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Sandakphu Phalut Trek

Darjeeling, West Bengal

Moderate6 daysBest Mar–May, Oct–DecSnow trek

Kumbhakarna, Kangchenjunga and Pandim mountains seen from Sandakphu above a sea of clouds3,636 mhighest point3 Photos
Max altitude
3,636 m
Days
6 days
Distance
78 km
Difficulty
Moderate

Best months Mar–May, Oct–Dec

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Long ridge days of 13–21 km at 3,000–3,600 m, with a steep pull to Sandakphu and a knee-jarring 1,250 m descent from Phalut to Gorkhey; trail itself is well marked.

Photos

On the trail

Kumbhakarna, Kangchenjunga and Pandim mountains seen from Sandakphu above a sea of clouds
Kumbhakarna, Kangchenjunga and Pandim mountains seen from Sandakphu above a sea of cloudsPhoto: Alexkom000 / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0

1 / 3

The route

Day by day

  1. Day 1

    Manebhanjan → Tumling

    11 km · 6 h · Homestay

    1,928 m → 2,926 m

  2. Day 2

    Tumling → Kalipokhri

    14 km · 7 h · Homestay

    2,926 m → 3,171 m

  3. Day 3 · highest point

    Kalipokhri → Sandakphu

    6 km · 3 h · Guesthouse

    3,171 m → 3,636 m

  4. Day 4

    Sandakphu → Phalut

    21 km · 8 h · Guesthouse

    3,636 m → 3,600 m

  5. Day 5

    Phalut → Gorkhey

    14 km · 5 h · Homestay

    3,600 m → 2,348 m

  6. Day 6

    Gorkhey → Srikhola (via Rammam)

    12 km · 5 h · No overnight

    2,348 m → 2,100 m

Ups and downs

Altitude profile

1,5002,0002,5003,0003,5004,000Manebhanjan: 1,928 m, 0 kmTumling: 2,926 m, 11 kmKalipokhri: 3,171 m, 25 kmSandakphu: 3,636 m, 31 kmPhalut: 3,600 m, 52 kmGorkhey: 2,348 m, 66 kmSrikhola (via Rammam): 2,100 m, 78 km
Metres above sea level · distance 78 km

Where it is

Map

Download GPX waypoints

Trailhead and high point only — not a recorded track. Use it with a proper map.

Weather

Next 5 days on the trail

Live forecast for the trailhead and the high point. Mountain weather changes fast — check again on the morning you start.

Each day: high / low °C · rain mm and chance · snow cm · wind km/h

Weather data: Open-Meteo.comModel forecast, not an official warning. For alerts follow IMD and the local administration.

Plan the trip

How to reach

Trailhead
Manebhanjan
Nearest railway
New Jalpaiguri (NJP)
Nearest airport
Bagdogra (IXB)
By road
Darjeeling (about 28 km, 1 hour); Siliguri / NJP via Mirik and Sukhiapokhri (about 92 km)
Drive
About 3 h from Siliguri

Plan the trip

Permits and fees

We could not confirm the current permit rules and fees from an official source. Check with the local forest department or tourism office before you go.

Plan the trip

Cost

Self-guided

₹7,000–14,000

With an operator

₹14,000–31,000

Per person. Guided ex-NJP/Siliguri: Bikat Adventures ₹13,400 + 5% GST; Himalayan High from ₹25,500 (basic) to ₹30,500 (standard) for larger groups. Self-guided ex-Manebhanjan is an estimate: a mandatory local guide shared by a group, park entry per day, trekkers' huts and meals (2022 rates per Darjeeling Tourism), excluding transport to Manebhanjan and out of Srikhola.

Gear

Top picks for this trek

The gear that matters most on this route, chosen from its altitude, season and risks.

See the full packing checklist

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Packing checklist

Matched to this trek: altitude, season, days and the risks on the route.

Packed 0 of 28

Nights near 3,636 m can drop close to freezing even in summer. Pack one more warm layer than you think.

Tick each item as it goes in the bag.

