The Sangalila Trek

Day 01: Arrive Bagdogra - Darjeeling: Met upon arrival and transfer to the Darjeeling, with Kanchenjunga presiding over it. A 3 hr drive into the mountains. Overnight at a hotel.

Day 02: Darjeeling: Early morning visit Tiger Hill for fabulous sun rise views of Mt. Kanchenjunga, the third highest mountain in the world at 7409m. Mt. After breakfast we shall visit the old botanical gardens to see the collection of rare orchids and other plants. After lunch visit the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, the Tibetan Refugee Camp and the local market.

Day 03: Darjeeling - Manebhanjang - Tonglu: After breakfast drive to Manebhanjang for two hours. Manebhanjang to Tonglu is a steep climb up to Megma 7 km or 3 ½ hours walk. Megma is a small hamlet with few houses and small monastery and impressive Chorten (stupa). Megma to Tonglu is another 2 kms, which faces Darjeeling and Kurseong and commands excellent views of Kanchenjunga. Overnight in Trekker’s Hut/Tent.

Day 04: Tonglu -Sandakphu: From Tonglu to Sandakphu, the next days halt is characterised by many ascent and descents. From Tonglu to Gairibas, a distance of about 9 km is 2 hrs walk. The route passes through the bamboo glades. From here a steep climb of 4 kms through the rhododendron forest takes us to Kalphokri. An ascent and descent of about 4 kms takes us to Bikhebhanjyang - valley of poison. Overnight in Trekker’s Hut/Tent.

Day 05: Sandakphu:  Wake up before dawn to watch the sun rise over the entire eastern Nepal Himalayas and the Sikkim Himalayas, from Everest in Nepal and Kanchenjunga in Sikkim to Chomolhari in Bhutan. Sandakphu is a Great Basin set in the midst of the hills; the slopes covered with rhododendron and silver fir trees. Full day at leisure to explore the surrounding areas. Overnight in Trekker’s Hut/Tent.

Day 06: Sandakphu - Phalut: The trek from Sandakphu to Phalut is comparatively easy going as one does not encounter many ascents and the track is more or less flat on the Singelila ridge. The landscape is lifeless yet so beautiful. Phalut is near the tri junction of Sikkim, Nepal and West Bengal. Overnight in Trekker’s Hut/Tent. 

Day 07: Phalut - Gorkhey: From Phalut the trail descends the ridge through the virgin forest of chestnut, pines, hemlock etc. till the trail reaches the meeting of two streams called Gorkhay Khola which is a tributary of Ramam river where we can enjoy the bath in the river after a long 15 km walk. Overnight in Trekker’s Hut/Tent.

Day 08: Gorkhey - Rammam -Sirikhola: The trek is now on flat land and a further easy walk of 6 kms takes us to the village of Samadeen. From Samadeen to Rammam is another 2 kms of an easy amble along the river Rammam that defines the boundary between Sikkim and West Bengal. Overnight in Trekker’s Hut/Tent.

Day 09: Sirikhola - Rimbik-Darjeeling: The road rises steep, for about 1 km where it levels out again till we reach Rimbik. PM: Half-day drive to Darjeeling. Overnight at a hotel.

Day 10: Darjeeling -Bagdogra: Transfer to Bagdogra airport.