Auden's Col is arguably one of the most challenging and least explored treks in Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand. Auden's Col is a high mountain pass that connects Jogin I (6465m) and Gangotri III (6580m) peaks and is situated at a height of 5490 m. The name of this trek is based on a British Geographical Survey Officer named John Bicknell Auden, who discovered the pass in 1935 and crossed it in 1939. The pass also links two glaciers on the opposite sides, viz Khatling glacier and Jogin I glacier. The trek begins from one of the famous pilgrimage sites in India, Gangotri and ends at Kedarnath, which is also a prominent pilgrimage destination and one of the twelve Jyotirlingas located in India. The terrain is strenous and the trail passes through moraines, narrow cliffs, Boulders and difficult ridges. The trek offers magnificent views of peaks such as Rudragaira, Gangotri group, Jogin group, Bhagirathi group of peaks and Kedar Dome.
| 1 | Region | Uttarakhand |
| 2 | Difficulty Level | Challenging |
| 3 | Maximum Elevation achieved & where | 5490 M Auden's Col |
| 4 | Best Season | Mid June and September to October |
| 5 | Trek starting Point | Gangotri |
| 6 | Getting to/ From trek starting point & Trek end point | Bus/Train from Delhi to Dehradun . Road journey from Dehradun to Gangotri by hired taxi or public transport. During return, road journey from Kedarnath to Dehradun. Bus/Train from Dehradun to Delhi. |
| 7 | Rail Head | Dehradun |
| 8 | Road Head | Gangotri & Kedarnath |
| 9 | What Is Included In The Fee | • Meals During the Expedition • Hotel Stay in Gangotri ,Kedarnath & Gauri Kund on twin/triple sharing basis • Services of a English Spoken Trek Leader certified in AMC (Advance Mountaineering), special rescue course from NIM, Emergency Responder in wilderness • Forest fee ,permits & Camping Charges (Upto the amount specified for Indian Nationals) • 4 season camping tent , Thermal rated sleeping bags & mattress • Exhaustive food as per menu on the trek which includes Indian & Chinese • Technical Equipments like Micro spikes, Ice Axe, Gaiters • UIAA Safety Equipment like Static Rescue Rope, Harnesses, Carabiners & pulleys • First Aid Certified Local Trek guide with extensive trek experience of the route, Cook, Helper • Services of Porters for carrying common camping equipments like tents sleeping bags & Services of kitchen stuff • Exhaustive first aid kit with a portable oxygen cylinder of 300 ltrs capacity |
| 10 | What Is Not Included In The Fee | • Forest Charges for carrying still/video cameras etc • Meals during hotel stay & any kind of road journey • Personal expenses like tips, telephone calls, laundry, etc • Travel Insurance if any • Anything which is not mentioned in Inclusions list |
GST @ 5% is applicable on the fee.
* Expedition can be booked by paying Rs 42000/-. Full payment is required atleast 60 days before the departure date.
* After you have made the booking, our team will get in touch with you. In case in their assessment, you do not fulfill the criteria for this expedition, your booking will be cancelled with 100% refund.
✓Book 240 Days Early | Save 15% | Use Code : BIKATEXPEDITION240
✓Book 180 Days Early | Save 10% | Use Code : BIKATEXPEDITION180
✓4 to 6 | Save 10% | Use Code : BIKATEXPEDITION4TO6
✓7 to 12 | Save 15% | Use Code : BIKATEXPEDITION7TO12
We will take a Taxi from Rishikesh to Gangotri in the early morning. Breakfast will be on the way. Gangotri is around 270 km from Rishikesh and it takes around 7-8 hours to reach there. The road upto Uttarkashi is in good condition. After Uttarkashi, expect a bumby ride upto Gangotri. Overnight stay in Guest house on twin/triple sharing basis.
Early in the morning, we will start trek to Nala Camp. The trail begins on the left of the valley and ascends to the Nala Camp. We will walk through the forest of pine, cedar rhododendron, birch and which is part of Gangotri National park. As we approach near Nala Camp, we will have our first glimpse of Jogin and Kedartal range. Overnight stay in tents near Rudragaira River.
Today's trek would be a 7-8 hours walk. The day starts with a climb on a ridge and then passes through a side stream. After this, we will climb a steep trail which leads to the Rudrgyara Base camp. From the trail, the majestic views of Rudragaira peak, Jogin peak and Auden Col are breath taking. After reaching at the Rudragyara base camp we will setup camps & have a refreshing cup of Tea with amazing views in sight. Overnight stay in the Camps.
The day is reserved for rest and acclimatization. We will keep ourselves active throughout the day for better acclimatization. An acclimatization walk will also be done. Explore and enjoy the campsite surrounded in the magnificent Himalayas. Overnight stay in Camps.
Today, we will walk on the moraines and some technical sections. The trail is quite steep all the way and is challenging. The trek from this day onwards gets tougher. As we approach towards the campsite, the views of Gangotri group of peaks get clearer. Overnight stay in Camps.
We will begin our trek early in the morning. The day is challenging as compared to previous days. Trail continues through moraines as it leads towards the Audens Col Base camp. The campsite is not well marked and the route is little confusing. We will find out some flat surface to pitch our camps in the rocky campsite. Evening will be utilised to learn some basic mountaineering techniques which will come handy in the days to come. Overnight stay in camps.
This is the D day as we will cross the Auden’s Col and reach the Khatling glacier camp. We will start our trek in the early morning. Our initial walk includes a technical climb on the glacier, which will lead us to the col. Auden Col is situated 5 km from the base camp. We will fix the ropes, if required. After reaching the col, enjoy the breath taking views of Himalayan ranges from 5490 m. After spending some time here, we will start descending towards Khatling glacier camp. The descent of around 6 km continues on the glacier. Overnight stay in the camps.
Today’s trek will be on glacier again for 8 km. The trail is challenging and we might use our technical gear depending upon the amount of snow on the trail. After crossing the glacier, the trail continues through the moraine. We will descend down to our campsite for the day, located near the river. Overnight stay in the Camps.
We will continue our trek along the river valley. After a walk of 3 km, we will reach a meadow. We will rest for a while in the meadow and continue our trek towards Chowki. The campsite at Chowki is around 4 km from the meadow. Chowki is a good campsite with grassy surface. Overnight stay in camps.
Initially we will ascend a steep section and cross a ridge above the valley. The route is well defined as we approach the beautiful Masar Tal. After reaching the site, we will pitch our tents near the scenic lake.
Today's trail consists of 3 km ascent and then rest of the route is descent. It takes around 6-7 hours to cover 12 km to reach Vasu Ki Tal from Masar Tal. Vasu Ki Tal is a beautiful lake situated at 4800 M. We will set our camps near the lake. Overnight stay in tents.
Today, we will start our trek towards the Kedarnath, the famous pilgrimage site. Kedarnath is 5 km from Vasuki Tal and it takes around 3-4 hrs to reach there. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is one of the twelve jyotirlingas located in India. After reaching there, we will visit the temple in the evening. Overnight stay in the hotel at Kedarnath.
We will descend through the well laid path of 14 kms, which takes us to the Gaurikund. Overnight stay in Guest house in Gaurikund
We will board a vehicle for Rishikesh/Dehradun. The drive to Rishikesh is along the River Ganges. Board overnight Bus for Delhi from Rishikesh/Dehradun.
