Undoubtedly the highlight of West Bengal and the gem of the country, Darjeeling is a town that resides in the Himalayan foothills in West Bengal. With a backdrop of mt. Kanchenjunga, the highest peak in India, towering over the azure sky, Darjeeling is rightly called the queen of hills. Bagdogra Airport is situated within the area in Siliguri in northern West Bengal also. Vast tea estates seem like emerald green ribbons spread across the steep mountain ridges.TheSingalila Ridge is a north-south mountain ridge running from northwestern West Bengal through Sikkim situated nearby the Nepal border. Tonglu, a small village is famous for the view of the snow-capped peaks of the Singalila Range. The Singalila National Park encompasses the Singalila ridge & Singalila range. Singalila range, as well as Singalila Ridge, is the main mountain range in West Bengal whose trek route passes by the Indo Nepal border and merges into the southern ridge of Kanchendzonga. The beautiful West Bengal has The Singalila National Park which was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1986. Singalila National Park is well connected by road. But the roads of Singalila National Parkare circular and the journey can feel like wave motion which can also give you the experience of tumling day hiking. When you aren't gazing open-mouthed at Kanchenjunga which is the world's 4th highest peak, you can decide to engage in a trek that will leave such an impact on your life that your perspective will change entirely. Can you imagine a place in India where your eyes can witness a panoramic view of 4 of the highest peaks in the world; Everest, Mt Kanchenjunga, Lhotse, Makalu? (the whole cluster of all these 4 together makes the sleeping Buddha that this trek so proudly boasts of). Three Sisters peak is between Chomolungma and Kanchenjunga. The name three Sisters peak is put probably due to similarity and clustered proximity. Slightly right from the Sleeping Buddha, other beautiful peaks of Sikkim like Kabru, Kumbhakarna, Simvo, Goeche, and Pandim are visible. These all peaks appear to be like sleeping Buddha and is quite similar to the picture of sleeping Buddha. Sleeping Buddha peak looks like the statue of sleeping Buddha built in Bangkok which is 46 meters long and covered with gold leaf. Sandakphu Phalut Trek is one of the most preferred treks India has to offer. It runs along the India and Nepal border so practically you will be moving in and out of Nepal on several occasions. Also called the trekker's wonderland, the night sky here is going to leave you awestruck. You can rejoice yourself with the Darjeeling Sikkim trip as well. Darjeeling railway station lies on UNESCO World Heritage Site which is worth visit. Red Panda, the state animal of found only in Sikkim. Some people keep them aspects anyway - especially in the Nepal side and India. Visiting North Sikkim can give you the view of Mt Everest as well. Tumling day hiking is another additional adventure to experience in a small village of Darjeeling. Most of places and spots will make you feel of the Nepal side while the visit so one can take the joy of Nepal side and India as well. All the way while trekking you will find trekkers hut during Sandakphu Trek. Once you see the mountains and trekkers hut you can assume your trek begins from there.
Sandakphu Trek Height
Sandakphu and Phalut trek elevation is encircled around 12,000 feet which is approx 2 times less than the elevation of Mt Everest hence we also call it Sandakphu Peak. The Sandakphu Phalut trek distance is approximately forty-six kilometers in length. It requires around 7 days to comfortably complete the trek along with acclimatization. This interesting trek takes across the dense forest as well. Mesmerizing View Mt Everest from Sandakphu Peak is one of the unforgettable experience for trekkers.
Sandakphu Trek Weather
The Weather is considered to be quite cold with temperatures ranging between 8 to 15 degrees centigrade from May to April while it varies from 8 to -8 from October to December duringSandakphu trek in West Bengal as being close to the Mt Everest. Although the Sandakphu trek is mesmerizing all year round if you are traveling West Bengal, the best time to do the Sandakphu Phalut trek is from mid-February to May because this part of the year there will be plenty of snow which will make the Sandakphu Phalut trek experience even more magical. You can witness most of the top highest peaks of the world covered with pristine and fresh snow duringSandakphu trek. Sandakphu phalut in June is considered to be quite relieving if you live somewhere in the plains where the temperature tends to hit half-centuries. Sandakphu trek is not preferable during the monsoon months from July to September due to moody weather in West Bengal.
Sandakphu trek Difficulty
The Sandakphu Phalut trek difficulty is considered to be moderate. Sandakphu trek has a crossover trail which starts from Jaubhari and ceases at Sepi. It is better to carry the Sandakphu phalut trek map with you because the trail is quite vast and confusing. The trail is considered to be one of the safest trails because of the kind of terrain present over here. Sandakphu trek is one of the very few high mountain expeditions which is least prone to Acute Mountain Sickness.
