Sandakphu & the Singalila Ridge · forest village

Gorkhey

A river meadow village after the long drop from Phalut

Altitude2,390m Nights1–2 BestApr – May · Oct – Nov

In brief

Gorkhey is a small farming village at about 2,390 m beside a cold mountain stream near the Sikkim border, reached by a steep 15 km descent through forest from Phalut. After days on the bare ridge it feels green and sheltered, with family lodges, fields and a riverside meadow. It is the first night off the ridge.

The local story

Off the ridge and into the valley

For days the Singalila trail keeps to the crest, where the ground is grass and rock and the wind never stops. Below Phalut it finally drops, losing over 1,200 m through fir, rhododendron, oak and bamboo to the floor of the Gorkhey valley. Gorkhey sits where that forest opens out beside the Gorkhey Khola, one of the cold headwater streams of the Rammam river system, which rises in the Singalila range and flows east to join the Rangeet near Jorethang.

The village is a handful of farmhouses with fields of potato, maize and vegetables, cattle on the meadows and a few lodges for trekkers. It lies inside the protected Singalila landscape, close to the Sikkim border, and like the other villages on the descent it has no motor road. Everything comes in on foot or on mule, which is why life here keeps an older rhythm than the jeep towns below.

The descent from Phalut to Gorkhey drops roughly 1,200 m over about 15 km, the biggest single height loss on the Singalila trek.

The Rammam river, into whose system Gorkhey's stream drains, rises in the Singalila range and joins the Rangeet near Jorethang in Sikkim.

Gorkhey has no motor road; supplies arrive on foot or by mule from Rimbik and Srikhola.

About Gorkhey

Arriving at Gorkhey after the long day down from Phalut is one of the sweetest moments of the trek. Your knees are aching, the forest has been steep and endless, and then you hear the river and walk out into a green valley with smoke rising from farmhouse roofs. The air is noticeably warmer than on the ridge.

Spend the evening by the river, wash properly for the first time in days and eat a farmhouse dinner. If you have time, take a rest day: walk the meadows, watch village life and give your legs a break before the last two days to Rammam or Samanden, Srikhola and Rimbik.

What to see and do

The descent from Phalut

The trail drops from the open ridge into fir and rhododendron, then oak and bamboo, losing over 1,200 m. It is hard on knees but beautiful, especially in April when the rhododendrons flower. Use poles and take it slowly.

Riverside meadow

Gorkhey's fields and meadows spread along the stream, with cattle grazing and prayer flags strung across the water. Sit on the bank in the afternoon sun and let the trek slow down.

Farm lodges

The village's few lodges are family homes with extra rooms. Dinner is whatever the farm has: rice, dal, potatoes, greens, sometimes squash or local beans, cooked on a wood fire.

A rest day off the ridge

If your schedule allows, a second night here is restful. Walk up the valley, watch the farming day, and let tired legs recover before the last stretch to Srikhola and Rimbik.

Birds of the river valley

The stream and forest edge bring different birds from the ridge: forktails and redstarts on the rocks, wagtails, and flycatchers in the trees. Early morning by the water is best.

How to get there

On foot from Phalut: Descend about 15 km through forest: 5–6 hours, dropping around 1,200 m. Steep and long; poles help. A licensed guide is required.
On foot from Rimbik or Srikhola: Walk up via Srikhola and Rammam, or Rammam and Samanden: a full day or more, climbing through villages and forest. Used by trekkers doing the route in reverse.

Where to stay

Gorkhey has a few small family lodges and homestays with basic rooms, quilts, shared toilets and home-cooked meals, at roughly ₹500–1,200 per person for the bed. Facilities are simple but the welcome is warm. Your guide will normally arrange the lodge by phone from Sandakphu; in October, book a day ahead.

Local tips

Use trekking poles on the descent from Phalut; it is long and steep on loose ground.
Leave Phalut by 8 am to reach Gorkhey with afternoon light for washing and resting.
Do not wash with soap directly in the stream; take water away in a bucket.
Carry cash; there are no ATMs or card machines until Darjeeling.
Consider a rest day here if your knees or feet are struggling.

02,7005,400

Altitude2,390 m

High enough to feel it on steep stairs. Warm layers from October to March.

