Wellness · Borong
Walk down to the Borong Tsachu in winter
A half-day outing from the village down to the hot spring on the Rangeet, a soak in the warm sulphur pools alongside local families, and the long climb back. Best in the dry winter months when the river is low and the riverside camp is busy.
The usual approach is a short drive to the road head below the village, then a downhill footpath of about 45 minutes through fields and scrub to the river. The path is steep and loose in places; good shoes matter more than fitness. Your homestay host can walk you to the start or send a neighbour along for a small fee.
At the bottom, warm water seeps from the riverbank into simple stone and cement pools, smelling faintly of sulphur. In winter you will find families who have come down for days, cooking on wood fires beside temporary huts. It is their place first: bathe modestly, keep soap and shampoo out of the pools, and do not leave litter.
Allow about an hour at the spring, then budget an hour or more for the climb back up. Carry water, a towel, a change of clothes and a small bag for your rubbish. Conditions depend on the river each year, and the pools are unusable in the monsoon; check current status before you travel.
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Questions travellers ask
Before you book
Is the Borong hot spring open all year?
In practice, no. The pools sit beside the Rangeet and are flooded from about June to September, and the river is still high in October. The spring is used mainly from December to February, with some use into March. Ask your host about conditions that year and check current status before you travel.
How hard is the walk to the hot spring?
It is short but steep: about 45 minutes down on a narrow footpath and an hour or more back up. Anyone reasonably fit can do it slowly with rests. It is not suitable for people with knee problems or for small children who need carrying. Wear shoes with grip and carry water.
Are there changing rooms at the spring?
Facilities are basic and change from year to year. Expect simple pools and perhaps a rough shelter rather than proper changing rooms or toilets. Most visitors wear a swimsuit or shorts and T-shirt under their clothes and bring a towel and a sarong or wrap to change discreetly.
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Trips that stop in Borong
Budget
Top2,100M
Borong hot spring slow trip, 5 nights
Ravangla · Borong
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