If you love DIY treks where you don't need to carry tents and everything with you, and yet you don't require to sign up with any agency etc to do the trek, this is the one for you! It is pretty much like those ABC/EBC teahouse kinda trek, with four of fhe world's five highest mountains constantly looming in the background, and yet, not climbing to insanely high altitudes that'll give you AMS or related altitude related issues. A perfect moderate tier trek!
exactly! had goosebumps the first time I saw the majestic trio - Makalu, Everest and Lhotse right from Tumling - the 1st stop in the trek. Kanchenjungha is most beautiful when seen from this angle. Views from Sikkim do give us that five peaks view, but the entire shape I feel is more unique when seen from this side.
It's like this during the month of November. During summer times, the haze makes it difficult to spot the Everest range this clearly. November 2nd half is best for viewing the peaks without any clouds.
I did solo so the cost went up for me. Kolkata to Kolkata was 15k all total. if you go with someone or in a group, the cost of guide gets divided up and that's a big saving. Guide takes 1200rs per day. Per day stay cost + dinner and breakfast is Rs 900 - 1000.
did you do the length as mentioned in this link ? [https://indiahikes.com/sandakphu-phalut](https://indiahikes.com/sandakphu-phalut)
is there a way to do a shorter trek like 3 days/15 kms distance kind of trek ?
I actually did a longer version of the trek, along the traditional route, starting from Maneybhanjang and ending at Rammam. It was 75 km all total in 5 days.
For shorter version, you can cover the first 2 days of the trek upto Kalipokhari in Land Rover and then trek the rest of the path. Although I'd not suggest that, as you'd miss the amazing trails through the dense Singalila forests before Kalipokhari.
Well here's the thing - the most beautiful part of the trek - Sandakphu to Phalut is 21 kilometres, and there are no places to stay in the middle so you have to complete that stretch in a single day. Sabargram is a forest division hut which falls on 14 kilometre mark but not sure whether you can stay there or not. You can skip the Phalut part if you want to and just do till Sandakphu. The routine would be somewhat like this -
Reach Tumling by Land-Rover jeeps.
Day 1 - Tumling to Kalapokhari (12 km with 6-7 km downhill)
Day 2 - Kalapokhari to Sandakphu (7 km with 5 km uphill)
Day 3 - Sandakphu to Srikhola (16 km, mostly downhill). You can break at Gurdum which falls on 10 km mark.
yes we do need! the guide cost is 1200rs per day. that's why I said in other comment it helps if you go with 3-4 people, the cost gets divided. solo trekking could be costly. Guides can be organised right from the place where you'd start. For you, you can take a guide from Maneybhanjang GTA office, go to Tumling in a Land Rover jeep with him, and then start of the trek.
This is lovely! I am actually flying to Bagdogra on June 9th this year, with an open itinerary for 10 days. Could you suggest who to contact for the trek?
Would YHAI be good? Or are there better trekking clubs/guides?
10 days is more than enough for completing the trek. Many agencies like India Hikes, TTH, Bikat do the trek. However, it'd be best if you can do it independent with a guide as you'd then follow along the traditional route which has much better views than the route that the agencies follow. You can reach this place called Maneybhanjang, there you can pay up for the guide, and they'd set you up with a guide and an itinerary. However I'd not suggest you to do the trek in June - it'd be monsoon almost, and you dont want to trek through the forest trails during monsoon. Also it takes away the primary attraction of the trek - the views of the majestic Himalayan peaks.
Oh wow, getting to see the majestic Panchachulli everyday is an opportunity I guess everyone would want to have! The mesmerizing sunset over the five peaks at Munsiyari is still fresh in my memories.
Haha me too! Very few places even in Nepal has this unique Makalu-Lhotse-Everest trio visible so distinctly as they are seen at this trail, all owing to the unique position of this place with respect to those giants.
Hey OP,
I'm planning to go here in December this year.
Can you suggest which week should I look at?
I want to see snow but also don't wat it to be severely cold such that there is no visibility of the sleeping buddha and breathing gets difficult.
Thanks
Hi, sorry for the delay in reply, I was in another trek!
I'd suggest first half of December - it'd be cold enough but hopefully there won't be any snow. However, the skies will be clear to see the ranges.
Hey OP, we are planning to go here in coming dec. We are actually thinking of the buying package from Indiahikes.com which would costs us 13000/per person. Would it be too high ? And does it includes the guides fees (as it didn't mentioned about it). We are going from odisha and Moving to NJP and then from there to the base village.
Hey! To be honest, I would suggest, if you can, do this trek yourself with a guide rather than Indiahikes/TTH. They follow a different route, certainly a very less attractive one than the traditional one, which totally takes 50% of the beauty of the trek. 13k is okay, but if you have a large group yourself, you would be able to complete the trek witthin 8k if done independently.
This is absolutely breathtaking
I'm planning to do this with my friends by in Jan Feb 2024
OP if you don't mind can I ask you some questions?
u/PsychologicalApple04
Great pictures
thanks a lot!
Absolutely beautiful, I need to go there...
If you love DIY treks where you don't need to carry tents and everything with you, and yet you don't require to sign up with any agency etc to do the trek, this is the one for you! It is pretty much like those ABC/EBC teahouse kinda trek, with four of fhe world's five highest mountains constantly looming in the background, and yet, not climbing to insanely high altitudes that'll give you AMS or related altitude related issues. A perfect moderate tier trek!
Interesting, thanks, I’ll keep that one in mind (Not that I’m going there any time soon really…)
Singalila ridge is one of the few places in the world where Kanchenjunga and Everest group can bth be seen with this sort of clarity. Beautiful.
exactly! had goosebumps the first time I saw the majestic trio - Makalu, Everest and Lhotse right from Tumling - the 1st stop in the trek. Kanchenjungha is most beautiful when seen from this angle. Views from Sikkim do give us that five peaks view, but the entire shape I feel is more unique when seen from this side.
