Har ki doon trek Details & Reviews |
Difficulty level: This trek can be done by anyone with a decent fitness level. While the trek can get tiring, you will not face much difficulty if you are physically active- walk regularly or do some physical activity regularly. If not then then you will be comfortable if you start walking regularly or get into a fitness routine in the days leading up to the trek. We will be happy to help you with a fitness and preparation routine in the lead up to the trek
Suitable for children? Yes, kids above 9 with some additional logistical support. Do get in touch with us for advice on how we can do this No of Days: We recommend 6 days ex Dehradun. Can be done in 5 days as well and extended to 8 days to include Ruinsara tal Is it a good option for first time trekkers and/or families?: Yes, provided you have a decent fitness level, but there are other treks we recommend better suited for first timers and families. Do get in touch with us for recommendations. The trek distances are long, especially day 2 of the trek, so while plenty of first time trekkers and families have done this trek with us, they have felt tired. This trek is good for beginners but a good fitness level is recommended as you will be walking for long hours |
The entry point of Jumdar glacier from where one of the most important tributaries to the Yamuna river originates,
The Har ki doon trek is
among the first treks in the Indian Himalayas to be explored. Its vast and uniquely shaped valleys have
inspired generations to explore the region and seek further adventure.
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Details & pics
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Advice & reviews
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Region: Garhwal Himalayas in Uttarakhand
Maximum height during the trek: Approx 12,200 ft Distance you need to travel by road in hilly areas: Around 200 km one way Price range for a fixed departure/custom group with 4+ people: Trek cost is in the range of Rs 1500 per person per day with budget facilities, around 2,200 per person per day with premium facilities recommended by us-typically more enjoyable. Do get in touch with us to discuss what is more suitable and enjoyable for you. What to expect: Well known for its beautiful valleys, dense forests that largely comprise Oak, Pine and Deodar trees, Rhododendron trees in March & April, close to glaciers and prominent mountains with permanent snow, 5-6 hours of trekking a day, camping/homestays in moderate temperatures and cold in Har ki doon. Ideal: Good trek if you want to get really close to glaciers and the permanent snow line and if you have a good fitness level. Not ideal: It is a popular route so you will find trekkers, there are permanent constructions on the route as well. If you want a trek without too much strain then there are other treks we can recommend |
Our thoughts:
Har ki doon is among the most prominent Himalayan treks considered to be part of the Jack Gibson, JAK Martyn and RL Holdsworth folklore- masters of the Doon School, Dehradun in the mid 1900’s credited with discovery of a majority of the Himalayas. Gibson’s previous accounts of Har ki doon describe how post his first encounter with the place, he made a trip there almost every year owing to the beauty and expanse of its meadows, the brilliant ski slopes just beyond and the inspiring mountain ranges that tower high above it. It was on subsequent excursions to Har ki doon that Gibson introduced people like Jagjit Singh and Cheema to the world of trekking who eventually went on to become among the most prominent mountaineers in the country and In turn inspired those like Gurdial Singh, Hari Dang, Suman Dubey and many more to follow suit.. Har ki doon has been a great stepping stone for the greater Himalayan exploration and a great initiation for those seeking inspiration from the Himalayas. In his accounts of Har ki doon, Gibson talks about having "never seen anywhere, finer examples of U-shaped valleys or great moraines". "These great valleys, all with live glaciers at their heads, converge near our camp and then break through the surrounding mountains in one great gorge. Each valley, at its lower end, is beautifully flat and grassy and walled in by ancient lateral moraines. All around are great erratic boulders, and banks bright with every flower—the blue poppy, orchids, lilies, primulas, potentillas, anemonies". The name Har ki doon translates into "Valley of Gods". It has the Jumdar glacier to its east, Kinnaur range in Himachal Pradesh to its north. The Swargarohini range and the Bandarpunch range to its south are the stand out ranges. Swargarohini means "pathway to heaven" while Bandarpunch is called so since it resembles the tail of a monkey. Go there and differentiate fact from fiction.. |
Typical itinerary for Har ki doon:
