The perfect preamble to any visit to Darjeeling is the journey up from the plains on the 19th century toy train. Steam locomotives still haul some of the services trundling up and down the narrow-gauge line, which affords wonderful vistas of forested foothills and the distant Himalayan peaks. We generally recommend clients take the morning departure to Ghum station, during which you’ll experience a cross-section of terrain, from conifers to tea plantations.