The Hill Stations of India
Thursday 14th February to Saturday 1st March 2008
India is a mystical place with many contrasts and cultural differences. We will travel around India using trains and internal flights, staying in the best hotels, and seeing some of its major attractions. It is also home to some fascinating narrow gauge railways including the famous Darjeeling Himalayan Railway and the Kalka to Shimla Railway. We will use steam locomotives on these, and on both the metre and broad gauges.
Thursday 14th February
Fly to Calcutta
We board our British Airways flight at 09:55 direct from Heathrow to Calcutta (Kolkata) taking just over nine hours.
Friday 15th February
City Tour and Private Tram Ride
Our flight arrives at 01:00 into Calcutta where we transfer to the four star Oberoi Grand Hotel.
We have the morning to rest. After lunch at the hotel, we enjoy a tour of Calcutta including a ride through the interesting parts of the city in our own chartered tram.
We return to our hotel for dinner and overnight accommodation. (L D)
Saturday 16th February
Metre Gauge Steam Charter
We transfer to Calcutta Airport and board the 12.10 flight to Bagdogra, arriving 13:10.
After arrival we transfer to Bagdogra station where we board our special metre gauge steam hauled train to Siliguri. The locomotive should be MAWD 1798, a Baldwin 2-8-2 built in 1948.
On arrival at Siliguri we transfer to our hotel, the Cindrella, where we have dinner. (B L D)
Sunday 17th February
Broad Gauge Steam Charter
We transfer to Siliguri station to the broad gauge platform. Today we have a special steam charter with an impressive WP Pacific to Chalsa and back. After arrival at Chalsa we enjoy lunch at the Hotel Sinclairs in Dooars before returning on our special steam hauled train to Siliguri. (B L D)
Monday 18th February
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
To many this will be the start of the highlight of the tour. We board our special steam charter on the Darjeeling Himalayan railway at Siliguri to travel to Tindharia climbing through forests with spectacular scenery. On arrival we visit the Tindharia railway workshops.
We continue on our special steam hauled train to Kurseong where we stay overnight. (B L D)
Tuesday 19th February
To Darjeeling
At Kurseong we rejoin our charter train for the remainder of the journey to Darjeeling. On route we should get our first glimpse of some of the highest mountains in the world. If our locomotive has performed well, we should have time for pre-dinner aperitifs at our hotel, the famous Windamere, where we stay for two nights. (B L D)
Wednesday 20th February
Tiger Hill and the Batasia Loop
Calling all early risers! At 04:30 there’s an opportunity to visit Tiger Hill where we can watch the sun rise (subject to weather conditions) over Mount Kanchenjunga, the third highest mountain in the world, and only a thousand feet lower than Everest. On good days there is a view of Everest as well. After returning to the hotel we can relax before lunch. In the afternoon we travel by steam hauled train to the local town of Ghum where the DHR museum is located. On the way, the train will stop on the Batasia Loop next to the Ghurka monument. We have the opportunity to photograph our steam train with Kanchenjunga as the backdrop. We return to Darjeeling for dinner in our hotel.
(B L D)
Thursday 21st February
Visit a Buddhist Monastery
After breakfast we join our coach and drive to Kalimpong. On the way we enjoy fabulous views, visit a Buddhist Monastery and a flower nursery. We stay in the Himalayan Hotel, Kalimpong, a hotel with wonderful views of mountains and its surrounding gardens. (B L D)
Friday 22nd February
To Delhi
After a leisurely breakfast we transfer to Bagdogra Airport for our flight to Delhi.
Dinner and overnight accommodation is at the luxurious Oberoi Maidens Hotel in Delhi. (B L D)
Saturday 23rd February
By Train to Shimla
We transfer to New Delhi Railway Station to board the 07:40 Shatabdi Express to Kalka.
On arrival at 12:00 we transfer to our privately chartered vintage narrow gauge railcars for the journey to Shimla. We call at Barog for lunch in the traditional refreshment rooms. On arrival at Shimla we transfer to the Oberoi Clarke’s Hotel for two nights accommodation and dinners. (B L D)
Sunday 24th February
Steam from Shimla
Enjoy a free morning and perhaps stroll along the mall where the British traditionally met. Shimla is one of the prettiest towns in India where the British spent the summers. Later, we board our chartered steam train hauled by a KC Class tank locomotive for our return trip to Kathleeghat.
