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Darjeeling Express: India by Rail

16 Days / 15 Nights from £3145/ $4089 per person

Experience the real India while travelling aboard the world’s largest railway network. This private tour is as much about the journey as it is about the destination and will enable you to engage with this land of great enchantment through its railways.  Pull out from the teeming platforms of New Delhi’s Nizamuddin Railway Station on the Ajmer Shatabdi Express to the fabled “Pink City” of Jaipur; roar through the Rajasthani countryside aboard the Intercity Express to Agra, alight from the eastbound North East Express at Varanasi, the spiritual heart of India; soak up the spirit of Calcutta at the bustling Howrah Junction as you board the Shatabdi Express to New Jalpaiguri  and chug along lush forests to the misty Hill Station of Darjeeling on the legendary narrow gauge Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. Mark Twain was overawed by the “perennially ravishing show of Indian Railway Stations” and Rudyard Kipling referred to his experience of travelling on the now 170 year old institution that is Indian Railways as “romance on the nine-fifteen”. Perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised that an organization that operates over 11,000 thousand trains per day, maintains more than 7,000 stations, employs a staggering 1.3 million people isn’t rather magical? Other highlights of the Darjeeling Express: India by Rail tour include a short ride on the underground metro-rail and a visit to the National Rail Museum in Delhi; visit to the impressive Amer Fort and the opulent City Palace in Jaipur; watch the sun rise over the sublime Taj Mahal at Agra; witness the atmospheric Aarti ceremony on the banks of the sacred Ganges River in Varanasi and enjoy a short ride on Calcutta’s metro rail (India’s first), before visiting the Heritage Rail Museum at Howrah. The most inspiring moment of your rail journey through India though awaits will be the two trips on board the steam operated UNESCO World Heritage listed Darjeeling Himalayan Railway – one of the great rail journeys in India. After experiencing the gracious lifestyle of a tea planter in Darjeeling return to Delhi, where your Darjeeling Express: India by Rail tour concludes.
Itinerary at a Glance
Day Location/Route Overnight Sapphire Hotels
Day 1 Arrive Delhi Airport. Private transfer to your hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure. 2 nights Delhi The Maidens
Day 2 Metro rail journey, visit Rail Museum. Old & New Delhi.
Day 3 Train to Jaipur. This afternoon enjoy a guided heritage walking tour of Jaipur. 2 nights Jaipur Shahpura House Jaipur
Day 4 Morning visit to Amer Fort. The afternoon is at leisure.
Day 5 Board train to Agra. Later this afternoon, visit Mehtab Bagh and watch the sun set over the Taj Mahal. 2 nights Agra Taj Hotel & Convention Centre
Day 6 Sunrise visit to Taj Mahal. Afternoon tour of Agra.
Day 7 A full-day train journey traversing along India's Gangetic Plains will bring you to Varanasi, the spiritual heart of India. 2 nights Varanasi Guleria Kothi
Day 8 Early morning boat ride on the Ganges. Later this morning explore Varanasi and discover Sarnath. In the evening attend the Aarti ceremony.
Day 9 Fly to Calcutta. Afternoon Hooghly River Cruise. 2 nights Calcutta The Oberoi Grand
Day 10 Metro rail journey followed by tour of Heritage Rail Museum. In the aferoon, discover North Calcutta, the bastion of Bengali culture.
Day 11 Private walking tour of 'Colonial Calcutta'. Afternoon train to New Jalpaiguri. 1 night Siliguri Courtyard by Marriott Siliguri
Day 12 Scenic ride from Kurseong to Darjeeling on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. 1 night Darjeeling Windamere Darjeeling
Day 13 Morning tour of Darjeeling. Then, take the 'Toy Train' to Ghoom monastery, before driving to Glenburn Tea Estate. 2 nights Darjeeling Glenburn Tea Estate
Day 14 Explore Tea Estate. Visit Tea Factory.
Day 15 Drive to Bagdogra and fly to Delhi. The remainder of the day will be at leisure. 1 night Delhi The Maidens
Day 16 Transfer to Delhi Airport. Farewell to India.
Tour Highlights
  • Experience Delhi as well as Calcutta's Metro Rail.
  • Watch the sun rise over the Taj Mahal in Agra.
  • Explore the 'Pink City' of Jaipur.
  • Witness the atmospheric 'Aarti' ceremony at Varanasi.
  • Visit the National Rail Museum in Delhi and the Heritage Rail Museum at Calcutta.
  • Embark on scenic rides on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway.
  • Explore Darjeeling’s picturesque tea gardens.
  • Relive the gracious lifestyle of 19th century tea planter’s.
Extend Your Stay
  • 2 nights: Relax and unwind at Glenburn Tea Estate
  • 2 nights: Experience the sophisticated lifstyle of the Nabobs at the charming Rajbari Bawali near Calcutta.
  • 4 nights: Embark on a private Brahmaputra River Cruise and discover Assam
Route Map - Darjeeling Express: India by Rail
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