Sandakphu Phalut Trek

Sleeping Buddha and the 3 highest summits of the world

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TREK DIFFICULTY

Moderate

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TREK DURATION

7 days

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HIGHEST ALTITUDE

11,930 ft

Sleeping Buddha and the 3 highest summits of the world

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.

Trekkers share why they loved Sandakphu-Phalut

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Amit Kumar Singh

Manager, Canara Bank, Hyderabad

Sandakphu-Phalut is my favourite spot in the world to view sunrises and sunsets
The Sandakphu Trek is a unique adventure that combines the stunning sight of four of the highest mountains on Earth with a harmonious blend of nature and culture. As you stand at Phalut, take in the b...Read More
The Sandakphu Trek is a unique adventure that combines the stunning sight of four of the highest mountains on Earth with a harmonious blend of nature and culture. As you stand at Phalut, take in the b...Read More
low-preview-zuj46xoqrfvkl 8v sangita nambiar trekker portraitzuj46xoqrfvkl 8v sangita nambiar trekker portrait
Sangita Nambiar

Age 55, Copywriter, Bangalore

Sandakphu is like a highlight reel of everything fabulous about the mountains, minus too much difficulty
The Sandakphu Trek was an exciting trekking journey that I'm actually glad I did in Autumn. The brilliant blue October skies and fabulous visibility we received each day was a plus every trekker dream...Read More
The Sandakphu Trek was an exciting trekking journey that I'm actually glad I did in Autumn. The brilliant blue October skies and fabulous visibility we received each day was a plus every trekker dream...Read More
low-preview-zuj1gboqrfvkl 7n alana m siddeshwar trekker protraitzuj1gboqrfvkl 7n alana m siddeshwar trekker protrait
Alana M Siddeshwar

Age 31, Software Engineer, Globant, Bangalore

Going on this trek turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life
My first trek to Sandakphu, booked on a friend's suggestion without any prior research, turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life. Over the course of six days, I learned a lot while immers...Read More
My first trek to Sandakphu, booked on a friend's suggestion without any prior research, turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life. Over the course of six days, I learned a lot while immers...Read More
low-preview-zuj2ihoqrfvkl 7w suman banerjee trekker portraitzuj2ihoqrfvkl 7w suman banerjee trekker portrait
Suman Banerjee

Age 38, Oral & Maxillofacial surgeon, Kolkata

The best time to do the Sandakphu-Phalut trek is in Autumn
Probably I chose the right time to trek to Sandakphu Phalut ie autumn so I have been encouraged to trek again this year. Well, the best reason to trek to Sandakphu in autumn is the clear skies with cl...Read More
Probably I chose the right time to trek to Sandakphu Phalut ie autumn so I have been encouraged to trek again this year. Well, the best reason to trek to Sandakphu in autumn is the clear skies with cl...Read More
low-preview-zuj9zxoqrfvkl 9h amit kumar singh trekker photozuj9zxoqrfvkl 9h amit kumar singh trekker photo
Amit Kumar Singh

Manager, Canara Bank, Hyderabad

Sandakphu-Phalut is my favourite spot in the world to view sunrises and sunsets
The Sandakphu Trek is a unique adventure that combines the stunning sight of four of the highest mountains on Earth with a harmonious blend of nature and culture. As you stand at Phalut, take in the b...Read More
The Sandakphu Trek is a unique adventure that combines the stunning sight of four of the highest mountains on Earth with a harmonious blend of nature and culture. As you stand at Phalut, take in the b...Read More
low-preview-zuj46xoqrfvkl 8v sangita nambiar trekker portraitzuj46xoqrfvkl 8v sangita nambiar trekker portrait
Sangita Nambiar

Age 55, Copywriter, Bangalore

Sandakphu is like a highlight reel of everything fabulous about the mountains, minus too much difficulty
The Sandakphu Trek was an exciting trekking journey that I'm actually glad I did in Autumn. The brilliant blue October skies and fabulous visibility we received each day was a plus every trekker dream...Read More
The Sandakphu Trek was an exciting trekking journey that I'm actually glad I did in Autumn. The brilliant blue October skies and fabulous visibility we received each day was a plus every trekker dream...Read More
low-preview-zuj1gboqrfvkl 7n alana m siddeshwar trekker protraitzuj1gboqrfvkl 7n alana m siddeshwar trekker protrait
Alana M Siddeshwar

Age 31, Software Engineer, Globant, Bangalore

Going on this trek turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life
My first trek to Sandakphu, booked on a friend's suggestion without any prior research, turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life. Over the course of six days, I learned a lot while immers...Read More
My first trek to Sandakphu, booked on a friend's suggestion without any prior research, turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life. Over the course of six days, I learned a lot while immers...Read More
low-preview-zuj2ihoqrfvkl 7w suman banerjee trekker portraitzuj2ihoqrfvkl 7w suman banerjee trekker portrait
Suman Banerjee

Age 38, Oral & Maxillofacial surgeon, Kolkata

The best time to do the Sandakphu-Phalut trek is in Autumn
Probably I chose the right time to trek to Sandakphu Phalut ie autumn so I have been encouraged to trek again this year. Well, the best reason to trek to Sandakphu in autumn is the clear skies with cl...Read More
Probably I chose the right time to trek to Sandakphu Phalut ie autumn so I have been encouraged to trek again this year. Well, the best reason to trek to Sandakphu in autumn is the clear skies with cl...Read More

Sandakphu Phalut Trek Videos

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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.