DETAILED ITINERARY:

Day 01: Haridwar to Uttarkashi (1550 Mts.) (Drive 185 Kms, 5-6 Hours) We drive to Uttarkashi, considered as the Northern Kashi or Varanasi. The town is situated at an elevation of 1,550 m on the right banks of river Bhagirathi. It is a district located in the northern Himalayan state of Uttaranchal. Its boundaries also mark the Chinese precincts. Uttarkashi is known for its temples dedicated to Rishi Parasurama, Datatryea, Goddess Annapurna Devi, Goddess Kali, and Bhairon. At one time, there were 365 temples in this town. The town is also known for its various ashrams, which are the homes of the sanyasis and hermits. Overnight at Hotel / Guest House / Deluxe Camps.

Day 02: Uttarkashi to Gangotri (3140 Mts.) Drive 5 Hours In the hinterlands of the Himalayas is Gangotri where, it is believed, Ganga, the stream of life, touched earth for the first time. According to the Hindu religious scriptures, the heavenly goddess Ganga manifested herself in the form of a river to absolve the sins of King Sagar's sons. After three generations of severe penance, performed over several centuries, Ganga conceded to descend to the Earth. At the legendary source of the river, Goddess Ganga is worshipped in the form of deity. The Gangotri temple was built in the early 18th century by a Gorkha commander, Amar Singh Thapa and later rebuilt by the Maharaja of Jaipur. By November, Gangotri is snowbound, and so the deity is taken 25 kms downstream to Mukhba, so that her devotees are not thwarted. Despite the severe cold, however, several "SADHUS" remain at Gangotri year round, even through the very severe winter. Gomukh, the identified source of the river Ganga, is 18 Kms. further uphill. The trek to Gomukh is gradual, and several pilgrims undertake the journey to pay homage to the river at its known source. Overnight at Camps/Guest House

Day 03: Gangotri to Cheerbasa (3658 Mts.) 9km, 4- 5 Hours After breakfast, start trek to Cheerbasa (3500m). We start with an easy climb the route is filled with breathtaking sights as the magnificent scenery unfolds itself at every step. We have lunch on the way and reach at a small isolated forest of pine at Chirbasa (3600m) and camp there for overnight .

Day 04: Cheerbasa to Gomukh (4000m): 9 km, 4-5 Hours Day starts with small uphill to the main trail and then trail gets gradual up to Gomukh. It is about 9km and takes about 4-5 hours to reaches Bhojbabsa. Bhojbasa has a small temple there and this used be full of Birch tree but unfortunately not anymore there. Continuing along the pilgrim grassy hillsides, we reach our camping at Gomukh where we camp for an over night.

Day 05: Day for acclimatization: Walk to Tapovan and over night back in Gomukh.

Day 06: Gomukh to Nandan Van (4450 Mts.) 9 km, 5-6 Hours Till Gaumukh, it is a well-defined trail. But after gomukh, it is full of boulders on Glacier and one has to walk from one unstable boulder to another equally unstable boulder. We need to be careful walking on this unstable trail. Finally we reach the place from where we leave the Gangotri glacier below and climb very steep uphill to reach Nandanvan. Nadanvan is a small grassy valley of exquisite beauty, literally surrounded by snow peaks ? Bhagirathi II, III & I, Kedar-dome, Karchakunda, and Shiblinga.

Day 07: Nandan Van to Vasuki Tal (4600 Mts.) 8 km, 3-4 Hours Today we shall leave the meadow of Nandan Van, today you shall have opportunity to view Bharal (Mountain Goat) walking through high ridges & Lammergeyer, arrive at the Vasuki Tal ?not so big? glacial lake in the serene surroundings of Chaturangi Bhamak. Left of the lake is Bhagirathi Bhamak, leading to the Bhagirathi group of the peaks. Overnight in Tents Day 08: Day for acclimatization:

Day 09 : Vasukital to Khara Pathar: (5456mts) 6 km, 3-4 Hours After breakfast, We start our trek and walk about 6 kms to reach Khara Pathar which leads to Satopanth (7075 Mts.), one of the two seven ? thousand meter mountains of Gangotri Glacier. It is short day and camping is not very great but very helpful for acclimatization. It will take about 2-3 hrs. Dinner and overnight in camp.

Day 10: Khara Pathar to Sweta Glacier: 10 km, 5-6 Hours Today we walk about 10 kms to reach Sweta Glacier. Again it is not the best camping as it is a moraine full of rock and boulders and surrounded with big mountains but it is an experience to be sleeping on glacier and short day walk does help with acclimatization. It will take about 5 hrs. Dinner and overnight in camp.

