Sandakphu – Original Trail

Plan to arrive on Day 1 at Bagdogra airport by 10AM latest, alternately you could arrive on the day before and we could arrange a pick up from Siliguri. Plan your departure on day 8 (the day after the trek ends).

A certified trek leader, a guide, cook & porters will accompany you during the trek

We will be staying at tea houses and trekker huts for the entire duration of the trek on twin or triple sharing basis.

We’ve been organizing treks for over five years and have had many female trekkers trek with us. In fact, a lot of them come solo for treks. There has never been a complaint about the atmosphere of a trek, about other trekkers or our professionalism. They have all been kind enough to leave a review.

Yes

The tea houses will have indian style washrooms on shared basis.

Yes.

Some tea houses will have electric points to charge your phones and cams. They may charge for the usage of electric points for charging. This will be an additional cost borne by the trekker.

No, the tea houses will not have heating facilities. For sleeping, the tea houses have blankets which serve well for keeping warm.

1. Good Sturdy Backpack: Prefer a trekking pack over a backpacking one. The size of the backpack depends upon the participant. Normally for a 7-9 day trek a 50-60 litre pack should suffice.
2. Shoes: Any Waterproof trek (not hike) shoe would be ideal.
3. Socks: 3 pair cottons and 3 pairs of woolens.
4. Trek pants (ideally water resistant): Get two quick dry summer trek pants. On summit climb or a major altitude gain day you can replace one dry fit trek pant with shell trekking pants. If you don’t have a trek pants you can replace it with gym track pants.
5. T shirt/ Base layer: Get 3 T shirts/ trekking base layer on the trek, one of which should be thick and full sleeve. Avoid cotton and prefer dry fit.
6. Fleece/ Sweater/ good quality Hoodie: Get 1 fleece jacket or sweater. Fleece is preferred over sweater or hoodie as it is lightweight and easy to carry. Sweaters and Jackets can be heavier than fleece for the warmth they offer.
7. Down/ Padded Jacket – Down/ padded jacket (Upto -5 degrees ). If you don’t want to get a padded/ down jacket, get two fleece. Cotton track pants for camp – These are specifically for cold evenings at the campsite. This can be ignored if you are comfortable wearing your trekking pants in the camp.
8. Thermals : 1 pair. We wear thermals only upon reaching the campsite not while trekking.
9. Windproof Jacket: All rain proof can be used as Wind proofs. Required as an additional layer during trekking in windy conditions. Avoid if you have a rain proof jacket. 10. Rainwear: Option A – Rain set – One Waterproof jacket (3000 mm waterproofing), Rain proof pants and Bag cover Option two – Poncho that covers your body and bag completely. We ideally recommend Option 1 as poncho makes trekking difficult.
11. Woolen Cap/ Balaclava: (1) To cover your ears, head and neck. Get one woolen cap and one neck warmer or balaclava.
12. Neck Warmer/ Scarf (1): For evenings. Avoid if you are comfortable using a Balaclava.
13. Gloves: 2 gloves out of which 1 can be water proof and one woolen. The waterproof one has to ideally be padded and a size larger than you normally use. This is so that you can wear both your gloves together if required.
14. Suncap – 1
15. Sunglasses – 1
16. Toiletries – Also include sunscreen, moisturizer and lip-cream
17. Headlamp/Torch -1. Preferably headlamp.
18. Two water bottles (1 litre each) – One can be a thermos flask. One can also get a hydration pack.
19. Camp shoes/Flip flops for camp Plastic covers for inside the backpack to keep your clothes dry 20. Daypack – Required if you have a summit days climb. Preferably one that can be compressed.
21. Documents: 2 passport sized photograph, Address and Photo proof (Driving License or Aadhaar card), Doctor’s medical certificate saying that you are fit for the trek. We reserve the right to not take you on the trek if you fail to produce this.
22. Trekking pole

You can prepare for the trek with a combination of Cardio & Strength activities
4-5 kms slow jog OR 6-7 kms Brisk walking OR 25 kms cycling. Pace is not important, consistency is important (non-stop jogging/running/cycling)
Squats 20 x 3, Lunges 20 x 3, Calf raises 20 x 3
All of the above at least 4 times a week
Climbing stairs 40 floors with backpack (Atleast once a week)

Yes, you are ideally expected to carry your backpack. But you do have an option of offloading your bags on a mule for an additional cost. The cost will be INR 400/ per day per bag (weight not exceeding 8kg). One is expected to inform us about offloading 1 week prior to the trek.

Most wild animals are naturally wary of human activity and prefer to stay in more remote, quieter parts of their habitat. Here’s why wild animals typically do not approach camps.

The common perception is that alcohol makes you feel warmer, however it also dehydrates you & dehydration can be fatal while trekking. Hence consumption of alcohol is prohibited. Smoking in camps is not allowed.

If you cancel –
– 60 days before the trip: we can process a complete refund minus minimum processing charges.
– Between 30-45 days before the trip: you will be refunded 50% of the trek fee.
– Within 30 days before the trek starts: No refund.
– If your spot is replaced in a full batch: we will process a complete refund after canceling minute operational charges. (For fixed departures only)