Sandakphu Trek

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Darjeeling has one of the most spectacular treks to offer along with the beauty of the hills. The charms of the Himalayan Treks along with its mysteries gradually unfold as trekkers traverse through the dense forests and verdant landscape, through miles of green-carpeted meadows and sleepy hamlets lost in time. The Sandakphu Trek is popularly known as “Sandakphu –Singalila” trek It will enable you to discover the Sublime Himalayan interiors unmarred by mankind.

The name Sandakphu means the 'Height of the Poison Plant', a direct reference to the profusion of the poisonous aconite plants that grow near the peak. The loftiest peak of the Singalila Range, Sandakphu is the culminating point of many trekking routes in the Darjeeling-Sikkim region.

It lies at an altitude of 3,636 metres, which covers a distance of 58 km from Darjeeling. Trek to Sandakphu starts from Maneybhanjan, a small town near Darjeeling. Maneybhanjan can be reached from Siliguri via Ghoom/Darjeeling. The sikkim trek begins after necessary entries in the Immigration check post and the last minute shopping and meals are over.

Sandakphu epitomizes the wild elemental grandeur of the snows. Nature here is at her pristine best, and the vista at the top is worth all the hardship endured on the way. The Sandakphu peak, “The Paradise of Trekkers” is a vantage point from where we can view four of the world's five highest peaks - Everest, Kanchenjunga, Makalu and Lhotse in a continuous snow-clad arc.

Sandakphu is resplendent with the eternal beauty of Magnolias, Rhododendrons, and other sub-alpine flowers. It also contains more than 600 varieties of orchids, which is the largest in a single geographical area in the world. Maneybhanjan, at an altitude of 2134 meters is the gateway to the Sandakphu region. You can visit Sandakphu at any time of the year. The monsoon months of July-August is not suggested.

Day 01 :

Delhi to Darjeeling (2134m).

Fly Delhi to Bagdogra airport and drive 2-3 hrs through the tea estates to Darjeeling.

Overnight hotel.

Day 02:

Drive Darjeeling to Manibhanjan (2150m) and trek to Jaubari (2750m)

1 hr drive and 5-6 hrs trek.

The walk starts from Manibhanjan and continues past several small settlements up to the Tonglu (3020m), located in dense forest overlooking the entire Darjeeling hills. From Tonglu we continue along the rhododendron covered ridges to Jaubari, just inside the Nepal border, to gain our first uninterrupted views of the eastern Himalaya.

Day 03:

Jaubari – Kalpokhri (2950m) – Sandakphu (3580m) 6-7 hrs

From Jaubari descend to Gairbas (2620m) before a long, gradual ascent to the small lake and settlement at Kalpokhri . From here it is a 2 hour walk up to the ridge and the trekkers’ huts at Sandakphu.

Day 04 :

Sandakphu – Phalut (3600m) 6-7 hrs

A long but easy stretch with gradual ascents and descents. A walk of four to five hours through rhododendrons and then for a couple of hours over treeless mountain slopes to reach Phalut, the meeting place of three ridges coming from India, Nepal and Sikkim. It provides a spectacular view of Everest and Kangchenjunga.

Day 05 :

Phalut – Raman (2560m) 5-6 hrs

From Phalut the day starts with a steep descent through dense forest to reach Ramam river; cross it by a bridge then climb through rhododendron, oak and pine forest to Raman village (2560m).

Day 06 :

Ramam – Rimbik (2280m) 5-6 hrs

Its almost a 9-10km level walk till Shirokhola, cross the river by a bridge and then climb steeply for about a km. Another almost level walk of about 3km leads to Rimbik

Day 07 :

Drive Rimbik – Darjeeling (2134m) 5-6 hrs

Rimbik to Darjeeling is a drive of about 5 hrs. Alternatively you can walk for about 25km up to Bijanbari and then drive from there.

Day 08 :

Darjeeling to Delhi

Drive 2-3 hrs from Darjeeling to Bagdogra, visit a tea garden enroute and fly to Delhi.

Package Includes: