This is one of the finest ridge walks which covers soaring views of Kangchenjunga along with three other 8000 metre peaks Everest, Lhotse and Makalu.
This trek is moderate in nature as it does not go more than 3600 metres and the walking is for 6-7 hours a day both uphill and downhill. The trek has been carefully planned by South Col to ensure that the trekker has the minimum discomfort and proper acclimatization which is most important.
Who should join this trek?
1) A good choice for most trekkers including first timers moderate level of fitness required.
2) Walking times: average 6-7 hours walking per day some longer days Sandakphu to Phalut 8-9 hours
3) Altitude: up to 3625m
4) Terrain: mostly following well travelled trails and paved paths and steps.
5) Remoteness: the trek is close to Darjeeling and mobile phones will work on a few days on the route like Tumling, Sandakphu, and Gorkey etc.
6) This is a tea house trek with basic rooms in the lodges and food from a menu at each lodge similar to Nepal.
Highlights
A walk along the high ridge between India on one side and Nepal on the other with the valleys of Sikkim in front
Views of four 8000 metre peaks from Sandakphu – Everest, Kangchenjunga, Lhotse and Makalu.
Verdant forests of the Eastern Himalaya rich in bird life.
The Singalila National Park is also the home of the red panda and many naturalists come here to see and study red pandas.
A loop trek not crossing 12,000 feet so moderate in nature with tea houses along the way
Day 01 – Bagdogra to Manebhanjan by vehicle 3 hours and then 45 minutes by Landrover to Tumling 9600 feet We stop for the night at Tumling as there are good lodges to stay and a good view in the morning of the mountains. Day 02: Tumling to Kalapokhri 10,400 feet 13 km 5 hours The trail leaves the village of Tumling and then enters Nepal for a brief while through the village of Jaubari about 45 minutes away. From Jaubari the trail drops down to Gairibash. We can stop in Gairibash for a cup of tea at the teashop. From Gairibash there is a steady uphill climb of about 2.5 hours to Kalapokhri. Day 03: Kalapokhri to Sandakphu 11,929 feet 3 hours The next day is the day for views we now leave the valley and start moving into the higher country. From Kalapokhri goes down and then climbs up to Bikeybhanjan. From Bikheybhanjan through a series of zig zags the trail eventually reaches the Sandakphu lodges on a ridge top. This is a short and strenuous day and we should be in Sandapkhu by early lunchtime. Day 04: Sandakphu to Phalut 11,811 feet 21 km 8 hours This is the most beautiful walk of the trek and is largely level following the ridge of the Singalila with mountains on either side – the Everest group to the west and the Kangchenjunga group in front. It is a 180 degree spectacular view one of the finest in the Himalayas. After about 5 hours we reach Sabarkum where we stop for lunch. From here the trail begins to climb through a series of zig zags to the Phalut trekkers Hut. Phalut is the tri junction of Bengal Nepal and Sikkim. Day 05 Phalut to Gorkhey 9600 feet 15 km 5-6 hours The trail starts dropping from Phalut through forests of chestnut, pine and fir. The trail loses altitude steadily all the way down. We should reach Gorkhey in the afternoon and have a free evening to enjoy the forests and a good dinner Day 06 Gorkhey to Sirikhola 7500 feet 18 km 8 hours The trail follows the river and comes initially to the village of Ramam in about 3 hours. After a stop for tea at Ramam we continue downhill following the valley and through the verdant forest. By early evening we should reach the lodges of Sirikhola where our trek ends near the river. Day 07 – Sirikhola to Darjeeling night at Darjeeling We drive by jeep to Darjeeling which would take around 4 hours and reach in time for lunch, a hot shower and a good meal. Day 08 Darjeeling to Bagdogra by vehicle and onto home destinations
October 29th to November 6th 2020
Costs on request please email [email protected]
The cost is per person for Bagdogra to Bagdogra( 8 days ) as per the itinerary given.
Costs given above are at current rates and may change without notice. Changes if any will be notified 3 months before the trek.
Costs include
All necessary permits and Kangchendzonga National Park permits as needed.
All stay in lodges and one night in Darjeeling on twin sharing basis.
All transport in private vehicles and jeeps – Bagdogra to Manebhanjan; Manebhanjan to Tumling; Srikhola to Darjeeling and Darjeeling to Bagdogra.
Cost of porters/guides/ponies and other support staff on the trek is covered. Please note that porters or pony will carry one duffel bag or backpack not exceeding 12 kgs in weight for each trekker comprising of personal items, clothing, sleeping bag etc.
Costs not included
Flight Cost/Train costs to reach Bagdogra/New Jalpaiguri
Meals on the trek and in Darjeeling not covered.
Client travel and medical insurance of any kind. Emergency evacuation costs if needed.
Personal clothing and equipment; sleeping bag; down/ goretek jacket, medicines for personal use etc.
Air fare from residence country to India and back
Cost of covid 19 certificate if needed before the trek.
Tips to porters and guide at the end of trek – we will give a guideline on this before the trek.
