Sandakphu Singalila Trekking

Trip Itinerary:

Day 01: Arrival at kakarvitta or Bagdogra – Drive to Darjeeling
Fly into Bagdogra from Delhi / Kolkata or cross Nepal/India border at Kakarvitta then drive 90 km to Darjeeling (2134 m); the world famous tea state. Rest of the day at leisure. (Overnight in hotel)

Day 02: Darjeeling (2134 m)
Very early morning proceed for excursion to Tiger Hill to witness the Sun rise over Mt. Kanchenjunga Range of mountains. Return to Darjeeling visiting Ghoom Monastery enroute. Enjoy Toy Train ride (now a World Heritage entity). Afternoon sightseeing of Darjeeling. (Overnight  in hotel)

Day 03: Darjeeling – Maneybhanjang (2000m) – Tonglu (3070m)
Early 30 km drive to a village, Maneybhanjang and start trek. The trail starts with a rather steep climb as we move to reach the Singalila ridge. Passing a small hamlet, Chitrey, the trail leads us to Tonglu. If the weather is clear you could be treated to a spectacular sunset on the Kanchenjunga range.

Day 04: Tonglu – Kalpokhari (3100m) 5 hrs walk
We proceed to a village, Tumling and the trails zigzag into Nepal and back to India regularly. We enter the Singalila National Park and then descend 6km to Gairibas. The trail climbs up back to the Singalila ridge rather steeply and we again follow the ridge till we reach Kala Pokhari, literally meaning “Black Lake”.

Day 05: Kalpokhari – Sandahphu(3640m) 3 hrs walk
We proceed via Bikhey Bhanjang (poisonous valley) and the last 5 km of the trail is a steep ascent till we reach Sandakphu. Sandakphu is a window to one of the finest view of the snowy mountains, from the mighty Everest in Nepal, to the revered Kanchenjunga in Sikkim and the legendary Chomolahari in Bhutan. From here Everest is just 144 km as the crow flies. The whole snowy range of Bhutan, Sikkim and Nepal, about 320 km in length, a wonderful square mass of mountains looking like a wall of snow, is visible, but the gigantic height and breadth of touring Kanchenjunga, with its attendant peaks, Kabru, Jannu and Pandim dominate the scene.

Day 06: Sandakphu- Molley (3000m) 5 hrs walk
After breakfast we start on the trail on the ridge towards Molley. As we walk along we can view the beautiful valleys of both India and Nepal with Kanchenjunga on our right and Everest on our left. For about 4 km the trail is flat and finally there is a long steady climb to Sabargram (about 5 km further away). To break the long walk to Phalut, a slight detour has been made and after a small descent we reach Molley, about 2 km off the road. Molley means gobar, shit of cowswhich is applied to floorings in a village and was once a camping ground for shepherds. The vegetation is Alpine, with an undulating ripple of dwarf rhododendron bushes and shrubs of poisonous aconite.

Day 07: Molley – Phalut (3605m) 3 hrs walk
The trail at first climbs back to join the main trail and after some descent there is a 3 km steep ascent to Phalut which is an important view point on the trail. Phalut forms the junction of Nepal, Sikkim and West Bengal. The hills are all bare and from here Kanchenjunga is only 48 km as the crow flies.

Day 08: Phalut – Rammam (2560m) 5-6 hrs walk
Early morning walk to the view point to see the sunrise. The route ahead is certainly not for anyone with weak knees for it descents1200 mts in 15 km but this descent is through a most wonderful forest. The trail is well trodden and the bamboos and furs is ultimately replaced by deodars and pines in a day’s wonderful walk. The low hills are covered with moss-laden trees, different varieties of rhododendron, silver firs, pines, spruce, chestnuts, oaks, giant magnolias and hemlocks. We reach a small village of Gorkhey at 2390 mts and then Samanden a beautiful village hidden between two valleys; hence this area is also called ‘Lost Valley’. A further 8 km walk ahead lies Rammam.

Day 09: Rammam – Rimbik (2286m) 5 hrs walk
The trek ahead is beyond the forest, but the pleasures are different. There are small villages constantly passing through till we reach the trekker’s hut at Siri Khola which is built overlooking the river. The trail after math is flat till we reach the last camp at Rimbik. Rimbik, which is a Lepcha word means ‘ Ling-gip’ i.e ‘place where there is a swing’. At last we are amongst modern facilities where we finally get to loosen our tired limbs. A hot shower a good clean room and change of cloths make us feel happy that only civilization can give.

Day 10: Drive to Bagdogra , Drive Bagdogra continue for Next Destination. Phuntsholing (Bhutan)/ Kakarvitta fly to Delhi-Calcutta-Kathmandu.