Darjeeling, Sikkim & Bhutan

There is a real mix available and you won't be disappointed! The local cuisine is predominantly vegetarian, with lots of rice. You can enjoy everything from traditional spicy curries to stalls selling tasty sweets and deserts and even right the way to western style grub, if it all gets a bit too much. Vegetarians and 'non-spicy' food people are easily catered for, and the leader will make sure a wide range of dishes are ordered for each meal.

Charlotte Taylor - Customer Operations

The hotels you stay at will all be good quality, with en suite facilities. As such, towels are usually provided but it's always a good idea to pack a small emergency one in the end of your bag as well, just in case. You may have an odd night where the standard is slightly lower but this will usually be due to where you are and, as such, limited by what is available.

Charlotte Taylor - Customer Operations

Where do you start?! Half the joy of shopping in India is the sheer scale of what's on offer, from upscale boutiques in New Delhi, Mumbai and Calcutta to the crowded and sweaty markets of pretty much any town or village you come to. Handicrafts, art, leather goods, spices, hand carved statues, silk, the list goes on - all the way to cheap knock offs of western brands!

Remember, outside of the proper shops, haggling is the key but don't waste your time trying to split the difference over a few pence - the best result is when everyone comes away happy!

Charlotte Taylor - India Operations

Any time I go out, I normally just take sterling cash which, as long as you excercise the normal degree of common sense you would at home, is safe and easy. The India rupee is a closed currency, meaning you can only get it upon arrival in the country. There are exchange facilities at all arrival airports, and ATMs are available pretty much everywhere as well in case you need to top up along the way.

Brendan Phelan - Customer Operations

Unfortunately we are not qualified to answer all your questions in regards to travel health, so we strongly recommend you contact your GP or a Travel Health Clinic at least 8 weeks prior to departure for up-to-date information.

Nomad Travel Clinics are experts in preparing people for travel, providing advice on vaccinations, anti-malarial and staying healthy whilst overseas. We have arranged a special 10% discount for Exodus passengers on any vaccinations that you may require! Take along your Nomad discount card, sent with your confirmation pack, or call Exodus for your special discount code.
Visit www.nomadtravel.co.uk/exodus for further information.

For additional information please visit: www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk

Charlotte Taylor - India Operations

A definite place to visit when you have an extra day in Delhi is a trip to the new Akshardham Temple. Situated on the outskirts of New Delhi in the embankment of River Yamuna, this sprawling Swaminarayan Akshardham spreads over 100 acres of land and is renowned for its carved pillars, water fountains and 20,000 statues. Made from white marble and pink stone this new temple was only completed in 2005 which makes it less well known by Western tourists or the guide books. A visit to the temple is the perfect way to explore the amazing world of Indian culture and get a unique view of the Hindu religion.
Other ‘must see’ places are the Red Fort, Humayum’s Tomb (a forerunner to the Taj Mahal), Qutab Minar, Tuqulaquabad, Purana Quila.
The National Museum is very interesting as is the Gandhi Smriti, a museum dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi.

- Customer Operations

Fancy a night out in India just like the locals? Head to a Bollywood movie and join the local in an evening packed with entertainment. The Bollywood masala movies are a mixture of dance, drama and musical with a break in between as most of these are lengthy 3 hours movies. This gives you the option to leave the theatre should you want to do that! The songs and dances make it like a 60’s musical where you could have the whole locals singing and dancing to the tune. Some movies become hits only because of these. Movie theatres that you may want to visit are; Raj Mandir in Jaipur, Odeon in  Canaught Place, New Delhi, Filmistan, Karol Bagh in New Delhi - but all cities have theatres. A word of warning- try to avoid the rush when entering and exiting the theatre and the crowded area and keep valuables with close to you zipped at all times and enjoy the show.

Niraj Chand Shrestha - Customer Operations

A popular restaurant situated in Old Delhi on the ground floor of Hotel Broadway is the Chor Bizarre Restaurant. It has good selection of North Indian and Kashmiri cuisine. The hotel also regularly has Indian Cultural programme in the evenings that you are recommended to check with the hotel/restaurant beforehand for reservations should you want to watch it. Also being a popular restaurant it is advisable that you make an advance table booking to avoid disappointment.