Day 11: Day for acclimatization: (Optional)

Day 12: Sweta Glacier to Kalindi Base (5450 Mts.): 10 km, 6- 7 Hours Its scree, moraine and boulders as we cross Sweta glacier, above which rise Chandra Parbat (6728 Mts.) We are now traversing Chaturangi glacier, which is a major tributary to the Gangotri glacier. Chaturangi glacier is approximately 13-15 Kms long, which makes it approximately half the length of Gangotri Glacier. Chaturangi literally means a glacier of four colours and the moraines over the glacier range from pink, yellow to brown. Arrive at Kalindi Bhamak camp, which is just next to the Kalindi Glaciers snout. Up ahead lies the Kalindi Khal (5940 Meters), meaning pass, it?s a deep gap between Avalanche Peak (6413 Meters) and Kalindi Peak (6102 Meters). Overnight in Tents

Day 13: Kalindi Base to Kalindi Khal (5940 Meters) ? Raj Parav (5500 Meters): 10 km, 6- 7 Hours Today we start early as we slowly climb the Kalindi Khal pass, from the pass The summit of Kalindi peak is only 150 Meters higher, in fact the summit camp for Kalindi peak lies below the pass. Once on the pass, you shall have most panoramic views of Mt. Kamet (7756 Meters), Mt. Mana (7272 Meters), Abi Gamin (7355 Meters) and Mana Parbat (6797 Meters), on a very clear day one can also see the Tibetan plateau across the Mana Pass (6728 Meters), also seen are the mountains of Gangotri Glacier; Chandra parbat (6728 Meters), Vasuki Parbat (6792 Meters), Bhagirathi Parbat (6512 Meters). You shall then descend and cross the glacial terrain before reaching the camp of Avalanche Bhamak, (we can however, continue till next camp).

Day 14: Raj Parav to Arwa Tal (4800 Meters): 14 km, 6- 7 Hours Trek to Arwa Tal, surrounded by the moraine fields of the Arwa Glacier, exactly northwards from Arwa Tal is Mana Pass (5600 Meters), which was sought by the first Jesuit explorers to Tibet. It was in 1624 when Antonio de Andrade and Manuel Marques went to Tibet by this route, two centuries before any other explorer can reach Tibet, to our west is Mana Parbat ? I (6797 Meters), Mana Parbat ? II & III (6771 & 6730 Meters). Overnight in Tents

Day 15: Arwa Tal to Ghastoli (3600 Meters): 12 km, 5- 6 Hours Leave the snout of the glacier and follow the Arwa stream, a steep descend will be followed by a gradual descend till you reach the river. Today the terrain changes dramatically, glacial moraines gives way to the glacial streams, also today?s day is full of river crossing you shall be crossing rivers including the Saraswati river at times, also the vegetation also starts to appear. Overnights in Tents

Day 16: Ghastoli to Mana (14km) ? Badrinath (3 km drive) Start trekking with a gradual descend, the route follows the river Saraswati to down streams, we cross the river just after leaving our camp and through out the walk we follow the true right bank of the river, the river has its origin from the slopes of Mana pass (5600 meters) leading to Tsaparang in Tibet. Also visible are the peaks of Mt. Kamet (7756 Meters) & Mt. Mana (7272 Meters), former being third highest in Indian Himalayas. We meet our awaiting vehicles at Mana and then we are transferred to Hotel at Badrinath, one of the holiest shrines for Hindus, at Badrinath we shall experience an atmosphere of devoted spiritual pilgrimages, for many Hindus this is an emotional experience, above Badrinath is the spectacular conical Mt. Nilkantha (6596 Meters), literally meaning ?Blue Throat? one of the 1008 names of Lord Shiva. Overnight in Guest House / Tents.

Day 17: Badrinath to Rishikesh (300km) 10- 12 hours Today we drive to Rishikesh which is known for Ashrams or religious retreat centres Hub of various religious activities including lessons in meditation, and treatment for a variety of stress-induced ailments using the ancient medical techniques. Trip finishes at the arrival at Rishikesh.

 N.B:
1: The best time for this trek is Mid June to End of August

2: The inner line permit is a must for touring in this region.

3: Permit will issue from District Forest Officer (DFO) Uttarkashi & District Magistrate (DM) Uttarkashi. 

4: The copy of the permit, list of the trekkers and guide, cook & porters and the photos should reach not only to the District Administration of Chamoli (DM of the district and SDM of Joshimath) but also to the In Charge of the ITBP camp at Ghastoli as after Gangotri that is the only human settlement.

5: All Trekkers, Guide, Porters, Cook & helper also go through medical test

.6: All trekkers, Guide, Porters, Cook & helper must be insured

7: Satellite Phone is must for this trek

8: All Trekkers, Guide, Porters, Cook & helper must be well equipped with the adventure gear like tents, sleeping bag, snow shoes, gloves, rain proof jacket etc

9: Always carry your Identity card along with you

10: Always use registered organisation for this trek

Note: The trek will run for a minimum of 4 people

For further details and information email us : treksinfo@gmail.com