What to wear
Pack and gear
Sleeping

Many trek operators provide tents and sleeping bags. Ask before you buy.

Safety
Water and food
Documents and money

Your ticks are saved on this device only.

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Know before you go

Good to know

Mobile network
Patchy along the ridge; phones often pick up Nepali networks near the border; little or none at Phalut and Gorkhey
Last ATM
Sukhiapokhri / Darjeeling (no reliable ATM at Manebhanjan)
Nearest hospital
Darjeeling District Hospital
Water
Scarce on the ridge; carry 2 litres and refill at lodges in Tumling, Kalipokhri and Sandakphu; no villages between Sandakphu and Phalut

Highlights

  • Sunrise over the Sleeping Buddha (Kangchenjunga massif) from Sandakphu, West Bengal's highest point
  • Four of the world's five highest peaks — Everest, Lhotse, Makalu and Kangchenjunga — in one view from the ridge
  • Walking the India–Nepal border through Singalila National Park, home of the red panda
  • Rhododendron and magnolia bloom in April–May; snow on the ridge in winter
  • The empty 21 km Sandakphu–Phalut ridge walk, with no villages on the way

Risks

  • Thick fog and whiteouts on the open ridge between Sandakphu and Phalut; easy to lose the trail without the mandatory guide
  • Altitude above 3,500 m for two nights — watch for headache and nausea
  • Cold winds and sub-zero nights, with snow and ice on the trail in winter
  • Long water-less day from Sandakphu to Phalut

Know before you go

Questions

Is a guide compulsory on the Sandakphu Phalut trek?

Yes. Trekkers inside Singalila National Park must take a guide, hired at Manebhanjan/Dhotrey through the local guide and porter association, even though the trail is well marked. Jeep visitors do not need one.

Does the trek go into Nepal?

Yes. The trail follows the India–Nepal border and crosses and re-crosses it many times; parts of Tumling and the western side of Sandakphu lie in Nepal's Ilam District. Indian trekkers carry photo ID; foreign nationals should carry their passport and Indian visa, register at the Manebhanjan check post and avoid staying in lodges on the Nepal side.

When is the best time to do the trek?

October–December for the clearest mountain views, and March–May for rhododendrons. The park closes for the monsoon from mid-June to mid-September.

Which is higher, Sandakphu or Phalut?

Sandakphu (3,636 m) is the highest point of the trek and of West Bengal; Phalut, 21 km further north on the ridge, is about 3,600 m.

What are the park entry fees?

Fees are set by the West Bengal Forest Department and paid at the Singalila National Park gate. Travel guides quote per-day charges for Indians and foreigners plus camera fees, but we could not confirm the current rates on an official page — check at the Manebhanjan forest office.

Your 8-week plan for this trekModerate grade. Start about 8 weeks before you travel.
SOS

In an emergency

Save these numbers before you lose signal. Tap to call.

You are in

District: DarjeelingWest Bengal

Nearest hospital
Darjeeling District Hospital
Last ATM
Sukhiapokhri / Darjeeling (no reliable ATM at Manebhanjan)
Phone network
Patchy along the ridge; phones often pick up Nepali networks near the border; little or none at Phalut and Gorkhey

Before you set off

  1. Tell someone your route and when you will be back.
  2. Carry a charged phone and a power bank.
  3. Download an offline map of the route.
  4. Turn back if the weather turns bad — the mountain will wait.
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Where this comes from

Sources

Last reviewed:

  1. Sandakphu — Wikipedia
  2. Sandakphu–Phalut Trek — Wikivoyage
  3. The Guide: Singalila National Park — Roundglass Sustain
  4. Sandakphu Phalut Trek 2026 (7D/6N) — Himalayan High
  5. Sandakphu Phalut Trek — Bikat Adventures
  6. Sandakphu Phalut Trek — Himalayan Dream Treks
  7. Offbeat Trek from Srikhola to Sandakphu & Phalut — Darjeeling Tourism (darjeeling-tourism.com)

Photos: Alexkom000 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0; Shilbhadra / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0; Satadru306 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

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