Day 1: Arrive in Sankri (210 km, 6-7 hour drive from Dehradun) Drive from Dehradun to Sankri which goes through Mussourie, Purola, and Mori. For a large part of this drive you will have company of the river Yamuna and eventually turn towards the river Tons which is one of its main tributaries. The drive is a windy mountain drive gets tiring but is very serene, particularly after Mori you come across very beautiful meadows and dense forests after that. Day 2: Drive from Sankri to Taluka (10 km, 1 hour drive), Trek from Taluka to Seema (12 km, 4-5 hour trek) A short drive of 10 km through an unmettaled road that only local jeeps ply on takes you to Taluka which is that start point of the trek. On this day, your trek goes through some very dense forests that gradually reveal snow peaks of Jumdar glacier. Cross Gangar village on the way to camp to the right of the stream at Osla village. The trek, though with a few steep patches on the way, is gradual most of the way and the terrain is well marked. You should reach your camp after 4-5 hours of trekking. Day 3: Trek from Seema to Har ki doon (10 km, 5 hour trek) From Seema, the destination-Har ki doon is visibly straight up in the distance. You can see the mountain ranges of Jumdar glacier the base of which you have to reach. Again, the trek has a few steep patches on the way but is mostly gradual. A waterfall marks the entry to Har ki doon valley and you will trek through very beautiful valleys after this all the way to the camp. You will get very close views of some of the most prominent peaks in the Garhwal Himalayas including Mt Kalanag, Mt Bandarpunch and Mt Swargarohini to name a few. Day 4: Trek from Har ki doon towards Jumdar Glacier and back to Har ki doon, after an early lunch wind up camp and trek back to Seema Day 5: Trek back to Taluka, Drive back to Sankri Day 6: Depart from Sankri to Dehradun Other info about Har ki doon: Har ki doon is located in the Govind Pashu National Park and the trek starts from a place called Taluka which is a 7-8 hour drive from Dehradun via towns like Mussourie, Purola, Mori and Sankri. We follow the River Yamuna till Naogaon from where we follow one of Yamuna's major tributaries- The river Tons upto its Origin(Jumdar Glacier at Har ki doon) for the duration of the trek. The maximum height reached is about 12,000 ft if you are doing the Har ki doon trek and is 13,000 ft if you are doing the Ruinsara tal trek. The trek starts at a height of about 7,000 ft and you gain about 5,000 ft over 26 km. The gradient therefore is very gradual. However, be prepared to trek 6-7 hours a day for the first two days of the trek since the distances to be covered are fairly long. From Dehradun to Dehradun the trek can be done in 7 days. Add 5-6 hours in the train if you are from Delhi along with a 2-3 hour flight if you are from Mumbai/ Bangalore or another city and you have an experience on your hands.. |
Trek Advice
Sounds like a great trek, but what are the things I should consider before going for the Har ki doon trek?
How comfortable are you with road travel in the mountains?
Mountain roads are normally quite windy and twisty, occasionally bumpy and for those who are not used to mountains roads, drives may be uncomfortable. Keep this in mind while choosing which trek you are doing and while planning your itinerary. If you are uncomfortable with long drives and think you may get motion sickness, then you could plan a trek with a short travel time in the mountains, or you could look at splitting your travel time into extra days. There are also certain suggestions such as taking a car with a low body-roll, home-made remedies that have worked for us that we will be happy to share with you to help you in your journey.
One downside to Har ki doon trek is the long drive. To reach Taluka which is the base for the Har ki doon trek you are looking at upwards of 8 hours of driving in the mountains. While it is a beautiful drive, for reasons mentioned above it can be tiring. We have mentioned a few recommendations on this and will be happy to discuss this with you to help make it more enjoyable and less taxing.
If long drives in the mountains is a no for you then there are other treks that we can recommend to you as well.
Are you looking at something leisurely or something challenging?
Leisurely treks have well marked trails, have between 2-4 hours of trekking a day and can be managed without much difficulty. These are better for beginners or those who come with the intention of enjoying themselves more than exerting. Challenging treks can have difficult terrain, 6-7 hours of walking a day, go to high altitude and therefore have to plan their itinerary very well so that their body is well acclimatized. They not only require a high fitness level but high mental endurance.
On less challenging treks we are also able to offer better facilities because carrying things up is easier and less expensive. Facilities get more basic as the trek challenge levels go up because carrying additions gets harder.
