A night at Guras Kunj on the Barsey ridge

Guras Kunj is the clearing at the top of the Hilley trail, and its trekkers' lodge lets you stay inside the sanctuary overnight. Travel reports describe simple rooms, shared facilities and meals of rice, dal and vegetables, with tariffs that have run roughly ₹600–900 per person with meals in past seasons; budget ₹800–1,500 for 2026 and confirm before you go. There has been no grid electricity or mobile signal on the ridge, so bring a torch and a power bank.

The reward is light. Evening cloud often clears from the valleys, the range turns gold at sunset, and at dawn Kangchenjunga stands above the forest with almost nobody else around. Nights are cold: near freezing from November to March and around 5 °C in April and May. Bring a warm jacket, hat, gloves and thermals; a sleeping-bag liner adds comfort.

Booking is by phone through the lodge operators or through us, and spring weekends fill up. Arrive at Hilley by early afternoon to walk up in daylight. If anyone feels breathless, dizzy or nauseous at night, walk down to Hilley in the morning rather than staying a second night. Carry out all your rubbish; there is no collection on the ridge.