Niraj Chand Shrestha - Customer Operations

Glenary’s is a great place for cakes, pastries and Darjeeling tea and offers great views of Mount Kanchendjunga on clear days. Kunga’s is one of the best restaurants for Tibetan cuisine, the steamed momos are a must!

Kim Christie - Customer Operations

The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (Toy Train) is now listed as by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The Batasia loop between Darjeeling and Ghum provides panoramic views on the surrounding hills and Mount Kanchendjunga. The joyride will stop off at the Batasia loop for about 10 minutes as it is the most scenic spot on the route, a trip to Ghum museum is also recommended.

Tiger Hill offers the world’s best sunrise! 11km from Darjeeling a 4am start will allow you to experience the most magnificent sunrise over the Mount Kanchendjunga range. As the sun appears the mountains change colour and on a clear morning Mount Everest is visible.

Kim Christie - Customer Operations

The cable car in Gangtok, Sikkim provides spectacular views of the local market and the surrounding valleys. It also serves as a good transport connection between Deorali, Nam-Nang and Tashiling.

Kim Christie - Customer Operations

You will need a visa for Bhutan, which we will organise for you. The cost is payable on entry to Bhutan and is currently US$20 in cash. You will need to send us a clear copy of your passport on booking so that we can organise the Bhutan visa. Please make sure that we have a copy no later than 4 weeks before departure. Please also take 2 passport photos with you as these will be used locally for your visa.

Joanna Zubr - Bhutan Operations

Should you be in Thimpu during the weekend, it is worth checking out the local weekend market at the end of the town (beside the National Stadium). This is where most of the town residents come to buy their week’s supply of fresh food and vegetables (everything from cheese to the chillies that the Bhutanese love!) from the farmers. This is a great place for people watching and also some souvenir shopping as there are stalls selling all kinds Bhutanese/ Tibetan products. Do try your bargaining skills as there is no fixed price of the products on sale!

Niraj Chand Shrestha - Customer Operations

Plums Café on the second floor of a building near the Clock Tower in downtown Thimpu offers Continental/ Chinese and Bhutanese food doing mostly buffet at lunch time.  Cheese momos (dumplings) and Keewa datsi (a cheese and chilli dish) with red rice is a Bhutanese dish really worth trying. Should you fancy some pastries or muffin Swiss Bakery is the place to check out which is across the street from the restaurant!

Joanna Zubr - Bhutan Operations

The hotels are usually good tourist class hotels, have twin rooms with en suite facilities, reliable electricity and water supply, good service and some added amenities. Sometimes, depending on the location, the standard of hotels may be slightly lower, but we will always do our best to source the most suitable option.

Emma Garrick - Product Manager

Bhutan has a varied climate. Southern Bhutan has mild dry winters and hot wet summers; the monsoon starts a little earlier and continues a little longer than further west in the Himalayas. Paro, Thimpu, and the other
temperate areas of Bhutan have cold winters with sunny skies. Please note although these departures do not fall inside the normal monsoon season there is always a chance of rain in Bhutan and you should be prepared for this.
You will experience a range of temperatures during the trip depending on the altitude. During the day temperatures will be approx 10°C-20°C. At night it may reach single figures but the temperature will normally stay above 10°C.

Joanna Zubr - Bhutan Operations

Please visit the Exodus Travel Guide to Bhutan where you can find out what plugs they use, as well as more detailed Country information in the menu on the left of the page.

No. Indian visas must be pre-arranged in advance. Check the Indian embassy website for details.

http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk/

Will Shoubridge - Agency Sales

India has delicious food to cater for all preferences but, like anywhere in the world, hygiene is important.  Keeping your hands well washed before eating, staying as hydrated as possible and sticking to bottled water is the best protection against an upset tum. Otherwise, mashed potato is apparently a good cure!

Brendan Phelan - Customer Operations

Please visit the Exodus Travel Guide to India where you can find out what plugs they use, as well as more detailed Country information in the menu on the left of the page.

All the staff at Exodus share a passion for adventure travel, and are always happy to answer any questions you may have. You can find an expert for the area you are interested in here and can contact them to get further information. If you don't see your specific country listed, please email customerops@exodus.co.uk and they will get the answers you need!