Explore The Sandakphu Phalut Trek With Us

Today will be your first day of the trek. It will be a relaxed climb of about 1,500 ft and will mostly warm you up for the difficult terrain up ahead. From Dhotrey, it's initially a gentle climb towards Tumling. You will walk through rich forests of Pine and Coniferous and some occasional appearances of Rhododendrons as you slowly gain altitude.

The forest is rich in flora and fauna, and you will have multiple sightings of numerous birds. At the halfway point, you will find a beautiful resting stop comprised of flat land, with mountain views all around and a peak of the Dhotrey village down below. From there, it's a steep climb until you reach Tonglu. From there, it's just a km of flat walk to reach your destination for the day, Tumling.

Reaching there, you will receive warm mountain hospitality as you sip on some tea while taking in the breathtaking views all around. This is the place which gives you a brief trailer of what treat awaits you once you reach your summit. After having a hearty dinner, sleep to the sound of nature as you prepare for the journey ahead.

Wake up early to catch the beautiful sunrise from Tumling and catch The Mt Kanchenjungha in its full glory. After a quick breakfast, we start early as we have a long journey ahead. A short distance into the trek, we will reach the entry point of Singalila National Park. We will need to complete our entry formalities here. You will need to pay for a camera permit here if you carry any.

Your trek guide will help you through the process. The Singalila National Park houses a great number of animals like the Himalayan Bear, Leopard cat, Barking Dear, Pangolin, and the famous and elusive Red Panda. We will have a relaxed flat walk till we reach the settlement of Jaubari. All along the way, our trail will flirt with the Indo-Nepal border as we crisscross through our neighbor lands. From Jaubari we will have a descent till we reach Gairibas.

Here you can have a small break and also indulge in some snacks. Gairibas houses a rhododendron research centre and has a detailed accounting of the various varieties of Rhododendrons available in the region. From Gairibas we will face the first difficult phase of our trek as we traverse a steep climb all the way to Kalipokhari. After a strenuous but rewarding climb, we will reach the high-altitude lake of Kalipokhari. After a steaming hot beverage to soothe your aching muscles, you can visit the lake's calm waters and feel your tiredness ebbing away.

Today is the most challenging phase of your trek, and The trail will test your endurance to the limit. Make sure to fill up your water bottles before starting, as there will be no settlements between here and Sandakphu. We will climb through barren mountain roads with scarce vegetation as we would be almost above the tree line. You can take shortcuts in between, which will cut down the time but will considerably increase the strain on your legs. Milestones along the way will motivate you as you will see the destination come nearer and nearer. Once reaching the summit, all your hard work will pay off, as you will witness the wonder called Sleeping Buddha at its full glory. Sandakphu has the distinction of offering the view of 4 of the world's top 5 highest mountain peaks. Apart from Kanchenjungha, it also offers the view of Mt Kanchenjungha, Makalu, and Lhotse, along with several other high peaks of the Himalayas. On reaching Sandakphu, you can settle down for a bit and then set out to explore the area. Your aching muscles will beg you to call it an early night, but make a mental note to wake up early enough to catch the most beautiful sunrise ever.

After witnessing the magnificent sunrise from the highest point of west Bengal, you will get ready for the next phase of your trek. We have a lot of distance to cover today so we will start quite early. This will be the longest trek stretch, but it is effortlessly the most beautiful part. The magnificent view of the highest peaks of the world will be your constant companion.

As you are above the tree line, you will not witness many trees along the route other than some stretches of Rhododendrons. If you are trekking in the March-April season, you will also witness the mesmerizing view of the Rhododendrons in full bloom. The route is fairly flat, with some ascents and descents along the way. At the halfway point, you will find “Char Ratey,” a resting point for Yak Grazers of the past, where they used to wait for four nights while their livestock used to graze.

As we will have a good amount of distance to cover today, you will be given a light-packed lunch today. From Sabarkum, the route divides into two parts. One goes towards Phalut and the other towards Molley. Depending upon the availability of the time, we would choose our route. Our stay for the night would be Phalut or Molley. On reaching the campsite, you will relax with hot beverages and some light snacks. A while later, your dinner will be served.

If you are staying at Molley, you will start your day pretty early and take a hike towards Phalut. You will retrace your steps back to Sabarkum, and there the trail will be a gradual ascent. In Phalut top, you will see one of the most unobstructed and up-close views of the Sleeping Buddha range that you ever have or can experience. The Mt Everest, Lhotse & Makalu are also prominently visible. If the stay is at Phalut, then you would have to trek 1 km to Phalut top to witness the view. After having breakfast at Phalut, we would start our descent to Gorkhey.

As you start your descent, the trail will quickly change from vast open fields to green forests. You will also travel through some bamboo canopy forests. Once there, keep an eye out for the elusive red panda. If you are lucky, you can easily spot one in this region. Soon, you will be greeted with a gurgling sound of a mountain stream to indicate that you are very near to your destination. Your forest path will suddenly open up to a vast open land of the beautiful village of Samandin. A little more descent will lead you to Gorkhey, your pit stop for the night. It's a beautiful mountain village, straight out of an artist's rendition. After lunch, you can visit the river and get amazed by its crystal-clear water. Enjoy the evening at the homestay, where a bonfire will be arranged, before you call it a night after your dinner is served.

