Stay at a different homestay almost every night, making friends with the locals wherever you go. Pick tea leaves, pet farm animals and discover local cuisines.
Each homestay will take you to exquisite offbeat locales, with new sights to see and new people to meet. Observe local wildlife in Lamahatta or take a dive at one of the many rivers of Jamuni.
Experience the best of both worlds: the towns of Darjeeling and Kurseong, and the rural villages of Bijanbari and Takdah.
We’ve chosen the best guides and hotels/homestays for your trip. Talk to our expert for further customisation.
This tour lasts 8 days and 7 nights.
Your tour begins at Siliguri. After a welcome and some refreshments, you’ll head to Tinchuley. On the way, you’ll see views of the Teesta River and valley.
Tinchuley (5,800 ft) is an organic village with marvellous views of a trio of hills (from where it gets its name) and the Kanchenjunga mountains.
The residents of this place are humble, friendly, hard working farmers.
You’ll get a chance to explore the hamlet for yourself before your dinner is set and you retire for the night.
After an early breakfast, it’s time to explore Tinchuley’s pine forests, home to many local and migratory birds.
Walk around the trails surrounded by tea plantations where some locals may allow you to pick some tea leaves like the locals.
Your next destination is Lamahatta (5,700 ft).
It’s a small, peaceful village that was declared a place for ecotourism by the state government in 2012.
On the way, you might want to stop at Tinchuley monastery.
Once in Lamahatta, you’ll visit the eco-park where you’ll see beautiful Himalayan orchids and other flowering plants. The park is filled with colourful prayer flags, and if the sky is clear, get on one of the watchtowers to catch a beautiful view of Kanchenjunga, Tiger Hill, Namchi and Darjeeling landscapes with the Ranjeet river flowing below.
Trek through a short nature trail that leads to the hilltop, and you’ll reach a small lake, considered sacred by the villagers.
At the end of the day, you’ll return to your Tinchuley homestay for dinner, where you’ll rest and prepare for the next day.
After breakfast, you’ll check out from your Tinchuley homestay. You’ll be staying at Darjeeling tonight.
Takdah (5,100 ft) is a beautiful hamlet away from the crowd of the main towns.
It’s name literally means ‘fog’ or ‘mist. 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.
You’ll visit one of the best orchid centres in Asia here.
You then continue your journey to Darjeeling. After your welcome at the homestay in Darjeeling, you’ll get a chance to see the town in the evening.
Chowrasta is a great place for an evening walk.
Today’s an early start. You’ll leave for Bijanbari right after breakfast.
Bijanbari is some ways away from town, and you’ll be staying there for the night, so make sure you prepare accordingly.
On the way you’ll stop by Jamuni, a place famous for its stunning views of hills, Ranjeet river, waterfalls and the Happy New Year bridge.
There’s a beautiful lake where you can go boating or even swimming.
From there we head to Bijanbari (2,500 ft). It’s a small valley town that’s very sparsely populated.
People here lead a very simple lifestyle, and go to bed by 8, so expect an early dinner at your homestay.
After breakfast at your homestay, you’ll leave for Sittong. On the way you’ll do some sightseeing in Darjeeling.
Darjeeling (6,700 ft), the summer home of the Britishers pre-independence, has beautiful Victorian churches and ancient monasteries for you to see.
Chowrasta or Mall Road, at the heart of Darjeeling, perfectly blends the city’s charm with scenic views of rural landscapes. You can sit in a cafe tasting local dishes or see the town like the officers did – on horseback.
After the Darjeeling tour, you’ll head to Sittong to your homestay, where you’ll have your dinner and rest for the day.
You’re exploring Sittong today.
Sittong (4000 ft) is a collection of villages located in a deep valley beside the Riyang river.
The locals here are extremely friendly and welcoming. They love to talk and share interesting stories, so if you enjoy mingling with local culture and a good laugh, you can start a bit early in the morning and take a walk around the village.
There’s a local stream nearby you can visit where you might meet other fellow travellers.
You’ll be taken to the Orange Orchards, which if you visit during the winters, is filled with ripped oranges. You can also ask the farmers there if you can pick a few for yourself.
Sittong has its own beautiful church and monastery to be explored. On clear days, you can see a stunning view of the Kanchenjunga from the monastery.
You’ll be taken to the Rabindra Bhavan Museum, the summer home of the famous poet Rabindranath Tagore in Mungpu (3,700 ft).
Mungpu is famous for its Cinchona plantation. You can also visit the government run Quinine factory to watch how Quinine is extracted from the Cinchona plants.
Next is: Latpanchar (4,200 ft) – a great place for birdwatching. Being part of the Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary, it’s home to many species of stunning birds like spotted eagle, Himalayan Pied Hornbill and many more.
A little ways off is the Ahal Dara view point, which boasts the best panoramic views of the region. You’ll see wide open vistas of the Gangtok, Kalimpong, Algara, Bagora and Tinchuley hills.
At the end of the day, you’ll be taken back to your homestay for dinner and rest.
After your breakfast, you’ll check out from your Sittong homestay and leave for Chatakpur.
Chatakpur (7,887 ft) is a pristine village with a population of 90 people living in about 18 village houses.
It’s a visual paradise with a remarkable view of the Kanchenjunga mountain range with luscious green forests surrounding the village, and the Relly river to the south.
It’s a quiet and eco-friendly village, situated in the Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary where people sustain on organic farming along with growing medicinal plants.
You’ll be staying at Chatakpur tonight.
Before you leave for Siliguri, you’ll stop at Kurseong.
Kurseong (4,900 ft) is known as the land of White Orchids. It’s a small but busy hill town surrounded by expansive tea plantations and lush coniferous forests.
You can visit the AIR (All India Radio) tower or go to Eagle’s Crag for a final look at the Darjeeling hills.
The tour comes to a close as you then leave Kurseong for Siliguri, where we’ll say our goodbyes.
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.
4 days starting at Rs. 0/-
5 days starting at Rs. 28500/-
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