Consider picking a Dooars tour package when planning a holiday in the eastern part of India. Such an itinerary allows you to cross the international border, into Bhutan, for five days of memorable sightseeing. Reach either by train to New Jalpaiguri or by flight to Bagdogra Airport, and transfer to Phuentsholing. Drive to Thimphu the following morning and after spending a night here, go on a city tour. Visit famous points of interest like BBS Tower, Motithang Takin Preserve, Tashichho Dzong, Changangkha Lhakhang, Changlimithang Stadium, Handicrafts Emporium, National Memorial Chorten and Buddha Dordenma. Marvel at the towering, snow-clad mountains from the Dochula pass on the way to Punakha/Wangdue. Explore certain religious and historical places, and then undertake a road journey to Phobjikha Valley.

Take a walk through the heavily cultivated fields of Phobjikha, and then return to Punakha/Wangdue. Drive with this Dooars travel package to the significant town of Paro the following morning. Drive through the winding roads of the Eastern Himalayas towards the bewitching Haa Valley at dawn. Stop at the summit of Chelela pass to look at two of the most prominent mountain peaks of the country. Reach the valley after descending a considerable distance and post strolling through the landform, return to Paro. Cross the international border back into India the next morning, and arrive in the town of Lataguri. Avail an optional wildlife safari through the lush grasslands of the area, and witness rhinos and elephants here. Transfer to Bagdogra Airport or New Jalpaiguri Railway Station for your return journey.

ITINERARY:

DAY 01: ARRIVAL AT NJP/IXB | NJP/IXB TO PHUENTSHOLING
On arrival in New Jalpaiguri by train or at Bagdogra Airport by flight, meet our representative, and then transfer to Phuentsholing for an overnight stay.

DAY 02: PHUENTSHOLING TO THIMPHU (164 KM/4.5 HOURS APPROX.)
Receive the permit to go deeper into the Kingdom of Bhutan, and thereafter travel to Thimphu. On reaching the city, transfer to the hotel and rest for a while.

DAY 03: SIGHTSEEING IN THIMPHU
After breakfast, begin the sightseeing venture that this Dooars tour package is inclusive of. Thimphu is a picturesque city, located at an approximate elevation of 7500 feet above sea level. The region around the city experiences a subtropical highland climate, characterised by pleasant summers and cold winters. Mountains, laden with pine trees, surround Thimphu, and a river flows through its eastern edge.

See takins and other protected animals that thrive in the dense pine jungles of Motithang Takin Preserve. Marvel and click photos of the serene Thimphu Valley from the observation deck of the BBS Tower. Explore Changangkha Lhakhang, which houses an enormous statue of Avalokitesvara and some large Buddhist religious textbooks. Meditate in the airy hall, serving as the pedestal of the approximately 169-feet high Buddha Dordenma statue. End the first round of the sightseeing tour with a visit to Changlimithang Stadium, the most significant and popular sporting arena in the country.

In the afternoon, visit the building that houses the royal and government offices – Tashichho Dzong – from outside. See the photos of King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, and decorative paintings of numerous Buddhist deities at National Memorial Chorten. Shop for traditional items at local shops and the old Handicrafts Emporium. Later in the day, come back to the hotel for an overnight stay.

DAY 04: DRIVE FROM THIMPHU TO PUNAKHA/WANGDUE VIA DOCHULA PASS
Embark on a journey with this Dooars travel package to Punakha/Wangdue after obtaining the necessary permit (not issued on Saturdays, Sundays and government holidays). Make a short halt at Dochula pass for tea and later, recommence the drive to Punakha/Wangdue. En route, visit the beautiful Chimi Lhakhang and the Mehsina village.

See numerous ritual objects at Chimi Lhakhang, a temple believed to be built atop a hill where a demoness lies caged. On reaching Punakha, see sculptures of Lord Buddha, Padmasambhava, Avalokitesvara, Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal and several manifestations of Goddess Tara at Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Lhakhang Nunnery. Also walk through the stone courtyards and the numerous buildings inside the premises of Punakha Dzong. Following this insightful day, transfer to the hotel in the evening and stay overnight.

DAY 05: PUNAKHA/WANGDUE TO PHOBJIKHA VALLEY | BACK TO PUNAKHA/WANGDUE
Have a delicious breakfast at the hotel, and later embark on a trip to Phobjikha Valley, also known as Gangtey. See the large flat area, which is surrounded by densely-forested mountains. Also explore some villages that are located in the vicinity. Travel back to Punakha/Wangdue in the evening for an overnight stay at the hotel.

DAY 06: TRANSFER FROM PUNAKHA/WANGDUE TO PARO
Check-out from the hotel in the morning, and drive to the town of Paro. On arrival here, transfer to the hotel to rest at night.

DAY 07: PARO TO HAA VALLEY VIA CHELELA PASS | RETURN TO PARO
Go on an exciting road journey with this Dooars tour package to the spellbinding Haa Valley. Stop at Chelela pass, situated at an altitude of around 13000 feet. Observe Mounts Drake and Chomolhari in all their magnificence and later travel further towards Haa. Walk through the beautiful landform and see its lush greenery before travelling back to Paro for another overnight stay.

DAY 08: PARO TO PHUENTSHOLING | PHUENTSHOLING TO DOOARS (LATAGURI)
Check-out from the hotel, and drive to the town of Phuentsholing. Once here, enter India, and transfer to a hotel/resort in the Lataguri town of West Bengal. The town is surrounded by dense grasslands below the Eastern Himalayas that are known as Dooars. These are home to a large number of elephants and rhinos.

DAY 09: OPTIONAL JEEP SAFARI | LATAGURI TO IXB/NJP
You may add a Jeep safari (extra charge) to this Dooars travel package for an adventurous wildlife tour. Transfer to either Bagdogra Airport or New Jalpaiguri Railway Station post the safari and begin your return journey.