Walks, Local Culture and Music
November annually and Rhododendron season April/May
Welcome to Jo’s new adventure exploring the breathtaking grandeur of the Lower Himalayas.
Jo has 3 trips coming in 2025/26. Each has a different itinerary. Kavisha Mazzella is the singing teacher for November 2026. Rhododendron season and the delights of the ‘Kingdom of Sikkim’ are the highlights in April 2026. See below for details.
Your 14 days will include some variants of these possibilities: stays in charming Raj era colonial hotels, a trip on the UNESCO listed Darjeeling Himalaya Railway, a visit to a tea plantation, 7-10 days of panoramic walks up close to the majesty of the Himalaya based in mountain lodges, homestays, monasteries, sojourns in the historic towns of Kurseong and Darjeeling exploring their alleyways and bazaars, the Himalayan zoological park and the world reknowned Himalayan Mountaineering Institute. On some trips we will have a singing teacher..
Jo’s grandfather was an Engineer and General Manager on the Darjeeling Himalaya Railway that winds from the plains of India up into the tea region of Darjeeling. We’ll meet many people along the way whose lives have been shaped by this railway. We’ll step back into a bygone era with its colonial charm, while also having meaningful contact with its current residents, most of them Nepali. We’ll explore the local traditional music and trek through verdant terraces, beautiful forest and traditional villages.
ITINERARIES
November 2025
Trip itinerary is below under the link TRIP DETAILS. These details include general information applicable to other trips.
April 2026
The Rhododendron season walking trip will start and end in the beautiful hill town of Kalimpong. The intervening 10 days are spent in the ‘Kingdom of Sikkim’ staying in small villages with spectacular walks to monasteries, forests and lakes.
November 2026
The Singing & Walking trip with Kavisha Mazzella will start with a trip on the Darjeeling Himalaya railway, a stay in Kurseong, a number of days out in little villages, then end in Darjeeling.
Click below to register now