Morning walk through Samsing tea gardens
Samsing's gardens cover the hillsides around the village, with shade trees standing over neat rows of tea. Early in the morning mist lies in the valley, and the plains below appear as it clears. In the plucking season, from March to November, women work along the rows with baskets on their backs.
Follow the garden roads rather than cutting between bushes, and greet people as you pass. Ask before photographing pluckers. Your homestay can suggest a loop that ends at a tea stall or the village market.
Questions travellers ask
Good to know
When is tea plucked at Samsing?
Plucking runs from about March to November, with the first flush in spring and heavy plucking in the monsoon months. In winter the bushes are pruned and rest. Mornings are the best time to see pluckers at work.
Can I walk anywhere in the tea garden?
Stick to the garden roads and paths. The bushes, factory and workers' housing lines are private property. Ask before entering any building or taking photos of people. If staff ask you to leave an area, do so politely.
Is the Samsing tea walk hard?
No. Most routes follow gently graded roads with some climbs. Wear comfortable shoes and carry water. Allow about two hours for an easy loop, longer if you stop to watch birds or talk to people.
Also in Samsing and Suntalekhola
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