Destination Sandakphu-Falut

Hi azminadeem,

First there are so many helpful threads on Sandakphu.... you just need to find one of yours.

Then consider this :

1. Is it a good time to trek? If not, what are the pitfalls?
Not so good. Early June may not be rainy if monsoon likes to come late..... but you may get cloudy sky often.

2. We don't have enough time to do a 6-7 day trek, so our plan is to go from Manebhanjang to Sandakphu and then return back. Does this sound feasible ?
Yes,

3. If the answer to previous question is yes, what should be the itinerary?
Day 1- Reach Manevanjan.
Day 2- Tumling,
Day 3- Kalipokhri,
Day 4- Sandak phu
Day 5- Gurdum OR Sreekhola.
Day 6 - Walk upto sepi then have jeep to reach NJP.

This is most conventional.

HI Everyone!!

I along with some friends are planning to trek Sandbank-Phalut from 11th of may.This our first trek and we need to finish it by 16th.we are starting from Dhaka and we have to be in Siliguri on 17th latest to catch the bus for Dhaka on 2pm.Because of the time constraints we are kind of confused whether its doable withing just 6 days.can any of you guys help us with it?

our itinerary:
May11:Reaching Siliguri at 12pm by bus from Dhaka.Drive to Maneybhanjang/Dhotrey or Tonglu.Overnight stay there.

May 12:Tonglu to Sandakphu by car.(Overnight at Sandakhphu)

May 13:Sandakphu - Phalut (by trek. Overnight at Phalut) )


May 14:Phalut - Gorkhey and then to samadan.(Overnight there)

DAY 15: samadan- Sirikholaby trek.take jeep to Darjeeling from there (Is jeep available from there?)

We have still a day in our hand , which we would like to spend either on Sandakphu or Phalut.

so, what do you think guys?

Regards

azad

Can anyone answer the above post plz?

HELLO FRIENDS!

I am just back from the trek to Sandakphu. It had been an wonderful experience. The place is heavenly....with rhododendron, magnolia.......

We started our trek from Dhotrey, a beautiful, sleepy village. From Dhotrey to Tonglu (5 km) the trek is through the jungles of rhododendron. The trekker's hut of Tonglu is located on the top of one hill. This is the most picturesque location of the entire trek. I will recommend one night stay there.

The next day we trek from Dhotrey to Palipokhari (16km). It was indeed a long & tiresome trek.

On our third day we trek from Kalpokhari to Sandakphu (6 km). We halted there for an additional day.

On our fifth day we trek from Sandakphu to Srikhola, via Gurdum (16 km).

It is a lifetime experience. Just trek and enjoy.....

Himadri

Hi Azad (strange name you got there with the IndiaMike handle!)

First I hope your bus is on time to Siliguri. 12 noon is fine, you can drive to Maneybhanjyang. From Maneybhanjyang you might be able to get a LandRover to take you to Tumling (I would prefer it to Tonglu).

The rest of the trip is fine. However, you have to get jeep to Darjeeling from Rimbick. There is Sepi Village where a Jeep can come though I think.

Hey Johy99

My nick is indeed kinda odd.It just came to my mind while registering.You think its responsible for not getting anyone's response?I thought i had to get to siliguri first to get the informations.

Thanks God at least you replied.It was nice of you.Luckily our trip had been postponed by a day.Otherwise I might miss it.

Anyway I still have few more queries.

Where is this sepi village?IS it possbile reach Rimvick from phalut in a single day?How long it usually takes?

Howz the terrain from Ramadan to rimvick?

Thanks & Regards

johy is right, but it's not the reason you are not getting reply. You are in such a nice helpful thread where there are all the answers you need!!!

Just go through it.


Here is post #583 for your reply !!!

Phalut -> Gorkey = 13 Km (The maps will tel you its 5 km, but the locals say its around 13 km or so)
Phalut -> Rammam = 21 Km (13+8)
Rammam -> Srikhola = 8 Km
Srikhola -> Rimbik = 8 Km

If you ask your hotel manager to book seats in a share jeep for Darjeeling it will pick you up from seppy which is 2 km away from Srikhola(30 Mins walk).

Duronto Jajabar: I just wanted to save some time .nd thats paid off

Nyway Thank you very much mate for clarifying it.

Wish us luck.we are only hours away to start.

Thanks again

azad

Best of luck, BM.

Have a nice trip

I am a new member in this forum. I along with some friends, are planning to trek Sandbank-Phalut from 3rd Nov this year. This is our first trek and we have some female member’s also.in our group. Our age group is between 24 to 28.

Below is our itinerary:

Day 0 (Saturday, November 03, 2012): Tour Starts from Sealdah at evening/Night for NJP by train.

