Refreshing Countryside Walks in Sikkim and Darjeeling
- A Secret Retreats journey -
Husna-Tara Prakash and her family owns Glenburn Tea Estate in Darjeeling and is sharing here with us her knowledge of this region of the Himalayas known for tea, nature and unique walks and hikes.
All our itineraries have generally been constructed on the basis of the rooms that have the most charm or best view, and not necessarily the first prices, nor the most expensive suites.
We can of course adjust according to your request.
Highlights of the Journey:
- Truly breathtaking scenery of Sikkim, Darjeeling and the Himalayas
- Rare opportunity to stay at a Sikkim Heritage Organic Farm
- Stunning countryside walks and a fantastic location for bird watching
- Stay at a family owned Darjeeling Tea Estate and learn the story of this iconic beverage
Set in the lush beautiful Eastern Himalayas, this unique travel itinerary will take you to 2 regions blessed with nature and rich in culture, Sikkim and Darjeeling, in the shadow of the magnificent backdrop of the Himalayas. The journey starts and ends with an overnight stay in the fascinating city of Delhi. Head first to West Sikkim for a 5 day stay at the Yangsum Farmhouse. A short flight from Delhi and you are immersed in the lush fertile foothills of the Eastern Himalayas. This fully organic farm grows a variety of crops and is blessed with wonderful birdlife. Walks and treks will take you through a variety of local villages and a trip to a magnificent Buddhist monastery. Leaving the farmhouse on day 6 you will soon be steeped in tea country, arriving in Darjeeling after a 4hour countryside drive. Staying at the gorgeous family owned and managed Glenburn Tea Estate for 3 days, you will enjoy learning about the process of growing and brewing Darjeeling teas, take guided walks with a local naturalist through forests rich in wildlife, and visit the Kalimpong Hill Station and local villages all the while enjoying spectacular mountain and river views.
Best time: April to June and September to December
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Your Journey Day by Day
from 2,780 USD /person for 11 days / 10 nights
based on 2 people traveling together and sharing the same room
Day 1 : Delhi Airport – Delhi Center (-/-/-)
Welcome upon arrival at Delhi International airport by our team and transfer to the hotel.
Perhaps there is no other capital city in the world so steeped in history and legend capital, Delhi. It was the magnet that drew the Mongols Turks, Persians, Afghans, Mughals and finally the British, all of whom contributed to its glorious but turbulent history. The fascination with Delhi was such that even though it was abandoned many times, its rulers returned to it again and again rebuilding it at least seven times. Today, the twin cities of Old and New Delhi still intrigue Indians and tourists alike as the cultural and political capital of the largest democracy in the world.
Dinner at leisure
HOTEL: Hotel Haveli Dharampura (Standard room)
Day 2 : Flight and drive to West Sikkim (B/L/D)
After breakfast, you will take a morning flight to Bagdogra or Pakyong and from there about 4 to 5 hours drive through groves of bamboo to a beautiful rustic heritage farmhouse, your home for 5 nights: Yangsum Farmhouse (1500 m), set in the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas which was first built in 1833 and remodeled in 1966, established in the 44-acre mountain farm which is fully organic and grows cardamom, avocados, oranges, bananas, pears, apricots and mangoes, besides crops like maize, paddy, millet, potatoes, ginger, turmeric and sweet potatoes.
In the evening enjoy a short birding tour around the farm or Relax. Dinner at the farm.
HOTEL: Yangsum Heritage Farm (Standard room)
Day 3 : Rinchenpong Village (B/L/D)
Local walks around the farm today.
There are numbers of walk around the farm where you get to experience the rich and diverse vegetation of Sikkim. The walks are through the local villages, forest along plain ridges with undulating elevation making the walks easy and less tiring. There are also walks, one can also see the unique cultivation practices and varied range of crops planted by the farmers of the village.
All meals at the farm.
HOTEL: Yangsum Heritage Farm (Standard room)
Day 4 : Pemayangtse Monastery (B/L/D)
After breakfast transfer to Pelling and starts the tour visit with Pemayangtse, the Perfect Sublime Lotus, a magnificent monastery in Western Sikkim commanding one of the finest views of the Kangchendzonga range. This monastery operates under Nyingma sect of Tibet Buddhism and controls all other monasteries of the same sect. The architecture of the monastery is beautiful and appealing to the eye. Many paintings and sculptures form a part of its elegant setup, and statues of Padmasambhava and his two consorts are prominent in the monastery. From here your next visit to Sanga Choling monastery, an even older monastery than Pemayangtse. After exploring the newly built 137 feet tall statue of Chenrizi and skywalk above the Sangha Choling monastery, transfer back to the farm in the afternoon.
HOTEL: Yangsum Heritage Farm (Standard room)
Day 5 : Rinchenpong Village (B/L/D)
The theme of today’s walk: Birwatching.