Best Time To visit Sandakphu Trek
Sandakphu Phalut trek is best during the winter months as there will be no humidity in West Bengal. Winters are chilly and summers are pleasant in the regions of the Sandakphu Phalut trek. The best time to do Sandakphu Phalut Trek is in October to March where there will be a blanket of snow to step upon. The wholeSandakphu trek region and the surrounding hills in the vicinity will provide a picturesque setting. You will get to witness the snow-laden ranges of some of the highest peaks in the world like Mt Everest.
Sandakphu Trek Expedition
The Sandakphu Phalut expedition with Trekmunk will be a wonderful experience for all the
wanderlusts. As per the Sandakphu trek reviews of various trekkers, Trekmunk is the best trekking
company in India that assures you of quality service and a friendly atmosphere. Sandakphu Phagut
trek cost is around 9,750 INR which will accompany all inclusions such as accommodation, food,
travel gears including trekkers hut & first aid, permit, and an experienced Sandakphu Phalut trek
guide who are well known about trek route. Book your Sandakphu trek with Trekmunk or get in touch
through call and start the trekking journey with our expert guide. We here at Trekmunk aim to
provide you with the cheapest trek while maintaining excellent services and no worry about the trek
route. Also, as far as the documents are concerned, we need to show some documents of
identification for the trekkers to the forest department officials in order to get the Sandakphu
Trek Permit. So, make sure that you carry the required documents that are asked of you after we
reach Sandakphu.
Sandakphu trek trip provides you with complete assurance to enhance your relationship with nature.
The blistering wildlife and amazing landscapes will take you on a journey to heaven while you are
on the trek route. The trek to the summit is tough but returning back from that ambiance to the
same old life will be even tougher. Known as the trekker's wonderland in West Bengal, this trek
will certainly be a lifetime experience for you. So what are you waiting for? Get ready with your
backpack and book the amazing Sandakphu and Phalut trek 2020 with us right now. Trekmunk takes care
of all so no need to worry on how to reach Sandakphu. Trek the Himalayas with Trekmunk and turn
your dream into reality. So don't think, start the trek and get in touch with trekmunk.
Trip Highlights
Moderate and simple trek to start with. This trek is good
for beginners as well as regular
trekkers, this one if for all mountain lovers.
Sandakphu is a wonderland for trekkers. Being the highest
point in West Bengal offers views of
the world's tallest peaks. This trek is done along the
border between India and Nepal. In fact,
one constantly moves in and out of Nepal during the
trek. Not to forget the sleeping Buddha
view. If this is not enough, what else do you want?
Sandakphu Phalut Trek is considered to be one of the best
winter treks in the Himalayas. It is
snow-clad from the middle of February to the middle of
April. There will be a lot of snow in
February and March but in the later season, rhododendrons
bloom and take your heart away.
Life will come to a standstill as you witness the amazing
landscapes and the snow-clad
mountains all around you.
Itinerary Details
Note: Pick up will be arranged from NJP Railway Station to Manebhanjan at 9.30 am on day 1 of your trek. The cost of each cab is approximately Rs 3,500. It will be shared among your co trekkers in the same vehicle.
The base camp is at Manebhanjan. Manebhanjan is accessible only via roadways. The nearest railway station is New Jalpaiguri. New Jalpaiguri is well connected to the metro cities via the railway network. A drive of 3-4 hours from New Jalpaiguri will take you to Manebhanjan. The approximate distance between them is 100 kilometres. The nearest airport is at Bagdogra which is located at a distance of 30 kilometres from Siliguri. You can reach New Jalpaiguri from Siliguri in 15 minutes and further take a cab or bus to Manebhanjan. The whole journey will take you on boulevards of mountain meandering through estates of tea and villages bordering India and Nepal. Manebhanjan is a small beautiful village in West Bengal. The ambience of this place is so quiet that you will be entitled to absolute peace. This is generally the initial point of the Sandakphu trek.
We will start our trek from Manebhanjan towards Tumling, which will be an 11 km trek and it usually takes 6-7 hours to complete. The next step is the journey from Manebhanjan to Tumling. The trek distance is approximately eleven kilometers and it consumes around five to six hours to reach Tumling. Tumling is at an elevation of 9,700 feet from mean sea level.
There is a steep climb lasting for a duration of 1.5 hours. Thereafter, a gradual ascent along with descent for another hour, followed by 3 hours of level walk accompanied with gradual ascents. There are approximately 3 water points namely Chittrey, Lamyadhura and Meghma which are at a duration of 1.5 hours from each other. This area has about 10-12 Nepali families living in the mountains who provide teahouse accommodations for travelers throughout the year. Along with this, there are a few private huts and lodges adding up to the services available for the trekkers and wanderlusts. You will come across a signboard indicating the way to Singalila National Park emanating right ahead. On the other side, you will find an elevated trail towards Tonglu which is another high mountain settlement.
