Sandakphu and Phalut Trek [Premium]

• Day 1 - Arrival at Bagdogra (IXB) & transfer to Mane Bhanjang 
• Day 2 - Trek to Tumling from Mane Bhanjang
• Day 3 - Trek to Kalapokhri from Tumling
• Day 4 - Trek to Sandakphu from Kalapokhri
• Day 5 - Trek to Phalut from Sandakphu
• Day 6 - Trek to Gorkhey from Phalut
• Day 7 - Trek to Srikhola from Gorkhey
• Day 8 - Travel to Darjeeling
• Day 9 - Departure from Darjeeling to home city

Sandakphu Phalut Trek Itinerary:

Day 1: Mane Bhanjang

Travel Distance: 80+ km
Time Taken: 3-4 hr
Altitude: 1928 m / 6,325 ft
Accommodation: Hotel/Lodge stay
Meals Included: Dinner at the Hotel/Lodge

Today you arrive in Bagdogra and you are driven to Maneybhanjang where you will rest and get acclimatised to the altitude. 

Day 2: Tumling

Trek Distance: 13 km
Time Taken: 5-6 hr
Altitude: 2,970 m / 9,744 ft
Accommodation: Hotel/Lodge stay
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, tea & snacks, and dinner

You have an early breakfast today and complete all required formalities to enter the Singalila National Park. Once you do that, you start your trek towards Tumling. The climb here is steep with a short trail to Chittrey. You keep climbing for one and half hours from Chittrey and reach a small village called Meghma. The trail from Meghma flattens out and is relatively easy. From Meghma it is a two-hour long easy walk to the village of Tumling. You arrive in Tumling and rest for the day. 

Day 3: Kalipokhri

Trek Distance: 12 km
Time Taken: 6-7 hr
Altitude: 3,186 m / 10,453 ft
Accommodation: Hotel/Lodge stay
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, tea & snacks, and dinner

On day 3, you will see that your trek is relatively easy as you walk majorly on flat ground, your destination being Singalila National Park check post. But before you start your trek, you must make sure you don't miss out on the beautiful sunrise from your hotel. The sleeping Buddha gets drenched in early morning sun rays gleams sublime across the sky. If you're lucky and if the skies are clear, this is a perfect opportunity to see the entire Kanchenjunga range and the mighty Mt. Kanchenjunga Peak along with Kumbhakarna and Shimbo peaks in the background. You also get a good glimpse of Goechala trek somewhere along the trail, one of the popular Himalayan treks in Sikkim. 

We start the trek with a walk to Singalila National Park check post. From here we cross over into Nepal through a motor road and reach Gairibas, via Jaubair, both villages in Nepal. Garibas is approx 5 km from Tumling.

You'll notice that Gairibas is a small village with a few hotels and guest houses on the Nepal side. Towards the right hand side is India with its SSB camp and the Singalila National Park Entry check post. You will take a break here to finish the necessary formalities to enter the Singalila National Park to proceed with the trek.   

Once you take a break and are ready to trek again, you start proceeding towards Kaiyakatta which is 2 Km from Gairibas. The trail to Kaiyakatta includes a 1.5 Km steep climb with steps that have been cut out into the mountain for trekkers. Once you reach the top, you will have to descend for about 10 minutes and you will reach Kaiyakatta. This is where you will break for some hot lunch. 

Your final destination of Kalipokhri is about 4 Km from Kaiyakatta. And from Kaiyakatta you take the motor road, vehicles are not allowed to pass through this stretch. You will encounter various species of birds on this trail and after 1.5-2 hours of trek you will reach a lake which is surrounded by Buddhist Prayer flags. This is your destination for the day Kalipokhri which loosely translates to black lake. You'll see a beautiful Buddhist temple on the other end of the lake and this is where you would be standing on the border between India and Nepal. 

You'll hike a little further from the Black lake to where your tea house is located. Spend the night at the tea house.

Day 4: Sandakphu

Trek Distance: 7 km
Time Taken: 3-4 hr
Altitude: 3,636 m / 11,930 ft
Accommodation: Hotel/Lodge stay
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, tea & snacks, and dinner

The trek on Day 4 to Sandakphu is relatively shorter as compared to the previous day's treks, however, you gain an incredible altitude in one day which is why trekkers need to be sufficiently fit for this trek. The trail today starts off with a gradual ascent for about 30 minutes which is then followed by a steep climb for about one hour post that you trek on a motor road. This whole stretch is about 6 Km long 

Once you reach the flat road of Bikheybhanjang you'll get a good glimpse of the Sandakphu summit which is about 4 Km ahead. The route is a good zig zag trail all the way up.

After about an hour long climb, you start seeing the huts and teahouses and Sandakphu on the horizon. You continue trekking to the summit from this point, you get a splendid 180° view of Sleeping Buddha and other highest peaks in the world such as Mt. Everest, Mt. Makalu, Mt. Lhotse, Mt. Nuptse, Baruntse, Chamling, Chomolonzo, Machapucchare, extending to the Annapurna family of peaks broadening out to the West. You stay overnight at a teahouse/hotel today. 

Day 5: Phalut

Trek Distance: 21 km
Time Taken: 7-8 hr
Altitude: 3,595 m / 11,795 ft
Accommodation: Dormitory stay
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, tea & snacks, and dinner

Wake up early this morning today just to view the sunrise from the Sandakphu summit. Trust us when we say this is one sunrise you do not want to miss. The sunrise from Sandakphu will probably be one of the best that you've ever witnessed before. If you're lucky and if the skies are clear, you can get a panoramic view of a whopping 300 Km Himalayan belt all the way from Sikkim to Nepal and Bhutan! Now that's a view worth climbing for!

