India Solar Eclipse 22 July 2009 - Eclipse In Darjeeling - 8 day tour

Next Solar Eclipse in India

Tour Map | | India Solar Eclipse 22 July 2009 | India Solar Eclipse 22 July 2009

Day 1 - Kolkata

Saturday. Welcome to India and the start of your holiday! Arrive Kolkata and included transfer to our hotel. Overnight - Kolkata

Day 2: Explore Kolkata

Kolkata - breakfast. This morning we enjoy a city sightseeing tour including visits to the famous flower market, the Hooghly River crossing the Howrah Bridge, St Paul's Cathedral and the imposing Victoria Memorial opened by the Prince of Wales in 1921, this vision in marble is often called the “Taj” of the British Raj. With hotel check out at noon the remainder of the day is spent at leisure, consider visiting the New Market - a colourful bazaar on Chowringhee Road, the stately Indian Museum founded in 1814 and the oldest and largest in India and the extraordinary Marble Palace which houses paitings by Rubens, Titian and Reynolds. Later this evening (22:00) we'll board the Darjeeling Mail Express (2nd class air-conditioned sleeper) bound for New Jalpaiguri. Overnight - Darjeeling Mail sleeper train

Days 3: Darjeeling

Darjeeling - breakfast. This morning we'll take breakfast at a hotel in Siliguiri, before driving onward to Darjeeling. Sitting at a spectacular altitude of 2124m with a backdrop of mighty snow-clad Himalayan peaks and surrounded by verdant tea plantations, Darjeeling has been a popular hill station since the British established it as an R & R centre for their troops in the mid 19th century. Draw cards include a number of Buddhist monasteries, tea plantations and colourful markets. Lunch, dinner and overnight - Darjeeling

Days 4: Darjeeling

Darjeeling - Gongtok - breakfast. Today we enjoy a scenic drive to Tiger Hill to catch sunrise over the snowy peaks of Kanchenjunga - the world’s third highest mountain. Continuing, enjoy a visit to the Ghoom Gompa (monastery) followed by city sightseeing and a visit to a tea estate. If wanting to purchase Darjeeling’s most famous export, consider First Flush Super Fine Tippy Golden Flower Orange Pekoe 1. It’s Darjeeling’s best. Lunch, dinner and overnight - Darjeeling

Day 5 - ECLIPSE in Darjeeling

Darjeeling - Gangtok - breakfast. TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE 2009 - Rising early, we travel to the perimeter of a local Buddhist monastery. Here, beyond the hubbub of the town beneath well enjoy picturesque views of the Himalyan vistas and wait in awe for the display to unfold. At approximately 05:26am the 1st phase of the Total Solar Eclipse will begin, the sky will turn to a shade of deep red then dark purple, cobolt grey and eventually complete darkness will prevail.

After the event we'll travel back to town, capturing glimpses of market gardeners, shop keepers and trinket seller running errands and preparing for their day ahead. At our hotel we'll enjoy breakfast and time to freshen up before driving onward to Gangtok. Remainder of the afternoon at leisure, or take a stroll through the colourful open air market areas. Dinner and overnight - Gangtok

Day 6 - Gongtok, Buddhist Monasteries & Tibetology

Gangtok - breakfast. Capital of Sikkim, a tiny Himalayan state known for its orchids and flowers and for the heavy influence of Tibetan culture, Gangtok although rapidly developing is still full of charm, thanks to its Buddhist past. Beyond the busy market areas, lie monastic complexes and striking countryside. Today we visit beautiful Rumtek Monastery, Sikkim’s largest and most active monastery, which is located in a lower valley. We then tour Gangtok taking in the Royal Monastery – Tsuklakhang, the Institute of Tibetology and the Orchid Sanctuary. Built in 1958, the Research Institute of Tibetology is world famous for its research activities on the language and culture of Tibet; possessing a faculty of eminent scholars, a library with a large collection of documents and rare books on Buddhism and an attached museum with a rare collection of antiques, coins and Tibetan paintings. Lunch, dinner and overnight - Gangtok