Day 1 (Sunday, November 04, 2012): Arrive NJP in morning; proceed for Maneybhanjan. Night Stay at Maneybhanjan.

Day 2 (Monday, November 05, 2012): Start early morning for Sandakphu by CAR. If possible trekking will start from Kalipokhri. Night stay at Sandakphu.

Day 3 (Tuesday, November 06, 2012): Sandakphu to Falut by trekking/car for SOME MEMBERS. Night stay at Falut.

Day 4 (Wednesday, November 07, 2012): Falut to Gorkhey by trekking. Night Stay at Gorkhey.

Day 5 (Thursday, November 08, 2012): From Gorkhey to Srikhola by trekking. Night Stay at Srikhola. Campfire in the evening.

Day 6 (Friday, November 09, 2012): From Srikhola starts early morning for Seppy. From Seppy take the car for Darjeeling. Night stay at Darjeeling.

Day 7 (Saturday, November 10, 2012): Proceed for NJP via Mirik. In evening, take the train from NJP for Kolkata.

Day 8 (Sunday, November 11, 2012): Arrive at Sealdah in morning. Tour ends here.

Kindly advise if this plan is okey for us....

Hi sourav,

Your plan is common one and apparently ok....

In Phalut, there are only DGHC Trekkers hut and Nov. is good tourist's season.

Going Darjeeing for 1 night, after having some awesome views (nov. is pretty good time for clear view)in Sandakphu-Phalut.... I'll not prefer!!

No problem for first time trekkers, no problem for female... besides you are travelling more than trekking!!!

As per my recent experience for the sandakphu -gurudum trek in the month of may there is heavy cloud cover and chances of getting clear sky at sandakphu is uncertain..i have completed YHAI trek recently, 4 groups couldnt view the EVEREST -KANCHANJUNGA family quite clearly..or group was fortunate enough to see them more clearly.Guide told us that its batter to visit sandakphu during november for he great view ..however flora and fauna can be seen only during the May..

2

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...30143753_n.jpg
Variety of flowers can be seen on the way from TUMBLING-KALIPOKHARI-SANDAKPHU route..
1

2 Evening colours after snow fall at Sandakphu..


3.sun rise at kalipokhari..

Nice Pictures.....

Dear Sourav,

As you are first time trekker let me aware u of a serious health hazard called acute mountain sickness [AMS] that happens above 3000m and as people gain height faster more prone they become to AMS. So, my suggestion to u would be to avoid hiring a jeep to reach sandakphu unless u r a traveller [strictly not a trekker] and want to come down the next day itself [by a jeep ofcourse].

when i first been to sandakphu in march 2001 jeeps were not that frequent and "travellers" were not that common. again the same when in feb-march 2004 i returned to this area for singalila pass trek. Now, as more and more jeeps ply and carry people to sandakphu I realize the incentive to walk up to sandakphu has become less & less. So I suggest you and all others who want to have an initial trekking exposure in this part of Himalayas to follow a different route avoiding the jeep route[a fatigued trekker may face accident in jeep route as well].

I think I have previously introduced the route when I followd the trail in April 2006 but again doing the same for trekking enthusists. it is basically a reverse circuit of the orthodox manebhanjang - sandakphu - phalut - rammam - rimbik. but while coming down from sandakphu, following a route thru namla which is frequented by locals, one can avoid the accidents and frustration of jeep route. it covers only 4km [sandakphu to bikhebhanjang] thru jeep route.

day 0: Kolkata to NJP
day 1: NJP - ghum - manebhanjang - rimbik [arrange porter]
day 2: rimbik [pay singalila forest extry fees] - srikhola - rammam
day 3: rammam - samanden - grokhe
day 4: gorkhe - phalut
day 5: phalut - sandakphu
day 6: sandakphu - namla - rimbik
day 7: rimbik - NJP - train
day 8: Kol in morning.

alternatively singalila pass can be attempted from phalut avoiding sandakphu. [http://indiatravelogue.com/adve/trek/singalila.html]

day 0: Kolkata to NJP
day 1: NJP - ghum - manebhanjang - rimbik [arrange porter]
day 2: rimbik [pay singalila forest extry fees] - srikhola - rammam
day 3: rammam - samanden - grokhe
day 4: gorkhe - phalut
day 5: phalut - toyephulebhanjang - singalila pass - chiyabhanjang - uttare [around 28km of trek, 6km up till singalila pass & rest down]
day 6: uttarey - NJP - train
day 7: Kol in morning.

I have attached a map which i took from this thread only and have changed some distances [those i found not close to my estimates and experiences].