This month, we hosted a few guests who had booked the popular and beautiful Sandakphu-Phalut trek, which not only offers jaw-dropping views of the Himalayan range but also lovely rhododendron blossoms and beautiful birds during the Spring season. Except this year, the weather hasn't been feeling like Spring.

The past few years here have also experienced the brunt of climate change, but this year has been extraordinarily worrisome. There hasn't been a single clear day of 'Spring' where we could witness the Kanchenjunga range from Mirik. It didn't snow in Sandakphu all winter, but instead a little in March and April. As trek and travel agencies continue to market April/May as the best season for hill stations and Spring treks, travellers fall prey to a problem that hasn't seemed to have caught up with climate change.

We had guests who booked from Mumbai and Bangalore, one in the first week of April and the other group in the last week. One would feel both dates are safely 'Spring' and feel lucky to be doing the trek. The latter even booked six months in advance with a popular trekking company lest they lose the chance to book the trek. Unfortunately there was rain, hail, snow and fog throughout those days.
Booking in advance, especially when some companies lack flexible cancellation or refund policies, is no longer fair or morally right in this business and industry. Because the 'best season' now no longer stands true. While the weather can never be predictable, it is only smarter now to shift travel plans considering climate change and after speaking to locals about the weather, rather than simply booking after relying on marketing claims by 'best time of the year to travel' blogs.

Our guests had terrible experiences with zero visibility of the 'Sleeping Buddha' range. The rhododendrons hadn't bloomed well and those that had, had been drenched with rain.
"It felt like a Winter trek" is what one of them said.
It feels sad that they would spend so much money and time only to feel disappointed and unsupported.

So what to do?
If you ask us, given the times, we would always suggest contacting locals to get a better idea about the weather and forecasts. It's always better than asking the company based in a city they are miles away from.
And our best bet for views of the range till date is still- Autumn!

Get in touch with us at Haamro Ghar if you're planning a trek to Sandakphu this year :)