Day 7 - Kalimpong

Gangtok - Kalimpong - breakfast. This morning we drive onward to Kalimpong, a remote hill station, once part of Sikkim and one-time meeting point on the trade route to Tibet, Bhutan and Nepal, sits amid beautiful mountain scenery where orchids and other flowers grow in profusion. Its attractions include a couple of monasteries, churches and flower farms. Great views can be had of Kanchenjunga and the town possesses several important monasteries, including the brightly painted Zong Dog Palri Phodrang Gompa (simply known as Durpin Monastery) and Thirpai Choling Gompa founded in 1892 and recently renovated. You’ll have the afternoon to enjoy the town your way. Lunch, dinner and overnight – Kalimpong

Day 8 - Kolkata

Saturday. Kalimpong - Kolkata - breakfast. Transferring to Bagdodra airport (approx 3 hour drive) we take a 1 hour flight to Kolkata. Our tour concludes upon arrival to Kolkata at approx 15:00pm. From here, connect with your onward international flight. Transfers from the airport to a Kolkata hotel, return transfer the following day and overnight accommodation are available should you require. Please see Kolkata hotel and transfer costing on our Tour Price & Departure page.

Nature of the Solar Eclipse

Perfect viewing conditions of the eclipse can not be guaranteed as July marks the official start of India’s wet season. Meteorologists suggest that there is a near 25% chance of cloudless, clear skies though there is a greater chance of cloud cover to some degree. On the days prior to the event all efforts will be made to give you with the most up to date meteorology information, based upon this and if possible we may slightly alter the location of our eclipse site for a more favourable viewing platform.

Tour Highlights

Kolkata - Victoria Memorial, Howrah flower market, Hooghly River, Howrah Bridge, St Paul's Cathedral
Darjeeling - scenic hill station with Himalayan backdrop and home of the top cuppa! Visits to Tiger Hill at sunrise, Ghoom Buddhist Monastery, a tea plantation and colourful markets
Gangtok - Royal Monastery - Tsukla Khang, Orchid Sanctuary, Namgyalak Institute of Tibetology
Kalimpong - hill station and monasteries

Solar Eclipse Tour includes

Breakfast daily, 4 lunches, 5 dinners
6 nights - 3 - 4 star and heritage hotels
1 overnight train - Darjeeling Mail Train, 2nd class air-conditioned sleeper. Kolkata - New Jalpaiguri
Bicycle rickshaw ride in Keoladeo Ghana National Park
Sunrise boat cruise on the Holy Ganges - Varanasi
Economy class flight - Bagdodra - Kolkata
Airport arrival and departure transfer on day 1 and day 8
Guided touring of Kolkata, Darjeeling and Gangtok
Escorted by english speaking Indian tour leader in Kolkata and whilst touring in Sikkim
Qualified specialist guides at sights
All relevant transfers and transportation in private air-conditioned vehicles

Solar Eclipse Tour does not include

International flights, visa and entrance fees - for entrance fees budget approx: USD30
Tipping kitty - this is an entirely personal gesture
Laundry, drinks, items of a personal nature

This tour is a 'Guaranteed Departure' tour.
This means that it will depart regardless of how many people are booked on to it.

Have you considered your visa requirements?

Tour Dates

Departure Dates
Year	Dates
2009	Sat 18th July

Tour Prices

Tour Prices and Single Supplements for dates starting
	From	To	Price	SS
All Travellers	All Dates		£899.00	£339.00

Make a Reservation

Please use our online booking reservation service where available - if you need any further assistance or to book please feel free to call or email us with your booking. Until you have received a receipted invoice (by post fax or email) your reservation has been recorded but not been confirmed. This is similar to an airline wait-listing. This may only affect you if we have had major changes to the tour.