The Wandering Boot Presents TREK

Introduction

Sandakphu at 3636 m/11926 ft , is the highest point of West , inside district, bordering . This trek follows the famous , a prominent spur of high ground that lies at the southern end of a long crest, which runs down from the Kanchendzongha massif. In fact Singalila ridge in forms the border between /Darjeeling of and Nepal. Also because of this fact, Sandakphu trek is often referred to as “Singalila Ridge Trek”. Sandakphu is a trekking paradise for trekkers.There are a very few Himalayan homestay/tea-house mode treks in India.Almost all are camping treks. Sandakphu trek gives the opportunity to those who prefer comfortable accommodation during the trek. Probably this is also helpful for beginners who wish to take it easy at the beginning.

Trek Information

 Region : Darjeeling-Nepal Border  Highest point : 11,926 ft.  Grade : Easy to Moderate  Season : November end to April Mid  Accessiblity : Nearest Railway station is Njp and airport is .

Short Itinerary

 Day 1 : NJP/ Bagdogra to Manebhanjan/Chitrey  Day 2 : Manebhanjan/Chitrey to Tumling  Day 3 : Tumling to Kalapokhri via

 Day 4 : Kalapokhri to Sandakphu/  Day 5 : Sandakphu to Srikhola via Gurdum  Day 6 : Srikhola to NJP/Bagdogra

Detailed Itinerary  Day 1 : NJP/ Bagdogra to Manebhanjan/Chitrey Pick up from NJP railway station in the morning by 10 am and drive to Maneybhanjang (1980m, 6500ft), trekkers will travel to the base camp on their own. Distance around 110 km and takes 4 hours.The road goes through the foothills of Eastern Himalaya (also called ) and gradually gains height.The last 2 Km from Maneybhanjung to Chitrey is a steep road with several hairpin bends and eventually reaches the hilltop. All the major mobile networks work here. Night accommodation in dormitory/ lodges.

 Day 2 : Manebhanjan/Chitrey to Tumling After your breakfast, start trekking towards Tumling, one of the spectacular peaks in the Singalila Range.Get mesmerized by the fascinating views that come your way and behold the scenic views in your camera and astound by the beautiful landscapes.The trail ahead is clearly visible till while we slowly gain height. Sandakphu Trek route often defines the border between India and Nepal so the posting of Paramilitary camps of SSB (Sashastra Seema Bal) at all the major points is common.  Day 3 : Tumling to Kalapokhri via Singalila National Park et ready to trek to Kalapokhri covering a distance of around 9 km in 5 hours.While walking past the Singalila National Park, explore and discover the enchanting beauty of the vicinity. The road enters into the dense forest and we take shorts cuts often which meet the jeep road while gaining altitude in a short distance. In spring this stretch is particularly vibrant with blooming Rhododendrons. During the last part of the trek, a small pond is seen on our left. This is called Kalapokhri (Kala is Black and Pokhri is a Pond in Nepali).Enjoy staying overnight in a trekker's hut in Kalapokhri.  Day 4 : Kalapokhri to Sandakphu/Phalut On this day you will be trekking in Sandakphu, the highest point in .This portion of the trail is inside Nepal and the Indian road joins here from the other side of the mountain. There is a tea stall on our left and a forest check post on the right. The road splits and the newly built road inside Nepal takes a longer path on our left to reach Sandakphu. We take the straight road ahead and start climbing. Enjoy the panoramic views of Mt. Khanchendzonga and Everest, the scenic forests underneath. Relish the sight of a mesmerizing sunset as well. Your overnight stay will be in a trekker’s hut for a day.  Day 5 : Sandakphu to Srikhola via Gurdum Wake up early to observe the fascinating sunrise. During fall and winters, this top remains cold, especially early in the morning. The wind blows directly from the Kanchendzongha side. Straight ahead is gigantic Kanchendzongha massif along with Jannu (Kubhakarna) to its left and Pandim to its right, forming as rightly said the “Sleeping Buddha” .After breakfast, we start our descent. Start the day with a descending trek from Sandakphu to Srikhola. For the first half of the trek, climb downhill to Gurdum (around 5 hours). For the next half, 2 hours’ descend will finally take you to Srikhola.  Day 6 : Srikhola to NJP/Bagdogra In the morning, take a drive through the winding roads and get transferred to New .The Sandakphu trek package ends here, head back to your home with a plethora of memories in your bag.

How to Reach ? By Train :- New Jalpaiguri or NJP is a major railway station located in south west of sikkim. There are many long distance trains arrives or pass through the NJP station. You can choose to come to and take one of the many trains to NJP. If you are coming from Delhi or north part of India, try to take any north east train which directly goes to NJP by passing Kolkata. By Flight:- Flying to Bagdogra is another option that you can choose though flights to Bagdogra tend to be pricier than those to Kolkata. Most of the flight foremost metros in the country come here. TWBs Tata Sumo or similar vehicles will pick-up you from NJP Railway Station at 9:30 am.Pick-up is included in the cost of the trekYou will reach Yksom by 6:00 pm.Food from NJP to Yuksom is not included in the trek cost.

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Yuksom , Tsong Dubdi, Sikkim, India