'Fixed departures' are assured departures that will start on the given date as per the given itinerary.
• Altitude: 6,400 ft
The journey to the beautiful Sandakphu trek begins today. Our team will pick you up from NJP Railway Station and you will be driven towards Sepi, which will be the base camp for your Sandakphu-Phalut trek. It is an uphill drive of about 130 km to the base camp and takes about 7 hrs. You will be passing through the native tea estates of Darjeeling and Sikkim as you drive towards Sepi. Momos and delicious Thukpa is a delicacy that you must surely try along the way. They are simply mouth-watering. En route, your first stop will be Mirik, which is also a popular tourist destination in West Bengal. This picturesque and quaint hill station is located in the serene hills of the Darjeeling district. The climate and natural beauty of Mirik attract a lot of tourists here. We will reach Mirik at around 1:00 clock in the afternoon, where we will have our lunch. Try the local delicacies, they are simply great! After your lunch, we will resume our journey again towards Sepi, which is your base for the trek and is definitely also a very pretty campsite. The greenery surrounding Sepi makes it look very beautiful and feel pretty close to nature here. Srikhola spring also cus through the village of Sepi, which adds to the beauty of the landscape. En route to Sepi, you will also cross some charming villages like Rimbik, Sukhipokhri, and Dhotrey as well. The more you travel uphill, the more tranquil it becomes with no noise of bustling city life all around you. Your accommodation for today will be arranged in a homestay. So, enjoy the hospitality and rest well as you begin tomorrow.
Meals: D
Accommodation: Teahouse
• Altitude: 7,545 ft
• Altitude gain: 1295 ft
Wake up and lace up your trekking boots, today we are going to start our trek towards Sandakphu. Starting the day early, its a considerably easy walk till Ramam with a gradual ascent and some steep sections. Maintain a steady pace and rest a few moments if needed. Ramam is approximately 3.5 km away from the Sepi campsite. The trail here is a constructed route for most parts and you will notice several cut fields and tiny dwellings on the way. Take a short break at Ramam if you need to and then we will head on towards Samanden. As you move out of Ramam, the trail becomes more secluded with the huts disappearing and the forest trail starting to open up. Walking through the quiet forest with the sound of nature all around you is a great experience in itself. The Singalila Range is quite popular for its abundance of greenery and you can now feel the same. For about 6 km you will traverse through the forests until you arrive at a bridge. After the bridge, its a steep climb for 15 minutes or so, following which you will arrive at a zone where there are stone benches, each dedicated to locals that have passed away. The locals made these benches with the kind intention that those who have passed away can serve the passersby even after their death by providing them with a place to rest. From this point on, the trail begins to ease out a bit for a few minutes post which you arrive at a clearing dotted with wooden huts and farmlands. This is the beautiful Samanden village. Samanden has a very picturesque setting and the locals here are very friendly Chat up with the locals and hear their interesting stories and you will also be greeted with incredible hospitality. The simplicity and the tranquility of the place may take you by surprise. A couple of kilometers more and you will arrive at the Gorkhey campsite. Gorkhey is a small village situated in the northern part of West Sikkim and is pretty close to the state border. Gorkhey is an ideal location to halt for the night before we continue on our Sandakphu trek.
Meals: B, L, D
Accommodation: Teahouse
• Altitude-11450 ft
• Altitude Gain-3905 ft
Start your trek early in the morning from forkhey towards Phalut. It is about 15 km from Gorkhey. The beautiful Gorkhey Khola flows through the village of Gorkhey after which it is named, it is a tributary of the Ramam River Crossing this picturesque setting we will head on towards Phalut. You will again cover long sections of forested trails today, be prepared as you have to continue ascending for a long distance and at some points, the ascent can be pretty steep. You may spot plenty of Oaks and Rhododendrons on the forested path. Maintain a steady pace along the trek. It takes about 5 tus to reach Phalut. Phalut is one of the highest peaks of the Singalila Range, it is the second highest point after Sandakphu Ridge. To reach from Gorkeby to Phalut, you also need to get permits, which can be acquired from the Gorkhey check post. En route to Phalut, you will get to see the Singalila Range from up close and you will get to see a stunning view of the Kanchenjunga Massif as well. The closer you get to Phalut the more beautiful the landscape gets. At 11,450 m Phalut offers stunning mountain views. Your stay is arranged in camps and after a delicious dinner, you will rest under the canopy of a million Keep in mind that Phalut does not have electricity and everything runs on the solar panel, so keep extra batteries and power banks with you for your gadgets.
