I sometimes think we're like hobbits going on an adventure:

"What is finer than flying?" said his eagle. Bilbo would have liked to say: "A warm bath and late breakfast on the lawn afterwards".

As we sit here, taking a leisurely afternoon tea on the veranda, my gaze drawn over the tea estate by a pair of dancing butterflies, I can't help but approve of David's analogy.

Waking up to views over the Himalayas, while trekking in Nepal, was awe-inspiring -- a great adventure, one might say -- but like hobbits we do enjoy our creature comforts, and food, neither of which are in short supply at Glenburn.

This boutique hotel is comprised of two colonial-style planter’s bungalows, set in the heart of a 1,600-acre working tea estate, and boasts five members of staff to attend every guest!

Our host Jenni attended to every whim: from a steaming hot pot of Darjeeling ‘bed tea' on awakening in morning, to a cold glass (can you believe it!) of freshly squeezed lemonade magicked up by guide on our hike down to the river... Where we were heading for an impromptu BBQ lunch. 

Our suite was delightful. Nestled between two bay windows opening onto little private balconies, our antique four poster bed was made with hand-embroidered bed linen, featuring a water lilly motif. Our opulant bathroom offered us the choice of a freestanding clawfoot bathtub -- with majestic views of the entire Singalila range -- or an enormous walk-in rain shower. I made sure I tried both. Staying in the Singalila Suite, in the Water Lilly Bungalow, was definitely a nice touch after just having completed the Singulila Ridge Trek.

Oh and the food! Mouthwatering. On arrival, we look lunch on the patio, sitting in the shade of an orange tree; the food was a welcome medetaranean feast. I haven't eaten that well in... I don't know how long. And in the evening we supped with the other guests -- a highly entertaining crowd -- in the candle-lit dining room. The homemade strawberry ice cream was scrumptious. The gin and tonic, however, (after being forced to abstain for the last month) went straight to my head. And, I almost forgot: we were catching such a late train the next day that they even packed us a picnic basket, which we found waiting for us in our chauffeured jeep.

And lastly, we can't forget the Tea. We were given a private tour of their tea estate, by the charming and enigmatic estate manager -- I know so much about tea now, it really is a science -- followed by an extensive tasting of their collection. We had so much fun.

If heaven turns out to be anything less than the Glenburn Tea Estate, I will be disappointed.