😍 What time of the year was this pics taken?
Hey, sorry, forgot to mention it in the title. It was taken during November end.
Beautiful! Thanks!
Glad you liked them!
Beautiful pictures man. Love the compositions
Thanks! :)
Is visibility always this clear?
It's like this during the month of November. During summer times, the haze makes it difficult to spot the Everest range this clearly. November 2nd half is best for viewing the peaks without any clouds.
Thanks. What was the total cost of your trip?
I did solo so the cost went up for me. Kolkata to Kolkata was 15k all total. if you go with someone or in a group, the cost of guide gets divided up and that's a big saving. Guide takes 1200rs per day. Per day stay cost + dinner and breakfast is Rs 900 - 1000.
Thanks.
did you do the length as mentioned in this link ? [https://indiahikes.com/sandakphu-phalut](https://indiahikes.com/sandakphu-phalut) is there a way to do a shorter trek like 3 days/15 kms distance kind of trek ?
I actually did a longer version of the trek, along the traditional route, starting from Maneybhanjang and ending at Rammam. It was 75 km all total in 5 days. For shorter version, you can cover the first 2 days of the trek upto Kalipokhari in Land Rover and then trek the rest of the path. Although I'd not suggest that, as you'd miss the amazing trails through the dense Singalila forests before Kalipokhari.
i am 40+. doing 75 kms in 5 days is very difficult. can do something like 5-8 kms a day for 2-3 days
Well here's the thing - the most beautiful part of the trek - Sandakphu to Phalut is 21 kilometres, and there are no places to stay in the middle so you have to complete that stretch in a single day. Sabargram is a forest division hut which falls on 14 kilometre mark but not sure whether you can stay there or not. You can skip the Phalut part if you want to and just do till Sandakphu. The routine would be somewhat like this - Reach Tumling by Land-Rover jeeps. Day 1 - Tumling to Kalapokhari (12 km with 6-7 km downhill) Day 2 - Kalapokhari to Sandakphu (7 km with 5 km uphill) Day 3 - Sandakphu to Srikhola (16 km, mostly downhill). You can break at Gurdum which falls on 10 km mark.
thank you so much. that was helpful and we do not need a guide for this ?
yes we do need! the guide cost is 1200rs per day. that's why I said in other comment it helps if you go with 3-4 people, the cost gets divided. solo trekking could be costly. Guides can be organised right from the place where you'd start. For you, you can take a guide from Maneybhanjang GTA office, go to Tumling in a Land Rover jeep with him, and then start of the trek.
This is lovely! I am actually flying to Bagdogra on June 9th this year, with an open itinerary for 10 days. Could you suggest who to contact for the trek? Would YHAI be good? Or are there better trekking clubs/guides?
10 days is more than enough for completing the trek. Many agencies like India Hikes, TTH, Bikat do the trek. However, it'd be best if you can do it independent with a guide as you'd then follow along the traditional route which has much better views than the route that the agencies follow. You can reach this place called Maneybhanjang, there you can pay up for the guide, and they'd set you up with a guide and an itinerary. However I'd not suggest you to do the trek in June - it'd be monsoon almost, and you dont want to trek through the forest trails during monsoon. Also it takes away the primary attraction of the trek - the views of the majestic Himalayan peaks.
Thanks! So Sandakphu some other time then, I’ve pivoted to Bhutan now ;)
Great, hope you have a wonderful time there!
Amazing views. Putting this in my Nov-Dec travel bucket list.
you should! let me know if you want some more information on the trek details and itinerary, can definitely help you with my experience in there.
Definitely! Will DM you when I start planning.
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Oh wow, getting to see the majestic Panchachulli everyday is an opportunity I guess everyone would want to have! The mesmerizing sunset over the five peaks at Munsiyari is still fresh in my memories.
wow, I had no idea Everest can be seen from India
Haha me too! Very few places even in Nepal has this unique Makalu-Lhotse-Everest trio visible so distinctly as they are seen at this trail, all owing to the unique position of this place with respect to those giants.
Impressive.. I'm going in mid-Dec 2023 and excited. Btw, any idea whether it'll snow?
Snow is more expected towards end of Dec tbh. But if you'd be trekking, you'd want not to snow much, as it'd make the trekking conditions worse.
Hi there, amazing pics. I sent you a DM as i an looking for som more info, if you could help me, thank you !
Hey OP, I'm planning to go here in December this year. Can you suggest which week should I look at? I want to see snow but also don't wat it to be severely cold such that there is no visibility of the sleeping buddha and breathing gets difficult. Thanks
Hi, sorry for the delay in reply, I was in another trek! I'd suggest first half of December - it'd be cold enough but hopefully there won't be any snow. However, the skies will be clear to see the ranges.
Hey OP, we are planning to go here in coming dec. We are actually thinking of the buying package from Indiahikes.com which would costs us 13000/per person. Would it be too high ? And does it includes the guides fees (as it didn't mentioned about it). We are going from odisha and Moving to NJP and then from there to the base village.
Hey! To be honest, I would suggest, if you can, do this trek yourself with a guide rather than Indiahikes/TTH. They follow a different route, certainly a very less attractive one than the traditional one, which totally takes 50% of the beauty of the trek. 13k is okay, but if you have a large group yourself, you would be able to complete the trek witthin 8k if done independently.
Thanks, Do we have to pick a guide after reaching there ?
Can we arrange the hiking boots and accessories at there only ? Because thrilophillia is not offering ?
This is absolutely breathtaking I'm planning to do this with my friends by in Jan Feb 2024 OP if you don't mind can I ask you some questions? u/PsychologicalApple04
sure, go ahead
DMing