Typically, if you want your first taste of the mountains and Himalayan wilderness, then we recommend a more leisurely trek and you will enjoy that trek much more. Too much challenge first time may put you or your family off. Take is slow is what we suggest. Start with a leisurely trek where you aren't that exposed to the extremes, can spend more time at camp with your loved ones, enjoy the great food, the scenery, walk around, click photographs, play some games et so that you soak in the experience. On challenging treks you are likely to be too tired to do most of this stuff.
The trek to Har ki doon falls in the moderate category. While the altitude is not going to be a major issue, the terrain does not go through any tricky patches and the trail is mostly gradual with a few steep patches, the trek distances are on the longer side. On the first day you will be trekking for 4-5 hours and on the second day to reach Har ki doon you will be trekking around 6 hours or so and this can get tiring with kids or families. If you think you can cope with the strain then you can certainly go ahead.
Are you coming with a family/young kids who you want to initiate to the Himalayas?
On similar lines with our previous point. If you are coming with family/trying to initiate your children to the Himalayas, the first experience should not be too difficult that puts them off. Keep the first experience light which gives them limited exposure where they are spending more time enjoying their surroundings.
For reasons mentioned above, Har ki doon is not our most recommended first trek if you are in this category. Our personal suggestion in this is to look at a simpler trek as a first taste and look at this as a subsequent trek once you know what to expect and are mentally prepared for something more challenging.
It is a beautiful place and an amazing experience, but you will enjoy it more as a second or subsequent trek in our opinion.
What sort of terrain do you like? Glaciers/meadows/forests/villages?
This is a personal choice without any right or wrong answers. Some may prefer glaciers and base of mountains with permanent snow, others may want meadows and forests, and others will want to spend time in local villages.
The advantage of driving that long in mountain roads is that you get very deep into the Himalayas. The Jumdar glacier originates from Har ki doon, you trek up along the river Tons which is one of the main tributaries to the River Yamuna and Jumdar glacier in the origin of the River Tons. You get to see Mt Swargarohini which is a prominent mountain in Garhwal. You are almost at the base of numerous 20,000 ft. peaks at Har ki doon and as we have mentioned previously, Har ki doon is known for its vast lush green valleys.
The drive between Purola and Mori goes through a thicket of Pine forests and between Taluka and Seema you trek through dense oak forests.
Popularity:
The Har ki doon trek is popular with trekkers and most times you will find other groups on the route. While it is not crowded with trekkers, you are unlikely to be without any other people on the route. If that is something you want them speak to us and we can recommend other treks to you.
Routes:
The standard route goes to Har ki doon, there is a slightly tougher trail that goes towards Ruinsara tal and Kalanag Base camp which is also very beautiful, it is one of the favorite trails on one the mountaieers in out team and he loves going back there. There is also a high altitude pass called Bali Pass in this area which reaches over 5500 meters and connects Yamnotri region with this region.
How many days do you have?
You need atleast 4 days of trekking time for Har ki doon. If you have more time that is ideal. Add atleast 2 days of travel time. If your travel from your city- Delhi/Mumbai/Bangalore is optimised you will probably require a total of a week for this. Happy to help you plan this and optimize your leaves.
Time of the year?
The best time to do this is May, June, October and first couple of weeks of November. You can also do this in April but you could find snow that makes reaching Har ki doon faster. March is likely to have too much snow to be able to reach.
Budget?
Trekking can be expensive. You are paying for your flights, booking a taxi to get to the trek base and then the trek. Because everything needs to carried up, because we have highly trained staff and include all facilities to make your experience enjoyable, there is a decent cost to trekking.
While there are companies that are doing treks at low costs, there are certain compromises to quality that we do not make to our facilities, to the number of people we take in our fixed departures to ensure a personalized experience.
We have mentioned the price brackets for the Har ki doon trek in the previous page, while we can do it at budget facilities, more premium facilities at a slightly higher cost are what we recommend because we have tailor made them to maximize enjoyment in the mountains.
Training:
While anyone with a decent fitness level can do this trek, we recommend a good fitness routine in the lead up to the trek, it always helps. We also recommend that you continue with this fitness routine after the trek is done. Use this trek as a beginning to healthier times :)
How comfortable are you with road travel in the mountains?
