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Voykit pocket guide · Nepal
Tumling
Spend one night in Tumling as a rest point on the Sandakphu–Phalut trek; add a half‑day for sunrise views.
Tumling is a high‑altitude hamlet on the Nepal‑India border, serving as an overnight stop on the Sandakphu trek. Its main draw is the panoramic view of Kangchenjunga and easy access to nearby viewpoints. A single night is enough unless you plan extended trekking beyond Sandakphu.
- Country
- Nepal
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- Avoid
- Jun–mid Sep (monsoon closures)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- NPR
- Money
- NPR in small notes (100s and 500s) for taxis, tea shops and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget NPR 1,200–1,800 excl. bed · Mid NPR 2,000–3,000 excl. bed · High NPR 3,500–5,000 excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Nepal Telecom (NTC) and Ncell sell tourist SIMs at Kathmandu airport and in town with passport and a photo.
- Emergency
- Police 100 · Ambulance 102 · Tourist police 1144
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round-pin sockets; a universal adapter covers them. Treks charge for device charging.
- Tipping
- Trekking guide: About 10–15% of the guide's total fee, at the end.; Porter: US$5–10 a day, at the end, in person.; Restaurant: Round up if 10% service is added; 5–10% if not.; Driver day: Rs 500–1,000.; Hotel staff: Rs 100–200.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Use filtered refill stations (Rs 50–100 a litre) or purification tablets; buying plastic bottles on treks leaves rubbish in the mountains.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels; squat toilets with a water jug elsewhere. Carry tissue; on treks toilets are outside and freeze in winter.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Tea (lodges) | NPR 30–50 |
| Meal (lodge, includes rice, dal, veg, optional chicken) | NPR 250–500 |
| Bottled water (0.5 L) | NPR 20–35 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- IXB · Bagdogra Airport
- Road to Manebhanjan ~3 h, then 45 min–1 h vehicle to Tumling
Typical fares
- Manebhanjan → Tumling (4WD, shared)
- about NPR 2,500 round trip (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
All sights are within a few minutes walk; four‑wheel‑drive vehicles from Manebhanjan can be arranged for the ridge road.
See and do
Known for
- Kangchenjunga sunrise views
- Sandakphu–Phalut trek
- Birdwatching on Singalila Ridge
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Tonglu | Walk uphill 1–2 km (0.6–1.2 mi) from TumlingWalk uphill 0.6–1.2 mi (1–2 km) from Tumling | 45–60 min |
| Sandakphu | Continue on the Singalila Ridge trail, 6–8 km (3.7–5 mi)Continue on the Singalila Ridge trail, 3.7–5 mi (6–8 km) | 3–4 h |
Sleep
- Mountain Lodge
- Family‑run, basic rooms, meals often included
- Tumling Shikhar Lodge
- Simple rooms, meals on request
- Satkar Lodge Tumling
- Various room sizes, meal packages available
- GreenHill Paradise
- Homestay with Nepali/Tibetan dishes
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | माफ गर्नुहोस्maaf garnuhos |
| Thank you | धन्यवादdhanyabaad |
| Where is the toilet? | शौचालय कहाँ छ?shauchalaya kahaan cha? |
| How much is it? | कति पर्छ?kati parchha? |
| Can I have water? | पानी दिनुहुन्छ?pani dinuhunchha? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste with palms together; a handshake between men in business; avoid: Hugging or kissing in public
- Temples and stupas: Walk clockwise, spin prayer wheels clockwise, shoes off at shrines; avoid: Touching offerings; entering Hindu-only areas
- Food: Right hand, accept refills gracefully; avoid: Sharing food you have bitten; stepping over food
- Feet and heads: Keep feet flat and away from people and altars; avoid: Touching anyone's head
- Photos: Ask first; offer to show the picture; avoid: Photographing cremations or rituals without permission
- On the trail: Pass mani walls and chortens on the left (keeping them on your right); give way to yaks on the mountain side; avoid: Standing on the drop side when animals pass
Scams and watch-outs
- Monsoon (Jun–mid Sep) may close the trail and make the road impassable – check current conditions
- Border is not an official immigration point; foreign visitors must clear customs at Kakarbhitta
- No medical facilities; altitude sickness possible above 2,800 m
- Limited mobile reception and electricity
Remote, exposed location; weather changes fast, carry warm gear, stay on marked paths, and respect border formalities.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Tumling yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Kangchenjunga sunrise views
- Sandakphu–Phalut trek
- Birdwatching on Singalila Ridge
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Local tourism office – Ilam District: www.tourism.gov.np/ilam
- Wikivoyage: Tumling, revision 5324273 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5324273
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/tumling). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.