My first Himalayan Trek - This was my first Himalayan trek experience, and honestly, I couldn’t have asked for a better introduction to the mountains. What I expected to be simply a trek turned out to be an adventure, a learning experience, and in many ways, a journey of personal growth with Adventures Unlimited India. From the very beginning, Catherine, the owner, was meticulous, responsive and genuinely lovely to coordinate with. As a first-time Himalayan trekker, I had plenty of nervous questions — from what trekking gear I would need and what to pack, to how long the trek would take and what I should expect at altitude. Catherine went above and beyond to make sure I was completely prepared. The checklists, to-do lists, FAQs and constant guidance made the entire process feel organised and reassuring. The actual trek to Tonglu was an incredible experience. The trail itself takes roughly two hours, but the steep incline and rapid rise in elevation make it surprisingly challenging for a beginner. What made it enjoyable, however, was the way the trek was conducted. There was no unnecessary rush. We were given enough time to adjust to the elevation, find our rhythm and actually appreciate the surroundings instead of treating the trek as simply a race to the destination. And this is where our guide, Mr. Nikhil Joshi affectionately known as Skywalker, made an enormous difference. Skywalker is an exceptionally professional, friendly, jolly and seasoned guide. He has completely changed my perception of what a trek guide can be. He doesn't just take you from Point A to Point B; he makes the entire trail an immersive learning experience. One of the first things that fascinated me was learning about Darjeeling itself. Skywalker explained the history behind the region and how the name Darjeeling is derived from the Tibetan words Dorje (thunderbolt/diamond) and Ling (land), giving the region its historical association with the “Land of the Thunderbolt.” Walking through the mountains while understanding the history and cultural layers of the place made the landscape feel very different. His knowledge of the local ecology was equally impressive. Along the route, Skywalker introduced us to the trees, flora and fauna of the Darjeeling Himalayas, explaining the characteristics and uses of various native plants, including their traditional medicinal properties. He even spoke about the history and spread of pine trees in the region, particularly around the route leading towards Dhotre, where our trek began. Suddenly, what would otherwise have just been “trees along the trail” became an entire ecosystem with a story behind it. His passion for birdwatching was another highlight. Thanks to his sharp eye and knowledge of the local species, we managed to spot several beautiful indigenous Himalayan birds that I would almost certainly have missed on my own. Every few minutes there seemed to be something new to observe , a bird call, a plant, a particular tree or some small detail in the forest that he would point out. It made the trek feel much more alive. Our stay at Tumling was another unforgettable part of the experience. The lodge was wonderful and offered a very comfortable and memorable mountain stay. But the real highlight came after nightfall. Away from the city lights, the Himalayan sky opened up beautifully. We spent time stargazing and Skywalker introduced us to constellations such as Cassiopeia and Andromeda, explaining not only how to identify them but also the stories and mythology behind their names. Looking at the actual night sky while hearing the stories behind the constellations was one of those simple experiences that stays with you long after the trek is over. Perhaps the most unexpected part of the journey was the exposure to Tibetan Buddhist philosophy. Skywalker shared his understanding of Tibetan Buddhist thought and philosophy throughout the trek, not in a preachy way, but through conversations and ideas that genuinely gave us food for thought. Those discussions added another dimension to the trek making it not only a physical journey through the mountains, but also an opportunity to reflect, learn and look at certain things differently. What makes Skywalker particularly remarkable is the breadth of his knowledge. A product of HMI, one of India's premier mountaineering institutes, he is also a licensed alpinist, a keen student of botany, a teacher of Tibetan Buddhist philosophy, a passionate birdwatcher and an avid stargazer. Yet despite knowing so much, he remains incredibly approachable, patient and enthusiastic about sharing that knowledge. And considering everything that was included in this experience, the value for money was genuinely impressive. The entire experience cost me around ₹11,000, which I found to be an absolutely fantastic price for the level of organisation, guidance, hospitality and learning that went into the trek. For a first Himalayan trekking experience, it felt like I received far more than what I expected at that price point. By the end of the trek, I realised that I hadn't simply completed my first Himalayan trek. I had learnt about mountains, altitude, forests, birds, plants, history, culture, philosophy and the night sky all while walking through one of the most beautiful landscapes I have ever experienced. A huge thank you to Catherine and the entire Adventures Unlimited India team for making my first Himalayan trekking experience so memorable, safe and enriching. And a very special thank you to Skywalker for turning what could have been a simple trek into an adventure and learning experience that I will remember for a very long time. If this was my introduction to Himalayan trekking, I genuinely couldn't have asked for a better one. An adventure of a lifetime, exceptional value for money, and an experience I would wholeheartedly recommend.

