Darjeeling Himalayan Trek – Singalila Trek

TRIP OVERVIEW

Best Season

Mar, Apr, May, Sep, Oct, Nov

Hotel

Grade 2

Days

Enquire now

Highlights

Panoramic views of Kanchenjunga, Makalu & Everest at Sandakpu.
Short yet diverse trek hiking through rhododendron forests
Circuit trek best for families

The Singalila trek is one of the oldest trekking trails in the eastern Himalaya. The trail goes through small hamlets and glades; the highlight of the trek is a stop at Sandakpu from where the panoramic views of the Himalaya Mountains can be experienced. On a clear day, one can have views of plus 8000m peaks. i.e Mt. Kanchenjunga, Mt. Makalu & Mt. Everest. The flora & fauna of the region are varieties of rhododendrons, orchids & maple. This short and soft trek takes you on the tri-junction of Nepal, Darjeeling & Sikkim at Phalut. This trek becomes more interesting because it completes on a circuit. The shortstop at Darjeeling brings back the nostalgia of British Raj than in India.

Arrival at Bagdogra or Bhadrapur – Darjeeling (2042m)

Pick up at Bagdogra Airport and drive to Darjeeling which is about 4hrs by vehicle.
or
Pick up at Bhadrapur airport, Nepal and transfer to Kakharvitta which is approximately 35 minutes by vehicle, a small town which shares an international border with India.

After immigration formalities, drive to Darjeeling which is about 5hrs.

Accomodation
Hotel
Meals
B,L,D
Time
4/5 hrs

Darjeeling sightseeing (Happy Valley Tea Garden, Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI), etc)

After breakfast, visit the Happy Valley tea garden, the second oldest tea estate established by the British in the mid-19th century followed by the Tibetan Refugee Self Help Centre, Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI), Himalayan Zoological Park & Natural History Museum.

Accomodation
Hotel
Meals
B,L,D

Darjeeling – Maneybhanjyang (2130m) – Tonglu (3070m)

After breakfast, drive for about two hours through narrow, steep and winding road to reach Maneybhanjyang, a small settlement at Indo-Nepal border inhabited by the Sherpas. After that a walk along paved roads taking the shortcuts to cut across the road through dense evergreen forest and hillsides covered with wildflowers. A short halt at Chitrey monastery to witness its beautiful paintings and sculptures. We then reach Tonglu after walking through open green meadows. It offers a beautiful and incomparable view of Kanchenjunga and its neighbouring peaks.

Accomodation
Tent
Meals
B,L,D
Time
2 hrs

Tonglu – Gairibans (2621m)

After breakfast, trek through the gradually descending trail passing through Indo-Nepal border.

Accomodation
Tent
Meals
B,L,D
Time
3 hrs

Gairibans – Kalopokhari (3250m) – Sandakpu (3636m)

The trail is steep passing through the rhododendrons forest and during our walk at some
point we will be passing through Indo-Nepal border. If the weather is clear one can get the
clear views of Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse and other peaks of Bhutan and Sikkim

Accomodation
Tent
Meals
B,L,D
Time
6 hrs

Sandakpu – Phalut (3600m)

After breakfast, the trail continues to descend gradually passing through the rhododendron
forest. After lunch, a gradual ascend for another three hours to reach the campsite.

Accomodation
Tent
Meals
B,L,D
Time
6 hrs

Phalut – Rammam (2560m)

Early morning climb up to the trijunction hill of Nepal, Bengal and Sikkim to see the picturesque views of the mountains. After breakfast follow the descending trails passing through the rhododendron forest and bushes and finally walking through the bamboo forest in the lower region.

Accomodation
Tent
Meals
B,L,D
Time
6 hrs

Rammam – Rimbick (2286m)

After breakfast the trail descends likewise the day before passing through the villages and settlements on the Indo-Nepal border

Accomodation
Lodge
Meals
B,L,D
Time
6 hrs

Rimbick – Ghoom – Gangtok (1600m)

After breakfast drive to Gangtok through the narrow hilly roads, passing the Teesta river numerous times along the way. In between we stop at Rangpo, the border between the state of West Bengal and Sikkim, to obtain the inner line permit.

Accomodation
Hotel
Meals
B,L,D
Time
6/7 hrs

Gangtok sightseeing

After breakfast, we drive for an hour to Rumtek monastery which was founded in the mid-1700s by the 12th Karmapa of the Kagyu sect and rebuilt again in the 1960s by his 16th reincarnation. It is the main seat-in-exile of the Kagyu sect outside Tibet. Drive back to Gangtok and visit Dro-Dul Chorten, a stupa built in 1945 by the head of the Nyingma order. Afternoon, visit the Handloom & Handicraft centre followed by local market exploration.