Sandakphu Trek

Author: Ranit Ghosh

The Sandakphu trek follows the magnificent Singalila Ridge and reaches Sandakphu, the highest point peak of West Bengal, perched at a height of 11,926 ft. It is home to beautiful Alpine vegetation like the ever-present rhododendrons, towering trees of fir, birch and even bamboo. The temperature at Sandakphu varies from -11 degrees during winter nights to 22 degrees during the days in summers! The weather varies from season to season. Summers remain pleasant and cool, due to the high altitude, while the winters can get really cold. Monsoons arrive in June in the Sandakphu region. However, spring brings with it magnificent, rare alpine flora! Thus, this is considered to be one of the best treks in India!

The base camp for the trek will be at Chitrey, a small hamlet in the Himalayas. Throughout the trek, you will crisscross through the border of India and Nepal. This trek is the most rewarding when it comes to the brilliant vistas it presents, starting from the uninterrupted view of the mighty Himalayas to the glorious views of the sun rising and setting. You even take a trail which passes through the famous Singalila National Park.

For the duration of the trek, you will be staying in tourist lodges or private lodges. You will also have the option of enjoying the warmth of homestays at the various stops along the trek.

The trek starts the New Jalpaiguri Railway Station. To reach New Jalpaiguri, you can take a direct train from New Delhi, the fastest route of which takes around 21 hours. You can also take a flight to Bagdogra Airport, the nearest one. We recommend that you take a flight to Kolkata from Delhi, and from there take an overnight train to New Jalpaiguri.

  • Ideal for a first Himalayan trek.
  • Trek up to the highest point of West Bengal!
  • Trek through the unexplored parts of Sikkim and Nepal!
      • Meet us at the New Jalpaiguri railway station at 10 AM. You can also customize your pickup location to Siliguri or Bagdodra, as per your convenience.
      • From here, we will begin our drive to Chitrey. It will take about 5-6 hours to reach, with adequate pit stops along the way.
      • The scenic drive will take you through the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas and beautiful alpine forests. As you gradually gain altitude, you will pass through beautiful hill stations like Maneybhanjung and Mirik.
      • After reaching, you can drop your luggage at the lodge/homestay where you will be staying for the night and refresh yourself, before heading out for sightseeing in Chitrey.
      • Here you’ll see the Chitrey Monastery and the Buddhist Stupa. As you climb to the top of the hill for the sunset, you will catch sight of Darjeeling, nestled in the mountains.
      • After gazing at the glorious sunset, you can head back to the lodge/homestay to retire for the night.