Mountain roads are normally quite windy and twisty, occasionally bumpy and for those who are not used to mountains roads, drives may be uncomfortable. Keep this in mind while choosing which trek you are doing and while planning your itinerary. If you are uncomfortable with long drives and think you may get motion sickness, then you could plan a trek with a short travel time in the mountains, or you could look at splitting your travel time into extra days. There are also certain suggestions such as taking a car with a low body-roll, home-made remedies that have worked for us that we will be happy to share with you to help you in your journey.
One downside to Har ki doon trek is the long drive. To reach Taluka which is the base for the Har ki doon trek you are looking at upwards of 8 hours of driving in the mountains. While it is a beautiful drive, for reasons mentioned above it can be tiring. We have mentioned a few recommendations on this and will be happy to discuss this with you to help make it more enjoyable and less taxing.
If long drives in the mountains is a no for you then there are other treks that we can recommend to you as well.
Are you looking at something leisurely or something challenging?
Leisurely treks have well marked trails, have between 2-4 hours of trekking a day and can be managed without much difficulty. These are better for beginners or those who come with the intention of enjoying themselves more than exerting. Challenging treks can have difficult terrain, 6-7 hours of walking a day, go to high altitude and therefore have to plan their itinerary very well so that their body is well acclimatized. They not only require a high fitness level but high mental endurance.
On less challenging treks we are also able to offer better facilities because carrying things up is easier and less expensive. Facilities get more basic as the trek challenge levels go up because carrying additions gets harder.
Typically, if you want your first taste of the mountains and Himalayan wilderness, then we recommend a more leisurely trek and you will enjoy that trek much more. Too much challenge first time may put you or your family off. Take is slow is what we suggest. Start with a leisurely trek where you aren't that exposed to the extremes, can spend more time at camp with your loved ones, enjoy the great food, the scenery, walk around, click photographs, play some games et so that you soak in the experience. On challenging treks you are likely to be too tired to do most of this stuff.
The trek to Har ki doon falls in the moderate category. While the altitude is not going to be a major issue, the terrain does not go through any tricky patches and the trail is mostly gradual with a few steep patches, the trek distances are on the longer side. On the first day you will be trekking for 4-5 hours and on the second day to reach Har ki doon you will be trekking around 6 hours or so and this can get tiring with kids or families. If you think you can cope with the strain then you can certainly go ahead.
Are you coming with a family/young kids who you want to initiate to the Himalayas?
On similar lines with our previous point. If you are coming with family/trying to initiate your children to the Himalayas, the first experience should not be too difficult that puts them off. Keep the first experience light which gives them limited exposure where they are spending more time enjoying their surroundings.
For reasons mentioned above, Har ki doon is not our most recommended first trek if you are in this category. Our personal suggestion in this is to look at a simpler trek as a first taste and look at this as a subsequent trek once you know what to expect and are mentally prepared for something more challenging.
It is a beautiful place and an amazing experience, but you will enjoy it more as a second or subsequent trek in our opinion.
What sort of terrain do you like? Glaciers/meadows/forests/villages?
This is a personal choice without any right or wrong answers. Some may prefer glaciers and base of mountains with permanent snow, others may want meadows and forests, and others will want to spend time in local villages.
The advantage of driving that long in mountain roads is that you get very deep into the Himalayas. The Jumdar glacier originates from Har ki doon, you trek up along the river Tons which is one of the main tributaries to the River Yamuna and Jumdar glacier in the origin of the River Tons. You get to see Mt Swargarohini which is a prominent mountain in Garhwal. You are almost at the base of numerous 20,000 ft. peaks at Har ki doon and as we have mentioned previously, Har ki doon is known for its vast lush green valleys.
The drive between Purola and Mori goes through a thicket of Pine forests and between Taluka and Seema you trek through dense oak forests.
Popularity:
The Har ki doon trek is popular with trekkers and most times you will find other groups on the route. While it is not crowded with trekkers, you are unlikely to be without any other people on the route. If that is something you want them speak to us and we can recommend other treks to you.
Routes:
The standard route goes to Har ki doon, there is a slightly tougher trail that goes towards Ruinsara tal and Kalanag Base camp which is also very beautiful, it is one of the favorite trails on one the mountaieers in out team and he loves going back there. There is also a high altitude pass called Bali Pass in this area which reaches over 5500 meters and connects Yamnotri region with this region.
