Published on May, 2024
Darjeeling Walks (Anirban and Adijte) must be the best Tour Operator in the region!
Simply an outstanding tailor-made 2-week holiday for myself and my daughter starting in Darjeeling and then onto Sikkim. Highlights are hard to pin point. I loved the day spent on Ging Tea Garden amongst the tea pluckers learning all about Darjeeling tea. Our guide and drivers took us to various beautiful villages in rural Sikkim with breathtaking views of the Khangchendzonga range early mornings. The flowers of Spring (Rhodedhendrons, azaleas, amaryllis, orchids and many more) were out in their full glory. We spent the days hiking along hidden paths viewpoints, visiting temples ( learning about Guru Padmasambhava) as well as walking through the hillside villages so we could chat to the locals and learn all about their way of life. In the evenings, we stayed in homestays (some eco) which were charming, the families always keen to make sure that we were comfortable and very well fed (daal and locally produced fresh vegetables). In Yuksom, we were even invited to a "mo-mo" making cookery class and afterwards our hostess taught us some nepalese dance moves! At the end of the holiday, we spent a day in Rinchenpong which is incredibly interesting for its position on the silk route, its market still being an important trade centre and the influence of the Scottish missionaries in years gone by. Finally, we explored Nara Valley Wildlife Sanctuary and whilst we did not see any red pandas or tigers, we did visit an impressive waterfall at the bottom of the valley. Sikkim is a very special place that has not yet been spoilt by tourism.