Magical hike at the border of Nepal - Magical trek in this incredible landscape between India and Nepal. My guide Abhishek and my driver Siddharth were great, with perfect knowledge and nice talks. Catherine was also very helpful, suggesting many recommandation beyond the trek itself (hotels, restaurants, shops...).

Ezcellent walk with a great company - Our driver and knowledgable guide made this a great experience and our walk was full of interest. Catherine from Darjeeling offices helped us with more than just the walk, when we needed transport to Darjeeling, and showing flexibility with booking arrangements for this and another walk up Tiger Hill.

Superb trek - We had$an amazing day with Abhishek passing through beautiful villages looking at hills meeting local people and wonderful meal after Tonglu. What knowledge he has and shared with us.

Amazing Trek with Wonderful Team - My husband and I did a one day trek to Tonglu with Adventures Unlimited and we couldn’t be happier! The entire team was super friendly and helpful from start to finish. The trek itself was also incredible with amazing views. Abishek, our guide, was knowledgeable and easy to chat with during the trek. If you come to Darjeeling and are looking for a one-day adventure, I highly recommend choosing Adventures Unlimited!

A truly amazing day! - An all around great experience!! Catherine and the team were great to work with; prompt, clear and accommodating throughout. We did the Day trek to Tonglu in late May, and although it was a bit cloudy, our excellent guides and breathtaking surroundings gave us an unforgettable experience. From the moment we were picked up at 7am to the time we got back at 5pm, we were well taken care of. The excellent views, meals, and conversations, as well as unexpected treats during the hike left us with grateful hearts and many stories. We were very impressed by our guide, not only his competency, but also his connections and creativity in leading the hike. Thank you Adventures Unlimited, we look forward to another trip in the future!

Adventure Unlimited was a great choice for us - We found Adventure Unlimited in trip advisor, being highly recommended. We chose them for our short 4 day visit to Darjeeling (our original main destination), and it turned out to be a great decision. First of all, they, especially Catherine was always very responsive to our inquiries and adding some advises, and drew our attention to not only Darjeeling’s famous tea and UNESCO chow chow train, but also offered other destinations such as Tibetan Buddhist Temple and the world famous Himalayas Trekking, which was totally out of our original scope. So we followed to simply fill the schedule. During the actual visit, the amazing part of them was, on our whole tour, they were so attentive and gave us several spontaneous and proactive Plan B advises. One day when we were driving from Chitrey to the next destination, happy Valley Tea Garden, we were completely stuck in the heavy traffic jam, and as if she was seeing from the sky where we are, Catherine phoned us, and quickly arranged motorbikes to get to the Tea garden just before its closing time. We were literally saved. But the main part of the tour was actually Himalayas Trekking, (not so moderate trekking as advised) to get to the peak of Tonglu. And it was definitely the summit of our visit to Darjeeling, with the magnificent Kanchenjunga Mountain of 8586m peak could be commanded right around the sun dawn time in the early morning… Unforgettable memories of the short but richly condensed 4 day visit with full of the warmth given from all the people during the visit could not be realized without considerate and charming Catherine and all the members of Adventure Unlimited. Truly recommended.