How many days do you have?
You need atleast 4 days of trekking time for Har ki doon. If you have more time that is ideal. Add atleast 2 days of travel time. If your travel from your city- Delhi/Mumbai/Bangalore is optimised you will probably require a total of a week for this. Happy to help you plan this and optimize your leaves.
Time of the year?
The best time to do this is May, June, October and first couple of weeks of November. You can also do this in April but you could find snow that makes reaching Har ki doon faster. March is likely to have too much snow to be able to reach.
Budget?
Trekking can be expensive. You are paying for your flights, booking a taxi to get to the trek base and then the trek. Because everything needs to carried up, because we have highly trained staff and include all facilities to make your experience enjoyable, there is a decent cost to trekking.
While there are companies that are doing treks at low costs, there are certain compromises to quality that we do not make to our facilities, to the number of people we take in our fixed departures to ensure a personalized experience.
We have mentioned the price brackets for the Har ki doon trek in the previous page, while we can do it at budget facilities, more premium facilities at a slightly higher cost are what we recommend because we have tailor made them to maximize enjoyment in the mountains.
Training:
While anyone with a decent fitness level can do this trek, we recommend a good fitness routine in the lead up to the trek, it always helps. We also recommend that you continue with this fitness routine after the trek is done. Use this trek as a beginning to healthier times :)
Har ki doon Trek Reviews
(Exceprts from the most recent reviews, click here for all the reviews and photographs of reviewers)
Neelina Koneru
(A) Your rating of the Har ki doon trek and the experience: Out of 5(5 being the highest, 0 being the lowest)
5 stars
(B) Things you loved, liked and didn’t like about the trek?
The best thing about this trek is the Supen river that was flowing by the path through out. That accentuated the beauty of the trek tremendously. The view of the snow covered mountains is mesmerizing.
I wish the trek was spread out for one more day as it could be stressful for the beginners to trek 12-14 km (mostly uphill)
The trek itself was organized with utmost care and detail oriented by MHA. We can see how well it was planned as there were no hiccups during the entire trek. All the questions were answered patiently by Tapas and he took care of everything he promised.
Satyajeet who came along with us in this trek made sure we were taken care of every minute. He even saved me from a mule that pinned me to a mountain wall when it got scared of the down hill slope!
The cook, Vivek, made such good food that I miss him more than the mountains. I tried to bribe him into moving to Hyderabad :)
The guide and the helpers were always there when we needed and were very helpful at every step.
(C) As a first timer trekking in Himalayas how did you feel about the trek?
This is the second trek for me, but it doesn't stop amazing me. Being in the mountains and absorbing nature so closely was the best thing about these treks.
(D) Any recommendations for those planning to undertake this trek?
Try to get fit before you undertake these treks so that you can enjoy them better. Don’t expect luxuries, although the food served here during the treks is no less than a star hotel
Nikhil Chitturi
(A) Your rating of the Har ki doon trek and the experience: Out of 5(5 being the highest, 0 being the lowest)
5 stars
We had rather long drives, but we enjoyed the view. The base camp was in Sankri. The base camp was good and it was easily accessible to the nearest village. We trekked early in the morning and we ate a delicious packed lunch which our cook conjured up. We ended the treks around evening. There was a good trail and it was not hard. We passed some beautiful spots on the way to the first camp. The entire trek was on the river banks and we could always wash our faces in the small streams that we passed on our way to the camp. The mountains were lush green. We could also see the mountains covered with snow that loomed miles away. We had good days of trekking. On the third day we first saw snow. The next morning we had to go to Har ki doon which was a couple of kilometers away. There was lots of snow and a beautiful view. On that day we started our trek back and it was much easier.
(B) Things you loved, liked and didn’t like about the trek?
I loved the organization of the trek. It was well planned and nothing flawed. The tents were good and we had experienced guides and helpers who helped us a grand lot. All the facilities were good. It was an ideal trek, especially for kids. We had a good cook. I and my friend used to sit in the kitchen tent, to keep warm.
(C) As a first timer trekking in Himalayas, how did you feel about the trek?