Meals: B, L, D
Accommodation: Camp
• Altitude 11217 ft
• Altitude Less-233 ft
The next day we will start our journey towards Thakum. If you didn't know Thakum campsite is located in Nepal, so we will be skirting the Indo-Nepal border into Nepal Thakum is a beautiful valley that falls on the way to Sandakphu between Sabargram and Sandakphu and has a very soothing and relaxing vibe with beautiful meadows and a picturesque siting. En route to Thakum, you may spot some Yaks grazing in the meadows and you have crossed the Indo-Nepal border into Nepal. Although it is a remote and unknown location, the views here are stunning and extremely admirable. The route to Thakum is also lined with a thicket of Rhododendron trees. Sleeping Buddha formation stays in the backdrop as you cross some abandoned huts and cattle grounds. From Thakum, several routes branch into Nepal. This is your campsite for the night. We will pitch our tents here and rest for the night.
Meals: B, L, D
Accommodation: Camp
• Altitude-11600 ft.
• Altitude Gain-383 ft.
From Thakum, you will have to take the route that branches into the southwest direction towards Aal. Aal is the closest campsite to Sandakphu summit and is set in a scenic location. Today's trek is not as tiring as other days and the trail is extremely today. A few kilometers ahead of Thakom lies the Aal campsite, which offers a very beautiful view of the Kanchenjunga Ranges and the adjacent peaks. Enjoy hot lunch at the Aal campsite today and you have the evening to spend at your leisure exploring the area. From Thakom its about an 11 km walk to Aal. Follow the hiking trail and it lead you to the Aal campsite. On a clear day, you can see stunning views of the Sleeping Buddha foration. You will be staying in tents in Aal and you can see beautiful Himalayan views from here. You are still in Nepal territory and as you move towards Sandakphu you will again move to Indian territory. Rest well in Aal and tomorrow we will trek to Sandakphu.
Meals: B, L, D
Accommodation: Camp
• Altitude-6560 ft
• Sandakphu Altitude -11930 ft.
• Altitude Gain-330 ft.
• Altitude less-3700 ft.
The stretch from Aal to Timbure is about 14 km. As we start from Aal after 3 km we will reach Sandakphu. We start early in the morning so that you can watch the sunrise from the top of Sandakphu. It is one of the prettiest sights we will ever see. The first rays of sun over the snow-capped sleeping buddha cover it in an alpenglow that is way too beautiful to be described in words. Watching the sunrise at Sandakphu and spending some time at the summit we will head towards Timburey, our next campsite. From Sandakphu it is about 10km to Timburey and takes about 4 hours to complete. As you head towards Timburey, Gurdum is the first village that you will come across. Gurdum is a postcard perfect village with only 4 to 5 dwellings. It is one of the remote Himalayan villages Surrounded by forests and Himalayan mountains, Gurdum also offers a private stay for tourists in its scenic setting. Timburey is not far from here. After trekking for another 3 km you will arrive at Timburey, your campsite for the night. There are also a couple of home stays here and we will be staying at one of the local tea houses.
Meals: B, L, D
Accommodation: Teahouse
• Altitude Less
This is the last day of your trekking and also the last day in the mountains. Your beautiful journey to Sandakphu ends today. From Timburey, we start our trek towards Srikhola again. Its a 3 km descent to Srikhola and takes about an hour. Once we reach Srikhola road-head, a vehicle will be waiting for you that will drive you back to NJP Railway Station. These are the same roads that you came in at the start of your journey. Reminisce about the mountains as you head back onwards on your journey. taking back with you wonderful memories of Sandakphu.
Meals: B
We are Trek The Himalayas, India’s leading Himalayan trekking company founded in 2010. With over a decade of experience we expertise in trek leading, mountaineering expeditions, cycling tours and other adventure activities. We organise trekking and peak climbing expeditions in Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Sikkim. Our qualified and experienced team of local guides, trek/expedition leaders and cooks are known for their dedicated work in the mountains. We have been organizing treks, and mountaineering. We are the local leader for Himalayan trips throughout the entire India Himalayas.
From the greenest beginner to the sharpest professional adventure travellers, we can get you where you want to go and assure you our best trip.
