Sandakphu Phalut 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 Phalut, this stretch of the trek will be 21 Kms and usually requires about 8-9 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 Phalut. We need to carry sufficient water as the water sources are not profound throughout this trail.

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.

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 will trek to Gorkhey on this day from Phalut. This stretch of the trek will be 15 Kms and usually takes 6-7 hours to complete.

We need to start early as we have to make a long descend from Phalut to Gorkhey. Gorkhey is at an elevation of 7,546 feet from mean sea level. 

The difficulty level is moderate with 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.

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 12 km and takes 6-7 hours to complete. Once reaching Sepi, we will either depart to NJP(6 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.

• First timer can apply, should have some interest in trekking.
• The trekker must be fit and have sufficient stamina to cover 5 km of distance in 30 minutes without a stress.
• Since it is a Moderate level trek, people who suffer from Heart problems, high blood pressure, asthma, and epilepsy cannot be reconciled on this trek.