(B L D)
Monday 25th February
By Train to Tundla
We have another free morning in Shimla to explore as there is lots to do, or just relax. Perhaps hire a taxi and visit one of the surrounding view spots over the town and the mountains. After a late lunch we transfer to the Shimla station to board the luxury Himalayan Queen train to Kalka. Here we join the Kalka Mail for the overnight train to Tundla. We have reserved an air conditioned sleeping car for our exclusive use on this service. (B L D)
Tuesday 26th February
Agra and the Taj Mahal
We arrive Tundla mid morning and take a short road transfer for the twenty miles to our hotel in Agra, the J P Palace, another luxury hotel.
After lunch we visit the world famous Taj Mahal, the Red Fort of Agra and other city attractions. We return to our hotel for dinner and overnight accommodation. (B L D)
Wednesday 27th February
Agra to Delhi
There is the option to leave the hotel early to see the sun rise over the Taj Mahal, a beautiful sight. We return to the hotel for breakfast, followed by a visit to Fatehpur Sikri.
We return to Delhi by train in reserved first class seats. Our accommodation is again at Oberoi Maidens Hotel, Delhi, for two nights. (B L D)
Thursday 28th February
The Fairy Queen
After breakfast we transfer to Delhi Cantt Railway Station to board our luxury train hauled by 2-2-2 tank locomotive Fairy Queen. It is the oldest main line running steam locomotive in the world, built in Britain in 1855. During the run to Rewari there is time to enjoy a leisurely lunch on board the train. On arrival at Rewari we visit the railway museum with its many preserved steam locomotives. We return from Rewari to Delhi on board another special train, this time hauled by a giant Class WP steam locomotive. (B L D)
Friday 29th February
Delhi and National Railway Museum
Today we have a guided city tour visiting Qutub Minar, the Red Fort and Gandhi’s tomb, a moving experience. We visit the National Railway Museum for lunch and to see its extensive collection including the unique Patiala State Monorail that will be in steam for us. We return to the Oberoi Maidens Hotel for our farewell dinner.
After dinner, we transfer to Delhi airport for our overnight British Airways flight back to London Heathrow. (B L D)
Saturday 1st March
Arrival UK
Our flight arrives London Heathrow at 07:25.
Fly to Calcutta
We board our British Airways flight at 09:55 direct from Heathrow to Calcutta (Kolkata) taking just over nine hours.
Friday 15th February
City Tour and Private Tram Ride
Our flight arrives at 01:00 into Calcutta where we transfer to the four star Oberoi Grand Hotel.
We have the morning to rest. After lunch at the hotel, we enjoy a tour of Calcutta including a ride through the interesting parts of the city in our own chartered tram.
We return to our hotel for dinner and overnight accommodation. (L D)
Saturday 16th February
Metre Gauge Steam Charter
We transfer to Calcutta Airport and board the 12.10 flight to Bagdogra, arriving 13:10.
After arrival we transfer to Bagdogra station where we board our special metre gauge steam hauled train to Siliguri. The locomotive should be MAWD 1798, a Baldwin 2-8-2 built in 1948.
On arrival at Siliguri we transfer to our hotel, the Cindrella, where we have dinner. (B L D)
Sunday 17th February
Broad Gauge Steam Charter
We transfer to Siliguri station to the broad gauge platform. Today we have a special steam charter with an impressive WP Pacific to Chalsa and back. After arrival at Chalsa we enjoy lunch at the Hotel Sinclairs in Dooars before returning on our special steam hauled train to Siliguri. (B L D)
Monday 18th February
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
To many this will be the start of the highlight of the tour. We board our special steam charter on the Darjeeling Himalayan railway at Siliguri to travel to Tindharia climbing through forests with spectacular scenery. On arrival we visit the Tindharia railway workshops.
We continue on our special steam hauled train to Kurseong where we stay overnight. (B L D)
Tuesday 19th February
To Darjeeling
At Kurseong we rejoin our charter train for the remainder of the journey to Darjeeling. On route we should get our first glimpse of some of the highest mountains in the world. If our locomotive has performed well, we should have time for pre-dinner aperitifs at our hotel, the famous Windamere, where we stay for two nights. (B L D)
Wednesday 20th February
Tiger Hill and the Batasia Loop
Calling all early risers! At 04:30 there’s an opportunity to visit Tiger Hill where we can watch the sun rise (subject to weather conditions) over Mount Kanchenjunga, the third highest mountain in the world, and only a thousand feet lower than Everest. On good days there is a view of Everest as well. After returning to the hotel we can relax before lunch. In the afternoon we travel by steam hauled train to the local town of Ghum where the DHR museum is located. On the way, the train will stop on the Batasia Loop next to the Ghurka monument. We have the opportunity to photograph our steam train with Kanchenjunga as the backdrop. We return to Darjeeling for dinner in our hotel.