We wake up early and go for a morning guided bird watching walk. The Farmhouse has good knowledge of birding and the various locations for the sightings. Back at farmhouse for the breakfast & relax.
Later in the day time, enjoy walks and stunning mountain views in Rinchenpong to Reesum monastery and villages in the local vicinity of the farmhouse.
HOTEL: Yangsum Heritage Farm (Standard room)
Day 6 : Varsay Rhododendron Sanctuary (B/L/D)
After breakfast, we drive for about 1.5 hrs to Hilley, the starting point of trek to Varsey Rohododendron Sanctuary.
Enjoy the gentle hiking in the region to see different varieties of Rhododendron plants and other Himalayan flora. Barsey also offers excellent view of Kanchendzonga range of mountains. Trek back to Hilley – in total today you will walk about 4 hrs.
Board the car and drive back to the farm for the evening and dinner.
HOTEL: Yangsum Heritage Farm (Standard room)
Day 7 : Rinchenpong - Darjeeling (B/L/D)
Today about 4 hrs drive (95m) to reach the Glenburn Tea Estate in Darjeeling. The drive is along a road that soon leaves the rice fields and coconut palms of the plains for the tea garden covered slopes of the lower hills. The next 3 nights will be spent just outside the town at the delightful Glenburn Tea Estate overlooked by the mighty Kanchenjunga mountain range. A journey through a collection of old tea bungalows that have re-opened their doors to guests giving ample time to relax, rejuvenate with wonderful local experiences.
Afternoon at leisure or optional ayurveda message/beauty treatments.
Dinner at the Estate
HOTEL: Glenburn Tea Estate (Standard room)
Day 8 : Glenburn Tea Estate – the tea experience (B/L/D)
The tour begins with an audio-visual presentation on the history of Glenburn, and a brief overview of how tea is grown, manufactured and tasted. You then move to the Tea Factory where you will be taken for a guided tour on how the leaf is brought in from the fields, weighed, and then taken through the processes of withering, rolling, fermenting, drying and sorting. The factory tour ends with a tea tasting session with their range of black, green, oolong and white teas, where one can discover the differences in aroma, flavour and appearance of tea manufactured in different ways and at during different times of the year.
After lunch, an excursion to Darjeeling town about 30 kms one way to visit Ghoom Monastery, the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute and Botanical Gardens.
Evening yoga Class.
All meals at the estate.
HOTEL: Glenburn Tea Estate (Standard room)
Day 9 : Glenburn Tea Estate (B/L/D)
Hiking day.
After the morning yoga class, your local experienced guide cum naturalist will lead you through the Bora Gaon Village and into the Simbong Tea Division, past the Sim Jhora (stream and waterfall), and finally into the Simbong Forest area. You can follow the main forest track, or break off at various points to take shortcuts through the forest. Enjoy the spectacular views of Sikkim (including Namchi Baazar and Manjitar Village), the hill station of Kalimpong, and the River Rungeet, which flows through the valley below. You will gradually descend from a height of around 3000 feet, down to the river, which lies at around 800 feet. The forests contain a rich diversity of birds, butterflies, flora and plant life, as well as animals typical to this habitat.
Refreshments will be provided along the way, and a jeep is never far away, should you feel tired and wish to drive down the rest of the way.
Free time for the rest of the day or optional ayurveda message/beauty treatments relaxation before dinner.
HOTEL: Glenburn Tea Estate (Standard room)
Day 10 : Darjeeling - Bagdogra Airport - Delhi (B/-/-)
After an early breakfast, drive back to Bagdogra airport (around 4 hrs drive) to catch your flight to Delhi. At the airport, a driver will transfer you to the hotel for overnight.
No arrangement for meals.
HOTEL: Hotel Haveli Dharampura (Standard room)
Days 11 : Delhi – Departure (B/-/-)
After breakfast and check out, transfer to Delhi airport in time to catch your flight to your next destination.
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End of our services.
Your Accommodation on this Asia Travel Itinerary
Haveli Dharampura
Yangsum Heritage Farm
Refreshing Countryside Walks in Sikkim and Darjeeling
11 days / 10 nights
from 2,780 USD /person
based on 2 people traveling together and sharing the same room
The total price includes:
Accommodation for 10 nights
All meals as mentioned in the program
All transfer services between airport, properties and for excursions, using air-conditioned vehicle (Innova or Minivan).
English speaking guide for local sight-seeing
One time entrance fees for all the monasteries and monuments at each place as per the program
All activities mentioned in the program (Bird watching, walking tour, monastery visit, tea factory and tasting experience, yoga...)
All Taxes
The total price does no include:
International and Domestic flights to and from of Delhi
Visa to India
Extra activities and meals not mentioned in the program
Travel insurance
This Secret Journey was designed in cooperation with Altaf and Discovery Journeys.
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