The border between Nepal and India becomes a blur at Tumbling and you find yourself in another country after crossing a check post. Hardly any restrictions are imposed for entering the place irrespective of whether you are an Indian or a foreigner. You can witness a magnificent view of the juggernaut Kanchenjunga peak. The sunset at Tumling is so serene, you will want to capture it in your memory and take back home. This will mark the end of day 2. We will have our dinner and have an early sleep.
On this day we will trek from Tumling to Kalipokhri, which will be a 14 km trek and it usually takes 6-7 hours to complete. From Tumling, we need to march towards Kalipokhri. Kalipokhri is at an elevation of 10,400 feet. The trek distance is around 14 kilometers and it takes around six to seven hours to reach Kalipokhri.
There is a gradual ascent lasting for a duration of 1.5 hours. Thereafter, a 40-minute descent followed by steep ascent for an hour from Garibas which is again followed by an easy descent. A level walk continues for the remaining 2 hours of trek. There are approximately 2 water points namely Garibas and Kaiyakatta which are at a duration of 2 hours from each other.
Here you will come across the elegant Sleeping Buddha drenched in the first ray of the sun. The glimpse is so sublime that it will keep you awestruck for a moment. The complete family of Kanchenjunga unveils itself if the sky is clear. The journey towards Kalipokhri advances through the stunning forests of Singalila National Park. The forests are well known for its diverse flora colors and along with the flowers, your heart also tends to blossom. You will come across a lot of water bodies and vibrant tiny flowers throughout the trail. The lush green patches along with a variety of flora will transmit to you another world. Thereafter you will come across steep ascend. The trail tends to get greener and greener as you ascend. This beautiful scenery and serenity of the place will surely restrict your return back into the chaotic world. After reaching the campsite, we will continue with the dinner and then get back into the world of wonderland.
We will be trekking to Sandakphu on this day from Kalipokhri. This trek is a 6.5 Kms stretch and usually takes 3-4 hours to complete. The main ascent of the trek is from Kalipokhri to Sandakhphu. The trek distance is 6.5 kilometers and it demands around three to four hours for the ascent. Sandakhphu is at an elevation of approximately 12,000 feet above mean sea level. This is the highest point of the whole trek.
The trail from Kalipokhri to Sandakphu is considered to be an easy one. There is initially a gradual ascent followed by a steeper climb. You can replenish your water needs at Bhagsa and Bikheybhanjang, both of which arrive during the first hour of the trail. With the arrival of the flat land, you will be exposed to the panoramic view of the mighty Sandakhphu summit. Another 4 kilometers of zig-zag ascend will let to the top of the summit. From here, you can catch stunning glimpses of the snow-capped mountain peaks of Makalu, Mount Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse and many more. The temperature here surrenders to less than zero after sunset making it very cold for survival. A dizzy mobile network sometimes persists at the highest point in Sandakphu.
The overwhelming feeling of being on the top of the world will certainly take you by surprise. It will feel like a dream unless someone pinches you on your body. A feeling of immersing yourself into the magnificence of nature will surely accumulate your body with an immediate adrenaline rush. Life will come to a standstill witnessing the amazing landscapes snow-clad mountains all around you. Every single soul returns back with a happy heart and a self promise to attempt newer and higher treks again and again.
From Sandakphu we will trek to Sabargram/Mole, this stretch of the trek will be 14 Kms and usually requires about 7-8 hours to complete. The trail is very long and this is why we need to start as early as possible. After the completion of an early breakfast, we will set out on our journey from the Sandakphu campsite to Sabargram/Mole Camp. We need to carry sufficient water from Sabargam/Mole as the water sources are not profound throughout this trail. Sabargram/Mole consists of an open pond near the Forest Post. We need to replenish our water sources at this water point.
The trail emanates with a gradual descent accompanied by a combination of steep and gradual ascents along with level walks. You will come across rocky paths lined up with gravel roads along with a few muddy segments. There is a thick covering of forests. The chirping of mountain birds feels wonderful to the ears. The whole trail is aligned with alpine berries and rhododendron. The red blooming rhododendrons will certainly fill your heart with joy.
This trail proves to the longest and toughest of all the other trails. Generally, the trail gets tricky when the rain pours. You can witness amazing snow-capped mountains throughout the trail. The beautiful sunrise amidst these awe-striking mountain peaks is quite alluring. Words fall short to describe the exquisite landscapes and scenery of this place.
