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.

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