A morning walk on the Samsing tea slopes

Walk out of the village along the estate roads as the sun comes up. The gardens here sit on slopes rather than flat land, so the rows curve around the hill and you get views down the Murti valley and out over the Dooars. On the clearest winter mornings, the plains below are covered in a sea of mist.

From March onwards, pluckers work the slopes in the morning. Your guide or host can explain the plucking rounds, why shade trees are planted, and how Samsing's tea differs from the flat gardens of the plains. You may pass the factory, where the smell of withering and drying leaf carries on the breeze.

Stay on estate roads, ask before photographing workers, and give way to tractors and lorries. Carry water and a jacket. Return for breakfast at your homestay and a cup of the local tea.