We will trek to Gorkhey on this day from Sabargram/Mole. This stretch of the trek will be 21 Kms and usually takes 5-6 hours to complete. On route will be Phalut which has a zig-zag trail from Sabargram. You are entitled to grab the best view of Kanchenjunga on this trail from Sabargram/Mole to Phalut. Phalut is a very small grassland with very less or empty vegetation. It is so small that it contains only an SSB Post and a guest house which has the maximum accommodation limit of 8 people. Even though it is a remote location, this place assures the best panoramic view of the entire setting.
We need to start early as we have to make a long descend from Sabargram to Gorkhey. The trail is around 17 kilometers and it takes a long walk to get along with the descent. Gorkhey is at an elevation of 7,546 feet from mean sea level. This is one of the longest trails in the whole Sandakphu trek but the descent makes it less exhausting.
The difficulty level is moderate with an initial descent accompanied by a combination of gradual ascents till Phalut. Thereafter, leveled walks to Gorkhey precedes except for the last hour of a steep descent. You are advised to carry 2 liters of water from the last campsite. You can refill your bottles from a stream adjacent to Phalut.
The cool breeze during the descent is quite pleasurable and helps in refreshment after a long ascent. The composition of flora and fauna amidst the forested land has a tranquil impact on the minds of travelers. You will come across many alluring landscapes. You will certainly be amazed at the astounding beauty of this place.
On this day we will trek to Sepi, this stretch of the trek is about 15 km and takes 5-6 hours to complete. Once reaching Sepi, we will either depart to NJP(6 Hours) or Darjeeling(3 hours). Sepi is at an elevation of 6,230 feet from mean sea level.
The trail is basically easy consisting of level walks with patches of ascents and descents. You need to carry a sufficient amount of water. An hour into the trek, you will reach Ramam where you can refill your water demand. A break can be taken at the teahouse adjacent to the SSB Post at Ramam. You will come across bamboo forests where Red Pandas and Bears are found. After crossing the serene Sri river, we will finally reach Sepi.
The last step is a drive from Sepi to New Jalpaiguri. The distance from Sepi to New Jalpaiguri is around 140 kilometers and it consumes around 5 hours of time. The whole journey is a tiresome one but the beauty and magnificence of this journey will shape your thoughts into something new. You will reach New Jalpaiguri by evening. Plan your further stay at a hotel or return back as per your convenience. If you plan to stay, you can visit Siliguri and advance further to sightseeing at Darjeeling.
Sandakphu trek is a perfect getaway to throw out all the stresses of life and fall in love with the beautiful nature. This trek will ensure you a sharp contrast to your habits and culture. One can easily connect to himself and come back rejuvenated. You end up discovering your inner self that was long lost in the chaos of the lives in cities.
How To Reach
We can arrange a cab for you from the pickup point in Bagdogra Airport/NJP Railway Station, the charges for the same are not included in the package. The cost of the cab can be shared among the trekkers joining the trek. For communications purposes, we will create a Whatsapp Group before the departure date of the trek and will share the details regarding the transportation. The drop at Bagdogra Airport/NJP Railway Station after the trek will be arranged in a similar way.
How to reach Sandakphu Trek Base Camp (Manebhanjan) :
By Air
The nearest airport is at Bagdogra airport which is located at a distance of 30 kilometers
from Siliguri. You can take a cab to Manebhanjan.
By Train
The nearest railway station is New Jalpaiguri. New Jalpaiguri is well connected to the metro
cities via the railway network, from where frequent buses and cabs are available. You will
have to take a cab to Manebhanjan.
By Road
New Jalpaiguri/Siliguri is accessible from the other parts of the country via the National
Highway. The New Jalpaiguri bus stand has a sufficient network of public buses available from
Kolkata. You can take a cab to Manebhanjan.
Inclusions
- To and Fro economy class air trave
- Travel by comfortable A/c or Non A/c coach / Vehicle as per the tour itinerary
- Entrance fees of all sightseeing places to be visited from inside
- Accommodation in comfortable and convenient hotels
- All Meals – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (set menu) as mentioned in the itinerary
- All Tips – Guide, Driver & Restaurants
Exclusions
- Govt Tax of 5.00% over and above the Tour Cost mentioned
- Any applicable new taxes from Government
- Any upgradation in Airline class or hotel room category
- Any extra expense such as route change, Airline change, Date change, Accommodation facilities, etc incurred due to the unforeseen, unavoidable forced majeure circumstances during the tour
- Porterage (coolie charges), laundry, telephone charges, shopping, wines & alcoholic beverages, mineral water, items of personal nature and food or drink which is not part of a set group menu
- Any extra cost incurred on behalf of an individual due to illness, accident, hospitalisation, or any personal emergency