Darjeeling, Sikkim & Bhutan, India and Bhutan Discovery Holiday

Our Clients’ Reviews

Here at Exodus we thrive on feedback from our customers. It's the only way we can ensure our trips continue to be the best they can be. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of the trip you're interested in, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers. Any feedback collected (Good or bad) from Exodus clients is posted straight onto our website - totally unedited. Read more...

Average Review Rating: from 7 reviews.

Penny Broomhall
DARJEELING, SIKKIM & BHUTAN

Written September 2012
Historical hill stations, delightful toy train together with intriguing Sikkim and the Kingdom of Happiness at festival time is well worth a little discomfort on twisty roads over some potholes.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
listening to evening prayers with musical accompaniment
enjoying a true Sikkim meal at the Netuk hotel (first time eating orchids and fern!)
superb colours of the masked dancers in Bhutan with colourful audience
managing to get to the Tigers Nest monastery
What did you think of your group leader?
The efficient experienced Indian guide coped well with the many queries and problems of a large group. The charming Bhutanese guide could do with a little of the Indian's experience or guidance? I reiterate previous traveller's comments re "taking charge".
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Be prepared for changes of temperature - we did not appreciate how warm Thimpu can be in September also at Festival time - women as well as men must have collared clothing together with knees and ankles covered or can be turned away at the gates.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Overall another excellent Exodus trip worth viewing both areas before becoming too commercial.
henry egerton

DARJEELING, SIKKIM & BHUTAN

Written April 2012
what a great trip,lots of varity with new and exciting places.the difference between India and Bhutan was very stribing.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
seeing Bhutan before it is too commertialised
What did you think of your group leader?
we had 2 team leaders on this trip.Both were great with a great depth of knowledge.They could not have been more helpful.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Book on this trip!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
only slight downside was the amount of construction work currently being undertaken in south Sikkim,loved the accomodation especially the Himalayan Hotel
David Treagust

DARJEELING, SIKKIM & BHUTAN

Written April 2012
As first-time Exodus travellers, on meeting up with our group in Delhi, we were immediately reassured by finding out that all our fellow travellers were Exodus veterans, some many times over. This put us at our ease and we began looking forward with relaxed anticipation rather than hesitation as we normally travel on our own backpacking to our own schedule. Exodus dosen't choose the group but it probably attracts interesting people and no one was overpowering or selfish.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
An orchid exhibition in Kalipong / just being in the Bhutanese crawd at the Paro Festival / glimpsing the Himalayas through the morning mists after a frustrating week knowing that 'they' were there but hidden by clouds / Walking down the Paro valley and seeing ordinary life going on in fields and homes nearby/ Thimpu -we wanted more time there!
What did you think of your group leader?
Maybe not dominant enough. No one wants to be regimented but too much commentary was just to whoever happened to be nearby. Could it be that Indian / Bhutanese guides are (unconsciously) intimidated by a group of westerners and hesitant about commanding? Given that any group may include older people perhaps you could emphasise speaking loudly particularly in the open air where there may be competing noises and say that this would not be seen as agressive just helpful. Interestingly in Bhutan the driver Yogesh Chettri had excellent, confident English and a lot of local knowledge. Guides in Bhutan and India were very helpful when dealing with small problems.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Only take 50% of the 'stuff' you think you need. There are, thankfully, few opportunities to make fashion statements. 20k bags are too heavy to handle when you are on the move so frequently and an imposition on hotel porters. Although we knew the weather might not be clear, we couldn't help feel sad that in no place did we have more than a few minutes glimpse of the Himalaya and the cloud also meant the staggering views of the route in Sikkim were only glimpsed too. This was a Golden Wedding celbration and we are not likely to ever go again so for anyone choosing between spring and autmn trips, I would say go for the autumn when it ought to be clearer. ( I wonder if the spring option ought to be run as evryone wants to have the views, don't they?)

Is there anything else you would like to add?
The hotels were far, far better than anticipated from brochure.
We seem to do more than was on the brochure, thank you!
When overnight rains made a trek up to Dragon's Nest Monastery impossible an interesting half day trip was substituted. The Art School in Thimpu makes an interesting change from dzongs - we requested it and everyone enjoyed it.
Road travel times were invariably longer than estimated in the brochure.
If you are anticipating a restful, relaxing holiday go elsewhere - this one was exciting and varied. Keep a diary and write it every night as there is so much to see you will not remember afterwards!
Brian Smith

DARJEELING, SIKKIM & BHUTAN

Written March 2011
A really good trip to places we have always wanted to visit. It was a pity that, when we visited, some of the places on the itinery were closed.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The Darjeeling Railway (Brian)
The Paro Festival and giant Thangka in Bhutan (Veronika)
What did you think of your group leader?
Very informative and helpful - both in India and Bhutan
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I enjoyed it so much I have booked on the Markha Valley trek in Ladakh in August (Brian)
Charles Gordon-Graham

