West Bengal: Singalila Ridge trek  

 In 7 days by   Sandakphu  or in  9 days by Phalut

 

Day 1 Arrival at  Bagdogra We will be present at Bagdogra airport to take you to your hotel in Darjeeling. It takes three hours to drive along 82 km road to your hotel. Evening around town. After that you’ll be free for the evening and your diner. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 2 Early morning drive to Tigerhill for sunrise on Kanchenjunga, back to hotel, after breakfast hike to tibetain refuese center, himalayan mountaineering institute, happy valley  tea estate,  botanical garden. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 3 Transfer early in the day from Darjeeling to Maneybhanjyang about 26 km. by jeep. Maneybhanjyang 2134 mt to Tumling 3070mt  4 hrs walk Maneybhanjyang to Tumling is a steep climb up  to Meghma 3hrs 1/2. Meghma is a small hamlet with few houses, a small Monastery and an impressive Chorten (stupa). Meghma to Tumling is another 40mn. Tumling is 3070 mt. high and is one of peaks of Singalila range, falls on the West of Darjeeling town. On a clear day one can get a fine view of the Nepalese valleys and of the plains of North Bengal with the snowy Teesta on the east, the Koshi on the West and a number of smaller rivers between them.

Day 4 Tumling to Kalphokhari 3170mt   5 hrs. walk.

From Tumling to  Gairibas 2621mt is downhill,2 hrs

From Gairibas  to Kalphokhari  is continuous climb through the rhododendron forest. It takes 3 hrs. walk from Gairibas.

 

Day 5 Kalphokhari  to Sandakphu 3636mt   4 hrs .

From Kalphokhari the road goes down to Bikhaybhanjyang-valley of poison-(Aconites grow in abundance at this place). Bikhaybhanjyang to Sandakphu is a steep climb, it takes more than an hour. Sandakphu 3636 mtr. commands one of the most spectacular views. In the foreground is a great basin set in the midst of the hills, the slopes covered with rhododendrons and silver fir trees. In the background is continuous barrier of snowy mountains, the most prominent of which is Kanchenjunga-8586 mt. towering up in gigantic height and breadth with its attendant peaks Kabru 7338 mt, Janu (Kumbhakarna) 7710 mt. and Pandim 6691 mt. clustering closely round it. Far off to the west, among a group of other snowy mountain rising from graceful peaks of Everest group can be seen, behind the crest of . Makalu, which looks like a great armed chair of snow. The whole snowy ranges of Bhutan, Sikkim and Nepal about 320 kms in length; is visible, but the panorama is completely dominated by the Kanchenjunga and Everest group.

 

Day 6 Sandakphu to Phalut 3600mt    6-7 hrs  

The way from Sandakphu to Phalut is the most spectacular of the trek. After walking for a little while the trekker will be followed by the Everest group on the left and Kanchenjunga range right ahead. ( 4hrs ½) After the trail begins to climb through a series of zigzag till one reaches a trekker’s hut. From here Phalut summit is about 20 mn walk. A magnificent view of snowy range is obtained from the summit which is also the junction of Sikkim, West Bengal and Nepal. The general panorama is same as seen from Sandakphu except that KanchenJunga ranges looks much larger and closer. It is only 48 km. away as the crow flies. Phalut is 1hr ½ walk from this point

Day 7 Phalut to Samandian 2390mt 4 hrs  

From Phalut the trail goes down the ridge through the virgin forests of chestnut, pines, etc. till the trail reaches the meeting of two streams called Gorkhey Khola which is a tributary of Rammam river. It is a beautiful place before to climb up to Samandian-a lovely plateau and it is a small forest village.

 

Day 8  Samandian to Sirikhola 2100mt   6hrs  

From Samandian the road goes down to a small stream and again climbs up for another 1.5 hrs. to Rammam  

From Rammam the road is almost level walk again, it goes down to Sirikhola.

For the  trek in 7 days  

Day 6 From  Sandakphu go down to Sirikhola,

Day 7 The same than day 9 bellow

 

Day 9 Sirikhola to Rimbick 2 hrs  

The road rises steeply, for about 1 k.m. where it levels out again till it reaches Rimbick. There is a small bazar at Rimbick. Drive to Darjeeling from Rimbik ( 54 km ). Check in at hotel in Darjeeling