Day 1: Kolkata - Take the night train.
Kolkata's a teeming city and the start of a journey that takes you to a different and much more laid-back world. You'll take the night train to New Jalpaiguri.
Day 2: Jalpaiguri/Darjeeling - Life slows down on the toy train.
From New Jalpaiguri you'll transfer to Siliguri. Now you're really in the foothills of the Himalayas as you board the tiny world-heritage toy train that climbs slowly - at 30 mph - up through beautiful forests almost to the former British hill station of Darjeeling. You have to travel the last 30km or so from the terminus at Kurseong by car into Darjeeling.
Day 3: Darjeeling - Home of the "champagne of teas".
It's on the crescent of a sharp Himalayan ridge, surrounded by thick forest and tea gardens. No wonder the British liked it there! Your day starts with an early morning visit to the Tiger Hill to see the sun rise then you'll take in the Ghoom monastery and the area's most famous Buddhist gompa, Yiga - Chalking. Take in the Tibetan refugee camp and market, and maybe stock up on colorful Tibetan wool, then the Himalayan Mountaineering institute, zoo and Happy Valley tea estate.
Day 4: Gangtok - Off to the capital.
After breakfast you'll be on the road to Gangtok, capital of Sikkim. Gangtok literally means "hilltop"- no great surprise in the Himalayan foothills! It's the place for spectacular views of the whole Kanchenjunga mountain range.
Day 5: Gangtok - A day packed with variety.
Yiga - Chalking in Darjeeling was a yellow-hat sect gompa. Rumtek monastery is HQ of the red hat sect. It was rebuilt in the 1960s after an earthquake destroyed the original though as a faithful copy of the Kagyu HQ in Chhofk. It houses a dharma chakra centre and a gold reliquary in there. Also visit the unique hilltop research institute of Tibetology which has a stunning collection of thangkas, icons and art on display. Finally, there's the Enchey monastery and a visit to the Government institute of cottage industries to complete your day.
Day 6: New Jalpaiguri - Back the way you came.
Drive down to New Jalpaiguri to catch the Darjeeling Mail for an overnight train ride back to
Kolkata.
Day 7: Kolkata - From one world to another and back.
The peace and beauty of the mountains will still be with you as you hit the streets of
Kolkata and the end of your journey.