homestay · Okhrey, Pelling
Sherpa Lodge
budget
Okhrey's homestays grew out of the rhododendron season, when walkers come for the Hilley–Barsey trail between March and May. Sherpa Lodge is one of the established places here, run by a Sherpa family, with wood-panelled rooms that stay warm on cold nights and a dining room where dinner is whatever the kitchen cooked that evening: rice, dal, a local green, perhaps a chicken curry, and tea on tap.
The value is in the arrangements as much as the room. The family can book a car for the 30-minute run to Hilley, tell you which days the sanctuary trail is crowded, and point you to the village monastery for an evening walk. Expect simple comforts, a bucket of hot water when the geyser struggles, and a quiet you will not find in Pelling. Bring a torch and a book.
Why we like it
- Base for the Hilley–Barsey walk, about 30 minutes by road from Hilley
- Home-cooked meals and a family that arranges local transport
- Far cheaper and quieter than staying in Pelling during rhododendron season
Watch out for
It is a village homestay: hot water and electricity can be patchy, and in peak bloom weeks (late March–April) rooms fill fast.
Questions people ask
Good to know
How do I reach Sherpa Lodge in Okhrey
From Siliguri take a shared jeep or SNT bus to Jorethang, then a shared jeep towards Sombaria and Okhrey; the whole run is about 130 km and 5–6 hours. A reserved car from NJP costs far more but saves the change at Jorethang. Ask the lodge to confirm the last jeep timings, which change with the season.
Is Okhrey better than Hilley for the Barsey walk
Okhrey has more homestays and a proper village around you, while Hilley is the actual trailhead. Most people stay in Okhrey, drive 30 minutes to Hilley early, walk 4 km to Barsey and return the same day or stay a night at the Guras Kunj hut. Okhrey gives you more choice of rooms and food.
When is the best time to stay in Okhrey
Mid-March to late April for the rhododendron bloom on the Barsey ridge, and October to December for clear views of Kangchenjunga and the Singalila range. January and February are cold but quiet and cheap. The monsoon months, June to September, bring leeches, cloud and slippery village roads.
Packages
Packages that can use this stay
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