adventure · Icchey Gaon, Kalimpong
Trek to Sillery Gaon and Ramitey Dara
Icchey Gaon is surrounded by old footpaths that link it with neighbouring villages and viewpoints. The most popular half-day walk leads to Sillery Gaon, a short distance away through oak, pine and fern forest and past terraced fields, and then up to Ramitey Dara, a viewpoint above the Teesta valley. It is the walk most guests remember, and it needs no permit and no entry fee, only a guide and a clear morning.
From Ramitey Dara the Teesta is seen far below, winding back and forth through its valley; locals say you can count 14 bends on a clear day. Behind it stand the Kanchenjunga range and the ridges of Sikkim and Darjeeling. Go early, as cloud often rises from the valley by late morning, especially from March onwards. Take photographs on the way up, too: the open fields above Sillery Gaon look straight across to the Sikkim ridges.
The walk involves steep climbs and descents on uneven paths, so it suits people of reasonable fitness. Hire a local guide through your homestay; paths branch often and are unmarked. Carry water, snacks, a rain layer and a warm top. Arrange for a car to collect you at Sillery Gaon if you do not want to walk back, or stay a night there.
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Questions people ask
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How long is the trek from Icchey Gaon to Ramitey Dara
Allow about 4–5 hours for a round trip from Icchey Gaon to Sillery Gaon and up to Ramitey Dara, with time at the viewpoint. Distances are short, but the paths are steep in places. Many walkers arrange a car back from Sillery Gaon. A local guide costs about ₹500–1,000, indicative for 2026.
Is the Ramitey Dara trek difficult
It is moderate. There are steep, uneven sections and some loose ground, but no technical climbing. Reasonably fit adults and older children manage well with rests. Seniors or those with knee problems should drive to Sillery Gaon and walk only the last stretch to the viewpoint.
Do I need a guide for treks around Icchey Gaon
We recommend one. Trails around the village are unmarked and branch often into fields and private land, and weather can close in quickly. A local guide, arranged through your homestay, knows the paths, the viewpoints and the stories, and the fee goes straight to the village.
