From your city to the trailhead: flights, trains, roads and where each of our treks starts.
Last updated
The route in brief
Almost every journey to Sandakphu goes through Siliguri, the gateway town at the foot of the Darjeeling hills. Siliguri has the nearest airport (Bagdogra) and the main railway station (New Jalpaiguri, NJP). From there, a mountain road climbs to Darjeeling, and from Darjeeling smaller roads lead to the trailhead villages of Manebhanjan, Dhotrey and Rimbick.
Mountain roads are slow and travel times change with traffic, weather and season. Plan to arrive in Siliguri or Darjeeling the day before your trek starts.
Leg
Approx. road time
How
Bagdogra airport or NJP to Darjeeling
3 to 4 hours
Private taxi or shared jeep
Siliguri to Darjeeling
3 to 4 hours
Shared jeep, taxi or bus
Darjeeling to Manebhanjan
About 1 hour
Shared jeep or taxi
Darjeeling to Rimbick
4 to 5 hours
Shared jeep (limited, early morning) or taxi
Siliguri to Rimbick
5 to 6 hours
Taxi or group transfer
By air: Bagdogra (IXB)
Bagdogra Airport, about 15 km from Siliguri, is the nearest airport to Darjeeling. It has direct flights from Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad and several other cities. Prepaid taxis and app cabs wait outside the terminal.
Morning flights are best. Fog in winter and heavy rain in the monsoon can delay arrivals, and you want to reach the hills before dark. If your trek meets early in Siliguri, fly in the day before.
By train: New Jalpaiguri (NJP)
New Jalpaiguri Junction in Siliguri is the main railhead for Darjeeling and Sikkim. Overnight trains from Kolkata reach NJP in the early morning, and long-distance trains connect it with Delhi, Guwahati and much of the country. Taxis and shared jeeps to Darjeeling leave from outside the station.
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, the UNESCO-listed toy train, also runs from NJP to Darjeeling. It is a slow, scenic ride of most of a day. It's a lovely experience on a rest day, but not the quickest way to reach a trek.
By road
Shared jeeps to Darjeeling leave Siliguri throughout the day, mainly from around the Tenzing Norgay Central Bus Terminus and the Hill Cart Road area. They leave when full, so mornings are easiest. A private taxi is quicker and more comfortable, especially with luggage.
Buses run overnight from Kolkata to Siliguri. There are several routes up the hill, through Kurseong or via Rohini and Pankhabari, and drivers pick one depending on traffic and road conditions.
Starts from Darjeeling; the route enters the park via Manebhanjan.
Your booking confirmation has the exact meeting point, time and contact number for your departure.
Getting back after the trek
Treks end at a trailhead village such as Srikhola, Rimbick or Manebhanjan, usually in the afternoon. Shared jeeps from the far side of the ridge are few, so plan your onward journey in advance. The drive from the western trailheads back to Siliguri takes most of the afternoon.
Don't book a flight or train for the evening of your last trek day. Leave a buffer of at least half a day, or stay one more night in Darjeeling or Siliguri, in case of landslides, road works or a slow descent.
Travel tips
Travel light. Leave suitcases at your hotel and carry only your trek backpack to the trailhead.
Carry cash for jeeps, taxis and tea stops. ATMs are available in Siliguri and Darjeeling, not on the ridge.
In the monsoon (June to September), landslides can close roads for hours. Build in extra time.
Darjeeling doesn't need an Inner Line Permit. You only need one if you continue into parts of Sikkim.
Motion sickness is common on the hill roads. Eat light before the drive and keep medicine handy.
