This tour is a crash course on everything Darjeeling, without missing the intrinsic details that make the place so special.
Become a tourist in Chowrasta, look inwards at Ghoom Monastery or trek the trails at Lepchajagat’s pine forests. You’ll travel all around Darjeeling’s popular and hidden attractions, with the Kanchenjunga mountain range keeping you company throughout.
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This tour lasts 4 days and 3 nights.
We’ll pick you up at Siliguri. After a quick stop for refreshments, you’ll be on your way to Darjeeling (6,700 ft).
The road to your destination is an experience in itself. Winding roads pass through rocky hills and roadside villages.
On the way, you’ll pass through Kurseong (4,900 ft), a town also known as the land of the White Orchids.
Kurseong is surrounded by tea plantations and green hills. Take a moment to enjoy the scenery and take a few photographs.
Once you reach Darjeeling, we’ll check you into your hotel/homestay.
If you’ve got some energy left in you, head out for an evening stroll around town.
Before dawn breaks, you’ll head out to Tiger Hill (8,500 ft).
Tiger Hill is famous for its breathtaking sunrises and views of Mount Kanchenjunga.
Your next stop is Batasia Loop, a viewpoint where you’ll see a stunning 360° view of the hill town backdropped by the snow covered peaks of the Eastern Himalayas –
All while standing in a garden covered in beautiful flowers, with Toy Train tracks surrounding you.
If you time it right, you can also see the Toy Train take a loop around you blowing its whistle.
You’ll then visit the Yiga Choeling Monastery of Ghoom (7,407 ft).
Also called the Old Ghoom Monastery, it is one of the oldest Tibetan Buddhist Monasteries in Darjeeling, built in the 1850s.
The monastery features a 15-foot model of the Lord Buddha called The Maitreya Buddha, meaning the ‘Buddha of the future’.
Besides the Buddhist artefacts, Old Ghoom Monastery also boasts beautiful sweeping views.
You wrap your morning up back at your hotel/homestay, where a warm meal awaits you.
When you’re ready, you’ll head to the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, founded as a tribute to Tenzing Norgay.
You’ll see Tenzing Rock, a gigantic rock named after Mr Norgay.
The Nipponzan Myohoji Buddhist Temple is the next.
Built in 1972, this beautiful, white two-storied temple was built in traditional Japanese style by the Fujii Guruji.
Next to the temple is the Peace Pagoda, said to purify the land, as well as the mind and soul of the residents.
We hope you like animals, because your next stop is the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, or the Himalayan Zoo for short. Spanning 67.5 acres, the zoo features some of the rarest Himalayan creatures. Don’t miss the majestic Snow Leopard and the shy but adorable Red Panda.
You’ll then visit the Happy Valley Tea Garden. There, you’ll receive a guided tour through the estate and learn how your favourite cup of Darjeeling tea is made.
The last stop of the day is the Barbotey Rock Garden.
A narrow winding road will take you to a valley 10 kms away from the main town.
Featuring a beautiful waterfall flowing through bridges and below beautiful flower gardens and picnic spots, the rock garden is a popular tourist attraction.
Your day ends back at the hotel/homestay, where you’ll have dinner and retire for the day.
Today’s all about the hidden gems of Darjeeling.
Your journey begins after breakfast – you’ll head out to Takdah (5,100 ft).
It is a peaceful and quiet hamlet away from the city, surrounded by coniferous forests, tea gardens, orchids and amazing mountain views.
The next village is Tinchuley (5,800 ft). The name Tinchuley means Three Ovens – named so for the stunning view of three prominent hill tops from this place, which resemble ovens.
After that you’ll be driven to Lamahatta, a small settlement located at an altitude of 5,700 ft, where cattle rearing and farming are the main source of people’s livelihood. It’s a lovely place surrounded by farm lands, forests, rivers, and mountain views.
The village is quiet and peaceful, populated by hardworking but friendly locals.
After a day out amongst nature, you’ll spend your evening at the heart of the Darjeeling town in Chowrasta.
There’s a lot to do here: Watch an amazing sunset view of the mountains and valleys, shop at old heritage stores, visit century old Victorian churches, eat amazing food at the local eateries or engage in tourist activities like horse riding.
After you’ve had your fill of Darjeeling, you’ll head back to your Hotel/Homestay for dinner and rest for the night.
After breakfast, you’ll check out from your Darjeeling hotel/homestay. Say your farewell to the town, but not the hills. There’s more to see before you leave.
First up is Lepcha Jagat (6,956 ft), a small hamlet about 19 km from Darjeeling town, well known for its natural beauty and sense of isolated peace.
You’ll see dense forests of pine, oak and beautiful rhododendrons.
Bird lovers will enjoy the company of exotic migratory birds along with local high altitude birds.
Sukhiapokhri is next – a seasonal lake that’s home to the rare and endangered Himalayan Salamander.
About 20 minutes from the Sukhiapokhri market is Simana (7,500 ft). Simana in Hindi means ‘Border’ – this area stands on the Indo-Nepal border.
It’s a viewpoint with stunning views of Nepal.
After a short drive, you’ll reach Gopaldhara Tea Estate, producer of the world’s finest Darjeeling tea.
This place also offers a magnificent view of the scenic tea plantations, with pine trees lining the hilltop borders.
The last stop of the trip is Mirik Lake (4,905 ft).
The Sumendu lake is a 1.25 km natural lake, and Mirik’s main attraction. Surrounded by Pine forest on one side and peaks of Himalayan mountain range on another, the view serves as the ultimate climax to your Darjeeling tour.
You can also feed the lake fish, go boating on the lake or go horse riding along the shore.
Your day in Mirik concludes your tour. After saying our goodbyes, you’ll head back to Siliguri.
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 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 or Tinchuley 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/-
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