THE HAPPY TREKKERS
Pennyworth Trips, Treks and Adventure in India
SANDAKPHU trek
Duration
6 Days
Base Camp
Manebhanjan
Pick Up/ Drop
NJP
Difficulty
Easy to Moderate
Best Time
Mid-March to May & October to January
Altitude
11,900 feet
About Sandakphu Trek
Sandakphu, a town in the state of West Bengal is well known for its elevation which is the highest in the state. This is famous among trekkers all over India, as this offers a wide panoramic view of the Himalayas. When we talk about Sandakphu, the discussion is incomplete without mentioning the majestic views of the Sleeping Buddha.
Apart from all five peaks of the Sleeping Buddha, Mt. Kanchenjunga, Mt. Everest, Mt. Lhotse, and Mt. Makalu are visibly sparkling spectacularly in the golden hue at sunrise. The trail to Sandakphu passes through the dense rhododendron forests which turn into a piece of fairyland during the spring season when the different types of flowers bloom into their best colors.
This town comes under the Singalila range and one has to pass through Singalila National Park to reach the summit.
The most fascinating thing about this trek is that it takes you all through the borders of India and Nepal a dozen times as Sandakphu lies on the border of India and Nepal. Sometimes you'll have to walk onto the land of Nepal and again back to India.
You get to experience the Buddhist culture as you begin your trek from Chitrey town, the local foods, Buddhist delicacies are the things that no one can afford to miss on this trek.
Although some people prefer covering this distance over a Land Rover, the real fun lies in trekking as you can explore every bit of it on your own foot. Also if you are planning to drive it on your own till Sandakphu then it is a big NO, because the entire path is tricky and dangerous.
The paths are filled with rocks and boulders which can roll down any moment making it dangerous for you and your vehicle, Thus if you are planning to make it to Sandakphu by vehicle, it is highly recommended to hire a local vehicle and a driver who are expert in driving in these trails.
This trek is an easy to moderate level trek and is perfect for beginners. Although the trail to Sandakphu becomes a bit difficult during the winter season especially during the months of January and February due to heavy snowfall, yet it is accessible and can be done under strict supervision.
So, if one has to talk about this particular trek, then it could be said that this is not a place to be missed, rather a place that is to be explored.
Itinerary
Day-1: NJP to Manebhanjan
Day-2: Manebhanjan to Tumling
Day-3: Tumling to Kalipokhri
Day-4: Kalipokhri to Sandakphu
Day-5: Sandakphu to Gurdrum
Day-6: Gurdrum to Srikhola and drop to NJP
Some Important Tips
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Try to make your backpack as light as possible. Carry a few warm layers as the temperature falls during the night and feels cold enough. Although the temperature can be freezing cold during the winter season.
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Carry Headlamp or Torch with you which will help you in moving around the campsite in the evening.
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Carry water bottles and some protein bars along with you which will help you in hydrating your body from time to time and gain some lost energy along the way.
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Do not wander off on your own without informing your guide or trek leader, as this can be very dangerous.
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Carry proper trekking shoes because there are sections with rocks and boulders which can be very dangerous to walk on.
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Cellular network connectivity is not that good in the valley so it is advised to make all important calls when you are about to start the trek,
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Do not consume alcohol or any other intoxicants during the trek. Anybody found doing so would be terminated immediately.
Booking Confirmation Policy
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The customer receives a confirmation about the booking via e-mail within 24 hours of successful booking. In case a customer has not received any e-mail from us on booking confirmation post 24 hours, he/she can reach us at thehappytrekkers@gmail.com or can also call us at 8759990845/9647110928.
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In case we find that there are no slots available for a certain date, the customer will be given the option to reschedule to some other date or cancel the trek with a full refund to their source account within the next 10 business days.
Cancellation Policy
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If cancellations are made within the last 30 days before the start of the trek, 30% of the total tour cost will be charged as a cancellation fee.
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If cancellations are made within the last 15 days before the start of the trek, 50% of the tour cost will be charged as a cancellation fee.
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In case of unforeseen weather conditions or government restrictions, the trek might get canceled. In such cases, we will try our best to provide an alternate date or alternate trek to the customer. However, a cash refund will not be applicable for the same, customer can book some other tours for some other dates.
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In case a customer wants to reschedule a date, he or she can do that by simply dropping a mail at thehappytrekkers@gmail.com
Refund Policy
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The applicable refund amount will be processed within 10 business days.
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All the applicable refund will be done in the customer's source account.