeeling, so there’ll be (virtually) no limits to your exploration.
Wake up in the peaceful hills of Darjeeling this morning before meeting your guide for a tour of the Tibetan Refugee Self Help Center.
Set against the snow-clad Himalayas, this site enabled many Tibetans, including the 13th Dalai Lama, to live in accordance with their cultural traditions. Today, it’s made up of a school, a hospital and a gompa (religious lodge). The site generates the majority of its income through Tibetan handicrafts, so you’ll be able to see wood carvings, thangka paintings and metal sculptures.
Having worked up an appetite strolling around the complex, delve deeper into local life with a private lunch in the home of a friendly Darjeeling resident. Here, you'll enjoy a glorious gourmet spread and – of course – a tea tasting.
This afternoon, head a little further south for a tour of the colourful Ghoom Monastery, perched 7,229ft above sea level. The first ever Tibetan Buddhist monastery to be built in Darjeeling, it houses a 13ft Buddha statue, ancient Buddhist texts and a medley of marvellous Tibetan art.
Rise bright and early this morning (4am, to be precise), because you’re heading out to Tiger Hill to watch the sunrise over Kangchenjunga Mountain, the third-highest peak in the world. Perched on your own 8,497ft-high viewpoint, you’ll be more than rewarded for your hiking efforts when the Himalayas are bathed in a golden morning glow.
After lots of ooohing and aaahing, head back to your hotel for breakfast, stopping by a Hindu temple on the way back if you’re craving even more spectacular scenery.
Once you’ve eaten, venture back out to catch the famous Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (charmingly nicknamed the Toy Train) for another awe-inspiring ascent. Keep your eyes on the windows as this UNESCO-listed steam train chugs through some of the region's most beautiful landscapes.
Stop off in Ghoom to visit a small railway museum before hopping back on board and returning to your hotel. Spend the rest of the day however you please – be it cat napping in your room or discovering more of Darjeeling with your private guide and driver.
The end of your Indian adventure is nigh, but don’t worry, you still have one night left in this captivating country. Inch towards home with a private transfer back to Bagdogra in time to catch the two-hour-and-15-minute domestic flight to Delhi.
When you touch down in the capital, another driver will be waiting to take you to your hotel, where you can drop your bags, do some post-journey stretching and head back out in search of dinner. Keen to end things on a high note? Ask your clued-up Concierge to book you a table at one of the best restaurants in the city. Time to toast to a trip well spent…
Sadly, this morning truly marks the end of your eastern Indian adventure. After tucking into some tasty treats at breakfast, meet your driver for the private transfer to the airport in time to catch your return flight to the UK.
Once again, you’ll connect through the Middle East, so the whole journey will take around 13 hours. Thanks to the time difference, this means you’ll be home by the evening – just in time to reminisce about your travels over dinner.
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
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We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from checking you in for your flights to our network of local Concierges
