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Wow West Bengal
A Treat for your senses
TOUR OVERVIEW
Welcome to West Bengal, one of the most culturally and ethnically diverse states of India. A place where, one can still recapture the colonial era in its relics which survived the modern times. One state that wakes up all your senses with its sights, sounds, smells and taste.
With this trip, we shall explore the colonial and cultural beauty of Kolkata – old and new at the same time. Visit the famous Vishwa Bharati University at Shantiniketan at the most opportune time of Poush Mela – which marks the beginning of harvest season. With all art, craft and live performances, be prepared to get your fill of culture.
Next experience the Zamindari living at a Rajbari to discover another historical aspect of West Bengal. Enter Sunderbans, the world’s largest coastal mangrove forest – Navigating through the freshwater swamp forest in search of unique wildlife and birds and, if you are very lucky, the Royal Bengal Tiger. And all of these places sprinkled generously with a taste of bengali culinary skills, local cuisine and exciting cultural performances proving to be a real treat for all your senses.
Get ready to hog on those rossogollas and puchkas!!
GALLERY
Day 1 - 22 Dec 2018
Reach Kolkata – the city of Joy. Post lunch kick-off your tour with the most iconic monument of the city – the Victoria Memorial. Follow this up with an indulgence in street food and shopping in one of the most popular hubs of the city – The New Market area.
Put your bargaining skills to test and go through a gastronomic journey which will fire up all your senses. Overnight in Kolkata.
Day 2 - 23 Dec 2018
We start early today to witness the hustle-bustle & vibrancy of Kolkata’s unique & India’s biggest flower market at Mullick Ghat. We take the adventure further to explore the narrow lanes of Kolkata’s potters’ colony, Kumartuli, where you can watch sculptors breathe life into various terracotta idols.
After a sumptuous lunch, head to Princep Ghat for some relaxation time and a sunset ride across the Hooghly river. We also pay a visit to the historic temple at Kalighat. Overnight at Kolkata.
Day 3 - 24 Dec 2018
Kolkata with its rich culture and history, has a lot of stories to tell. We leisurely start our day after breakfast uncovering some of those stories at the South Park Street Cemetery and city’s only anglo-indian locality, Bow Barracks, easily identifiable with its red brick-lined building.
We then head to St. Paul’s Cathedral to witness its Gothic architecture and Christmas eve decorations. Overnight in Kolkata.
Day 4 - 25 Dec 2018
Post breakfast, it’s time to move ahead and start the journey to the university town of Shantiniketan, home to the Visva-Bharati University, which Rabindranath Tagore started in the 1920s. Join celebrations of the annual, world-renowned Poush Mela where several Baul musicians, dancers and artisans showcase their work. Overnight in Shantiniketan, Birbhum.
Day 5 - 26 Dec 2018
After the festival day, explore the university campus and witness how this inspiring institution of education came to being. Trace the path of Tagore’s literary work across the Visva-Bharati university and Rabindra Bhaban Museum.
Post lunch, head to Ittachuna to experience the rich history of a Rajbari (historical zamindari house) and experience the simple pleasures of bengali aristocracy & hospitality while staying at this heritage property. Overnight in Ittachuna.
Day 6 - 27 Dec 2018
After a leisurely breakfast, hit the road to proceed to Bandel, home to one of the oldest Christian churches in West Bengal built as a memorial for the Portuguese settlement. From Bandel, move to Chandannagar to explore what’s left of the only French Colony in Bengal.
Post lunch visit Belur Math, an education institution founded by Swami Vivekananda, located at the banks of Hoogly river. Sailing across the river via a quick ferry ride, visit the famous Dakhineshwar Kali Temple and stay overnight in Kolkata.
Day 7 - 28 Dec 2018
After a quick breakfast, head to land of Royal Bengal Tigers, Sunderbans mangrove forests. A UNESCO heritage site, the journey will take you to the island of Gosaba.
Following lunch at our eco-island stay, take a country boat to explore the varied flora and fauna of this national park. In the evening, witness cultural performances by local musicians and stay overnight in Sunderbans.
Day 8 - 29 Dec 2018
A super early start at 6am today as we head to the jungle watch towers in personalised boats spotting various animals through the day (and if we are very lucky, we may get the opportunity to witness the majestic Bengal tiger as well).
Lunch and snacks will be prepared and served on the boat itself making it a completely wild adventure. At sunset, depart to head back to Kolkata. Overnight in Kolkata.
Day 9 - 30 Dec 2018
It’s the final day of the trip! Have a relaxed morning followed by breakfast. Please plan your flight anytime after 11am. Pack your bags with all the memories you collected over this trip and reminisce them with a smile as you fly back home.
Inclusions
- All meals and evening tea/coffee – starting from evening tea on Day 1 till breakfast on Day 9
- Hand-picked accommodation for 8N/9D on double occupancy at all places except Sunderbans. Three or Four-bed occupancy at Sunderbans.
