Darjeeling during mid-feb

vels79

Hi,

I'm new to this site and looking to get some info on travelling to darjeeling during the third week of feb 07.

My travel itinerary looks something like this (was proposed by the travel agent).

19-Feb-2007: Reception at Bagdogra airport. Drive to Mirik. Stay at Orange country retreat in a cottage on top of a hill overlooking Mirik lake.
Overnight - Mirik

20-Feb-2007: Spend the day at Mirik
Overnight : Mirik

21-Feb: After early lunch drive to Lepchajagat (40 kms). Evening free at Leptcha Jagat forest bungalow.
Overnight : Lepchajagat

22-Feb:Take a short visit to Jorepokhri Salamander Project at Sukhia Pokhri (7Kms). Salamander is one of the rarest Himalayan reptiles in the region. Have a rare glimpse of the animal on its natural habitat.
Back to the forest bungalow. Spend a leisure evening on your cozy room watching the mighty Kanchenjunga. Overnight Halt: Leptcha Jagat.

23-Febrive to Loleygaon in the morning. Checkin at Yankee stay.
Overnight Halt: Loleygaon.

24-Feb: Spend the day at Loleygaon

25-Feb: Airport drop at Bagdogra.

Any suggestions on the itinerary and the weather during that period in darjeeling is appreciated.

Thanks,
Vadi

tacita

hi vadi,
you might want to search the sikkim forum as well, inasmuch as a lot of itineraries to that area also include the area you'll be visiting, and there seems to be a lot of...er...cross-pollination between the sikkim and west bengal threads.

presumably, this came from your tour operator, not a naturalist:

NB: salamanders are amphibians (not reptiles). so if you're keen to see this endangered species, you might want to explore a few resources beyond what your tour operator provides. salamanders are notoriously difficult to see, as they are generally noctural creatures and typically exist under cover because they need to keep their skin moist. (i qualify this by noting i'm not familiar with the himalayan species specifically, so i may be talking nonsense - check with local biologist/naturalist sources.)

have a great trip. btw, i'll be in darjeeling the third week of february, though not in the areas you've listed. i'll be interested to read about your trip when you return.

__________________
Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing. ~Helen Keller

SteamBuff

I'll miss you both, I arrive on the 5th Feb and leave the area on the 18th Feb. (Arrive in Calcutta on the 4th and leave on the 20th).

I will be spending most of my time on the DHR between Siliguri and Darjeeling!

vels79

Yeah Janice, the itinerary was from a travel agent.. I'm trying to refine it from the information I'm gathering from the other threads here..
Thanks for your note on salamander, I'm not much of a naturalist/zoologist myself, so I wudnt have know if salamander is a reptile/amphibian

~vadi

tacita

i was just hoping you weren't being steered in the wrong direction, perhaps being taken out to look for salamanders when you weren't likely to find any!

i speak as a very new member but, for refining your itinerary, you've come to the right place. i joined this site with a vague itinerary for the darjeeling/sikkim area and lots to learn. now, a mere five weeks later (or thereabouts), i'm booked on international and domestic flights, helicopter, train, car, and hotels; i've a detailed itinerary that reflects everything i could possibly have hoped for - including losar holiday festivities - and a treasure trove of advice and good wishes. i was made to feel that no question was too silly, and no area of inquiry ever too obscure for indiamike.

my trip's now imminent and i'm as prepared as i can be, simply because a diverse group of special, generous people gather here at this site to share their vast experience. it's about as good as it gets in cyberspace.

good luck with your plans.