A. Booking Terms
1. If booked more than 30 days before the trip start date, advance of 10% of the total booking value is payable at the time of booking. Balance amount shall be paid no later than 30 days before the trip start date.
2. If booked less than 30 days prior to the trip start date, the full booking value is due at the time of booking.
3. If the due amounts are not paid as per the payment schedule, bookings shall stand cancelled.
B. Cancellation Policy
1. If cancelled more than 30 days before the trip start date, the advance shall be refunded net of a 5% transaction fee.
2. If cancelled after full payment between 30 to 15 days before the trip start date, 25% cancellation fee of the total booking value.
3. If cancelled less than 15 days prior to the trip start date, the booking amount shall not be refundable.
In the event you opt for Refundable Booking, click here to read the terms and conditions for claiming a refund.
C. Changes to and / or cancellation of trips
Itineraries shown are based on information available at the time of planning and are subject to change. The operators reserve the right to change expedition / trek / package dates, people or itineraries as conditions warrant. If a trip must be delayed or the itinerary changed due to bad weather, road conditions, transportation delays, government intervention, airline schedules, sickness, or other contingency for which the operator or its agents cannot make provision, the cost of delays and/or other changes are the responsibility of the participant. The operator reserves the right to decline, or accept, any individual as a trip member for any reason whatsoever.
*for 15 pax
If you are wondering about whether or not to embark on the Sandakphu Trek, let’s give you an overview of what you will get there. Can you name a single place on earth where you get to witness four of the five highest peaks in the world, including the Everest, Kanchenjunga, Lhotse, and Makalu, the entire Kanchenjunga cluster, Chomolhari, Three Sisters, Pandim, Kumbhakarna, and other peaks of Tibet, Bhutan, Sikkim, and Nepal in one single stretch of snow? With over 600 varieties of orchids, and rare flora like magnolias, spruce, rhododendrons, you will never want to miss this chance of embarking on this trekking wonderland, irrespective of the Sandakphu Phalut Trek cost.
Before setting out for the Sandakphu Trek, you need to hire a registered tour guide and a porter with their identity badges. If you are traveling with a licensed tour operator or travel agency, they will arrange for the tour guide and porter, and the charges will be included within the Sandakphu Trek cost. If you are going up to Tumling Tonglu, you do not need any additional documents. But suppose you are stepping inside the Singalila National Park. In that case, you need a National Park permit available from the Forest Department office stationed at Manebhanjan, from where the steep upward climb starts.
From Manebhanjan, you need to trek 32 kilometers at an average of 6 to 7 hours a day to reach Sandakphu top by 3 to 4 days. Some might consider trekking onwards to Phalut, which is a further 21 kilometers from Sandakphu. It takes an additional day of trekking on relatively more straightforward terrain. Still, it is quite a challenging task. Thus, the Sandakphu Phalut Trek demands you to be in good physical fitness. You need not have an athlete’s fitness, but you need to be reasonably fit to walk long hours with your backpacks across challenging terrain for days. Introducing a training regime that contains workout sessions at gyms and cardiovascular, endurance, and strength training could be beneficial to get you in shape for this trek. You can try doing this for a few months before you embark on this trek.
Your trekking gear list should contain everything from t-shirts for base layers, thermal inners, fleece and woolen sweaters, a regular down jacket, waterproof or quick-dry hiking pants, a pair of well-made, sturdy trekking boots, suncap, sunglasses, synthetic and fleece hand gloves, walking sticks, spare batteries, personal toiletries like biodegradable soap and toilet paper, water bottles, medicines and first-aid kit, daypack and backpack, etc. You should always keep extra numbers of your socks, underwear and keep a poncho or raincoat handy to prevent yourself from getting soaked during an unexpected downpour.
The best times to embark on the Sandakphu Trek are March to May (pre-monsoon) and September to November (post-monsoon). Planning your Sandakphu Trek itinerary during any of these seasons will be a wise thing to do.
During the trek, internet connectivity might be very feeble or absolutely nil. Hence, it would help if you kept a few contacts handy if you come face-to-face with an emergency.
- Police- 100
- Siliguri PS Control Room- +0353-2662210
- Fire- 101
- Ambulance- 102
- Medical helpline- 9830079999
- Natural calamities and disaster management- 1077 (district level)/ 1070 (state level)
- Women helpline- 1091
This trek is typically a 6-day / 5-night adventure. The first and last days are mainly spent driving to and from the starting/ending locations. For example, on the first day you are usually picked up from Bagdogra and enjoy a 5-hour scenic drive to Kopidana or Chitrey. Days 2-5 are where the exploration and hiking take place and you will make your way along the Singalila Ridge to Sandakphu and back to the starting point.
