👍 Akshay is a great trek leader with terrific determination, stamina and energy. Was lucky to be led by him on a very eventful Goechala Trek last year.
Guides are blessing on any trek since we don't know the area and so many things. When it comes to DIY, the speaker is not saying that guides are problem, what I can understand from that. He is just saying that on a DIY trek, if someone doesn't want the company of anyone, even the guide, he or she doesn't have the choice. As it is mandatory to trek with guide. I was very excited when I came to know that I can trek in Sandakphu on my own in DIY style. But all the excitement went away after a minute of watching this video when I came to know that I need to hire a guide compulsorily. That's why speaker said that there is a problem. Very well explained. Thanks Saket Manocha
I went for this trek in 2021, guides now charge 1200 bucks for each day and that forest guard in sabargram charged me 1500 for one night stay and three meals. Each tea house charged around 1500, except in chitrey they charged 980. I went in April. It was not even the peak tourist time yet everything was pretty expensive.
Hi Sir, I'm planning to go on my first solo trek next month and I wanted to know if I can use my own tent for accommodation and can I get food & washroom facilities alternatively. Looking forward to your valuable suggestions.
Hi, if I understand correctly, you want to go on a DIY trek and use our DIY food kit alone right? You can fill in the form DIY form, our team will get in touch with you - docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeFaVDC61JdrPG15I4u43Q5ZAKUsKUe7xHKqYgUBqpaVIuMgA/viewform?fbzx=-2500542598150238765&pli=1
Hi Ayan, for the major part of the trek there will be no network. At our Sepi basecamp you might get very little network (2G/3G for Jio and BSNL) otherwise mostly no network.
What is so DIY here Akshay ?? Guides ! Hotels !! Damn !!! Please share DIY for places where there aren't any guides and hotels. ..just wilderness...... Just a suggestion for IH's !
Hellow! Good morning🌻I will be starting my Sandakphu trekking in January and it will be my first trekking...I don't know how to start self-preparing and what should be the essentials I should be carrying during the time of trekking...Can you help me out regarding this matter sir?
Hi, I'm planning for a solo trek to Sandakphu in Jan'23. Do you have any info related to own tent? I mean is it possible to pitch in our own tent if someone doesn't want to get into those tea houses. I tried checking with few hiking agencies,but didn't get proper response. Happy Trekking
For guides, you'll have to pay them per day charges, based on how many guides you want to take with you. Even if you have just one guide along with you for a group of 5-6, that will be enough.
@@asishganguly4896 The charge is same. Max people guide can take is 6 perhaps. Till end of April would be a good time to do the trek, and then again from Sept
why u need a guide if u don't want your video is full of knowledge i really like it but i want to do it by own camping trekking with my own spaace can u help me y i can't camping alone plzx
To do on your own, in terms of the stay and food management, yes, it is one of the easiest treks to do on your own. It has tea houses all along the way, which make a DIY style of trekking very convenient.
I trekked Sandakphu and Phalut both. Some of the parts are really tough. Some parts of the trail are easy. For example, last 1 km before Sandakphu is steep climbing and it is tough.
True that it should not be visited in Dec’22 on DIY. The hospitality and service from the locals are very poor, some don’t even provide hot drinking water at night esp. in Sandakphu. I stayed in Om Namo Buddha lodge in Sandakphu in fag end of Dec’22. Not oly there, but in entire trip, home stays, drivers and many other locals take advantage of people from other states. There are good people though but I found only one person in the entire trip. Drivers are real bad & cheaters including those at Maneybhanjang, Sandakphu, Darjeeling areas. In fact, I doubt if they are good people during off season as well.
Sandakphu is the worst trek if you are looking for a pristine experience @ a pocket friendly budget.. in fact i would hardly classify it as a trek. it is no different than sightseeing Darjeeling. almost everyone is better off doing one in HP/UK.
Hmmm.. What you say is only partially true. We agree that it isn't pocket-friendly to do it on your own. But there are routes where you don't see any crowds or roads. It's the route we currently take from Srikhola. You can see it here - ua-cam.com/video/1QXUqY211R8/v-deo.html It's a pristine route where you hardly see any trekkers or people.
👍 Akshay is a great trek leader with terrific determination, stamina and energy. Was lucky to be led by him on a very eventful Goechala Trek last year.
That's wonderful to hear! He's one of our most impactful Trek Leaders indeed. :)
Guides are blessing on any trek since we don't know the area and so many things. When it comes to DIY, the speaker is not saying that guides are problem, what I can understand from that. He is just saying that on a DIY trek, if someone doesn't want the company of anyone, even the guide, he or she doesn't have the choice. As it is mandatory to trek with guide. I was very excited when I came to know that I can trek in Sandakphu on my own in DIY style. But all the excitement went away after a minute of watching this video when I came to know that I need to hire a guide compulsorily. That's why speaker said that there is a problem. Very well explained. Thanks
Saket Manocha
Same problem,i also want to do it DIY but this information demotivate me to do this
I went for this trek in 2021, guides now charge 1200 bucks for each day and that forest guard in sabargram charged me 1500 for one night stay and three meals. Each tea house charged around 1500, except in chitrey they charged 980. I went in April. It was not even the peak tourist time yet everything was pretty expensive.
Yes, this is the reality. Just returned from Sandakphu last night
@@sunny10528 please tell me about your tour expenses.
