Daily Daydream: Stay at a Working Tea Plantation

The name may sound familiar thanks to the tea and the movie, but Darjeeling is fairly off the tourist trail. Located in the Himalayan foothills under the shadow of Mt. Kanchenjunga, Darjeeling’s vistas are unparalleled. Climb to the top of Observatory Hill or Tiger Hill for the best views.

Many trekkers stop in Darjeeling for a few days to acclimatize before tackling nearby Sikkim, and there are lots of preparation hikes you can do here.

Of course, you’ll have to sample some of the namesake tea while you’re here! There are more than 50 tea plantations in Darjeeling, and you can tour and sample at many of them. If you’re still in a touring mood after all that tea, swing by one of the area’s Buddhist monasteries or the Darjeeling Zoo.

Where is it? In the Himalayan foothills. Fly to Kolkata’s Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport (check prices) and take a domestic flight or train.

Where to Stay? At the Glenburn Tea Estate, a working tea plantation.

What Else Should I Know? Walking is the best way to get around Darjeeling, but you’ll need to be in good shape, as it’s hilly here!

Who’s it For? Tea drinkers, mountain climbers, photographers.

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