ITEMS | REMARKS | |
Duffle Bag | All the equipment listed below other than what you need for the day should be packed into a duffle bag, locked and handed over to the porters in the morning. In case you cannot get a duffle bag in your home country these are available very cheap in Kathmandu and I can help you with this. The duffle bag should not weight more than 10 kgs! | |
1 | Sleeping Bag | Warm sleeping bag is needed at least three season rated to 15F |
2 | Daypack or Hipbelt | To carry water, one jacket some nuts, chocolates, cap, camera to keep with you in the day, maybe gloves and cap as well, hiking poles etc. |
3 | Boots or Trekking Shoes | one pair |
4 | Slippers or Sandals for camp | lightweight to wear in the evenings |
5 | warm Socks | 2 pairs to carry and one pair to wear |
6 | Gloves | one pair |
7 | Underwear | 1 to wear and 2 to carry |
8 | Warm Cap | one- Wool or fleece is usually good |
9 | Heavy jacket | the warmest you can get as nights and early mornings are cold - down is usually preferred otherwise a warm synthetic filled jacket. |
10 | Thermal Underwear ( top and bottom) - long johns | inner layer to wear at night and early morning ; |
11 | Mid Layer | Usually a jacket of fleece or wool which can be worn over a thermal layer or by itself while walking |
12 | T shirts for walking | one to wear and 2 to carry - if the sun is hot you can walk in a T shirt |
13 | Trousers /tights etc | one to wear and one to carry light weight preferred |
14 | One Rain Jacket /Wind Jacket/Soft Shell jacket | useful in case of wind ... you may need it in light rain though we would usually take shelter and wait for the rain to stop. Our trek is not in the rainy season though some light rain/snow in the late afternoon evenings cannot be ruled out. |
15 | Torch or headlamp | one small needed carry one set spare batteries |
16 | Sun bloc | one small tube should be ok spf 30 or 50 |
17 | some essential medicines | vitamins, headache, fever, pain killers, diamox for altitude, your own specific medicines etc |
18 | Hiking poles | if you have bad knees then this is recommended especially on the down hills!! |
19 | Water bottle | one no 500 ml or 1 litre is ok you can use the 500 or 600 ml empty coke or pepis bottles |
20 | Sun glasses | the sun is strong in the day |
21 | Cap for the sun | ditto! |
22 | small towel | for baths and wash up in case you can use the hot shower |
23 | toothbrush, paste, soap, shampoo, vaseline, comb | and any other toilet items you may need! |
24 | wet tissues - wet ones for bathroom | called wet ones in India |
25 | some washing powder surf etc small | to wash clothes en route if needed |
26 | Nuts, raisins etc all mixed up | can be divided into small packets for daily use |
27 | Chocolates /Energy Bars/Amul cheese slices/tea bags | Carry some chocolates or energy bars to have on the way. Amul cheese slices are very useful and can be had as snacks when you are tired of sweets! |
28 | Sweets | for energy |
29 | Volini gel/ Bengay etc for aches and pains | or any other equivalent |
30 | Iodine or chlorine tablets for water purification | available in Kathmandu- this is important as mineral water bottles are expensive; for overseas visitors you can get iodine tablets in REI and other large outdoor outlets |
31 | Electral or any other rehydating salts | Carry a few small packets of electrolyte - useful to have mixed with water if dehydrated |
32 | some spare plastic bags to pack wet stuff, dirty clothes etc | |
33 | Book in case you want to read on the way and IPOd for music optional! | |
34 | Two small locks one for your duffle bag and one for your room in case the lodge does not have a lock | |
35 | Clothes line with hooks on either side in case you want to hang up your wet clothes to dry outside!! | |
36 | Super Glue | To patch up boots that may give way! |
37 | Face mask | For dust, cold winds etc available in kathmandu |
38 | Extra shoe laces | one pair |
Sujoy Das
[email protected]
+919831054569
CANCELLATION POLICY
The cancellation policy and refunds available are given below:
0-7 days before the start of the trek =75%
8 -15 days before the start of the trek = 50%
16-30 days before the start of the trek = 35%
31-45 days before the start of the trek = 30%
46 days and above = 20%
IN CASE OF LEAVING THE GROUP
If due to illness or any other reason a client has to leave the group and go down or wait at a lodge for the group to pick him/her up on the way back, all expenses including lodging, fooding and any porter/guide related expenses if any are to be borne by the individual client over and above the trek fees paid for the trek. There are also no refunds for leaving a trek before completion.
HIRING OF PONIES ETC
In the eventuality of a client needed the services of a pony to come down to lower altitudes, the cost of hiring the pony will be paid by the client.
EVACUATION BY HELICOPTER
In the eventuality of not being covered by emergency helicopter evacuation insurance and an evacuation is considered necessary, the cost of the evacuation will be paid by the client in advance to the helicopter company/travel agent etc as deemed necessary.
LODGES/CAMPING SITES ON THE TREK
The choice of lodges/camping sites to be used on the trek will be decided by South Col and clients will have to stay at these designated lodges/camps. Clients are not permitted to choose their own lodges on the route.
TREK ROUTE
The trek route and day wise schedule will be fixed by South Col and will have to be followed by the client.
RISKS AND LIABILITY
The trek is in a remote mountain area and has certain additional dangers and risks, some of which include: physical exertion for which the client should be prepared; weather extremes subject to sudden and unexpected changes; remoteness from normal medical services; evacuation difficulties.
In the event of injury or illness South Col Expeditions (Sujoy Das) or its Staff can, at the clients cost arrange any medical treatment and emergency evacuation service as it or they deem necessary for the health and safety of the client.