You did it solo? I mean I know you had a guide. But you were by yourself, right? I am planning it solo.
You did it solo?
Planning to do it solo, could you please let me know which route you took
Gotta love indiahikes for giving out so much info for DIY. ❤️
Thank you! :)
We have started from dhotre to tumling to Kalipokhri to sandakufu top stayed in GTA hut then next day to falut then next day to gorkhe to sipi
Is snow present all the time there.....?
very informative.. good job IH 👍
best way is to go group so u can split the guide charges., guide is making the max exoense wow
Where does the guide go if I stay in my tent at a location away from the population
In your tent only, you two also have to share the sleeping bag
😅@@Workaholic07
Hi Sir,
I'm planning to go on my first solo trek next month and I wanted to know if I can use my own tent for accommodation and can I get food & washroom facilities alternatively. Looking forward to your valuable suggestions.
Hi, if I understand correctly, you want to go on a DIY trek and use our DIY food kit alone right? You can fill in the form DIY form, our team will get in touch with you - docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeFaVDC61JdrPG15I4u43Q5ZAKUsKUe7xHKqYgUBqpaVIuMgA/viewform?fbzx=-2500542598150238765&pli=1
I hope to do this trek this year. ❤️🥾🥾👍
Please give us a DIY Trek video on Goechala Trek.
Thanks! We'll make one soon! :)
Does mobile network work on the trek road?
Hi Ayan, for the major part of the trek there will be no network. At our Sepi basecamp you might get very little network (2G/3G for Jio and BSNL) otherwise mostly no network.
@Indiahikes ok
👍🙏🏻☕️Useful information provided
Thanks. Very informative. Where can i get forest permit if I directly go to Srikhola? Or if I want to start from Sikkim side?
Very informative 👏
What is so DIY here Akshay ?? Guides ! Hotels !! Damn !!! Please share DIY for places where there aren't any guides and hotels. ..just wilderness...... Just a suggestion for IH's !
Very informative
Hellow! Good morning🌻I will be starting my Sandakphu trekking in January and it will be my first trekking...I don't know how to start self-preparing and what should be the essentials I should be carrying during the time of trekking...Can you help me out regarding this matter sir?
Hi,
I'm planning for a solo trek to Sandakphu in Jan'23. Do you have any info related to own tent? I mean is it possible to pitch in our own tent if someone doesn't want to get into those tea houses.
I tried checking with few hiking agencies,but didn't get proper response.
Happy Trekking
If we go like 5 people together then the charge of the guide gets divided between us, right?
Yup
Do you have to hire a guide per person - or you can hire a guide for a group of people?
Hi, guide is for a group of people not required to hire per person.
Guide charges are group charges right? How many people in a group?
For guides, you'll have to pay them per day charges, based on how many guides you want to take with you. Even if you have just one guide along with you for a group of 5-6, that will be enough.
Guide charge with or without food
1000-1200 without food for a group of 5-6 people max
Good morning sayan, I am 63, Pl inform for solo the charge is same or higher n proper time, thanks
@@asishganguly4896 The charge is same. Max people guide can take is 6 perhaps. Till end of April would be a good time to do the trek, and then again from Sept
why u need a guide if u don't want your video is full of knowledge i really like it but i want to do it by own camping trekking with my own spaace can u help me y i can't camping alone plzx
They have made taking a guide mandatory since the trail is inside a national park. Unfortunately, nothing much can be done about it.
Can we go without guide with permit?
Unfortunately, no. Taking a guide (along with permits) is mandatory on this trek.
Obviously you can, but after trek you cannot return home
Easiest?
To do on your own, in terms of the stay and food management, yes, it is one of the easiest treks to do on your own. It has tea houses all along the way, which make a DIY style of trekking very convenient.
I trekked Sandakphu and Phalut both. Some of the parts are really tough. Some parts of the trail are easy. For example, last 1 km before Sandakphu is steep climbing and it is tough.
Is a guide mandatory for local?
Yupp, a guide is mandatory for anyone, since it is a national park.
True that it should not be visited in Dec’22 on DIY. The hospitality and service from the locals are very poor, some don’t even provide hot drinking water at night esp. in Sandakphu. I stayed in Om Namo Buddha lodge in Sandakphu in fag end of Dec’22. Not oly there, but in entire trip, home stays, drivers and many other locals take advantage of people from other states. There are good people though but I found only one person in the entire trip. Drivers are real bad & cheaters including those at Maneybhanjang, Sandakphu, Darjeeling areas. In fact, I doubt if they are good people during off season as well.
👍
Wow
Sandakphu is the worst trek if you are looking for a pristine experience @ a pocket friendly budget.. in fact i would hardly classify it as a trek. it is no different than sightseeing Darjeeling. almost everyone is better off doing one in HP/UK.
Hmmm.. What you say is only partially true. We agree that it isn't pocket-friendly to do it on your own. But there are routes where you don't see any crowds or roads. It's the route we currently take from Srikhola.
You can see it here - ua-cam.com/video/1QXUqY211R8/v-deo.html
It's a pristine route where you hardly see any trekkers or people.
This is why DIY treks will not flourish if you have to compulsorily takes guides.
Trekking has become a touristic activity. Good for people who have never travelled outside their towns. I would rather be alone and lost.