Darjeeling and the eastern horizons

Meet aboriginal Bonga mountain tribesmen in the remote hills of Orissa, stay in Puri - West Bengal’s relaxed coastal town, overland across the Gangetic plains in to the cool hills of tea-growing Darjeeling, then enter the tranquil Buddhist foothills of the Himalayas at Sikkim before crossing the border into Nepal during Dragoman’s 28-night overland aboard a trusty customised Mercedes Benz truck, from Chennai (Madras) to Kathmandu.

From Chennai, journey overland through agricultural Andhra Pradesh. Here, visit the Temple of the Lord Venkateshwara at Tirupati, where travellers are often asked to renounce whatever faith they may have, swear allegiance to Vekatshwara and enter the temple's inner sanctum... It is said that this God has the power to grant the wish of any of his followers who come to his temple.

In Orissa, meet aboriginal Bonga mountain tribesmen before relaxing in the town of Puri, one of the four holiest cities in India. Visit the coastal town of Konark and the magnificent Temple of the Sun God - built in the shape of a chariot it took 1,200 sculptors 16 years to complete. Next, Usthi Foundation Children’s Project in Calcutta, directly supported by Dragoman, the Swiss charity benefits children and employs local people.

Explore India’s largest and most enigmatic city, Calcutta, which beyond the poverty, remains a great trading centre with much evidence of its colonial past. On to West Bengal via the crowded Gangetic plains for life beyond the tourist trail. Take a two-foot gauge ‘toy train’ rising switchback-style from the crowded plains of Siliguri to the cool heights and tea plantations of Darjeeling at an altitude of 2,134m.

Situated on a high ridge surrounded by terraces of rice, tea, quinine and fruit trees, Darjeeling is a collection of villages linked by steep steps and lanes offering spectacular views across to Mount Kanchenjunga - and even Mount Everest on a clear day. Travel north into the Himalayas and beautiful Sikkim. Here, discover another India, one that borrows tranquillity from the Buddhist influences of Tibet, Bhutan and Nepal. Cross in to the ‘terai’ and lowland foothills of Nepal before the tour concludes in medieval Kathmandu.

The tour costs £730 plus kitty of US$340 (~£248) including transport aboard Dragoman’s customised Mercedes-Benz truck and toy train, hotel and camping accommodation (65%/35%), all camp food and the expertise of Dragoman’s two person crew plus local guides. Flights are not included but are available through Dragoman. Departs Chennai 12th April 2009.

For more information and bookings, log on to Dragoman.com.