- All transportation in an AC Tempo Traveller/Innova
- All entry charges
- Guided tours of Kolkata
- Baul Gaan performance at Shantiniketan
- Ferries and boat safari at Sunderbans and Kolkata.
- Cultural evening at Sunderbans
- Permits and tolls
- Your F5 guide
Exclusions
- Food, snacks other than mentioned
- 5% GST
- Airport pick-up and drops
- Camera charges
- Tips and personal expenses
- Personal medication
- Flights from your city of residence to Kolkata and return
Terms & Conditions
REFUNDS/CANCELLATION:
If cancelled 90 days or more in advance, cancellation fee is 12% of the trip amount.
- 25% of the trip cost if cancelled 89 – 60 days in advance.
- 50% of the trip cost if cancelled 59 to 16 days in advance.
- Last 15 days – no show – entire amount will be forfeited.
If you use our services to book flights, cancellation charges of the flights will apply.
Option of Deferred trip:
You have an option of parking the paid amount with us for a future trip, if you wish to cancel joining this trip 60 days or more in advance.
Following conditions apply:
You need to choose the trip you would like to go with instead (the deferred trip) within 2 months of deciding to cancel.
The travel start date of the deferred trip should be within 6 months from the day you decide to cancel.
There can be only one such change and once you decide the deferred trip, the cancellation policy of that trip applies.
You cannot choose a short trip (less than 5 days) as a deferred trip.
Disclaimer
1. This is a non-smoking and a non-alcoholic trip for all practical reasons.
2. 50% of the trip cost is required to confirm the booking.
3. The booking does not include flights as the flight rates are extremely unpredictable. However, we can help you book your flights for the trip
4. All our trips are well-researched, including identifying access to medical facilities. In case of a medical emergency, F5 will assist the traveler in getting medical attention.
5. F5 Escapes is in no way responsible for any untoward incident happening due to the ignorance/negligence of the guests, natural/man-made calamities, accidents or any other events that are out of human control during the trip.
6. F5 reserves the right to cancel the trip under certain conditions – in such a case, the amount will be refunded in full.
Arrival & Departure timings
This trip is Ex-Kolkata airport.
Arrival by 12 Noon on Day 1 and departure anytime after 10 AM on Day 9
Note on weather
There will be nip in the air during the morning and the evening. Warm jackets, caps, socks will be required near the river and in the national park. Temperatures can range from 5 to 25 degrees.
*Please note that now a days, climate/ weather is dependent on many factors and unpredictable hence above information might be subject to change during your actual travel days
Stay
We will be staying in a mix of stays.
• Mud villas in Shantiniketan
• Eco Cottages in Sunderbans
• Rajbari – an ancestral haveli of the erstwhile Zamindars of the area – in Ittachuna
• Conveniently located hotels in Kolkata.
Foooooood!
We have included a variety of food options including a flavor of Bengali cuisine and experiences around local street food.
Both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food options will be available.
We have tried and planned your meals at great restaurants/homestays/hotel etc, but there will be instances where we will need to have lunches on the way from one place to another.
Note > Prepare > Accept > Embrace:
- A fair bit of walking will be involved in exploring Kolkata and Shantiniketan. Please ensure you are carrying comfortable walking footwear.
- Kolkata can be extremely chaotic and crowded which will require you to coordinate with your tour lead and stay together at all times specially in the market areas. You will also need to cross areas/lanes which are not very clean.
- Kolkata street food can come across as extremely unsophisticated in how and where its prepared. Please be open to experimenting and look beyond the same.
- Poush Mela is one of the biggest festivals of West Bengal which attracts a lot of Indian and International tourists. You will be required to navigate through big crowds and be comfortable with the madness the festival brings along.
- Sunderbans in an archipelago of 50+ islands with delicate surroundings. Our stay will be in a beautiful, natural eco-resort with shared cottages for 3-4 people with a single restroom.
- Most of the time exploring sunderbans will be spent on boats. Please be careful to not get sea-sick.
- While we try to ensure everything works by the clock, West Bengal is not known for service promptness. Please be prepared to work around delays and co-operate to ensure the trip goes smoothly.
- Various kinds of transports have been included in the trip to give you varied experiences of how locals travel.
- Kindly cooperate with your trip lead and follow guidelines given by her so that we can execute the plan as smooth as possible.
- There is a lot to experience on the itinerary but very limited time, so ensure to be on time to make the most of it.
- Please come with an open mind and we will guarantee you an experience of a lifetime!
‘F5 Escapes’ is a Bangalore-based, experiential travel company, with a focus on redefining the way women travel in India. The premise of F5 is an ambitious dream – to put India on the global travel map as a preferred destination for women from across the globe.
F5 Escapes offers fixed departure all-women group tours, customized itineraries for families, groups and solo travellers. We also do in-city engagements which include #JustGo travel meetups, workshops to educate women on travel safety, sustainable menstruation, motorbiking etc.