The Sandakphu trek is usually classified as easy to moderate grade trek. It is certainly not one of the hardest Indian treks available. However, we advise a decent level of physical fitness. Also, it is advised that you have some hiking experience beforehand. The maximum altitude is 12,000ft and you will trek a total of approximately 46km.
Sandakphu Phalut is indeed a trek for both beginners and seasoned trekkers. However, one should be aware that almost every day on this trek is spent hiking for long hours. It is best to start preparing for the trek by keeping fit and exercising for a few months to build stamina, especially for beginner-level trekkers.
On a scale of difficulty, Sandakphu has been ranked as a moderate trek. This is mostly because of the long days spent trekking and encountering sub-zero temperature levels on the second, third, and fourth days. No technical challenges block your way on this trail. The trek's highest point is at 3636 meters at the Sandakphu peak, so the change in height may cause Altitude Motion Sickness, which can subside after a while. However, if you've geared up properly and taken enough precautions, you have nothing to worry about.
Sandakphu remains open to tourists for 8 months of the year, from September to April. You can enjoy the bloom of rhododendrons and magnolia in the spring from March to mid-April. This is the best season for bird-watching enthusiasts.
The autumnal months of September, October, and November offer breathtaking views of golden and orange-colored landscape along with a clear blue sky. It is the best time to see the Sleeping Buddha Range of Kanchenjunga and some of the world's highest peaks – Mt. Everest, Mt. Makalu, Mt. Lhotse, and Mt. Chomo Lonzo.
In winter, the mild snowfall is quite enjoyable and does not at all block the trekking trail. Stunning sunrises and sunsets can be seen around this time, along with beautiful twilight skies. Be sure to gear up properly for whichever season you choose to trek in.
Manebhanjan, the gateway to Sandakphu, is a small town located at the height of 1928 meters. The nearest railway station here is New Jalpaiguri, and the closest airport facilities are available at Bagdogra. To reach Manebhanjan, take a cab from NJP for a 2.5-hour ride to Ghoom, which may cost you around USD 3 (INR 200), followed by catching a shared taxi to Sukhia Pokhri for USD 1 (INR 50). Shared cabs can take you to Manebhanjan from here for around USD 0.70 (INR 30). The entire journey from Ghoom to Manebhanjan will take you not more than 2 hours.
The Sandakphu Trek starts from Manebhanjan. On the first day, you will reach Tonglu at the height of 3070 meters. Continue to trek through the enchanting Singalila National Park, rich in flora and fauna, for the second day to stop at Kalipokhri at 3186 meters altitude. On the third day, you will reach the highest peak of West Bengal, Sandakphu, situated at an altitude of 3636 meters. The trek from Manebhanjan to Sandakphu covers a distance of 32 km.
To stay safe while trekking the Sandakphu trail, make sure you have packed all the necessary gear. You will be provided with a guide at Manebhanjan, and it is advisable to follow his instructions throughout the trek. If you are a woman trekking by herself, remember to carry a stock of menstrual hygiene products and stay at private lodges to access clean and hygienic toilets.
In case you are visiting Sandakphu in April, you will experience frequent rains. Take preventive measures to avoid slipping or catching a cold. In winter especially, remember to bundle up for the night as temperatures will reach sub-zero levels. Carry water-purifying tablets so that you don't get stomach troubles from the water available in this region.
The trek to Sandakphu is perfectly safe for any tourist if they are physically fit. Being a moderate trek, it does not have any technical challenges on the trail. Furthermore, several exit points are spread out along the trail, facilitating easy evacuation at any moment.
Help can easily be sought from numerous small villages and hamlets full of amicable locals dotting the trail, in case of dire need. The nearest hospitals are in Rimbik and Sukhia Pokhri, flanking the trail on both its ends.
If you are traveling from Darjeeling, it will take you around 1.5 hours to reach Manebhanjan by covering a distance of 25 km by a cab. From Manebhanjan, it is a trek of 32 km to reach the Sandakphu peak. Therefore, the total distance from Darjeeling to Sandakphu is around 57 km.
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