Sandakphu trek itinerary

NJP Railway Station to Mane Bhanjang

Day 1 in Siliguri

I arrived at NJP Railway Station in Siliguri, but you can arrive at Siliguri's Bagdogra Airport as well. From here I travelled by shared car to Mane Bhanjang, a small village located on the India-Nepal border. On the way we passed Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary, where I’ve heard you can spot deer or elephants although we were not so lucky. The road climbs, winding through the towns of Kurseong and Ghoom along the way. The iconic railway of the Darjeeling Toy Train follows the road, which we caught sight of clanking along beside us.

We spent the night in a simple homestay in Mane Bhanjang.

Mane Bhanjang to Tumling

Day 2 in Mane Bhanjang

Distance: 11km

Max Elevation: 2970 meters

The hiking begins on day two, taking us from Mane Bhanjang to Tumling, passing through Chitrey, Lamedhura, and Meghma. The hike started with a steep ascent on stone-paved trails, climbing through picturesque forests. At Chitrey we found a classic Himalaya scene of white stupas and colourful prayer flags fluttering in the wind. From here we hiked through the hamlets of Lamedhura and Meghma backdropped with stunning panoramic views. After five hours of walking we reached the village of Tumling. A clear sky offered us spectacular views of the Kanchenjunga range below the Milky Way stretching across the horizon – truly one of the most incredible things I've ever seen.

Tumling to Kalipokhri

Day 3 in Tumling

Distance: 15 km

Max Elevation: 3169 meters

The next morning we started hiking on the rocky and uneven trail from Tumling, slowly heading towards our next mini-halt, Gairibas. After Gairibas the trail turned into an arduous uphill climb up to Kaiyakata, gaining higher altitude. Afterwards, we meandered through rhododendron forests and traditional villages like Batasia, with occasional mist in the air. After five hours of hiking, the trail at last started to open up. That night we slept in a homestay by this region’s darkest water-lake, Kalipokhri, a locally revered sight with deep religious significance.

Kalipokhri to Sandakphu Top

Day 4 in Sandakphu

Distance: 7 km

Max Elevation: 3636 meters

The steepest and most challenging climb on the Sandakphu trek is from Kalipokhri to Sandakphu Top, but the blooming rhododendrons and snow-covered mountain peaks in the distance made the difficult ascent just about achievable. Along the trail, thickets of bamboo and pine forests had sprawled around Sherpa villages, where we were welcomed with steaming tea. Once we reached the top, we finally witnessed the orange sunset against the mighty Himalayan Range and the so-called sleeping Buddha I had heard so much about – squint and you can just about see it!

Sandakphu Top to Srikhola

Day 5 in Srikhola

Distance: 17 km

Max Elevation: 3636 meters

From Sandakphu to Srikhola the trail was a generously gentle and winding descent straight to Gurdum village on a dirt trail and reaching the Srikhola River we crossed over some wooden suspension bridges. After around seven hours we were down in Srikhola and ready for our beds in a local homestay.

(From here you can choose to extend the hike with an extra stretch of ‘Sandakphu to Phalut’ for another two to three days. If you are up for it, take the detour from Sandakphu Top to Gorkhey that eventually leads to Phalut.)

Srikhola to NJP

Day 6 in Siliguri

Distance: 90 km

It was time to wave goodbye to the serene Singalila National Park and take the ride back to New Jalpaiguri. Shared SUVs, easily available at Srikhola, dropped us off at NJP Railway Station after around a seven hour drive.