This Singalila trek takes you along the famed “Singalila range” to Sandakphu (12,000ft) and Phalut (11,800 ft). A springtime trek reveals not only stunning views of the mountains but whole hillsides covered with rhododendron and magnolia flowers. A post monsoon trek reveals the mountains in crispier glory when the rains have washed away the haze. One can see four of the world’s highest mountains – Everest, Makalu, Lhotse and Kanchenjunga at one glance on the trail from Sandakphu to Phalut.
Darjeeling, the enchanting town also known as the “Queen of Hills” lies nestled in the grandeur of the snow-capped mountains and lush green tea gardens. A holiday resort during the British rule still attracts lots of visitors. Darjeeling is at an altitude of 7000 ft and shares it’s border with Sikkim, Nepal and Bhutan. Darjeeling is known world wide for its tea and the toy train. It is one of the few remaining steam powered trains in the world. It gives enough opportunity to enjoy nature and see beautiful waterfalls and streams as it passes through deep green valleys, mountain passes, tea gardens and tunnels.
Darjeeling is also famous for its tea. It has many beautiful tea plantations where one can actually watch tea being processed. Darjeeling is also a trekker’s paradise and provides ample trekking facilities to the adventure lovers. The Padmaja Naidu Zoo that houses animals ranging from Siberian Tigers to snow leopards. The name Darjeeling has been derived from the Tibetan name ‘Dorjee-Ling’, which means ‘Place of the Thunderbolt’.
Upon arrival in Kathmandu, our Himalayan Hikers representative at the airport will meet you and have you transferred to your hotel. The drive from the airport to the hotel is around 20 minutes.A briefing given by the group leader is scheduled for the late afternoon. He will discuss your tour program and co-ordinate any last minute arrangements.The evening is free, but the tour leader will usually organize an evening meal at one of Kathmandu’s fine Nepali restaurants.
In the morning you will explore Kathmandu on an organised sightseeing tour.You will visit Bodhnath Stupa, one of the biggest Buddhist shrines in the world, where you will observe Buddhist monks in prayer in the monasteries surrounding the Stupa.You will also visit Pashupatinath, the most famous Hindu temple in the country, located on the banks of the holy Bagmati River. Here you will see Hindu holy men (sadhus) meditating, pilgrims bathing, and occasionally funeral pyres burning on the ghats.The rest of your afternoon in Kathmandu is free for further sightseeing and exploration. Meals included: B
The next part of your journey is a short flight to Bhadrapur, in the south-east of Nepal. From here it is a short journey to the Indian border at Kakarvitta, where you will need to complete immigration formalities.Your journey continues with a drive through the Indian plains for an hour before the road starts to climb through the jungles, tea gardens, small towns, and village settlements that line the route to Darjeeling. On the way you may see the famous Darjeeling Toy Train, winding its way up the hill.Darjeeling was once the summer capital of Bengal during the British Raj and is one of the most beautiful of India’s hill stations. Commonly called the Queen of the Hills, her crown is the mighty peak of Kanchenjunga, the world’s third highest peak, which overlooks the town in a most spectacular manner. Meals included: B, L, D
After breakfast take the toy train to Ghoom, visit the Ghoom monastary, batasia Loop and back Later visit the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute which houses a very interesting museum on Mt. Everest expeditions and mountaineering in general. The Zoo here specializes in breeding in captivity of rare Himalayan animals and they have been quite successful with Snow Leopard , Red Panda and Himalayan Black Bear. The aim of this projects is re-introduction of these rare a species into the wild. The Tibetan Refugee centre with its numerous workshops and carpet weaving factory is quite interesting. O/n in hotel. Meals included: B, L, D
Our trek starts with a drive (2 hrs hour) by jeep to a small village of Dhotrey that lies just outside the Singalila National Park . . We meet our trekking crew and porters who would have reached here earlier in the day . We start the trek through a forest trail of patches of oak and rhododendron forest leading to Tonglu which takes about 3 hrs walk . From here there are particularly good views of Darjeeling town spread over the ridge immediately opposite and 1000 metres below us on one hand and wide views of the entire Kangchenjunga range on the other. From Tonglu we have an easy walk to Gairibans, which translates as the village amongst the bamboo thickets. The initial level walk takes us past a long Mani wall to the Nepalese border post in the large village of Jaubari – one of the few border crossings in this part of the world where we are actually waved on without any formalities. After a tea break, we take a downhill trail back into the Indian side reaching Gairiban. Meals included: B, L, D
We start early to Sandakphu as it is uphill most of the way. We reach Kalipokhri about 6 kms away – a fair sized village beside a dark, prayer flag lined pond that gives the village its names. It takes about 4 hrs to reach here . Resume trekking from Kalipokhari to Sandakphu. From Kalipokhari walk along a comparitively level road to Bikhebhangang -Valley of Poison. Trek from Bikhebhanjang to Sandakphu is a steep climb of 4 kms and takes more then an hour to cover this trek. Trek time 2-3 hrs.
Sandakphu 3636 meter is 58 kms from Darjeeling and 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. Sandakphu commands views of Kangchenjunga, Jannu, Makalu, Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse and a number of high peaks in Sikkim and Mt.Chomalari in Bhutan. (3 hours walking). Overnight Camp. Meals included: B, L, D
We wake up early to walk to a platform overlooking Sandakphu with grand views all around. Today is quite a long day but is generally easy walking on the most spectacular section of the Singalila ridge. The undulating ridge trail runs north to the junction of Sikkim, Nepal and India. There are superb views of the Himalaya throughout the day and a walk along the Singalila Ridge is hard to beat for the sheer grandness of its views and the vastness of the surrounding landscapes with a series of ridges fading away to the Arun Valley in the west, the mountains of Sikkim and Bhutan to the north and east and the enormous bulk of Kangchenjunga directly ahead. We camp either at Phalut or Sabargram depending on the camp site availability and group size. (7 hours walking). Overnight Camp. Meals included: B, L, D
We stay on the ridge for the first part of today’s walk but then descend through rhododendron and magnolia forest to reach our campsite at Samanden, a beautiful campsite near a very small village in front of forest. (5 hours walking). Overnight Camp. Meals included: B, L, D
A downhill trail takes us to the floor of the Sri Khola valley before climbing through thick forests of the Singalila National Park to the roadhead of Rimbick. A fascinating day as it offers another opportunity to experience a walk through untouched parts of the eastern Himalayas followed by a section through a couple of orderly hillside villages allowing us to see the local lifestyle from close hand. We will stay at the Sherpa Lodge , as there is no proper campsite available. This lodge is run by a friendly Sherpa family. (6 to 7 hours walking). Overnight Sherpa Lodge . Meals included: B, L, D
Today after breakfast we drive back to Darjeeling.The drive is for 4 hrs. Upon arrival in Darjeeling you checkin to the hotel. The afternoon is free to do your souveneir shopping or just relax by the hotel but your leader will be on hand to assist you for any further arrangements. Meals included: B
Today after breakfast we drive to the border town of bhadrapur and catch our flight to Kathmandu. Upon arrival at the airport you will be transfered to the hotel. Leisure time. Meals included: B
Your trip comes to an end today after breakfast. Your leader will be on hand to assist you with your onward travel arrangements.
