TREK DIFFICULTY
Moderate
TREK DURATION
7 days
HIGHEST ALTITUDE
11,930 ft
AGE LIMIT
12 to 62 years
The Unforgettable View of Four of the World's Tallest Mountains
There is nothing else like the Sandakphu Phalut Trek. It offers the breathtaking experience of seeing four of the world's tallest peaks. Yet it is also a trek where nature and culture come together.
From Phalut, on your left is the Everest cluster, which includes the world's fourth- and fifth-highest mountains, Lhotse and Makalu. It's a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see these three majestic peaks together from a vantage point.
The "Sleeping Buddha" on your right is even more impressive. The resemblance of the massif to a sleeping human form is uncanny. The third-highest mountain in the world, Kanchenjunga, stands out as the most prominent peak in this uniquely shaped massif.
You awaken to the Sleeping Buddha from our Sabalgram campsite. The view often leaves trekkers teary-eyed.
The new Sandakphu trek route that Indiahikes explored is better than the traditional one. Watch this video to know why.
Sandakphu-Phalut is our favourite spot in the world to view sunrises and sunsets. We have never witnessed a sunset as stunning as the one we see from Aahl. In a quirk of natural wonder, in the evening, a sea of clouds settles below Aahl. The clouds come in like waves on the sea. In this magical cauldron of clouds, the sun slowly descends. Around us, still glistening orange, are the Everest cluster and the Sleeping Buddha. These are some of the trek's most emotional moments.
Frankly, we want you to do this trek just to see the sunrises and sunsets. In our experience, we have not found any of our treks that give such spectacular sunrises and sunsets.
The Singalila National Park is, of course, a favourite among our trekkers. The bamboo and rhododendron forests there are among the densest. These forests are magnificent.
Above Samanden, there is a long section of bamboo. Walking under the canopy of bamboo trees is an experience like no other. The towering stalks of bamboo rise high above, creating a natural ceiling that filters sunlight into a soft green glow. The bamboo stalks are thick and clustered, creating the feeling of being in a secret, magical world.
In the spring, when rhododendrons bloom, Sandakphu is one of our Indiahikers' top three rhododendron treks. The showy blooms of pink, red, scarlet, and white flowers swathe the mountainside, creating a truly magical moment.
Our trek leaders have spotted the red panda in these forests once or twice. It is rare, but not totally out of the question, to spot the Himalayan black bear, red panda, and clouded leopard on this trek. The trek’s Indo-Nepali culture is also something we look forward to! On the trek, our path gets in and out of Nepal all the time. Our sleeping tents are in India at some of our camps, and our kitchen tents are in Nepal!
Our trek leaders don’t want to leave this place! They love this cultural mix. The local families who run the tea houses are known for their warmth and friendliness. When you walk into one of the tea houses, you are greeted with a warm cup of tea and a friendly smile! The Buddhist culture is ever-prevailing.
The cuisine is a fusion of Nepali and Tibetan. Bhukiya roti is a fantastic, flavourful bread that we adore. The homemade fruit jams go superbly well with it. On the other hand, we love the Nepali Thukpa! It is very different from the thukpa that we get in our cities. Don’t forget to take the Dalle Khursani, one of the world’s spiciest chillies, back home. The bamboo shoot pickles and Churpi (yak cheese) complete your list of souvenirs.
The Sandakphu-Phalut trek is a spiritual journey towards the Sleeping Buddha. But what comes with it is a chance to observe a rare culture, a bamboo and rhododendron forest like no other, and sunrises and sunsets no one has ever seen.
There is nothing else like the Sandakphu Phalut Trek. It offers the breathtaking experience of seeing four of the world's tallest peaks. Yet it is also a trek where nature and culture come together.
From Phalut, on your left is the Everest cluster, which includes the world's fourth- and fifth-highest mountains, Lhotse and Makalu. It's a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see these three majestic peaks together from a vantage point.
Sandakphu Phalut Trek Videos
Recommended Videos Before Going For The Trek
Sandakphu Phalut - Complete Trek Information
We have always wanted trekkers to be well-informed before they go on a Himalayan trek. Knowledge is the difference between a safe trek and a dangerous one. It’s also the difference between a wholesome experience and a superficial experience.
Use this section to learn about the Sandakphu - Phalut trek. It has in-depth information about each day of the trek, what to expect, and how you need to prepare for it. Many years of expertise have gone into this content. Trekkers find that extremely useful.
Sandakphu Phalut Trek Photo Gallery
What I Like and Don't Like About the Sandakphu Phalut Trek
What I Like About the Sandakphu - Phalut Trek
Trek Trivia
Things Nobody Tells You About Sandakphu - Phalut
Did you know that Sandakphu is the most culturally rich trek?
As compared to any other trek, here you observe the local culture very closely. When you stay in tea houses, it takes you close to their culture. You get to witness their lifestyle, cooking, and so much more. Make sure to try out the bamboo shoot pickles at any of our campsites.
Colourful Houses of Samanden and Sepi
The people here take excellent care of their homes. There are aesthetic designs and vibrant colours on the houses. They make sure the houses are filled with flowers and create a welcoming vibe.
A Story about Darjeeling and its People
There was a war between Nepal and Sikkim. Darjeeling used to belong to Sikkim. But during the war, Darjeeling was conquered by Nepal. So people from Nepal moved into the Darjeeling area.
During that time, Britishers were also coming in. Out of fear, Nepal gifted Darjeeling to the Britishers so that they don't attack Nepal. This was why Nepal was never conquered by Britishers.
The Nepali people who moved into Darjeeling are called Gorkhas. Even though Nepal is described as a Hindu country, the culture in Darjeeling is primarily Buddhist. They bring along with them the old Tibetan culture.
At certain places, you'll find 5-coloured flags planted. These flags are placed in areas that are recognized as holy or monumental. The 5 colours signify earth, water, air, fire, and space. The people believe that their prayers are carried far away when the wind blows, and the flag flutters.
Why Indiahikes
As industry leaders, we have innovated and set safety standards in the trekking industry. Our people, our processes, and our equipment—these are what make Indiahikes the safest trekking organisation in India.
Trekkers often call the Indiahikes Experience “life-changing.” This is because, through our treks, we consciously bring about a transformative impact on your mind, body and spirit.
Green Trails is our promise to leave the mountains better. We have cleaned over 1 lakh kilos of waste from trekking trails. Yet this is a small percentage of what we do. Green Trails dives into reducing the use of resources, reducing our carbon footprint, and bringing about a change in the daily practices of our trekkers too.
On our treks, you learn skills that teach you to trek independently. Besides, not every time you trek, you will have Indiahikes next to you. Our vast database of trek information gives you all the confidence you need to trek on your own.
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