Darjeeling to Mirik day tour: Tea gardens and mountain views

The road down to Mirik passes through working tea gardens you can walk through.

A full-day tour from Darjeeling to Mirik Lake covers 49 kilometers through tea estates and orange orchards, with stops at the Indo-Nepal border viewpoint, a Nepal market, Gopaldhara Tea Estate and the lake itself. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, along with an English or Hindi-speaking guide and air-conditioned transport. Lunch and entrance fees are not included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Scenic drive and Mirik lake visit

• Drive through tea gardens
• Visit Indo-Nepal border viewing area
• Walk or taxi to outstanding market
• Explore Gopaldhara Tea Estate viewpoint
• Relax and sail at Mirik lake
• Walk through dhupi woodlot and visit temple
• Enjoy pony rides around the lake

The experience

If you have a free day in Darjeeling and want to see the region beyond the town, this tour takes you down the hill to Mirik Lake through the working landscape that surrounds the area. The drive itself is the point: you pass Thurbo Tea Estate (part of the Goodricke group) and Gopaldhara, along with orange orchards, on a scenic route that winds through tea gardens on the slopes. The 49-kilometer journey ends at Mirik, also known as Samandu Lake, one of the most visited destinations in the region.

The first stop is Simana, at the Indo-Nepal border. The road belongs to India, but the viewing area extends into Nepal, and you can walk across to see Maneybhanjan below and the Kanchenjunga snow peaks on a clear day. The narrow winding road to Sandakphu is visible from here. Small stalls at Simana sell tea, snacks, chocolates and local goods. About 1 kilometer away is the main market, full of imported electronics, jackets, perfumes, cosmetics and clothes: reachable by foot or Nepal taxi. After the border area, the road descends several thousand feet through tea gardens and small pine-topped hills to Gopaldhara Tea Estate, where you can walk down through the gardens themselves to a viewpoint overlooking them.

Mirik sits at 5,000 feet and spreads along the lake's edge. You can walk the footbridge to the western bank, cross through the dhupi woodland and visit Devi Sthan, a temple in the forest nearby. Paddle boats and pony rides are available around the lake. The tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Darjeeling, bottled water, an air-conditioned vehicle and parking fees. A guide in English or Hindi travels with you. Lunch and entrance fees are separate.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned transport.
• hotel pickup and drop-off in Darjeeling.
• bottled water.
• parking fees.
• a live guide in English or Hindi.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up toStart time

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Hindi

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats available

Operated by Green Escape Tours & Travels

Is this one for you?This tour involves walking through tea gardens and down to viewpoints, plus a 1-kilometer walk to the Nepal market and a footbridge crossing at the lake, so come in shoes suited to uneven ground. The full day and 49-kilometer drive suit travelers with a free afternoon and no fixed evening plans.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Hindi.

What is Gopaldhara Tea Estate and what can I do there?

Gopaldhara is a working tea estate located on the descent toward Mirik, reached by walking down through the tea gardens themselves. You can walk through the gardens to a viewpoint that overlooks them all around.

Can I visit the Nepal market, and how do I get there from Simana?

The market is about 1 kilometer from the border at Simana and sells imported electronics, jackets, perfumes, cosmetics, accessories and clothes. You can walk there or take a Nepal taxi from the border.

What activities are available at Mirik Lake?

Mirik Lake (also called Samandu Lake) offers paddle boat sailing, pony rides around the lake, and walks across the footbridge to the western bank and through the nearby dhupi woodland to Devi Sthan temple.

Does the tour include lunch?

Lunch is not included in the tour price and is a separate expense you arrange yourself.

What time does the tour start and when does it return?

The tour is a full day. Hotel pickup is included in Darjeeling, and you are returned to your hotel at the end of the day.