Never have boundaries been as blurred as they are on the Sandakphu trek. Crisscrossing between Nepal and India, you realize how similar the cultures on these borders are when you fail to recognize which side of it you are on and find yourself inquiring about it in villages you cross every second hour! Talk about a USP of a trek; we wouldn’t be surprised if no other trek can beat this one.
From the wild yaks casually grazing alongside you to the fresh bloom of rhododendrons that adorn the trail to the culture of the region and the barren beauty of the trail, there are many reasons why Sandakphu makes it to our list of favourites in the Eastern Himalayas. For more on that, read Highlights of Sandakphu Trek. In this article, we want to answer some of the most common questions we receive about this trek:
1. Where is Sandakphu Phalut trek?
The Sandakphu Trek is located in the Eastern Himalayas of India, in West Bengal. Sandakphu is the highest peak of the state. The trek starts from the village of Jaubhari.
2. Why should I do this trek?
Sandakphu is the epitome of Himalayan beauty with an assortment of snow-capped peaks, lush green valleys, and picturesque high-altitude villages. As the highest peak of West Bengal, Sandakphu enjoys all the benefits of its title. This 3,627M peak brings some of the tallest mountains and places them right in front of you.
Bound by the Big Four – Mount Everest, Kangchenjunga, Lhotse, and Makalu, Sandakphu remains one of the very few moderate-level treks which offer such splendid views and puts you bang in the middle of 8,000M peaks.
The trail of Sandakphu goes through the Singalila National Park which is a biodiversity hotspot that boasts of innumerous species of flora and fauna. If you are super quiet and super lucky, it’s possible you might chance upon a Red Panda and some very rare Himalayan birds, too!
It is the perfect beginner’s trek with enough challenges to keep you on your toes, enough beauty to keep you immersed in the trek, and enough comfort in the form of warm beds and indoor living to keep you from getting unreasonably weary.
3. How difficult is the Sandakphu Phalut trek?
This is an interesting question. Even though the trek does not take you to a very high altitude and the elevation gain is mostly gradual, it is not a trek you want to take lightly. Sandakphu coughs up a few challenges in the form of very long distances each day, various steep ascents, and the unpredictable weather which could turn a bright, sunny day to a sudden downpour. It could also get very windy on the trail and extremely cold depending on the season in which you choose to trek here. For more details on the challenges of this climb, read Who is this trek meant for?
4. What is the best season to do this trek?
Sandakphu is roughly accessible all across the year except for monsoons. During spring (March to May), the trek is full of colour from the rhododendrons and autumn and winters (September to February) bring you the best views of the peaks with clear skies. During all these months, the weather is relatively dry and stable, and the views of the surrounding Himalayan peaks are clear and spectacular. Pick any one of these months and you will not be disappointed.
5. What is the temperature like here?
From March to May it is mostly pleasant, with average daytime temperatures ranging from 10°C to 20°C and night time temperatures ranging from 5°C to 10°C.
From mid-September to mid-November, the weather is generally dry and cool, with average daytime temperatures ranging from 5°C to 15°C and night time temperatures ranging from 0°C to 5°C.
6. What do I need to bring for this trek?
You will need all your general belongings that you would carry to any Himalayan trek. Be especially sure to carry your rainwear because the skies here can turn grey in a blink of an eye.
7. What is the Sleeping Buddha?
The Sleeping Buddha is one of the biggest highlights of the Sandakphu trek. It is a cluster of mountains that bear an uncanny resemblance to the perfectly proportioned form of Buddha lying in eternal sleep; it is so clear, you don’t even have to squint to see it!
It is the Kangchenjunga range of peaks that give it the shape from which it gets its name. This magnificence makes itself seen numerous times along the length of the trek and it is so vivid that you cannot miss it even if you tried!