Once you take in the view and complete your breakfast, you then start trekking towards Phalut. The trek to Phalut is a long one but it is relatively easy with gradual ascents and descents here and there. It will take you approximately 7-8 hours to reach Phalut while passing through Rhododendron forests and mountain slopes. You'll also reach a ridge where India, Sikkim and Nepal meet. Enjoy the view of Mt. Everest and the Mt. Kanchenjunga range. 

You'll stay overnight at the local dormitory. 

Day 6: Gorkhey

Trek Distance: 15 km
Time Taken: 4-5 hr
Altitude: 2,347 m / 7,700 ft
Accommodation: Hotel/Lodge stay
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, tea & snacks, and dinner

They say - there's never two sunrises that are alike. So, wake up early today to catch a glimpse of the sunrise from Phalut. It will be the last such sunrise you will catch on this trail. Phalut is located further North East than Sandakphu and considering this, you are actually closest to the mighty Mt. Kanchenjunga than you will ever be. So enjoy the views one last time before having your breakfast.

Once you finish your breakfast, you start trekking (descending) to Gorkhey through Bamboo and Rhododendron forests into Gorkhey which sits at an altitude of 2,400 m. The village is absolutely picturesque and Instagram-worthy. There's the Gorkhey river which flows beside the village and interestingly, this is the border between West Bengal and Sikkim. You stay the night in Gorkhey. 

Day 7: Srikhola

Trek Distance: 16 km
Time Taken: 4-5 hr
Altitude: 2,103 m / 6,900 ft
Accommodation: Hotel/Lodge stay
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, tea & snacks, and dinner

On Day 7 you start your day with a trek up a small hill nearby which takes you to another village called Samandin. This village is set on a table-top and looks like a painting. You now start descending into another village called Rammam and from here you further descend in a cobbled path and descend for about an hour to reach your destination for the day Srikhola at 1900 m. Srikhola also known as Sirikhola is a place named after a mountain stream which also has the same name (the word khola means stream). You stay overnight at Srikhola. 

Day 8: Darjeeling

Travel Distance: 60+ km
Time Taken: 3 hr
Altitude: 2,042 m / 6,699 ft
Accommodation: 3-star hotel stay
Meals Included: Breakfast at the Hotel/Lodge

On Day 8 you trek to Darjeeling which marks the end of your trek. From Srikhola a suspension cable bridge connects to Maneybhanjan which then has a motor road which leads to Darjeeling. 

You reach Darjeeling and check into a 3-star hotel and stay the night there. 

Day 9: Darjeeling

Altitude: 2,042 m / 6,699 ft

Travel Distance: 70+ km
Time Taken: 3 hr

Day 9 is when your Sandakphu and Phalut trek comes to an end. You will be transferred to Bagdogra Airport from here you will take your flight back to your home town. 

Trek Insurance

Trekking in the Himalayas comes with its own set of risks. While adventure is fun and can be extremely thrilling, nature can be unpredictable, and to help secure you during your trek, it is of utmost importance that you are covered with insurance.

We've gone a step ahead and made sure that you don't have to worry about scouting for the best insurance option out there. When you trek with us, your insurance comes as a part of your inclusions. To know more about the benefits covered and sum insured, click here.

Risk and Liability 

We will endeavour to make your program smooth and as pleasant as possible. However, the entire course of trekking depends on the ranges of the mighty mountains, physical health, and environmental conditions. Therefore, TrekNomads shall not be responsible for any changes in the itineraries due to unavoidable circumstances and natural disasters such as landslide, road blockage, flood, snowing, cancellation of flight and delay, any types of sickness including altitude sickness

Fitness Criteria

High-altitude/Himalayan treks require every participant to maintain a certain form of physical fitness that will help them trek with ease. A good fitness regime followed by a healthy diet can help you get fit for a Himalayan/high-altitude trek. However, it is advised that you consult with your doctor and then participate in a Himalayan/high-altitude trek.

• Begin your training about 6 weeks before your departure
• Focus on building your stamina through Aerobics, Running, Stair Climbing, Swimming or Cycling about 3 - 4 times a week
• Build your core strength with resistance training through Squats, Lunges, Hip Hinging, Step Ups, Planks at least 3- 4 times a week
• Work on developing a breathing rhythm and expanding your lung capacity with deep breathing and Yoga
• As your trek approaches, head out on smaller treks to help you acclimatise yourself
• Don't miss out on exercising if you can help it, even a 30-minute workout regime followed religiously can take you a long way.

Do’s and Don’ts:

• We believe in leaving the mountains in a better condition, which is why we follow a no-litter policy on our treks. Each trekker will have to bring back the waste that is created during the trek.
• Trekking is best enjoyed when you’ve worn comfortable clothes. Try to avoid wearing Jeans, bright colours and heavy apparels as much as possible.
• A lighter backpack always helps you have a better trek, try and carry just as much as needed.
• Always be in sight of your trek lead, if you feel the need to stop for any reason at all, please keep the trek lead informed.
• If you do come across any reptiles, animals or even insects during the trek, please keep your calm and let it patiently pass by. Any kind of noise and panic will scare them as well.
• Do not venture out into the forest/waterfalls on your own as it may be dangerous.
• Trekking is a good adventure, having said that, it is our primary responsibility to take good care of ourselves and be compassionate towards fellow trekkers
• If, at any point, during the trek, you feel uneasy or unwell, please inform the trek lead immediately
• Tune in to the sounds of nature while on a trek and avoid carrying speakers or playing music during the course of the trek
• To help you enjoy the trek to the fullest, we avoid smoking and consumption of alcohol, and other intoxicants during the course of the trek