While there were certainly positive aspects, I felt that the tour covering Kolkata, Darjeeling, Sikkim, and Bhutan, in its current format, did not offer good value for money. I hope the following observations are helpful :
Kolkata Programme
The guiding in Kolkata, led by Mr Ramen Basu, fell well short of expectations. Rather than providing historical or cultural insight, he frequently diverted into political commentary about figures such as Putin, Trump, and Xi. This was often inappropriate and, at times, disrespectful.
For example, when passing posters of Hindu deities (Brahma, Shiva, and Vishnu), he referred to them as “Trump/Putin/Xi,” which was out of context and offensive.
Several key sites on the itinerary were either only briefly viewed from outside or not explored in meaningful detail. In particular, the group was not given the opportunity to enter Kalighat Temple despite the entry fee having been included,. Kolkata is home to four architecturally significant Jain temples. Our guide took us to just one and incorrectly informed us that the remaining temples were merely “community halls.”
The expected city sightseeing, particularly a walking tour of the old British quarter, did not materialise. Key heritage buildings — such as the Dead Letter Office — were simply pointed out from the bus. We did have time within our schedule to have done a walking tour.
An independently arranged tour on our free day demonstrated how much more the city has to offer.
Darjeeling, Sikkim & Gorumara
The tea plantation visit, a highlight for many, did not occur. This was especially noticeable given the amount of unstructured free time in Pelling, where hotel conditions were not conducive to relaxation.
The activity described as a 2-hour jeep safari in Gorumara was instead a short transfer between watering holes, with limited wildlife interpretation and cramped transport. The park ranger was non English speaking. Only 2 jeeps between the 10 of us including national ****** so it was a tight, uncomfortable squeeze in the jeep. When questioned the ranger said that we had not been booked on a safari but a drive to a watering hole. Though we did see a rhino at the watering hole, the park is also known for its bird life and some of us in the group were very interested in the birds so it was another let down.
Road Journeys & Transport
The itinerary involved multiple 5–6 hour drives on rough roads, but the coach provided was not well suited to this: limited legroom, no luggage racks for daypacks, and a narrow aisle that made moving around difficult.
In additon the train journey from Kolkata to Siliguri ended up being 8 hours long and very tedious as it was scheduled for the afternoon so half of it was done in the dark with no passing scenery.
Considering that Bhutan is all about monasteries then my overall conclusion a flight to Bhutan and more time in central Bhutan may have offered a better overall holoday experience.
Bhutan Accommodation & Meals
Every hotel in Bhutan experienced plumbing issues affecting all travellers, suggesting a need for review of accommodation standards.
Meals were largely continental, offering limited exposure to Bhutanese cuisine, which many of us had hoped to experience more fully.
Finally, there was confusion over tipping the national ******* and driver. It wasn’t clear to everyone whether all tips were included in the additional kitty we contributed at the start of the trip, especially as both the ******* and drivers appeared to expect something extra. This made me uncomfortable, and I feel Wendy Wu should provide clearer guidance on this.
Despite the concerns above, I would like to highlight that both tour ******* were good. They were attentive, professional, and consistently ensured the group’s needs were met. The drivers throughout the tour were also outstanding, navigating difficult road conditions with great skill and care.
