West Bengal (Darjeeling, Kolkata) and Offbeat Sikkim: Tour

Explore the foothills of West Bengal and the hidden valleys of Sikkim on a guided tour. Ride a toy train, visit hilltop monasteries, and stay with Lepcha families in Upper Dzongu.
From the foothills of West Bengal to the hidden valleys of Sikkim, this journey takes you into one of India’s most culturally rich and least explored regions. Drift into the Himalayas by toy train as Darjeeling’s tea estates unfold below, waking to misty ridgelines and, on clear mornings, glimpses of Kanchenjunga, the world’s third-highest mountain. Ride ropeways over deep valleys, taste tea straight from the source, and visit hilltop monasteries where the sound of afternoon prayer hangs in the air. Gangtok, Sikkim’s lively capital, adds markets, Himalayan culture, and crisp mountain energy to the mix.

Then the trip goes deeper in Upper Dzongu, the protected homeland of the Indigenous Lepcha community. Together with Muhaan, a local partner specialising in sustainable, community-led tourism, we stay with Lepcha families and experience a side of the Himalayas few travellers ever reach. Slow forest hikes lead through villages and terraced fields, sacred lakes, and hot springs, while meeting artisans preserving centuries-old weaving traditions and farmers tending cardamom. Evenings are spent around bonfires listening to stories of Mayal Lyang, the Hidden Land, and sharing home-cooked meals with your hosts.

For those who want to continue onwards, there is the option to add on Varanasi (one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities and India's holiest), and the Taj Mahal to the trip.

Why Sikkim?
You might not have heard of it, which is part of its charm. But it’s wild how little-known Sikkim is, given everything it has going for it. Sikkim is the world's only fully organic state, earning international recognition from the UN. It’s a leader in tackling plastic pollution, having banned plastic bags since 1998 (!) and plastic bottles since 2018. Peaceful, relatively untouched, and tucked between Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet, Sikkim shares their awe-inspiring landscapes and spiritual heritage while remaining under the radar to foreign tourists due to its remoteness. Its unique indigenous cultures, including the Lepchas, add another layer of richness, making it a place that feels both ancient and alive.

Who are the Lepchas?
The Lepchas are the original guardians of the Eastern Himalayas, an Indigenous community whose worldview is rooted in animism and a deep kinship with the natural world. For them, mountains, rivers, forests, and even rocks or trees are not just scenery - they are living beings with spirits, stories, and responsibilities. This philosophy shapes everything, from how they farm and build their homes to how they move through the landscape.

Connecting with the Lepchas is more than cultural immersion. It is a glimpse into a worldview where humans and nature are intertwined, where respecting the land is part of being a good ancestor, and where travel becomes an opportunity to witness and support a way of life that has thrived for centuries.

This is our most off-the-beaten-path adventure yet and we'd love for you to be part of it

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