Sandakphu - Phalut Help needed...

Hi all,

Me and my group of friends, are planning for a SANDAKPHU-FALUT trekking trip 8th-->15th May.
I need some information regarding that. Please help.

I have gone through allmost all the threads related to this trek, but couldnot find some vital information.

Here is the tour plan.

(day-1)(8th May) - Start from kolkata by night bus/train

(day-2)(9th May)- Reach New Jalpaiguri in morning. Then start for Sandakphu by car. (Please provide me details about distance, time taken by car, approx fare, can we book a car only for reaching sandakphu as a one way journey?)

(day-3)(10th May)- Rest at sandakphu

(day-4)(11th May) - Trek to Phalut from sandakphu. (Distance? Time taken?)

(day-5)(12th May) - Trek to Rammam from Phalut. (Distance? Time taken?)

(day-6)(13th May) - Trek to Rimbik from Rammam. (Distance? Time taken?)

(day-7)(14th May) - Rimbik to siliguri by car.(Distance? Time taken? will the car be available throughout the whole day?)Get the train from jalpaiguri in the evening for Kolkata

(day-8)(15th May) - Reach Kolkata in morning

Please help me with these information to zero down on my tour plan.

Some other questions:

1. Will the time be good for trekking as far as weather and views are concerned?

2. Is the plan achievable by almost amature trekkers like us?

Regards,

Hi, First of all you cannot take same car from NJP/SLG to Sandakphu, first you have to go to Manebhanjan from NJP/SLG, then you have to hire another jeep from there for Sandakphu. This jeep's are too old landrover, a little modified. As far as time is concerned May is good time for this trek. You can visit several web sites for the details you want.

Hi
Could you please tell me is it a good option in 23rd of jan?What will be the rate and how long will it take to reach sandakphu from Mane Bhanjan.

There is no transport available from NJP to Sandakphu. There is a Landrover syndicate at Maneybhanjan (the starting point of the trekking). They operate landrovers from Maneybhanjang to Sandakphu. It takes 5 to 6 hours by car. The capacity of each car is 6 persons, You have to hire a guide also from the enlisted guide . The charges of each guide is Rs.300/- per day.
The time you have chosen is good but it may rain also. The possibility of views of the mountain ranges is 50%.Since you are amatures, you should have moral guts to trek.I have seen schoolboys of 13-14 years to trek.

Hi,
Just back from sandakphu (20th -26th Jan 2010)
from maneybhanjan you can get car and the cars are now going till falut. they are giving 1 night halt in sandakphu. Still you will need a guide (350/- per day) its mandatory. Yes you can take the car for one way and come back by trekking and the guide will be with you till end of trek.
Sandakphu to falut is 22 km. and you have to cover it in one day as there is no place to stay in between.
If you are going by car you can go there till falut and leave the car and trek back via rammam.

Well

I have done tis trek in december,09.

Here is your answers.

1) Land rover is available from Manebhanjang..Will take 5-6 hrs to reach Sandakphu.

2) Sandakphu to Phalut is about 21-22 Kms. We completed that in one day. You can break at Sabargram which is 15 km from Sandakpu and then next day Sabargram to Phalut (7 kms).

3) Do not stay at Rammam. Stay at Gorkhey. 15 km from Phalut. A place you will remember for long.

4) Gorkhye to Srikhola is another 14 km.

5) Srikhola to Rimbik is just 6 km plan land walk managable in 1.30 hrs.

May being the pre monsoon is not highly recommended, still going to offer good patch of clear weather.

we did it as the first timers. So......you can also manage the trek.

( Just one request.........please do not go to phalut from sandakphu by car.......you not only loose the beauty of nature but other trekker en route will also miss those because of your car.....again atleast dont pollute the phalut)

cheers

Saikat

Hi,
This is Krishnendu, I along with my 2 collegues are proceeding for Sandakphu and Phalut on the same day you all are proceeding. We are taking the Darjeeling Mail on 8th Night and will reach ManeBhanjang on 9th. You may meet us there or at NJP itself then we can hire a car directly from Siliguri More.
For further details you may contact me at krish_basak@yahoo.co.in .

Happy Trekking..

we(Myself, my wife, younger brother, elder bother & his wife, total 5) went sandakphu on 1/11/2010 via Manebhanjan by Car. on 31/11/2010 we have hired a car from Njp to Manebhanjan(Costing Rs.1400/, Tata Victa). It took 5 hours via sukhna, Mirik.There we took Hotel Khangchendzonga(9475078833/9932397449)another hotels are Pradhan,Exotica,Sherpa Inn. Next day we took Landrover Car(Chandan Pradhan03542264132/9800667075, Anil Tamang 9333989705) 2 Days & 1 night contract. Costing was Rs.3800/(Landrover) + Rs.350/ per day guide charge(Must now)+ Per head Rs. 100/ for Singalila National Park entry fee.We went sandakphu from Manebhanjan (Landrover) via Chitrey-Lamey durah-Makbing-tonglu-tumling-gairibus-kalapokhri-vikebhanjan-Sandakphu. We took hotel Sherpa Chalet (97727691127/9742621760) at Sandakphu. Next day morning ( we have started from Sandakphu & reached Manebhanjan from there we went to Darjeeling.
Regards
Pradipta Ray
Kolkata
9051877555

its a nice place .....i like it

Maneybhanjan to Sandakphu - Entire trip is extremely exciting & full of adventure.

Actually Mr. Keshab Gurung helped us a lot(stays in Maneybhanjan). He is a tour coordinator & arrange for Land Rovers & Hotel for different places in between Maneybhanjan & Phalut. Extremely helpful & friendly person. We had excellent lunch(home made) at his place. Then we started journey towards Tumbling & Sandakphu. But the road is really tough & bumpy. Specially Maneybhanjan to Tumbling and final 4 km before entering Sandakphu (Bikheybhanjan to Sandakphu).Hotel Sherpa Chalet is Sandakphu is fantastic & the food is also good. View from Hotel Lobby is excellent. Its all depends on weather if you are in Sandakphu. Otherwise if you have a good weather, you r the king. Spellbound view.....of Mr. Kanchendonza & Mr. Everest...

Now taking a Guide for Sandakphu trip is not mandatory.

Charging of your Digital Cameras & Handycam is now available in both Tumbling & Sandakphu. Rs. 40/50 per hour.

Night stay charge for the Land Rover is 500/night.

Hi Tuhin,

I am planing to visit Sandakphu in the last week of few Feb-12. I am going with my wife and other friends and their wife. this is the 1st time they are going for a trek. How difficult is the treck for those who have no previous experiance. Can I hire a cab from NJP to Sandakphu if required . It will be a group of 8 to 10 people. Can you give me an estimate of the entire 5 days trip if I hire a cab along with hotel charges and other expenses.

Saumyadut Sarkar.