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Trekkers' lodges and homestays on the Singalila ridge

Name: Trekkers' lodges and homestays on the Singalila ridge
Address: Sandakphu

On the way to Sandakphu you sleep in simple stone and timber lodges at Tumling, Gairibas, Kalipokhri and Sandakphu itself. Expect shared rooms, thick blankets, basic toilets and hot dal-bhat by the kitchen fire.

Photo: Po0zan · CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

The ridge has a mix of family-run lodges and government trekkers' huts. Family lodges at Tumling and Kalipokhri are the warmest, because you eat in the kitchen next to the stove. At Sandakphu there are several lodges and a government trekkers' hut, and rooms fill early in October, November, April and May.

Facilities are basic. Toilets may be outside, running water can freeze in winter and electricity often comes from solar panels for a few hours. Bring a sleeping-bag liner, a head torch and a power bank. Your licensed guide will normally book lodges ahead; walk-in beds are possible outside peak weeks.

Why we book it

The only way to sleep high on the ridge for sunrise views
Hot meals cooked by the families who live there
Prices are low and mostly go to local households
Lodges sit on the classic route, so daily stages stay sensible

Questions travellers ask

Good to know

Do I need to book Sandakphu lodges in advance?

In October, November and late March to May, yes, because rooms at Sandakphu and Tumling fill with groups. Your licensed guide from Manebhanjan usually phones ahead and confirms. In winter and early spring walk-in beds are easier to find, but lodges may close in heavy snow. Check current status before you travel, especially from December to February.

How cold do the lodges get at night?

Very cold. Sandakphu sits at 3,636 m and night temperatures fall below 0°C from November to March, and to around 5°C even in May. Rooms are unheated. Lodges supply heavy quilts, but bring a sleeping bag rated to about -5°C, a fleece and a warm hat. The kitchen fire is the warmest place in the evening.

What food do the ridge lodges serve?

Simple, hot and filling food: dal-bhat with vegetables, noodles, Maggi, eggs, thukpa, tea and sometimes momos. Menus get shorter and prices rise the higher you go, because supplies come up by Land Rover or porter. A full dinner is usually ₹200–400. Carry snacks such as dry fruit and chocolate for the walking hours between lodges.

Packages

Routes that stay here

Darjeeling · 6 nights Sandakphu trek on the Singalila ridge in six nights Darjeeling · Sandakphu · Darjeeling From₹16,500 pp

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