DARJEELING, SIKKIM & BHUTAN

Written April 2008
I had a great experience on this trip, all the places being of interest to me. The natural scenery and Buddhist monasteries were wonderful, as was the Jain temple in Kolkata. I found a lot of friendliness from the locals, and the group leaders and local guides wwere excellent. Being used to independent travel, I still found plenty of opportunity to explore on my own (e.g. going to the poet Rabindranath Tagore's house in Kolkata) while also benefiting from the possibility of visiting many places of interesst as provided by an organised tour.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
There were many, but I must single out the hike to Taktshang - Tiger's Nest - in Bhutan. Padmasambhava / Guru Rinpoche (the second Buddha as he is known there) is said to have flown there on a tigress, which all sounds very magical, and indeed I found the place had a magical feeling about it and a sense of elemental and mystical power. For me it's the most amazing and mind-blowing place I've ever been to, perched on the side of a cliff. We hike up forested slopes a little reminsicent of the scenery of South Korea (where I lived for a year), and then suddenly I find myself near the top with cliffs to the side and ahead. There's a waterfall descending into ice on the left, and there's Tiger's Nest ahead and a bit to the right, on the side of a sheer cliff face. It's so tantalizingly close, but I wonder how I can possibly get across what looks like a ravine. However, there's a trail that winds around, and... there I am, at the entrance to Tiger's Nest, one of the sacred places of Bhutan, where - as well as Guru Rinpoche - the Tibetan sage-poet Milarepa is said to have meditated there too.
What did you think of your group leader?
Both the group leaders - the one in India and the one in Bhutan - were excellent and very friendly.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Be prepared for (a) some early mornings (b) lots of chillies!!! Take care when crossing roads in Kolkata. Take a good pair of binoculars for the view of Kanchendzonga from Tiger Hill, Darjeeling. Be aware that the mountain roads in Bhutan and Sikkim are very twisty and on steep slopes, so somewhat hair-raising at times, but the views are fantastic.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
In my room in Kalimpong there was a picture I recognized by the Russian artist Nicholas Roerich - one of my favourite artists - and there were other pictures by him there. I was aware that he settled in India (the Kulu Valley), but I found out that his wife subsequently llived in Kalimpong!
It was very interesting to see the Paro festival in Bhutan, with the masked dances and the huge thangka (kind of Tibetan Buddhist picture).
For those who, like me, are fascinated by Tibetan culture but feel they cannot go to Tibet under the present political circumstances - i.e. Tibetans oppressed under Chinese occupation - Bhutan, Sikkim, Kalimpong and Darjeeling provide other opportunities to see and experience something of Tibetan and Tibetan-influenced culture. And they are fascinating in their own right.
I noticed lots of birds everywhere on the trip. I don't think I've ever seen so many crows as I saw in Kolkata!
I've been to many wonderful temples in my life, including ones on this trip, but the Jain temple we visited in Kolkata is quite unique in my experience, all glistening with glass as though a garland of jewels spread across the sky.
I wish other countries would adopt a policy like in Bhutan - Gross National Happiness.
BRENDA LANE

DARJEELING, SIKKIM & BHUTAN

Written April 2008
A great experience for both of us. My first time in the Indian sub-continent. Cecil saw huge changes since his last visit to Calcutta which during WW2 serving with the RAF and in Darjeeling where he took his leave. Jolly good company as usual!
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Kalimpong hotel.
Arriving by air in Paro.
The Bhutanese people.
What did you think of your group leader?
Sangay a very good and perceptive leader. he just once let himself down - he inhibited the very kind Norgay instead of letting him have the floor to himself at a briefing. All the guiding was well done.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Be well prepared for the range and changes in temperature!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Exodus delights us in the way that it encourages folk of all ages to enjoy these holidays together - it is a tonic to we oldies to have younger company.
We do feel that Exodus might have made an effort to write out the reverse itinery (March departure) in as much detail as the other way around. Everyone found the summary of very limited use. Remeber arrivals and departures are altered by the change. It's just not sufficient to assure us that every item will be included.
Brenda and Cec Lane
John Rowles

The poverty and living conditions in Cacutta.

Written November 2007
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

1. Seeing the beauty and relative cleanliness of Darjeeling , Sikkim and Bhutan after witnessing the poverty and begging in
Calcutta.
2. Seeing the sun rise on Tiger Hill slowly revealing the 3rd highest mountain in the world.
3. Climbing up to the Tigers Nest (Taktsang Monastry).
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What did you think of your group leader?
Both the Indian and Bhutan leaders were excellent. The enthusiasm of the Bhutan leader for his country was most notable.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Go with Exodus.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I would wish that the competence and efficiency of the head office administration lived up to the quality of the holiday.
It has definatly degraded over recent years.