For those who don’t care for the tourist traps. This tour avoids the overcrowded municipalities of the Darjeeling district. Instead, taking you to hidden hamlets and cosy homestays.
Experience rural life. Be it picking oranges at the Sittong orchards, or tea leaves in Takdah.
Reconnect with your inner self, meditating at Ghum or Tinchuley Monasteries.
Surround yourself with nature and return refreshed.
We’ve selected the best homestays for your trip, along with activities you may enjoy.
Talk to our guide to customise your perfect offbeat getaway.
This tour lasts 5 days and 4 nights.
We pick you up at Siliguri. After your welcome, you will travel to Sittong. If you require it, we’ll take you to a rest stop on the way for refreshment. The road to Sittong is a bumpy and tiring drive, but you’ll forget all about it once you’re there.
Sittong (4000 ft) is a collection of villages located in a deep valley beside the Riyang river.
The weather in some parts of Sittong may be warmer than you expect from a Darjeeling village, making it the perfect transition zone for the rest of your trip.
(If you’d like to stay in a relatively warmer/cooler area, do tell us at the time of booking)
You’ll get to explore more tomorrow, but if you get there early, make sure to spend some time walking around town and talking to the friendly locals. Sittong is famous for its hospitality, and you’ll be surprised at how worldly most of the locals are.
After a warm homemade dinner, you’ll be retiring for the day.
If you have an early start, make sure to do some exploring on your morning walk. Visit the local stream, you may meet a fellow traveller or two.
Once everyone’s ready, you’ll head towards the Orange orchards, Sittong’s claim to fame.
Winter’s the best time to visit, when the whole garden’s yellow. Ask your guide if you can pick some oranges for yourself.
Travel back in time and visit the Sittong church and Sittong Monastery.
If you’re lucky and the skies are clear, you’ll see a great view of the Kanchenjunga range from the monastery.
A visit to nearby Mungpu (3700 ft) is next. You’ll visit the famous Rabindra Bhavan Museum, poet Rabindranath Tagore’s summer home. The Nobel laureate often visited Mungpu for its Cinchona plantations, something you’ll get to see firsthand.
You can also visit the government run Quinine factory to watch how Quinine is extracted from the Cinchona plants.
Latpanchar (4200 ft) is the next stop. Part of the Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary, it is a bird watcher’s paradise – home to a host of bird species including bulbuls, spotted eagles, minla, King Fishers and the elusive Himalayan Pied Hornbill.
The Ahal Dara view point is a must see.
So is Namthing Lake, a home of the rare Himalayan Salamander.
As night falls, you’ll return to your Homestay in Sittong. If you’ve got the extra energy, ask your guide for a barbeque night.
Today, you’ll be leaving Sittong for Lepchajagat (6959 ft), a small village known for its beautiful views, birds and dense pine forests.
Lepchajagat has a number of trails you can trek. Whether you’re birdwatching in the forests, enjoying the view at Hawa Ghar or watching the sunrise/sunset at Ghum Rock, you’ll find it easy to spend your day in this beautiful hamlet.
If you visit during the spring, you’ll also see Rhododendron flowers in full bloom.
You’ll be spending the night in Lepchajagat, so bundle up. It’s an early rise tomorrow if you want to watch the sunrise.
Rise before dawn to reach the Tinchuley Sunrise point (5800 ft). ‘Tinchuley’ is named for the three hilltops visible from the area that look like three ovens tin: three, chuley: ovens).
The sunrise from Tinchuley is unforgettable. The Teesta valley, Kalimpong and Sikkim are also in clear view from the view point.
A trekking route from Tinchuley leads to Gumbadara, a rocky landscape that features historical significance. Said to be a training area for the British Army, Gumbadara is home to many caves and artefacts.
For those looking for a little workout, you can practice rock climbing at Gumbadara viewpoint.
After a visit to the Tinchuley monastery, you’ll be on your way to Chotamangwa and then Takdah (4000 ft).
Surrounded by tea gardens, Takdah is a beautiful little town whose name means ‘fog’ in the Lepcha language. It is quite appropriate, as it remains foggy throughout most of the year.
Takdah was home to many senior British officers during the early 1900s, so a lot of the accommodation here features traditional British architecture.
Takdah features some of the finest tea gardens in the Darjeeling district. Talk to your guide to organise a visit to one of the local estate factories to watch how your Darjeeling tea is made.
There’s also an Orchid centre you can visit, featuring a large variety of Himalayan orchids.
You’ll be staying in Takdah for the night. Make sure to savour the cold Darjeeling air one last time before you go to bed.
After an early breakfast in the morning, we’ll bid you adieu as you head back to Siliguri/Bagdogra Airport.
Until next time.
October is when the tourist season starts. You’ll want to avoid the Puja rush if you can. However, this is when the weather is most pleasant.
The winter months are cold, but that’s when the skies are clear and views unhindered.
The orange orchards bloom from mid-November, with harvest season starting late December.
The Spring is when most flowers like the Rhododendron are in bloom. This is also some of the best times to be birdwatching.
The elevation of some places like Lepchajagat also means they’re a great summer reprieve.
You’ll need to carry the following legal documents for Homestay/Hotel check-ins:
Depending on when you visit, what you carry will vary.
During the summer, light cotton clothes, and an additional layer (sweater/sweatshirt) with a light windproof jacket will suffice. Having a rainproof jacket or cover helps, as light showers are common during this time.
For the winter months, some wool or fleece layers and thermal underlayers are essential.
A thick windproof jacket, and some comfortable trek pants will keep you warm when you’re outside.
You’ll also need some warm gloves/mittens, a wool cap and a muffler.
Carry a 1 litre thermos flask with you if you want to carry warm liquids.
A moisturiser or cold cream might be necessary during the colder months, along with lip balm.
Your homestay will provide shampoos, soaps and towels.
Carry the following medicine with you at all times, in case of emergencies. Do not take any medicine without consulting your guide.
Any medical emergencies will be handled by your tour guide. Consult your tour guide for any medical query.
A guide will be provided to take you to the best offbeat locations.
Homestay Tour will make sure you get the best guide available at the time.
Your guide is an expert. Please follow all instructions at all times.
You may face some network coverage issues for most of your trip.
Some areas of the route may connect your phone to Nepal’s mobile service, so beware of any roaming charges that may incur.
3 meals will be provided to you by the hotel during the trip.
If you want to try out local snacks or different local food, you can order separately.
You can buy packaged snacks, bottled drinking water, tea, coffee or beverages along the route.
8 days starting at Rs. 0/-
4 days starting at Rs. 0/-
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