I think the trek was a little more tiring than my before experiences, but it was not really not that hard. The view was scenic and we had a blast. It was the first time I was doing this kind of a trek and it was a good experience
(D) Any recommendations for those planning to undertake this trek?
Yes. First thing, make sure you are fit. Without good and regular exercise this trek would not be easy. Don’t forget your camera, the view is just too good. Also carry warm clothes. That’s all I’ve got to say.
Shantanu Mitra
A) How would you rate the Har ki doon trek and experience: Stars out of 5(5 being the highest, 0 being the lowest)
5 Stars
B) Things you loved, liked and didn’t like about the trek
+ Very well organized, good facilities, zero headache in planning
- Did not stick to timelines- so ended up getting a little stressed end of day
C) As a first timer trekking in the Himalayas, how did you feel about the trek?
Excellent overall experience. In fact after this experience, I have enrolled for the Basic Mountaineering course with IMF
D) Any recommendations for those planning to undertake this trek
Prepare well physically. Start with moderate to strenuous work outs at least 45 days prior to starting off. Sell off your digicams and invest in a high end SLR as the flora and fauna can be breathtaking
Vijeth Prasad
(A) Rating of the Dayara Bugyal trek and the experience: Out of 5(5 being the highest, 0 being the lowest)
4 Stars for the Trek
4 Stars for the Experience
(B) Things you loved, liked and didn’t like about the trek:
Har ki doon trek, a moderate trail which gets you closer to the nature, Surrounded by dense pine forests and beautiful view of the glittering mountains. Although a moderate trek, we gain good altitude on this trek. Roughly 1.5hours trek from the har ki doon valley; you hit the glaciers to experience snow.
For me the downside was the trek is commercialized. We encountered a lot of fellow trekkers and tea shops along the way.
(C) As a first timer trekking in the Himalayas how did you feel about the trek:
Har ki doon is a great trek for first timers. I recommend this trek for first timers.
(D) Any recommendations for those planning to undertake this trek:-
Do not forget to carry sunglasses and a cap.
- Being physical will surely help
Mustafa Topiwala
(A) Rating you would give to the Dayara Bugyal trek(Stars out of 5 with 5 being the highest and 0 being the lowest)
4 stars
(B) Things that you loved, liked and didn’t like about the trek?
Well the overall experience was good, especially since we were flexible with regard to the distance & time for each day. Har ki doon, is ideal for first timers as it is not a very tough trek to begin with and is amazingly scenic.
(C) As a first timer trekking in the Himalayas, how did you feel about the trek(if you are a first timer)?
I wasn’t a first timer in the first place but wanted a break, so it turned out to be very good since it wasn’t as grueling as the other treks that I’ve done, nevertheless I still got to be in the Himalayas.
(D) Any recommendations for those who are planning to undertake this trek?
Highly recommended if you are new to trekking & still are adventurous enough to experience the Himalayas.
Neelina Koneru
(A) Your rating of the Har ki doon trek and the experience: Out of 5(5 being the highest, 0 being the lowest)
5 stars
(B) Things you loved, liked and didn’t like about the trek?
The best thing about this trek is the Supen river that was flowing by the path through out. That accentuated the beauty of the trek tremendously. The view of the snow covered mountains is mesmerizing.
I wish the trek was spread out for one more day as it could be stressful for the beginners to trek 12-14 km (mostly uphill)
The trek itself was organized with utmost care and detail oriented by MHA. We can see how well it was planned as there were no hiccups during the entire trek. All the questions were answered patiently by Tapas and he took care of everything he promised.
Satyajeet who came along with us in this trek made sure we were taken care of every minute. He even saved me from a mule that pinned me to a mountain wall when it got scared of the down hill slope!
The cook, Vivek, made such good food that I miss him more than the mountains. I tried to bribe him into moving to Hyderabad :)
The guide and the helpers were always there when we needed and were very helpful at every step.
(C) As a first timer trekking in Himalayas how did you feel about the trek?
This is the second trek for me, but it doesn't stop amazing me. Being in the mountains and absorbing nature so closely was the best thing about these treks.
(D) Any recommendations for those planning to undertake this trek?
