Destination Sandakphu-Falut

babuchand

hi pals,

looking into this forum i get an idea that most of the trekkers , especially from outside india are not aware of the beautiful trek of sandakphu-falut....which is a7day 8night tour from kolkata/calcutta...and involves 4-5 days of trekking.

it gives u exposure to forest(Singalila National forest), snow, panoramic view of peaks(some of the highest in world)including EVEREST, KANCHENDONZA, MAKALU, LHOTSE.

I have been there for several times and want to arrange another trip.
if somebody is willing step feet on this paradise in my state, ie. WestBengal(a state in india) please get in touch.

thanking you...

seekingexpression

whats the Itinerary? any other details you can share?

gs_uppal

Please give details like -
Best time to visit,
Route to go there
Mode of Transport besides trek - i.e. Bus/Jeep/? from Kolkatta
Accomodation available enroute hotels/guest houses/tents/own tents
Type of Trek - Easy/Moderate/Difficult
Availability of Restaurants/dhabas en route
etc.

rangers

Babu is right,
sandakphu is lovely light trek place.
I just returned from there on 27th.
And thats a paradise.
I also know few guys who prepares the whole trek programme at a very pocketable expences.Thx Babuchand.

tok

Hello!

Du you NEED (required) a guide to cross the sanctuary? (Read somewhere that the officials at the gate require a guide)

Or can two little Swedes with a tent brave it alone in June?

somnath

Yes Tok a guide is mandatory to cross the Shingalila National Park.

And tent is not required in this trail. Trekkers huts are available. Most important thing is that the guide cum porters will carry 15-20 KG luggage on behalf of you. They are just angels (exceptions are exceptions) in this rout. We didn’t reserve any hut, no tent even we were not carrying a sleeping bag during the same trek (crazy? ) and our guide cum porter – Shyam (thank you Shyam ) managed everything for us. But I’ll suggest you to reserve trekkers huts before start.

- Somnath

tok

Hello. Thanks!

Well, we will be bringinging everything along, as we are off to Uttaranchal for independent trekking after, the Sandak. Trek.

Since we are carrying everything ourselves, and prefer to stay in our tent, I guess all we need is a guide who carries his own stuff.

But, we prefer to travel alone. Is there no way to be allowed to traverse the ridge WITHOUT a guide? It seems silly to be dragging him along simply for the company. Is their job to keep an eye so we don't wander inte Nepal ?

Thanks for the tip.

Oh, can we get a "guide" at the entrance to the park, or do we need to bring one along the WHOLE TRIP!??? We are sort of soltary people who enjoy the mountains at our own pace, maybe staying 2-3 days in a beautiful place. Then it seems really strange to have to pay for a guide to hang around?

somnath

Hi Tok,
Very adventurous? I admire your thoughts. But unfortunately, it is a Govt. order that guide is a MUST. And there is no way-out. Tok, I’ll request you to avoid inviting problems (specially when political problems are there in Nepal) to avail some shortcut . The trail is through the Indo-Nepal border, so plz try to obey the law. If the loneliness is the prime requirement, just send the guide before you start for the day or ask him to start after 2-3 hrs. Thus you will be able to keep the balance.

Tok, can’t we think that we are contributing something to the local economy and allowing a man to earn his bread? Our guide took Rs.200/day (including food).

As I don’t know your tour program, I guess that you are going to start from Maneybhanjang. You have to take a guide from there itself. And the entrance of the National park is approx 20/25 min from your start point. Before that you have to register your details to the Govt. authority (guide is required even then).

Just a proposal, if you have some time try to have a break at “Gurdung” while returning. It is a piece of heaven on earth.

If you have any doubt, I’ll request you to talk to your friends who did the same trek.

Thanks
- Somnath

tok

Dont make us out like we dont wish to contribute. We wouldnt be flying around the world with aid money to villages for years if we didnt!

We give every cahnce we get, and DEFINATELY respect local laws and customs. That was never the issue, so say nothing else.

And we would never make anybody else carry any of our luggage, if you cant carry it yourself, you have brought too much.

Thanks for the update though.

somnath

- Somnath

tok

so guess well travel with a guide

babuchand

hi all,

best time is feb-april...if u want good weather and snow covered path...... the snow is from earlier winter....u dont need any tent..no need to carry ration and stove.....locals are helpful.

dont go there in may - september....although that is the time of flowers.... the majestic rhododendron....there are reportedly 250 varieties of those ..although i could recognize / have seen only 3-4 in my two treks in the region.
if u want to see the flower go to GORKE -HILLE - BARSE from phalut.... in July

in oct the weather is clear and warmer..... nice panorama...... no worry of slippery road due to melting ice as in march.

in nov -december winter has arrived..... expect chill and snow fall ( i got it even in february)...may be occasional bad weather......u can expect to walk thorough knee deep snow. U can go upto sandakphu.....and thats with tent and own food supply.....no locals present at that time.

dont go in january...most probably u wont be able to reach sandakphu even.


here i am giving a brief schedule u can follow.

u can reach siliguri by bus/trai/airplane from calcutta.

day 1 :
start from siliguri (train & air terminus) to manebhanjang reach there
in 3-4 hrs...by jeep...stay there in lodge...very cheap.....arrange
guides.

day 2 :
start from manebhanjang at 7am ...take break fast with noodles at
Chitrey(4km)......go to tumling( in nepal) and have a good lunch.
u can stay there or can move to gairibas or joubari (15 km from
manebhanjang) to stay (preferable). path is up all the way.
..... u have to officially enter Singalila National Forest from
Tumling...carry identity card.


day 3 :
start from gairibas / joubari at 7am.....move to kayakata to have tea.
lunch at kalapokhri(take the lower route....rounding in right side
from kayakata). take the shrtcut to bikebhanjang...nice trail.(4km)
from bikebhanjang last 4km is stiff uphill......u can reach sandakphu
by 3-4pm (16km from gairibas). many places to stay.

day 4 :
trek 23km to phalut....with packed lunch and enough water.....
stay there in DGHC-trekkers hut...need prior booking(limited beds)
if going in march april....path is moderate....up and down.

day 5 :
leave falut in morning for Gorke10-12km..downhill.
Adventurous people can go to singalila pass(tough...not possible in
nov to feb).

day 6 :
gorke to rimbik....stay.

day 7 :
take a jeep from rimbik to darjeeling or siliguri.

anyone willing can contact me personally for more specific info / help.


babu

tok

fantastik guide!

Thank you very much!

laterally inclined

hey babu:

i'd like to know a few things abt sandakphu:

1stly) why's it not advisable to go for this trek during this time? (May)

2ndly) could you give me a rough estimate as to how much it would cost us
from Siliguri to Sandakphu and back to Siliguri per head, and do we need to
make bookings for night stopovers and stopover and sandakphu, and if
yes ...then how?

thanx a lot for the detailed itenary

gs_uppal

thanx for all the info.

how can we do the booking for huts, any contacts ?