To enjoy the best of trekking, nothing is simpler than a trek to Sandakphu. This one is of course not the toughtest of treks or the one most thrilling in terms of the view that it offers, but as far as simplicity of the endeavour that it entails is concerned, nothing could be more worthwhile. It is a trek that is completely devoid of the headaches of preparation and yet the sum total of adventure that it proffers is second to none. Those who doesn't endeavour to traverse the geography on foot, a drive on the landrover, let one sweep the contours, permits one to make progress that can be measured and in a way it also give the visitor a chance to challenge the limit of his machine.

The visitors who arrive in early spring can feast their eyes on a different splendour. Rhododendrons, primulas are at their resplendent best at the time, decor the route in riot of colours. The best time to do this circuit is from end March to mid - June and again from October to early January. The trek can be anything from a minimum of five days to a week or more depending on what combination of places one may want to include in the schema.

The entire trekking route lies along the diffused border between India and Nepal. The trek starts from MANEYBHANJAN (6300ft) a settlement that borders Nepal. One starts along the motorable road which is not a pitch tar road but one made of stones, jut out ruggedly all the way up to Sandakphu. A steep gradient of 3 km will lead to Chitrey Monastery. Thereafter a much comfortable path leads to Lamaydhura about 3 kms away where one can take a short break to have a cup of tea or coffee. The vegetation changes with he altitude. The Chimal and the Magnolia trees, their twisted trunks and branches clothed in layers of brownish-yellow moss. As the trek progresses, one will find to be settling into a rhythm. One will establish a sort of equilibrium with everything around him. The first settlement that one come across just three kilometers away is MEGHMA. One finds here an old monastery with a museum of Tibetan sculptures depicting the cycle of life. A visit is must for everyone. From Meghma one road on the right leads to TONGLU through the Indian territory while the path on the left proceeds to TUMLING (9300ft) - at a distance of 4 kms. in Nepal. One finds here comfortable lodges to spend the night. A renowned prominence from where glorious sunrise may be seen awakening the whole snow-range. A kilometer away from here is the gateway of Singalila National Park which houses the Red Panda, Monals, Himalayan Black Bear, yellow throated martens and other himalayan faunas. Treading down six kilometers, one arrives at GAIRIBAS - a valley with bamboo grooves.

The next instalment of trek starts after the breakfast through some beautiful rugged nepalese territory and also along on the Indian side, the Singalila sanctuary. After few kilometers one reaches at Kalipokhri about 10360ft. There is a small waterbody whose water appears black. Not dirty black, but rather a thick mossy black. From here, it begins the lap of trek to Sandakphu. The gradient for first two kilometers till Bikheybhanjan is not that steep but thereafter the trek is almost near exhausting. A climb so steep that your nose dash against the path. No matter how tired you are, knowing that your destination is nearing somehow rejuvenates you. Finally one reaches the ultimate - SANDAKPHU abode of saints.

Sandakphu is a tiny settlement comprising of some private lodges and tourist huts and one or two government bunglows. A stay in private lodges will allow you to be at least for the night a part of family. A visitor's dream is fulfilled when the rays shot around like arrows from the sun on the giants of the Himalaya awakening the whole snow range from Arunachal to Nepal. The view is splendid. One feels that the world is conquered. Seen from Sandakphu on the extreme west is Mt. Everest with two companions Lhotse and Makalu, her satellites dissolve into the horizon of distant Nepal. In the middle, majestically awesome the Kanchenjunga range towers like a forbidding colossus of rocks and ice. The Buddhists call is "Sleeping Buddha" and is uniquely described. On the extreme right are the pinnacles of Sikkim, Bhutan and Arunachal.

Now from Sandakphu, four routes go down the hill to the ultimate destination Rimbick. The longest is the route via Phalut (21 Kms), Gorkey, Rammam, Srikhola. The next one is Molley (16 Kms.), Samandeen, Rammam, Srikhola. The best short route is via Gurdum (11 Kms.), Srikhola. The walk to Gurdum through the Singalila forest is anything but romancing. The landscape is natural but it well ordered beauty might tempt you to think if it has been worked upon. (If someone plans to come down to Rimbik in a single day, he should come back to Bikheybhanjan and take the route to Rimbik through verdant slopes of the Singalila forest range.) The fall is quite swift and very soon one will drop to a very comfortable warmth so that by the time one reach the only picture perfect lodge at Gurdum, he will be tempted to take off his trekking boots, take shower and laze on the lawn. A rest for a night will refresh you up to take the walk next morning to Srikhola and then along.the stream all the way to Rimbik.

Rimbik is a small settlement with all the trapping of modern amenities. One can enjoy here a hot shower and later saunter into the restaurant, make reservations on a jeep or bus that leaves early morning on the next day to Darjeeling.