Try to get fit before you undertake these treks so that you can enjoy them better. Don’t expect luxuries, although the food served here during the treks is no less than a star hotel
Nikhil Chitturi
(A) Your rating of the Har ki doon trek and the experience: Out of 5(5 being the highest, 0 being the lowest)
5 stars
We had rather long drives, but we enjoyed the view. The base camp was in Sankri. The base camp was good and it was easily accessible to the nearest village. We trekked early in the morning and we ate a delicious packed lunch which our cook conjured up. We ended the treks around evening. There was a good trail and it was not hard. We passed some beautiful spots on the way to the first camp. The entire trek was on the river banks and we could always wash our faces in the small streams that we passed on our way to the camp. The mountains were lush green. We could also see the mountains covered with snow that loomed miles away. We had good days of trekking. On the third day we first saw snow. The next morning we had to go to Har ki doon which was a couple of kilometers away. There was lots of snow and a beautiful view. On that day we started our trek back and it was much easier.
(B) Things you loved, liked and didn’t like about the trek?
I loved the organization of the trek. It was well planned and nothing flawed. The tents were good and we had experienced guides and helpers who helped us a grand lot. All the facilities were good. It was an ideal trek, especially for kids. We had a good cook. I and my friend used to sit in the kitchen tent, to keep warm.
(C) As a first timer trekking in Himalayas, how did you feel about the trek?
I think the trek was a little more tiring than my before experiences, but it was not really not that hard. The view was scenic and we had a blast. It was the first time I was doing this kind of a trek and it was a good experience
(D) Any recommendations for those planning to undertake this trek?
Yes. First thing, make sure you are fit. Without good and regular exercise this trek would not be easy. Don’t forget your camera, the view is just too good. Also carry warm clothes. That’s all I’ve got to say.
Shantanu Mitra
A) How would you rate the Har ki doon trek and experience: Stars out of 5(5 being the highest, 0 being the lowest)
5 Stars
B) Things you loved, liked and didn’t like about the trek
+ Very well organized, good facilities, zero headache in planning
- Did not stick to timelines- so ended up getting a little stressed end of day
C) As a first timer trekking in the Himalayas, how did you feel about the trek?
Excellent overall experience. In fact after this experience, I have enrolled for the Basic Mountaineering course with IMF
D) Any recommendations for those planning to undertake this trek
Prepare well physically. Start with moderate to strenuous work outs at least 45 days prior to starting off. Sell off your digicams and invest in a high end SLR as the flora and fauna can be breathtaking
Vijeth Prasad
(A) Rating of the Dayara Bugyal trek and the experience: Out of 5(5 being the highest, 0 being the lowest)
4 Stars for the Trek
4 Stars for the Experience
(B) Things you loved, liked and didn’t like about the trek:
Har ki doon trek, a moderate trail which gets you closer to the nature, Surrounded by dense pine forests and beautiful view of the glittering mountains. Although a moderate trek, we gain good altitude on this trek. Roughly 1.5hours trek from the har ki doon valley; you hit the glaciers to experience snow.
For me the downside was the trek is commercialized. We encountered a lot of fellow trekkers and tea shops along the way.
(C) As a first timer trekking in the Himalayas how did you feel about the trek:
Har ki doon is a great trek for first timers. I recommend this trek for first timers.
(D) Any recommendations for those planning to undertake this trek:-
Do not forget to carry sunglasses and a cap.
- Being physical will surely help
Mustafa Topiwala
(A) Rating you would give to the Dayara Bugyal trek(Stars out of 5 with 5 being the highest and 0 being the lowest)
4 stars
(B) Things that you loved, liked and didn’t like about the trek?
Well the overall experience was good, especially since we were flexible with regard to the distance & time for each day. Har ki doon, is ideal for first timers as it is not a very tough trek to begin with and is amazingly scenic.
(C) As a first timer trekking in the Himalayas, how did you feel about the trek(if you are a first timer)?
I wasn’t a first timer in the first place but wanted a break, so it turned out to be very good since it wasn’t as grueling as the other treks that I’ve done, nevertheless I still got to be in the Himalayas.
(D) Any recommendations for those who are planning to undertake this trek?
Highly recommended if you are new to trekking & still are adventurous enough to experience the Himalayas.
Interested? Do get in touch with us, we would love to hear from you
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