• 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 Srikhola from Sandakphu
• Day 6 - Travel to Darjeeling
• Day 7 - Sightseeing in Darjeeling
• Day 8-  Departure from Darjeeling to home city

Sandakphu 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 acclimatized 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 sandakphu trek route 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 campsite. 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 the 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 guesthouses 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 pay the entry fee 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: 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 5, the last day of the trek, you trek from Sandakphu to Srikhola to Gurdum which is a picture-perfect tiny village and valley surrounded by dense forests. From Gurdum you will reach Srikhola in about 2 hours. 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 6: 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 6 you travel to Darjeeling from Srikhola.

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

Day 7: Darjeeling

Altitude: 2,042 m / 6,699 ft
Accommodation: 3-star hotel stay
Meals Included: Breakfast at the Hotel

On Day 7 you wake up leisurely and go sightseeing to some of the touristy spots in Darjeeling - Tiger Hill, Ghoom Monastery, Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Himalayan Zoo, Tenzing Rock, Tibetan Refugee Centre, Japanese Temple, and Peace Pagoda. 

You stay the night in Darjeeling. 

Day 8: Darjeeling

Travel Distance: 70+ km
Time Taken: 3 hr

Day 8 is when your Sandakphu trek comes to an end. You will be transferred to Bagdogra Airport from here you will take flight back to your home town. 

If you are interested in sandakphu trek booking, click here!

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 circumstance 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 and 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