(B L D)
Thursday 21st February
Visit a Buddhist Monastery
After breakfast we join our coach and drive to Kalimpong. On the way we enjoy fabulous views, visit a Buddhist Monastery and a flower nursery. We stay in the Himalayan Hotel, Kalimpong, a hotel with wonderful views of mountains and its surrounding gardens. (B L D)
Friday 22nd February
To Delhi
After a leisurely breakfast we transfer to Bagdogra Airport for our flight to Delhi.
Dinner and overnight accommodation is at the luxurious Oberoi Maidens Hotel in Delhi. (B L D)
Saturday 23rd February
By Train to Shimla
We transfer to New Delhi Railway Station to board the 07:40 Shatabdi Express to Kalka.
On arrival at 12:00 we transfer to our privately chartered vintage narrow gauge railcars for the journey to Shimla. We call at Barog for lunch in the traditional refreshment rooms. On arrival at Shimla we transfer to the Oberoi Clarke’s Hotel for two nights accommodation and dinners. (B L D)
Sunday 24th February
Steam from Shimla
Enjoy a free morning and perhaps stroll along the mall where the British traditionally met. Shimla is one of the prettiest towns in India where the British spent the summers. Later, we board our chartered steam train hauled by a KC Class tank locomotive for our return trip to Kathleeghat.
(B L D)
Monday 25th February
By Train to Tundla
We have another free morning in Shimla to explore as there is lots to do, or just relax. Perhaps hire a taxi and visit one of the surrounding view spots over the town and the mountains. After a late lunch we transfer to the Shimla station to board the luxury Himalayan Queen train to Kalka. Here we join the Kalka Mail for the overnight train to Tundla. We have reserved an air conditioned sleeping car for our exclusive use on this service. (B L D)
Tuesday 26th February
Agra and the Taj Mahal
We arrive Tundla mid morning and take a short road transfer for the twenty miles to our hotel in Agra, the J P Palace, another luxury hotel.
After lunch we visit the world famous Taj Mahal, the Red Fort of Agra and other city attractions. We return to our hotel for dinner and overnight accommodation. (B L D)
Wednesday 27th February
Agra to Delhi
There is the option to leave the hotel early to see the sun rise over the Taj Mahal, a beautiful sight. We return to the hotel for breakfast, followed by a visit to Fatehpur Sikri.
We return to Delhi by train in reserved first class seats. Our accommodation is again at Oberoi Maidens Hotel, Delhi, for two nights. (B L D)
Thursday 28th February
The Fairy Queen
After breakfast we transfer to Delhi Cantt Railway Station to board our luxury train hauled by 2-2-2 tank locomotive Fairy Queen. It is the oldest main line running steam locomotive in the world, built in Britain in 1855. During the run to Rewari there is time to enjoy a leisurely lunch on board the train. On arrival at Rewari we visit the railway museum with its many preserved steam locomotives. We return from Rewari to Delhi on board another special train, this time hauled by a giant Class WP steam locomotive. (B L D)
Friday 29th February
Delhi and National Railway Museum
Today we have a guided city tour visiting Qutub Minar, the Red Fort and Gandhi’s tomb, a moving experience. We visit the National Railway Museum for lunch and to see its extensive collection including the unique Patiala State Monorail that will be in steam for us. We return to the Oberoi Maidens Hotel for our farewell dinner.
After dinner, we transfer to Delhi airport for our overnight British Airways flight back to London Heathrow. (B L D)
Saturday 1st March
Arrival UK
Our flight arrives London Heathrow at 07:25.
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Price
| Price per person | £2995 |
| Single supplement | £595 |
Price includes:
- British Airways flights from London to Calcutta and Delhi to London
- Internal flights
- Fourteen nights hotel accommodation and one night on the sleeper train
- All meals
- All train travel, transfers, visits and tours as described in the itinerary
- The services of a tour manager
Meals included each day are shown as:
B = Breakfast - L = Lunch - D= Dinner
B = Breakfast - L = Lunch - D= Dinner