Today is the last day of your trail. As we will have a steady descent, it will be a fairly easy route. It s advisable that you use kneecaps today, as the steady descent can be quite taxing on your knees. The trail will go through dense forests, and you will be greeted by whistling birds at every turn.

The sun will rarely penetrate the thick canopy of the forests. But soon, the trail will open up to the settlements of Rammam, and you will know that you are halfway towards your destination. Further down the trail, you will reach Rimbick, and from there, it's just 1 Km from your destination, Srikhola.

Once reaching the homestay, enjoy the hospitality while you revel in the glory of completing your trek. You can relax by the river while your celebratory dinner is being prepared. Enjoy a sound sleep as the gurgling river sing you a lullaby, and your aching muscles receive a much-needed rest.

Today you say goodbye to the Singalila National Park as you drive down towards NJP. Post breakfast, you can take some cool insta worthy photos at the hanging bridge in Srikhola. After that, your journey takes you back to the chaotic city life along the mountain paths. The cab fare to Siliguri is Rs 8,000/- and will be shared by the trekkers.

You will pass through the settlements of Rimbik, Dhotrey, and Maneybhanjan, after which the familiar tea garden vista will greet you. You will be able to attend a tea testing at the Gopal Dhara tea garden on the way. Where from you can source some authentic Darjeeling tea for yourself. Finally, your journey will come full circle at NJP, from where you can depart for your onward destination with fond memories from the trip.

Sandakphu and Phalut have chilling weather throughout January with most of the region covered in snow, especially those at higher altitudes. The temperature ranges between 5 and 7℃ and the speciality of January is the splendid pristine white and frozen panoramic views of the Himalayas.

Sandakphu and Phalut tend to be cold throughout February, with clear blue skies and the temperature ranges between 5 and 10℃. The speciality of this month is the excellent visibility of the mighty Himalayas which is perfect for awesome photography.

During March, you can witness the snow-capped mountains melting down the ridges and the temperature ranges between 5 and 15℃. The speciality of this month is the radiant blossoms of rhododendrons and the enigmatic alpine flowers.

This month sets in the spring when the landscape bursts with splendid views of a wide range of flowers, which is its speciality and the temperature ranges between 10 and 20℃, which is also ideal for watching migratory and exotic birds.

The weather in May is pretty warm, with temperatures ranging between 15 and 25℃, showcasing some exotic and wildflowers, which is ideal for trekking in Sandakphu and Phalut, just before the onset of the monsoon. The speciality is in its lush emerald green valleys and the valley filled with wildflowers and exotic fragrances.

This month sets in monsoon in these places, when the temperature is between 20 and 25℃, with high humidity. This is the season when the visibility of the mountains reduces with increasing rainfall. From 15th June, these places remain officially closed, due to increased slippery tracks caused by heavy rainfall.

July is the peak rainy season in these places, with a temperature ranging between 18 and 22℃. The roads become muddy and visibility is limited. From 15th June, these places remain officially closed, due to increased slippery tracks caused by heavy rainfall.

These places continue to experience heavy rainfall during August and the temperature ranges between 18 and 22℃. Trekking in this season is very risky due to heavy rainfall. From 15th June, these places remain officially closed, due to increased slippery tracks caused by heavy rainfall.

September marks the end of the monsoon when the temperature ranges between 15 and 20℃. From 15th June, these places remain officially closed, due to increased slippery tracks caused by heavy rainfall. After 15th September, there is an improvement in the overall visibility of the mountain ranges.

These places in October bring in the crispiness of autumn when the temperature ranges between 10 and 15℃. The speciality of these places in October is the golden hue of sunrays on the majestic mountain ranges, brightly showcasing the vibrant autumnal colours.

In November, the entire landscape in these places starts to witness a change with the onset of winter and the temperature drops to 5℃ at night and 10℃ during the day. November is special as it offers a clear sky, with snow cupping the mountain peaks.

In November, the entire landscape in these places starts to witness a change with the onset of winter and the temperature drops to 5℃ at night and 10℃ during the day. November is special as it offers a clear sky, with snow cupping the mountain peaks.

Sandakphu, the highest peak of West Bengal, is situated at 3,636 m above the sea level. Sandakphu height in feet is 11,930. Sandakphu lies within Singalila National Park and is home to various sub alpine flora as well as a host of fauna.

Sandakphu Altitude is an information, all the trekkers look for, before venturing for the trek. Situated at 11,930 ft or 3,636 m, It is the highest point of West Bengal. Owing to the altitude, It houses over hundred varieties of Rhodendron and over 300 varieties of orchids. The vantage point owing to the Sandakphu Altitude, allows the visitors to feast their eyes on some of the highest peaks of the world, including Mt Everest , Kanchenjungha etc.