The Singalila Ridge Top Walk

Trek Highlights

The trek on the Singalila Ridge is widely acclaimed as one of the classic walks of the Himalayan foothills, giving panoramic views of the world’s third highest mountain, Kanchenjunga 28168 ft /8586 m, her satellites, and on a clear day, Everest herself. The walk essentially follows a well-defined ridge that is more elevated than the other foothills that lie between it and the main Himalayan range. Sunrises and sunsets are particularly spectacular.

This itinerary has everything you could possibly want - touches of luxury in old fashioned hotels of character, brisk exercise in the Himalayan foothills on a classic trekking route, a ride on Darjeeling’s world-famous mountain railway and some interesting road journeys.

Straddling a ridge in the Darjeeling-Sikkim Himalaya at 7,592ft/2,134m and surrounded by tea plantations on all sides, Darjeeling has been a popular hill station since the British established it as an R&R Centre for their troops in the mid 1800s. The industrious Brits, not averse to mixing a little business with pleasure, recognized that the quality of the soil and the mild climate were ideal for tea cultivation and the forested hill slopes were soon denuded of their cover and planted with this most lucrative revenue earner. These days, people come here to escape from the heat and humidity of the North Indian plain. You get an indication of how popular Darjeeling is from the 70 or so hotels recognized by the tourist office and the scores of others which don't come up to their requirements. Here you will find yourself surrounded by mountain people from all over the eastern Himalaya, who have come to work, to trade or - in the case of the Tibetans - as refugees. Mother Teresa spent her early years as a nun here, with the sisters at Loreto Convent and Lawrence Durrell was educated at the prestigious St Joseph's College.

Kalimpong

Kalimpong, 74 km east of Darjeeling and 72 km north of Siliguri, is a bustling and rapidly- expanding, although still relatively small, bazaar town set among the rolling foothills and deep valleys of the Himalaya at an altitude of 4,100ft/1,250m. It was once part of the lands belonging to the rajas of Sikkim, until the beginning of the 18th century when it was taken from them by the Bhutanese. In the 19th century it passed into the hands of the British and thus became part of West Bengal. It became a centre for Scottish missionary activity in the late 19th century.

Until the outbreak of the Sino-Indian war in 1962, Kalimpong was one of the most important centres of Indo-Tibetan commerce, with mule trains passing over the 10,827ft/3,300m-high Jalepla mountain pass. The Kalimpong-Jalepla road was the largest all-weather route between the two countries. With relations improving between India and China, Kalimpong will probably lose its trans-border business to Gangtok, in Sikkim. The main crops grown locally are ginger and cardamom. Kalimpong division was once densely-forested, but widespread tree felling has left large areas denuded. There are still some areas where tracts of forest still stand, including along the left back of the Teesta River and in the environs of Lava and Richila.

Kalimpong's attractions include three gompas, a couple of solidly-built churches, a sericulture centre, orchid nurseries and the fine views over the surrounding countryside.

Route Chart

Delhi - Bagdogra – Darjeeling – Maneybhanjang – Meghma – Kalapokhari – Sandakphu – Molley – Phalut – Rammam – Rimbick – Kalimpong – Bagdogra - Delhi

Day by Day Itinerary

Day 01: Bagdogar - Darjeeling

• IXB to Darjeeling, Meet on arrival by our Staff and transfer to Darjeeling .
• Stay Overnight at Himalayan Resort for two nights.

Day 02: Darjeeling sightseeing

• Tiger hill Sunrise  and Ghoom Monastery Tour at 4 am to 7.30 in the morning, Have breakfast and Continue  Darjeeling Sight seeing including H.M.I and Zoo, Tibetan refugee self help centre  Lunch and   Toy Train joy ride. Evening stroll at Mall and Chowrasta Bazaar.

Day 03: Darjeeling – Maneybhanjang - Tonglu

• Darjeeling –Manebhanjang – Tonglu.
• The trek starts after an early morning drive of about two hours from Darjeeling to Manebhanjang a small village inhabited by Buddhist Sherpas. From here one can get a view of the trekking route, which is an awesome, near vertical climb.
• The first camp – site is at Tonglu at 3070 meters, which is 11 kms from Manebhanjang through dense forests, and hillsides covered with wild flowers and a breathtaking mountain view of the incomparable Kanchendzonga and its neighboring peaks.
• Overnight in camp.

Day 04: Tonglu –Gairibas -Kalipokhari

• Resume Trekking from Tonglu to Gairibas at 2621 meters, Trek time 3 hrs, Approx.09 kms, Trails leads one through bamboo glades and farmlands with quaint little villages habited by warm and friendly people. Gairibas to Kalipokhari 3170 meters is a continuous climb through the rhododendron forests. Distance is 6 Kms and it takes 3 hrs walks from Gairibas.
• Drive by jeep will take approx.2 hrs. Halt Overnight at Kalipokhari.
• Overnight in camp.

Day 05: Kalipokhari - Sandakphu

• Resume trekking from Kalipokhari to Sandakphu, From Kalipokhari the road descends 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.
• Overnight in camp.

Day 06: Sandakphu - Phalut

• Resume trekking from Sandakphu to Phalut at 3600 meters, It is one of the loftiest peak in the Singalila Range and is situated at 80 kms .The stretch from Sandakphu to Phalut is the most spectacular of the trek. The burned silver fir forest makes most of the beautiful sight .A walk of 4 hrs from Sandakphu, you will come across a stone house with blown of roof on the top of a small ridge. The place is known as Sabarkum and is 14 km. From Sandakphu. Halt at Phalut.
• Halt overnight in camp.

Day 07: Phalut - Ramam

• Resume trekking Phalut to Ramam, From Phalut the trail descends through the virgin forest of chestnut, pines, hemlock etc. till the trail reaches the meeting of two streams called Gorkhey Khola.It’s a picture postcard place. One can enjoy the bath and savor midday meal. Resume trekking via Samandin to Ramam Trekkers Hut. Its about 5 hours trek from Phalut or 15-km.in distances from Phalut.
• Overnight in camp

Day 08: Ramam - Rimbik

• Trek from Ramam to Rimbik, From Ramam the road is almost level walk for the first 9 km and again it descends to Sirikhola. The road rises steep, for about 1 km where it levels out again till it reaches Rimbik.
• Halt Overnight in a lodge or trekkers hut.

Day 09: Rimbik - Darjeeling

• Drive from Rimbik to Darjeeling, approx.4-5 hrs for 54 kms. Trek ends. Overnight in Himalayan resort.

Day10: Darjeeling to IXB.

• Return drive to IXB for Flight to onward journey. Trip ends

Tour Price :

• R 45660/- per person for minimum 2 pax Travelling together
• R  41400/- per person for minimum 4 pax Travelling together
• R  39300/- per person for minimum 6 pax Travelling together
• R 35880/- per person for minimum 8 pax Travelling together

Tour Price includes:

• Accommodation in twin share basis with all meals ( Breakfast, lunch and Dinner) in hotel mentioned in the itinerary.
• Transportation to all places mentioned in the itinerary by deluxe 4WD Scorpio.
• All camping arrangements with kitchen,Toilet and Dining tents with all meals.
• Services of all camping crew such as porters, cook and pack animals
• Services of English speaking Tour Escort cum guide all throughout the tour
• Entrance fee during sightseeing
• Toy train fare in Darjeeling.

The Tour price does not include:

• Air fare
•  Insurance
• Expenses of personal nature like drinks, liquor, beer
• Tips
• Item not mentioned in the cost include section.