What it costs here

Lodge bed or twin room₹500–1,200 pp

Dinner and breakfast₹400–700 pp

Tea₹30–50

Hot water bucket₹50–100

Guide share for a pair≈ ₹750–1,000 pp a day

Indicative, 2025–26. Check current status before you travel.

Best months: Oct – Nov · Mar – May
Nights we suggest: 1–2
From Phalut: ≈ 15 km · 5–6 h downhill
Altitude: ≈ 2,390 m
Known for: River meadow, farm lodges, quiet
Network: Weak or none

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

BestGoodAvoid or closed

Things to do

Four things to do in Gorkhey

Treks and walks · 5–6 hoursThe long forest descent from PhalutGorkhey · Included in your guide fee Culture and history · 2–3 hoursA lazy afternoon on the Gorkhey meadowsGorkhey · Free Food · 1.5 hoursFarmhouse supper by the wood fireGorkhey · ₹200–350 a meal Wildlife and birds · 1.5–2 hoursEarly bird walk along the Gorkhey streamGorkhey · Included in your guide fee

On the map

Gorkhey and its neighbours

Drawn by Darjeeling Himalayas from Natural Earth outlines (public domain). Borders as depicted by India. Not for navigation.

Trips that stop here

Go to Gorkhey on a ticket

Value Singalila7 nights · On foot Sandakphu and Phalut from Dhotrey Dhotrey · Tonglu · Kalipokhri · Sandakphu ₹25,500per person
about ₹3,200 a day

Shoestring Singalila8 nights · On foot The full Singalila Ridge on a shoestring Maneybhanjan · Tumling · Kalipokhri · Sandakphu ₹19,000per person
about ₹2,100 a day

Comfort Singalila9 nights · Mixed Slow Singalila: Sandakphu, Phalut and Rammam Tumling · Kalipokhri · Sandakphu · Phalut ₹41,500per person
about ₹4,150 a day

Close by

Nearby places

viewpoint3,600 m Phalut Where India, Nepal and Sikkim meet under Kanchenjunga

village2,500 m Samanden A farming hamlet in a green bowl between two rivers

village2,560 m Rammam The village above the river that waters Darjeeling's border

Ways to travel

Treks and walks Homestays Wildlife and birds Off-season and monsoon

Questions people ask

Questions about Gorkhey

Where is Gorkhey?

Gorkhey is a small village at about 2,390 m in the valley below Phalut, near the Sikkim border, on the descent route of the Sandakphu–Phalut trek. It is about 15 km and 5–6 hours down from Phalut.

Can I reach Gorkhey by road?

No. Gorkhey has no motor road. The nearest jeep point is Srikhola or Rimbik, a day's walk away. Supplies come on foot or by mule.

Where do I stay in Gorkhey?

In small family lodges and homestays with basic rooms, quilts, shared toilets and home-cooked meals. Your guide usually books by phone from Sandakphu or Phalut. Expect about ₹500–1,200 per person for the bed.

How long from Gorkhey to Rimbik?

About 1.5–2 days on foot: Gorkhey to Samanden and Rammam (3–4 hours), Rammam to Srikhola (2.5–3 hours), and Srikhola to Rimbik (2 hours), or a jeep from Srikhola. Many trekkers sleep at Rammam or Srikhola.

Is Gorkhey in Sikkim?

Gorkhey is in Darjeeling district, West Bengal, close to the border with Sikkim. Your guide can show you where the boundary runs in the valley.

Is there network in Gorkhey?

Usually weak or none. Expect to reconnect at Rammam, Srikhola or Rimbik. Tell family before leaving Sandakphu.

Is Gorkhey worth the extra days?

Yes, if you like quiet villages and forest. Gorkhey and the villages after it show a side of the region that ridge-only trekkers never see, with farming life and river valleys rather than lodges and Land Rovers.

What is the weather like in Gorkhey?

Milder than the ridge: about 5–15 °C in October and November, colder in winter with frost, and warm in April and May. Afternoons can bring cloud and showers in spring.

Can I start a trek from Gorkhey?

You can walk up to Gorkhey from Srikhola or Rimbik and on to Phalut and Sandakphu, doing the classic route in reverse. It involves big climbs and needs a guide and park entry from the start.