Eco-Tourism in Kalimpong

Taking part in the Village Discovery Tour

Two day tour: Cost 3000 Rupees (including 1000 Rupees donation to Village Fund)

Day 1: We will arrange for you to be collected at your hotel in Kalimpong (we can arrange accommodation if you wish) at 8.00 am.  You will then be taken to the first village on the itinerary, Kashyem.  This small community has long depended on the quinine crop but is gradually having to seek alternative options.  After breakfast is a guided walk around the village paths followed by a short trek along the hillside path to the village Barranumber. This is a stunningly beautiful Himalayan stroll, on fairly level terrain, with views down into the Rangpo Valley.

Barranumber stretches up the hill and contains some 90 households.  The villagers are farmers and the hillside is terraced with small plots growing many kinds of crops.  After lunch the afternoon will be spent exploring the village and the surrounding area. In the evening there is a Nepali cultural show followed by traditional dinner (and a chance to sample Tongba!) before bed. You will stay overnight in simple but comfortable rooms, with access to a western style toilet.

Day 2: Route A: After breakfast, you will take the ‘high road’ back to Kashyem, arriving in the upper village for tea. A jeep will then take you to Burmaik, from where there is then a gentle walk uphill through Sillery forest to the viewpoint overlooking the confluence of Teesta and Rangpo rivers. The morning ends with a stroll down to the village of Sillery, a virtually hidden village on the upper slopes, where you will have lunch. In the afternoon, you will walk up to Damsang Fort, a ruined 17th walled palace after which you descend down to the village of the 20th mile where tea awaits you. From there you will be taken back to your hotel around 4.00pm.

Route B: For a slightly longer trek on day two, after arriving at Kashyem you will walk to the scenic village of Monsong for lunch. This trek takes you along the edge of the Teesta River valley- with stunning views over to Sikkim. After lunch you will stroll along to Monsong Gumpa, a small Buddhist monastery. Following this is a short walk up to a Buddhist meditation centre, an attractive, peaceful site perched on a small hill with fantastic views of the surrounding area. After walking back down the hill, you will be taken back to your hotel by around 4.00pm.

The walking is mostly on gentle slopes or flat paths. Total walking time is around 3 hours on Day 1 and 4 hours on Day 2.

If you would like to take part in the Village Discovery Tour please call +44 1604 858 225 or use our contact form.