When to Go
Duration
Theme
Oct to Nov
March to April
16 Nights
Slow Journeys
From Kolkata
to Kathmandu
KOLKATA — DARJEELING — eastern NEPAL — CHITWAN — KATHMANDU
ABOUT
Travel overland from Kolkata to Kathmandu, beginning among Bengali neighbourhoods before taking the overnight train into the Himalayan foothills. Tea country, a remote farm stay and an eastern land-border crossing lead into Chitwan’s jungle landscapes, followed by two final nights exploring the temples, courtyards and streets of Kathmandu.
Why we love this trip
This journey has a genuine sense of movement. It begins in the layered neighbourhoods of Kolkata, then leaves the city by overnight train as the plains give way to the Himalayan foothills.
Darjeeling brings tea estates, mountain views and the distinctive rhythm of its narrow-gauge railway. From there, Karmi Farm takes the journey somewhere more personal: a remote hilltop stay shaped by walking, home cooking and the surrounding communities. The crossing into Nepal changes the landscape again, creating a rare opportunity to experience the region as one connected journey rather than two separate holidays.
After a practical night in eastern Nepal, the route continues across the country to Chitwan for river, forest and wildlife experiences. Kathmandu provides the final contrast, with carved courtyards, neighbourhood shrines and the daily life of the old city.
We love the variety, but also the way each chapter leads naturally into the next. This will suit travellers who enjoy trains, road journeys and smaller places to stay, and who see getting there as an essential part of understanding a destination.
DAYS 1–3 — KOLKATA
CITY IN DETAIL
Begin in North Kolkata, exploring neighbourhoods shaped by traders, craftspeople, writers and generations of family life. Walk through markets and narrow lanes with a specialist guide, sample Bengali food and visit the flower market beside the Hooghly. Leave time for contemporary culture, independent shops and the city’s enduring tradition of conversation over tea.
Highlight: Walking through North Kolkata as workshops, markets and old family houses open onto the street.
WHERE TO STAY
This is simply our starting idea; every journey can be adjusted around you. Calcutta Bungalow is a restored North Kolkata townhouse created by the team behind Calcutta Walks, placing guests inside the Bengali city rather than its colonial hotel district.
DAY 4 — OVERNIGHT TRAIN
NORTH BY RAIL
Board the overnight train from Kolkata towards New Jalpaiguri, travelling in the best available air-conditioned accommodation. Assistance with luggage and boarding keeps the experience straightforward, while the journey itself marks the transition from the heat and energy of Bengal’s capital towards the tea hills and cooler air of Darjeeling.
Highlight: Waking as the train crosses the plains below the eastern Himalaya.
WHERE TO STAY
The night is spent aboard the train in the best available first-class air-conditioned accommodation. Exclusive use of a two-person compartment cannot always be guaranteed and will depend on the final railway allocation
DAYS 5–7 — DARJEELING
TEA AND MOUNTAINS
Climb into Darjeeling for tea estates, hillside neighbourhoods and views towards Kanchenjunga when the skies are clear. Walk through town with a local guide, visit a working tea garden and take a carefully selected journey on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. Three nights allow time to enjoy the hills beyond the headline viewpoints.
Highlight: Riding the narrow-gauge railway as it threads between hillside homes, roads and mountain stations.
WHERE TO STAY
Windamere Hotel sits on Observatory Hill and retains the atmosphere of Darjeeling’s early hill-station years. Fires, gardens and individually styled rooms give it genuine character, while its central position makes the town easy to explore on foot.
DAYS 8–10 — RURAL FARM
HILLTOP LIFE
Leave Darjeeling for Karmi Farm, travelling deeper into the hills for three quiet nights surrounded by forest, villages and cultivated slopes. Walk with local guides, share home-cooked meals and learn about life in this remote border region. The focus is on landscape, conversation and the pleasure of staying somewhere genuinely removed from the usual route.
Highlight: Walking along the ridge as layers of forested hills unfold towards Nepal.
WHERE TO STAY
Karmi Farm is a simple, long-established family homestay in a wonderfully remote hilltop position. The appeal lies in its hosts, food, walking and sense of place rather than polished hotel facilities. Current standards and access will be checked before booking.
DAY 11 — EASTERN NEPAL
ACROSS THE BORDER
Descend from the hills to Panitanki, cross into Nepal at Kakarbhitta and meet the new vehicle and local team. The border crossing is part of the journey, but today is primarily about travelling well. Break the route with a comfortable night in eastern Nepal before continuing west towards Chitwan the following morning.
Highlight: Crossing the land border as India’s tea hills give way to the plains of eastern Nepal.
WHERE TO STAY
A practical hotel near Kakarbhitta or Birtamod provides a comfortable pause after the border crossing.
DAYS 12–14 — CHITWAN NP
RIVER AND JUNGLE
Continue across Nepal to Chitwan, where riverine forest and grassland support rhino, crocodiles, deer, birdlife and, more elusively, tiger. Explore with expert naturalists by jeep, canoe and on foot where conditions permit. Three nights provide a full wildlife experience without reducing Chitwan to a single hurried safari.
Highlight: Drifting quietly along the river as gharial rest on the banks and birds move through the reeds.
WHERE TO STAY
Sanctuary Chitwan is planned as the preferred base, combining comfortable accommodation with a naturalist-led wildlife programme. Its three-night stay should include meals, park activities and time to enjoy the wider river and forest landscape.
DAYS 15–16 — KATHMANDU
VALLEY STORIES
Finish in Kathmandu, exploring the old city through courtyards, shrines, markets and neighbourhood streets rather than attempting every major monument. Visit one or two defining heritage sites with a specialist guide, meet local makers and leave time to wander independently. After the long overland journey, Kathmandu feels like an arrival rather than an add-on.
Highlight: Stepping into a hidden courtyard where carved windows, shrines and everyday life share the same space.
WHERE TO STAY
Hotel Ganesh Himal offers a friendly base close to the old city, with comfortable boutique rooms. Its garden and informal atmosphere make a relaxed ending after the journey across India and Nepal.
Experiences
Ready to Start Planning
Your journey starts with a conversation.
Tell us what draws you to India, how you like to travel and what would make the experience feel truly special. We’ll listen, share our ideas and create a journey shaped around you.
There is no planning fee and no pressure — just thoughtful, honest advice from a small team who genuinely care about getting it right.
Send us an email and we’ll arrange a time to chat.
