15% off
15% off
15% off
15% off
15% off
Gidara Bugyal is a hidden gem in the Uttarkashi region of Uttarakhand. Being one of the largest high altitude meadows in this country, the Gidara Bugyal is twice as big as Dayara Bugyal and Ali and Bedni Bugyal. It takes almost 2 days to traverse the entire length of the Bugyal but surely one of the most stunning experiences. Gidara Bugyal is located near to Dayar Bugyal and is at a higher altitude. The trek takes you through undulating meadows, grasslands, diverse flora and fauna, near-zero footsteps of other travelers due to its pristine and offbeat nature and mesmerizing campsites. Even though this is an easy trek best suited for both beginners and experienced trekkers, for a novice it is recommended to be in good physical shape due to steep and treacherous sections of the trail. The ridge walk to Gidara Top at 4240 meters in one of the highlights of this trek as you are presented with uninterrupted views of the mighty peaks of Gangotri, Jogin, Srikanth and DKD on a clear day. The best time for Gidara Bugyal trek is in the pre-monsoon months of May and June and in the post-monsoon months of September and October. Stay on this page for more information on the Gidara Bugyal Trek.
Arrive at Bhangeli
Today we arrive at Bhangeli, a small hamlet located in the Uttarkashi district. Bhangeli is 190 km from Dehradun and if you opt for a transport from us then we will pick you up at Dehradun ISBT by 7am and drive to Bhangeli which will take about 8 hours. Overnight in guesthouse/homestay in Bhangeli.
Bhangeli (2300 m) to Rikoda (3310 m) - 5 km
Today we start our trek from Bhangeli village and make our way to Rikoda campsite. You will cross the village temple and reach the forest on a dirt trail with maple and oak trees forming a canopy. We will cross several small streams and waterfalls along with diverse flora and fauna. The trail is nearly untouched as the villagers are the only one using this. Thus making the beginning of the trek already pristine. Suddenly the treeline disappears and you get to see the greater Himalayan mountain ranges in the distance, notably the Gangotri group and Srikanth peaks. We will camp on the beautiful meadows of Rikoda for the night. Overnight in tents.
Rikoda to Dokrani (3720 m) - 3.5 km
Today we trek on the trail towards Dokrani campsite. There is a gradual increase in the slope towards the Thirya river and then there is a steep increase through ok and bhojpatra forests to reach a clearing which is the Dokrani campsite with stunning views of the Gangotri massif opposite to your campsite. Relax and retire for the night. Overnight in tents.
Dokrani to Thalotya (3700 m) via Dokrani Bugyal (3930 m) - 2.5 km
Today's trek is a relatively easy one with an hour of gradual ascend will take us to Dokrani bugyal from the Dokrani campsite. You will see amazing views of Gangotri, Jogin, DKD and Srikanth peaks on one side and the Dokrani meadows on the other side. Spend some time soaking in the stunning views and then we continue to trek through undulating meadows to reach the Thalotya campsite filled with rhododendron flowers located alongside a stream in a narrow valley. Overnight in tents.
Thalotya to Thirya (3260 m) via Gidara Top (4240 m) - 10 km
Today is a long and arduous day so we start our trek early. We will cross the stream and after a small ascend we will reach the starting point of Gidara meadows. After an hour of ascent on the meadows, you will get the first glimpse of the Gidara Bugyal and it is endless. In early May and June you can still find snow on this part of the bugyal. The bugyal is absolutely huge. We will continue our trek and reach a ridge from where you get epic views of the mountain ranges. The ridge walk is easily one of the highlights of the trek. We will reach the Gidara top which is the highest point of the trek. We then continue on the ridge and descend down towards Dokrani Bugyal. We will take a deviation towards a steep trail through dense forest to reach the campsite of Thirya. Overnight in tents.
Thirya to Bhangeli (2300 m) - 7 km
From Thirya campsite we will cross the river and trek towards the Rikoda campsite and then retrace our steps to Bhangeli village. Overnight in homestay/guesthouse.
Depart from Bhangeli
Today we will descend for about 30 mins to the roadhead at Bhangeli and then depart for Dehradun.
Gidara Bugyal trek is one of the most ambitious starts for the first-timers. Although the trek is doable by beginners, they should prepare and read extensively about the trek.
If you are not meeting these benchmarks, please use the preparation schedule to improve your fitness till you achieve the above benchmarks.
May, June, September and October are the best months to do the Gidara Bugyal Trek.
Click here for packing list.
The minimum age limit is 9 years. However, minors aged between 9 to 17 should be accompanied with their parents or guardians. If you are above the age of 60, kindly carry a medical certificate from your doctor that deem you fit for adventure activities like trekking
At Bhangeli village you will be accommodated in hotel/guesthouse on twin or triple sharing basis. On trekking days, all the trekkers will be accommodated in twin sharing tents. Along with this, there will also be a toilet tent and a dining tent installed at every campsite as we roll.
We provide 4 seasons tents by Gipfel for higher altitudes which can easily withstand heavy snowfall and storms. They are spacious enough to accomodate 3 people at once with a vestibule to place the backpacks. Our sleeping bags are made up of Heatseeker Pro synthetic insulation that can provide you comfort in -10 degrees celsius. We also use additional fleece liners to have thermal efficiency even in the extreme temperatures of -17 degrees Celsius. If you carry your own sleeping bag, you will get a cashback reward provided that you inform us as soon as you have booked your trek.
