It is said by many that the eastern Himalaya is by far the most stunningly beautiful part of this - the greatest of mountain ranges. Certainly the view of Kanchenjunga (28,168ft) from Darjeeling and Phalut and the wild and largely unclimbed and un-named peaks of Bhutan are unmatched. Add to this the charm and ambiance of Darjeeling, the old British hill station still called the “Queen of the Hills” and you have an exceptional experience awaiting you.

The week long trek along the massive Singalila Ridge near Darjeeling is of moderate grade and the trail is wide and well established. The trek was often used by officers of  the British Raj, when in the summer they escaped the heat of the plains by moving their base to Darjeeling. and you will walk up to the point on the map where Nepal, Sikkim and West Bengal meet.

Darjeeling still exudes the atmosphere of a bygone era – when the Gymkhana Club was the place to be and the old Windamere Hotel rang the bell for tiffin at 4 each afternoon. Indeed this bell is still rung ! And as you walk around The Mall and sip tea at the Tea Planters’ Club the days of the Raj seem remarkably alive.

A very special treat in Darjeeling for our guests is afternoon tea in the family home of Tenzing Norgay Sherpa. The old house – known as Ghang La – is not open to anyone but invited family guests and you will see some wonderful memorabilia of Everest and those halcyon days of mountaineering.

Then there is the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, the Tibetan Refugee Centre and a visit to a working tea plantation. Plus of course time to sit and watch the mountains and the hardy hill people who live beneath them.

From Darjeeling you drive down from the hills and across the plains of northern India to the border of India and Bhutan at Phuntsoling. As soon as you enter the Dragon Kingdom the hustle and chaos of the plains gives way to misty valleys and deep, lush forests. Bhutan truly is Shangri La. From the border you drive to the tiny capital, Thimphu and from there take a 5 day walk across high ridges and through small, isolated hamlets to Paro, Bhutan’s second largest town. This walk is again of moderate grade and the views of the Bhutanese Himalayan Range to the north is wonderful. A day in Paro to explore this most beautiful valley before flying out to Kathmandu and day of sightseeing and shopping before flying home.

This is a very special itinerary – offering some of the Himalaya’s least known and best kept secrets – Darjeeling and Bhutan.