Tea · Mirik
Tea slopes and orange orchards
Walk out of Mirik along the estate roads into the tea gardens and, in winter, the orange orchards. Watch plucking in season, buy fruit from growers, and see how the valley lives off the land.
Mirik's valley is ringed by tea estates such as Thurbo and Soureni, with Gopaldhara higher up, and orange orchards fill the warmer pockets below. Estate roads leave the town in several directions and make good walks.
In the plucking season, March to November, you will see pluckers at work and leaf being carried to the weighing points. From November to January, orange trees around the villages are heavy with fruit, and families sell it from their doors.
Go with a local guide or ask your hotel which roads are open to walkers. Keep to roads and paths, ask before photographing workers, and never pick tea or fruit.
Cost: Free · guide ₹600–1,000
Questions people ask
Good to know
Which tea gardens are near Mirik?
Thurbo, Soureni, Gopaldhara, Singbulli, Okayti and Phuguri are among the estates around Mirik. Some sit right on the road from Siliguri, with the Tingling and Soureni viewpoints overlooking their slopes. Factory visits depend on each estate's rules; ask locally.
When are oranges in season around Mirik?
From about November to January, peaking in December. Orchards in the lower, warmer parts of the Mirik valley produce the well-known Darjeeling mandarin. Buy from growers for the best price and freshest fruit.
Can I walk into the tea gardens at Mirik?
You can walk the estate roads and public paths. Do not walk between the bushes or pick leaves, and ask before entering factory areas. A local guide can show you routes that are open and explain the work.