Toilet tents will be provided to you on the trek.These are portable toilets tents where a deep pit will be dug. A shovel will be provided inside the tent to cover the waste after you have made your business. You can take a toilet roll inside. Make sure you dig used toilet paper along with the waste. Though water is recommended in place of toilet paper. Please refrain from using wet wipes as they are non-biodegradable. There will be no facility for bathing on the trek. Go through our blog section for tips on how to maintain personal hygiene on treks.
You will be provided with good quality gaiters and microspikes from us depending upon the situation of the snow. Our trek leaders will also be carrying ropes and ice axe.
Vegetarian food will be served throughout the trek. The only non-vegetarian item served on our treks are eggs. Our kitchen staff follows a proper menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner which has been designed in order to fulfil the nutritional requirements of the participants. There will be milk, poha, eggs, muesli/corn flakes, bread and butter served for breakfast. Rice or simple roti sabzi will be packed for lunch. In dinner, you will have dal, egg curry or any other vegetarian dish along with rice, roti, and a dessert item. Packed lunch will be provided to you on the days you are trekking. You are requested to carry your own tiffin box and a mug to consume food. The meals consumed on journey and arrival day are not included in our cost.
You can rent following items from us- Trekking Pole, Trekking Shoes, Fleece Jacket, Rucksack
There might be some snow on the trail in the pre-monsoon months of May and June.
The temperature will range from 15-25 degrees Celsius during the day and 5-10 degrees Celsius at night.
If you want to offload your rucksack, you will have to make a request for offloading a few days prior the trek through an email so that arrangement can be made in advance. You will be charged per day for offloading your rucksack. In case you decide to offload on the spot, you may have to pay a higher price than usual. However offloading your rucksack is not recommended since it is not a safe practice.
A team of participant will be led by a course certified trek leader and a local guide. All participants are requested to abide by what their leader says. There will also be a team of kitchen staff and porters on the trek. We maintain 1:8 ratio of trek leader and participants. All our trek leaders and staff have a certified training in first-aid and rescue operation.
It is not mandatory but it is more convenient with the pole. If you don’t want to buy one, you can rent it from us on minimal daily basis charges. You can request the renting link from us.
Please do not leave anything for last-minute shopping since Bhangeli village has no shops/stores. Dehradun has a reasonable size market but because of immediate departure from Dehradun last-minute purchasing might be difficult. Please do not leave anything for last-minute buying.
Yes, it is absolutely safe for solo woman to travel in fix departures. Women on the trek will be sharing tent with each other. In case you are the only woman on the trek, you will be given a separate tent.
Yes, e-certificates will be given at the end of each trek provided that you completed it. It will bear your name, the trek, and the maximum altitude you achieved on the trek.
We will pick you up from Dehradun ISBT at 7 am and drive to Bhangeli village which will take about 6-8 hours. Drop off location at Dehradun remains the same.
Expect to reach Dehradun by late afternoon.
Please carry your ID Proof (Voter ID, Adhaar, etc) and send a photocopy of the same to us.
Start point of Gidara Bugyal Trek is Bhangeli which is a 190 km from Dehradun. There are indirect public buses and shared jeeps running between Dehradun and Bhangeli.
Dehradun is easily accessible through road, rail, and air transport.
By Road:
You can take overnight UKRTC buses and Volvos available from ISBT Kashmere Gate, Delhi to Dehradun. The distance from Delhi to Dehradun is about 247 km. You can also hire a taxi or outstation cab from Delhi to Dehradun.
By Rail:
The nearest railway station to Bhangeli is 190 km away in Dehradun. There are a number of trains running between Delhi and Dehradun like Dehradun Express, Mussoorie Express, Nanda Devi Express. It is advisable to make your train bookings a month in advance.
By Air:
The nearest airport from Bhangeli is Jolly Grant airport in Dehradun which is 213 km away from Sankri. You can reach Dehradun from New Delhi by flight.
Intermittent cellular network till Bhangeli. No network beyond Bhangeli.
Dehradun is the beautiful capital city of Uttrakhand with a number of attractions to visit. Sahastradhara, a ‘thousand fold water spring’ is a famous tourist spot in Dehradun. The waters of the spring are believed to have medicinal properties. Robber’s Cave or Guchhi Pani is a famous picnic spot for fun-loving enthusiasts. Visit the holy Tapkeshwar Temple on the bank of Asan River which is believed have one of the oldest Shivling. Enjoy the splash at much touted Kempty Falls in Mussoorie. The highest place in Mussoorie, Lal Tibba is where you can enjoy the panoramic views of the snow-capped mountains. Admire the Kumaon and Garhwal Art & Culture at SOHAM Heritage and Art Centre.
Our community is an integral part of us and we take pride in our trekkers and climbers. When you complete at least three days on any trek or expedition with us, you become eligible for our membership and referral programs.
For us, a successful summit is not about reaching the highest point of a mountain but about making it safely back to base.
Cancellations up to 30 days prior to departure date
5% Deduction
Between 30 days to 15 days prior to departure
50%
deduction
Less than 15 days of departure
No Cash Refund
Cancellations up to 5 days prior to departure date
No Deduction
Cancellations less than 5 days prior to departure
No Refund