8. How is Sandakphu different from Goechala?
Both these treks towards the Eastern end of the country have a lot of similarities in terms of the terrain, landscape, flora and fauna but also a lot of differences mainly in terms of duration, difficulty of the trek itself and the altitude each trek takes you to. While Sandakphu is a great trek for beginners and experienced trekkers alike, Goechala demands you have some prior experience of high-altitude trekking for it to be an enjoyable experience. For more details, read Sandakphu vs Goechala: Which One Must You Pick?
9. Is it a good family adventure?
Since it is a beginner’s trek, you need no special prior experience. That said, one is required to have mental preparedness and stamina before he/she begins the trek. Given that Sandakphu requires no camping out experience but actually has homestays throughout the trek, it is a little more manageable for people across age groups as compared to other himalayan treks. The only thing to worry about are the average of 15km long days on the trek.
10. Do I necessarily need a guide for this?
The short answer is, not necessarily. There are marked trails, a road going alongside the trekking route in case you need to hitch a ride and comfortable homestays to rest yourself all along the trek. If there is one trek which is the safest to do by yourself, it is Sandakphu.
However, it is easier to have a guide for certain reasons like getting the required permissions, ease of navigation, help with bookings of the best homestays and help with carrying your load. These can get a bit tricky if you are new to trekking in the Himalayas.
All in all, it is very possible to do this trek on your own.
11. Is the trek worth doing?
This entirely depends on what you are looking for from your trekking experience. But in terms of the beauty of the trail, the feeling of grandiosity from being in the company of the highest mountains in the world, and the blurring of the India Nepal borders, we’d say it absolutely is worth it.
The highest point on the trek does tend to get a bit crowded especially on the weekends since it is accessible by motorways but the trail itself, where all the beauty is, remains crowd-free.
12. How long does it take to complete?
From Bagdogra to Bagdogra, the trek is 7 days long.
13. How do I reach the base village of the trek?
The start point of Sandakphu trek is Jaubhari. The closest airport to Jaubhari is Bagdogra which is a 102 kms away. Read here on How to reach Jaubhari?
14. What are the nearby attractions that I can explore?
There are several nearby attractions you can explore before or after your trek. Here are some of the popular ones:\
Singalila National Park: This national park is located in the Darjeeling district and is home to a variety of flora and fauna, including the elusive red panda, musk deer, and black bear. The park is also famous for its stunning views of the Kangchenjunga and Mount Everest ranges.
Darjeeling: The town of Darjeeling is a popular tourist destination known for its tea plantations, colonial architecture, and stunning views of the Himalayas. Visitors can take a toy train ride on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, or visit the Tibetan Refugee Self-Help Centre to learn about the Tibetan culture and handicrafts.
Mirik: Mirik is a picturesque hill station located about 50 kilometres (31 miles) from Darjeeling. The town is known for its serene Mirik Lake, which offers boating and fishing activities, and its orange orchards.
Kalimpong: Kalimpong is a small town located about 55 kilometres (34 miles) from Darjeeling. The town is known for its Buddhist monasteries, colonial architecture, and scenic views of the Himalayas. Visitors can also explore the flower nurseries and tea plantations in the area.
Kurseong: Kurseong is a quiet hill station located about 32 kilometres (20 miles) from Darjeeling. The town is known for its tea plantations, scenic views, and historic churches.
15. Why should I trek to Sandakphu if there’s a motorable road right to the end?
Yes, there is a motorable road right to the topmost point of Sandakphu which you can very well take. But if you do that you will miss all the beauty nestled in the forests of the Singalila National Park – the thick bloom of rhododendrons, the stone trails, the smell of the jungle and the songs of birds. The flirtations with the border, the many small high-altitude villages and the warmth of the hosts of your guesthouses. You’d also miss the grand beauty of Phalut. All we can say is, if you can have a pleasant feeling last for 7 days, why would you want to cut it short to 2 days?
We’d suggest you do the trek because Sandakphu is more about its landscape and the route than it is about the last viewpoint on its top.
This is it from our end. If you have any more questions, we are only a phone call away. See you on Sandakphu!
